| Sir Hari Singh Bahadur | |
|---|---|
 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 | (1895-09-00)September 1895 Jammu,Jammu and Kashmir,British India (present-dayJammu and Kashmir, India) |
| Died | 26 April 1961(1961-04-26) (aged 65) Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai) |
| Spouses | |
| Issue | Karan Singh |
| House | Dogra |
| Father | Amar Singh |
| Mother | Bhotiali Chib |
| Religion | Hinduism[2] |
Sir Hari Singh BahadurGCSI GCIE GCVO (September 1895 – 26 April 1961) was the last rulingMaharaja of theprincely state ofJammu and Kashmir of theDogra dynasty.[3]
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. AfterIndian Independence in 1947, Singh wanted Jammu and Kashmir to remain as an independent kingdom. He acceded to theDominion of India to get the support of Indian troops against an invasion by tribal armed men and thePakistan 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 inBombay, he died on 26 April 1961.
Singh was a controversial ruler. He faced anagitation in Kashmir in 1931 and successful rebellionsin Poonch andGilgit-Baltistan in 1947. He was complicit in the1947 Jammu massacres.[4]
Hari Singh was born in theDogra Rajput royal family in September 1895 at theAmar Mahal, Palace, Jammu. He was the only surviving son of Raja Amar Singh,[5] the brother of MaharajaPratap Singh, then theMaharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Since the Maharaja had no issue, Hari Singh washeir presumptive to the throne of Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1903, Hari Singh served as apage of honour toLord Curzon at the grandDelhi Durbar. At the age of 13, he was sent toMayo College inAjmer. A year later, in 1909, his father died and the British took a keen interest in his education, appointing Major H. K. Barr as his guardian. After Mayo College, Hari Singh went to the British-runImperial Cadet Corps atDehradun for military training.[6]
He was appointed the commander-in-chief of theState Forces in 1915 by Maharaja Pratap Singh.[7] In the 1918 New Year's Honours list, he was appointed aKnight Commander of theOrder of the British Empire (KBE).[8]
Hari Singh made history by boarding theSS Loyalty,[9] owned byScindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd., which departed fromBombay on 5 April 1919—the first international voyage by an Indian-flagged merchant ship to theUnited Kingdom. This milestone is commemorated annually inIndia asNational Maritime Day since 1964.[10] Hari Singh disembarked atMarseille and took a train to Paris, where he stayed for a few days before arriving in the U.K. on 29 May 1919. He was first received byKing George V atSandringham House, a monarch he had initially met during theDelhi Durbar Coronation,[11] initially he stayed at theHyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge. In August, at theDublin Horse Show, he spent £950,000 purchasing racehorses and ponies, hired well trained staff fromCounty Kildare to tend to them—all of which were later sent to Kashmir. In September, he took up residence atDouglas Castle inLanarkshire,Scotland, where he hosted refined hunting gatherings and tested his newly acquired automobiles for speed and endurance. Among the three high-powered cars he had earlier procured in London was a 60 kW all-electricRolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a symbol of both innovation and prestige before eventually settling at27 Curzon Street in Mayfair for the winter.[12] On 12 December 1919, Hari Singh was received by the thenPrince of Wales (laterKing Edward VIII) atSt James's Palace during his study tour, which focused on understanding the functioning of government, particularly in the areas of transport, industry, education and sanitation.[13][14]He later returned to India fromMarseille on 28 March 1920, eventually reachingKashmir in May 1920.[15]
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In March 1922, thePrince of Wales undertook a reciprocal visit toKashmir, arriving by train in Jammu on the 2nd. He was received at therailway station by Maharaja Pratap Singh and Raja Hari Singh, and was then escorted to the Maharaja's cantonment camp at Satwari, as Jammu city was in the grip of a plague outbreak. After traveling through the region, he concluded his journey through the princely state and reachedPeshawar by the 6th of March.[16][17]
