Marwat Khan Lodhi
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Ahmad Shah Abdali received an invitation from the leaders of Kashmir to rid the kingdom of cruel governors of the decadent Mughal emperors, and bring it directly under his rule. He sent a strong force of Afghans under his lieutenant Ishk Aqasi on this mission, who after overcoming stiff resistance put up by the Mughal forces in Kashmir, annexed the territory to the expanding kingdom of Abdali.'
Even during the most
difficult times of
Afghan rule, poverty
and starvation did not
exist in Kashmir.
People were healthy and ate well. In the
early years, there was
much hygiene and
sanitation.
While the Mughals
built gardens across Kashmir, the Afghans
built fortresses and
erected some
buildings as well. The
most famous fortress
and complex, Sher Garhi Palace, built in
1772 by the Afghan
governor, Jawan Sher
Khan, was later used
by all their successors,
including the present Indian occupied
Kashmir government.
“Amir Khan Jawan Sher
was perhaps the best
of Pathan rulers, for at
least he built the Amiran Kadal, the
bridge which stands at
the entrance of
Srinagar, and
constructed the palace
of the Shergarhi.” (The Valley of Kashmir
by Walter Lawrence
1895).
“In Kashmere are seen
merchants and
commercial agents of most of the principal
cities of northern
India, also of Tartary,
Persia and Turkey, who
at the same time
advance their fortunes and enjoy the
pleasures of a fine
climate.”
(A Journey from
Bengal to England by
George Forster 1786)
It is interesting to see
that as maligned as
Afghan rule remains
today of Kashmir, this
curious feature is
mentioned. In later Sikh and later Hindu
rule, never again
would such scenes be
repeated as the State
made it difficult for
foreign traders to prosper due to
increased forms of
taxation designed to
maximize total output
of a commodity, given
sale and production to corrupt officials, the
royal treasury or both.
Far from speaking of
poverty, dirt, disease,
pestilence and ***** the
portrait is of a rich and fertile society, a
growing merchant
class and a healthy
environment.
It was during Mughal
rule, the Shawl industry first assumed
an enormous
international standing
and increased output.
It was during Afghan
Muslim rule the Shawl industry in addition to
other commodities
and trades received
newer customers still
in the form of Iran,
Turkistan and Russia as well as Afghanistan.
Kashmiris as well as
merchants from
abroad could meet
and trade with one
another without being worried most of their
profit would go to the
state. In later Sikh and
Hindu rule, in respect
to the Shawl industry
alone, foreign merchants largely
traded not with
Kashmiri shawl
weavers but the State.
By the 1900s, the
Shawl industry in Kashmir was dead.
George Forster also
noted there was a
toleration of religion
during Afghan rule.
Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jews
‘pursued their
occupations without
molestation’
When describing the
Hindus of Kashmir, he continued- “Among the foreign
nations who frequent
this city (Kabul) the
Hindus chiefly of Peshawar contribute more than any other to enrich it by a superior industry and knowledge of commerce; and they enjoy under the Afghan Government a liberty and protection little short of that experienced by the inhabitants of our Indian possessions. The benefits derived by a State from the residence of any class of people usually ensure to them a security of person and property, but the Hindus of Kabul are indebted I believe for special indulgence to one of their own sect, who controls the revenue of the Shah and stands high in favour”.
The people in general
were described as “the
Kashmiris are gay and
lively people with strong propensities to pleasure.”
This is hardly a description of people in severe oppression
with nothing to look forward to and possessing no future.
Bibliography A Journey from Bengal
to England by George
Forster 1786..
Tired of foriegn rule of Afghans, kashmiri nobles invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to annex Kashmir. In July 1819, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent his forces under the command of Misser Diwan Chand, Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu, Sardar Hari Singh, Jwala Singh Padania, Hukum Singh and others. A fierce battle ensued at the top of Pir Panjal and the plateau of Shopian where Afghans were defeated. Jabar Khan hastily fled to Kabul after being wounded in the battle. Thus came an end to the Afghan rule, and Kashmir, after a long period of about 5 centuries, passed again from the Mohammadan rule to sikh rule.
