Jamil Chughtai
Since the time unknown, the weaker humans had been subjected to physical, mental and psychological atrocities, humiliation and slavery by those whose decisions – right or wrong – really mattered at one particular time. History stands witness to the fact that the powerful entities, both individual as well as states, continued to enslave and barter the feeble ones as a disposable commodity, merely for their own personal gains, vested interests and self-aggrandizement. Today’s world boasts of having had eradicated the erstwhile evil practices of human slavery, yet the facts prove the international community wrong, as the modern-day slave-house with the name of Kashmir is perched on top of the hills.
Following the traditional slavery pattern of the time, a worst kind of human transaction was materialized couple of centuries back in 1846 in Amritsar through which millions of Kashmiris along with the province of Kashmir were sold out by the British East India Company to Maharaja Gulab Singh for measly 75 lakh rupees.
When the pages of history are flipped over, it transpires that after defeating the forces of Lahore (Sikh) Durbar, the British Government threatened to take over all the areas of the vanquished adversary unless they pay indemnification for the expenses of the war to the tune of one-and-a-half crore rupees. Since the then Lahore Government, under seven-year old Maharaja Duleep Singh, stood unable to pay the whole of that sum, the British Government, acknowledging the collaboratory services rendered by Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu during the war with Lahore Durbar, agreed to transfer (read sell) all the public and territorial rights of Kashmir to Raja Gulab Singh. The deal finalized for seventy-five lakh (Nanakshahi) rupees paid by Raja Gulab Sigh, and with it recognizing his independent sovereignty in both Jammu & Kashmir.
The Amritsar Treaty was signed on March 16, 1846, between the British East India Company and Gulab Singh Dogra to formalize the arrangements which were made in a peace treaty at the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War. In the articles three and four of that peace treaty which is commonly known as the “Treaty of Lahore”, Sikhs (Lahore Government) agreed upon ceding all their forts and territories situated between the rivers Beas and Sutlej. They agreed upon paying one and half crore (15 million) of Rupees as war expenses in reparations, and in case they were unable to pay this amount, they agreed, ceding all their forts and territories in the hill countries situated between the Rivers Beas and Indus, including the provinces of Cashmere (Kashmir) and Hazarah. The 10 articles of treaty are also worth looking into as each of them affirmed the British supremacy over Maharaja Gulab besides demanding unconditional allegiance of the buyer to the Empire in return for this cheep dole-out.
Article 1. The British Government transfers and makes over for ever in independent possession to Maharajah Gulab Singh and the heirs male of his body all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including ‘Chamba’ and excluding ‘Lahol’, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State.
Article 2. The eastern boundary of the tract transferred by the foregoing article to Maharajah Gulab Singh shall be laid down by the Commissioners appointed by the British Government and Maharajah Gulab Singh respectively for that purpose and shall be defined in a separate engagement after survey.
Article 3. In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing article Maharajah Gulab Singh will pay to the British Government the sum of seventy-five lakhs of rupees, fifty lakhs to be paid on or before the 1st October of the current year, AD 1846.
Article 4. The limits of territories of Maharajah Gulab Singh shall not be at any time changed without concurrence of the British Government.
Article 5. Maharajah Gulab Singh will refer to the arbitration of the British Government any disputes or question that may arise between himself and the Government of Lahore or any other neighboring State, and will abide by the decision of the British Government.
Article 6. Maharajah Gulab Singh engages for himself and heirs to join, with the whole of his Military Forces, the British troops when employed within the hills or in the territories adjoining his possessions.
Article 7. Maharajah Gulab Singh engages never to take to retain in his service any British subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government.
Article 8. Maharajah Gulab Singh engages to respect in regard to the territory transferred to him, the provisions of Articles V, VI and VII of the separate Engagement between the British Government and the Lahore Durbar, dated 11th March, 1846.
Article 9. The British Government will give its aid to Maharajah Gulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.
Article 10. Maharajah Gulab Singh acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government and will in token of such supremacy present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female) and three pairs of Cashmere shawls.
Coming back to the present time, the same Kashmir and Kashmiri people are still bearing the brunt of that slavish-contract which sold them out for one horse, twelve goats and three pairs of Cashmere shawls along with petty cash of 75 lakh rupees. Would the miseries of servitude, poverty and deprivation, and above all the atrocities they have been subjected to for the last 170 years ever end? Who to decide; none else but the Kashmiris themselves. Could it be now or never for them? Could the British people repent their ‘sins of past’ against humanity in Kashmir and do some good for future?