Following the death of his unclePratap Singh on 23 September 1925, Hari Singh served as the second Prime Minister (1925–1926) ofJammu and Kashmir. Hari Singh ascended the throne of Jammu and Kashmir in February 1926 under British intervention, who overruled Pratap Singh's choice of an adopted son,Raja Jagat Dev Singh ofPoonch.[18][19]
Hari Singh's coronation from 22 to 28 February 1926 was divided into two separate ceremonies - the first few days for the religious ceremonies and official programme in the latter part was set aside for hosting the European attendees.[20]
After becoming the ruler, Hari Singh conducted free elections and formed the Praja SabhaJammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to rule with laws implemented underRanbir Penal Code (R.P.C) which Praja Sabha decreed.[21] In April 1932, as per recommendations of the Glancy Commission, the Praja Sabha was established, made up of 75 members – 12 government officials, 16 state councillors, 14 nominated, and 33 elected (21 Muslims, 10 Hindus and 2 Sikhs). By September 1934 the elected members started making laws under the Praja Sabha which made Jammu and Kashmir a forerunner state for other Princely Indian States.[22][23] On 7 September 1939 Maharaja Hari Singh and his law and Revenue Minister, Justice Sir Lal Gopal Mukherjee, a former judge of the Allahabad high court (1926–1934) who had served the state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1935 to 1940, produced a written constitution for Jammu and Kashmir which was the "pioneer" in the annals of Asia's constitutional history; despite the fact that it was anything but a people-friendly "Magna Carta" for the state.[24]He made primary education compulsory in the state, introduced laws prohibiting child marriage, and opened places of worship to lowcaste subjects.[25]
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In 1930, Hari Singh attended theFirst Round Table Conference in London. He suggested that the IndianPrincely states should join an "All India Federation" and pleaded for equal status for Indians in the British Commonwealth of Nations.[26] While replying to the inaugural address byKing-Emperor George V, Hari Singh said:
I must express our deep gratitude to His Most Gracious Majesty for the cordial welcome tendered to us and I pray that providence may grant us the vision and the will to realize the hopes expressed in the inspiring words uttered this morning by our beloved Emperor. This is the first occasion on which the Princes of India meet in person at a Conference Table along with the representatives of British India and His Majesty's Government to discuss the political future of India. ... I feel deeply gratified at the progress which has been made with the scheme of an All-India Federation as worked out in the Report of the Federal Structure Sub-Committee. But ever since the idea of a Federation was taken up in this Conference, some surprise has been expressed in various quarters in India and in England at the willingness of the Princes to join an All-India Federation. It is said that Princes have forced the pace and that in any case they should have opposed a Federation with British India. I have never disguised from my friends, my warm support of the idea of an All-India Federation.[26]
In 1947, after India gained independence from British rule, Jammu and Kashmir had the option of joining one of the new dominions, India and Pakistan, or remaining independent. Hari Singh opted to remain independent for the immediate future since the dominions were beset withpartition violence and he needed time to weigh the options in the context of his Muslim-majority population. He signed astandstill agreement with Pakistan on 14 August 1947 and urged India to do the same, but India did not comply.[27] On 6 October 1947, he faced anarmed uprising in Poonch instigated by theMuslim Conference party, followed by Pakistan-backedPashtun tribal invasion at Muzaffarabad on 22 October 1947.[28]
After attack Hari Singh appealed to India for help following the invasion.[29] India's BritishGovernor-General,Lord Mountbatten, advised the Maharaja to accede to India before India could send its troops. The Maharaja signed theInstrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, joining the princely state to theDominion of India.[30][31][32] India sent troops to repel the invaders, which soon evolved into thefirst Indo-Pakistan War.
