| Hari Singh | |
|---|---|
 Singh in 1944 | |
| Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir | |
| Reign | 23 September 1925 — 17 November 1952 |
| Coronation | 29 March 1926[1] |
| Predecessor | Pratap Singh |
| Successor | Monarchy abolished |
| Regent | Karan Singh (1949–1952) |
| Born | September 1895 Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, British India (present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India) |
| Died | 26 April 1961 (aged 65) Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai) |
| Spouses | Sri Lal Kunverba Sahiba
(m. 1913; died 1915)Rani Sahiba Chamba
(m. 1915; died 1920)Dhanvant Kunveri Baiji
(m. 1923, died)Tara Devi
(m. 1928; sep. 1950) |
| Issue | Karan Singh |
| House | Dogra |
| Father | Amar Singh |
| Mother | Bhotiali Chib |
| Religion | Hinduism[2] |
Maharaja Sir Hari Singh GCSI GCIE GCVO (September 1895 – 26 April 1961) was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hari Singh was the son of Amar Singh and Bhotiali Chib. In 1923, following his uncle's death, Singh became the new Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. After Indian Independence in 1947, Singh wanted Jammu and Kashmir to remain as an independent kingdom. He was required to accede to the Dominion of India to get the support of Indian troops against an invasion by tribal armed men and the Pakistan Army into his state. Singh remained the titular Maharaja of the state until 1952, when the monarchy was abolished by the Indian government. After spending his final days in Bombay, he died on 26 April 1961. Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, faced significant political propaganda and opposition from various quarters during his reign, particularly in the years leading up to and following the Partition of India in 1947. The key sources of this opposition included both internal and external forces, each with their own motivations:1. Internal Opposition within Jammu and KashmirNational Conference: Sheikh Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, emerged as one of Maharaja Hari Singh’s staunchest critics. He opposed the Maharaja's autocratic rule and his reluctance to introduce democratic reforms. The National Conference advocated for more political rights and representation for the people of Kashmir, and under Sheikh Abdullah, they portrayed the Maharaja as out of touch with the common people, particularly the majority Muslim population.Discontent among the Muslim Majority: Hari Singh's rule was seen as heavily favoring the Dogra elite and the Hindu minority. The Muslim majority in Kashmir felt marginalized, and this created space for political groups like the Muslim Conference (which later became the National Conference) to accuse the Maharaja of religious discrimination and misgovernance.Quit Kashmir Movement (1946): Sheikh Abdullah and the National Conference launched the Quit Kashmir movement, which called for an end to Hari Singh’s rule. The movement was a direct challenge to the Maharaja’s authority and presented him as a feudal autocrat resistant to popular sovereignty.2. External Pressures and PropagandaIndian National Congress: Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi supported Sheikh Abdullah and the demand for political reforms in Kashmir. Nehru, particularly because of his Kashmiri roots and close ties to Sheikh Abdullah, was critical of the Maharaja's policies. The Congress portrayed Hari Singh as an impediment to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and as someone who was delaying the process of integration with India by not making a decision on the state’s accession.Muslim League: The All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also had its own propaganda against Hari Singh, but for different reasons. The League, which sought to include Kashmir in Pakistan, portrayed the Maharaja’s rule as oppressive toward Muslims. Jinnah, while promoting the two-nation theory, argued that Kashmir, being a Muslim-majority region, should naturally accede to Pakistan. The Muslim League's portrayal of Hari Singh focused on the religious divide, accusing him of being an oppressive Hindu ruler over a Muslim-majority state.3. Post-Partition PropagandaAccession to India: When Maharaja Hari Singh delayed his decision on whether to accede to India or Pakistan, both countries viewed his indecision with suspicion. After the tribal invasion supported by Pakistan in October 1947, and Hari Singh’s eventual decision to accede to India, Pakistan launched propaganda campaigns accusing the Maharaja of betraying the Kashmiri people and making the decision under duress.Indian Political Narratives: While India viewed Hari Singh’s accession as legitimate, some narratives in Indian political circles, particularly from Congress leaders, painted him as a reactionary monarch who was reluctant to embrace modern governance and democracy, thereby contributing to the instability in the region.4. Role of the BritishThe British also had a complex relationship with Hari Singh. While the British had generally supported the princely rulers in India, there were elements within the British administration who believed that the Maharaja was not capable of handling the political complexities of his state, particularly given the religious and political tensions brewing in Kashmir. The British propaganda often questioned Hari Singh’s ability to manage the delicate situation, though their direct influence diminished after 1947.Summary : Maharaja Hari Singh was portrayed in various negative lights depending on the perspective of the political actors. Internally, he was viewed as an autocratic ruler who resisted democratic reforms, particularly by the National Conference. Externally, both India and Pakistan had their own political narratives, with India seeing him as a reluctant but necessary ally, while Pakistan accused him of ruling unjustly over the Muslim population and manipulating the accession process. The interplay of internal dissent and external geopolitical pressure created an atmosphere of intense political propaganda against Hari Singh.