Even during the most
difficult times of
Afghan rule, poverty
and starvation did not
exist in Kashmir.
People were healthy and ate well. In the
early years, there was
much hygiene and
sanitation.
While the Mughals
built gardens across Kashmir, the Afghans
built fortresses and
erected some
buildings as well. The
most famous fortress
and complex, Sher Garhi Palace, built in
1772 by the Afghan
governor, Jawan Sher
Khan, was later used
by all their successors,
including the present Indian occupied
Kashmir government.
“Amir Khan Jawan Sher
was perhaps the best
of Pathan rulers, for at
least he built the Amiran Kadal, the
bridge which stands at
the entrance of
Srinagar, and
constructed the palace
of the Shergarhi.” (The Valley of Kashmir
by Walter Lawrence
1895).
“In Kashmere are seen
merchants and
commercial agents of most of the principal
cities of northern
India, also of Tartary,
Persia and Turkey, who
at the same time
advance their fortunes and enjoy the
pleasures of a fine
climate.”
(A Journey from
Bengal to England by
George Forster 1786)
It is interesting to see
that as maligned as
Afghan rule remains
today of Kashmir, this
curious feature is
mentioned. In later Sikh and later Hindu
rule, never again
would such scenes be
repeated as the State
made it difficult for
foreign traders to prosper due to
increased forms of
taxation designed to
maximize total output
of a commodity, given
sale and production to corrupt officials, the
royal treasury or both.
Far from speaking of
poverty, dirt, disease,
pestilence and ***** the
portrait is of a rich and fertile society, a
growing merchant
class and a healthy
environment.
It was during Mughal
rule, the Shawl industry first assumed
an enormous
international standing
and increased output.
It was during Afghan
Muslim rule the Shawl industry in addition to
other commodities
and trades received
newer customers still
in the form of Iran,
Turkistan and Russia as well as Afghanistan.
Kashmiris as well as
merchants from
abroad could meet
and trade with one
another without being worried most of their
profit would go to the
state. In later Sikh and
Hindu rule, in respect
to the Shawl industry
alone, foreign merchants largely
traded not with
Kashmiri shawl
weavers but the State.
By the 1900s, the
Shawl industry in Kashmir was dead.
George Forster also
noted there was a
toleration of religion
during Afghan rule.
Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jews
‘pursued their
occupations without
molestation’
When describing the
Hindus of Kashmir, he continued- “Among the foreign
nations who frequent
this city (Kabul) the
Hindus chiefly of Peshawar contribute more than any other to enrich it by a superior industry and knowledge of commerce; and they enjoy under the Afghan Government a liberty and protection little short of that experienced by the inhabitants of our Indian possessions. The benefits derived by a State from the residence of any class of people usually ensure to them a security of person and property, but the Hindus of Kabul are indebted I believe for special indulgence to one of their own sect, who controls the revenue of the Shah and stands high in favour”.
The people in general
were described as “the
Kashmiris are gay and
lively people with strong propensities to pleasure.”
This is hardly a description of people in severe oppression
with nothing to look forward to and possessing no future.
Bibliography A Journey from Bengal
to England by George
Forster 1786..
Tired of foriegn rule of Afghans, kashmiri nobles invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to annex Kashmir. In July 1819, Maharaja Ranjit Singh sent his forces under the command of Misser Diwan Chand, Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu, Sardar Hari Singh, Jwala Singh Padania, Hukum Singh and others. A fierce battle ensued at the top of Pir Panjal and the plateau of Shopian where Afghans were defeated. Jabar Khan hastily fled to Kabul after being wounded in the battle. Thus came an end to the Afghan rule, and Kashmir, after a long period of about 5 centuries, passed again from the Mohammadan rule to sikh rule.
