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Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)

Princely state in South Asia (1846–1947)

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Through Princely state, Company rule in India and Indian Independence Act 1947

At the time of the partition of India and the political integration of India, Hari Singh, the ruler of the state, delayed making a decision about the future of his state. However, an uprising in the western districts against Hari Singh supported by informal militias from the neighbouring Northwest Frontier Province, and the Pakistani army personnel, forced his hand. On 26 October 1947, Hari Singh acceded to India in return for the Indian military being airlifted to Kashmir to counter the invasion by tribal militias from Pakistan, which were assisted by the Pakistani government and military leadership. The western and northern districts now known as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan passed to the control of Pakistan with the support of Gilgit Scouts, while the remaining territory stayed under Indian control, later becoming the Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir. India and Pakistan defined a cease-fire line dividing the administration of the territory with the intercession of the United Nations which was supposed to be temporary but still persists.

Administration

According to the census reports of 1911, 1921 and 1931, the administration was organised as follows:

  • Jammu province: Districts of Jammu, Jasrota (Kathua), Udhampur, Reasi and Mirpur.
  • Kashmir province: Districts of Kashmir South (Anantnag), Kashmir North (Baramulla) and Muzaffarabad.
  • Frontier districts: Wazarats of Ladakh and Gilgit.
  • Internal jagirs: Poonch, Bhaderwah and Chenani.

In the 1941 census, further details of the frontier districts were given:

  • Ladakh wazarat: Tehsils of Leh, Skardu and Kargil.
  • Gilgit wazarat: Tehsils of Gilgit and Astore
  • Frontier illaqas: (under the Gilgit Agency) Punial, Ishkoman, Yasin, Kuh-Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar, Chilas.

Prime ministers of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir (1917–1947)

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