Pressure from Prime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru and Deputy Prime MinisterVallabhbhai Patel eventually compelled Singh to appoint his son and heir,Yuvraj (Crown Prince)Karan Singh, as Prince Regent of Jammu and Kashmir in 1949, although he remained the titular Maharaja of the state until 1952 when the monarchy was abolished by Nehru's government. He was also forced to appoint the popular Kashmiri leaderSheikh Abdullah as the prime minister of Kashmir. He had a contentious relationship with both Nehru and Abdullah.[33] Karan Singh was appointed 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' ('Head of State') in 1952 andGovernor of the State in 1964.[33]
In 1944, Maharaja Hari Singh had the honour of meetingWinston Churchill in England, for three months he attended several official meetings and inspected wartime efforts. His return journey in June took him throughIran aboard hisAvro Anson, where units of theJ&K State Forces were stationed, he was warmly welcomed in Srinagar by representatives of both major political parties — theAll Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and theJammu & Kashmir National Conference;Sheikh Abdullah garlanded him and presented theNew Kashmir draft. That same year, the National Conference adopted the manifesto with mass public support, whileJinnah's attempt to sway Abdullah toward the two-nation theory failed.[34]
After signing the instrument of accession with India, Hari Singh was banished from Jammu and Kashmir. He departed from Jammu on April 28, 1949, for New Delhi and never came back again, there on June 9, 1949, he signed a proclamation appointing his 18-year-old son, Yuvraj Karan Singh, as the Regent of Jammu and Kashmir. On June 20, 1949, his son arrived in Jammu as Regent, while the Maharaja left for Bombay the same day and settled there for the rest of his life.[35]
Maharaja Hari Singh's letter to PresidentRajendra Prasad dated 16–17 August 1952 from exile inPoona, poured out his anguish, a passionate defence of his legacy, an indictment of broken promises, and a plea for justice amidst political betrayal.[36]
He died on 26 April 1961, after fourteen years of banishment. As per his will, Hari Singh's ashes were flown to Jammu in a chartered plane, scattered across Jammu and Kashmir, and immersed in the Tawi River at Jammu, with funds he had personally allocated for the purpose.[37][38][36]
After abdicating, Singh moved to Bombay with a $100,000 annual allowance and raised polo ponies. He famously kept one apartment under constant construction, fearing a prophecy that he'd die once it was finished.[39]
Public Utilities bearing his name
Commercial places bearing his name
Maharaja Hari Singh, aged 24, on his maiden visit to Europe in 1919, unfamiliar with Western settings, fell victim to a "love trap" during his visit to Europe, where he was lured into a compromising situation by not so attractive woman named Maudie Robinson. The encounter was used for blackmail to avoid citation in a divorce case, reportedly with the silent support of British officials, leading to a demand for a large sum of money. A discreet settlement was ensured so that the incident never reaches court or subjects. A similar case involved MaharajaSayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, who also faced scandal during a European trip, highlighting how Indian royals were vulnerable to such schemes abroad.[67]
On 27 December 1919, Hari Singh handed over two cheques, B204561 and B204562[68] totalling £300,000 (roughly £14,500,000 today) to his Irishaide-de-camp (ADC), Captain Charles William Augustus Arthur, who, in conspiracy with English criminals—Monty Newton, a notorious card sharp, and William Cooper Hobbs, a corrupt solicitor's clerk and the so-called "Mr Big" of London's underworld—betrayed and defrauded him.[69]
As the real criminal conspiracy was orchestrated by others, Maudie Robinson's real husband demanded money taken under his name under threat of scandal. The case, Charles Ernest Robinson vMidland Bank, was heard in the King's Bench Division of theRoyal Courts of Justice on 19 November 1924, presided over byLord Justice Darling. Robinson's lawyers, son ofLord Halsbury and John Paul Valetta, alleged that they had received only £21,000 from an out of court settlements, claiming they had been unfairly deprived of the remainder by the bank. During the eight days of proceedings, efforts were made by theIndia Office to keep a certain individual's identity confidential by referring to him as "Mr. A." In court,Lord John Simon—representing the Midland Bank—vigorously defended the institution. Eventually, the truth emerged in court with the inputs fromScotland Yard detective Percy J. Smith.[70][7] The court ruled in favor of the Bank, despite the jury exonerating Mr. Charles Earnest Robinson and Mrs. Maudie Robinson of conspiracy, stating that no one—innocent or not—can claim proceeds from a theft. So, Robinson lost the case even though he was found innocent of the conspiracy.[71]
The courtroom proceedings drew massive public interest, with people queuing from early morning and the courtroom packed to the extent that witnesses struggled to reach the stand. Major newspapers likeThe Times andThe Daily Telegraph dedicated full pages daily to the case, highlighting its sensational nature. Media magnates likeLord Beaverbrook and SirEdward Hulton were reportedly stunned by how publicly the dramatic events unfolded. During the trial, Sir Hari was often described as an eastern potentate, and suspicion extended to all Asian royalty, who were seen as opposing secrecy.[72]
The name of Mr. A's ADC was revealed after his arrest on 2 December, awaiting trials inPalais de Justice, imprisoned atLa Santé prison (France), but Mr. A's identity remained a secret despite wide speculation in Paris. On 3 December 1924, the India Office finally permitted the disclosure of his name. It was first announced on the London radio station2LO, which interrupted its music programme for the news.[73][74][75][76] India Office in Britain decided to close the files for a hundred years rather than the usual thirty years as the case involved espionage.[77]Daily News,Petit Journal,[78]News of the World,The People investigated developments, verified backgrounds, and tracked case proceedings.[73]On 4 December 1924,Daily Express (UK),Daily Chronicle (UK) andDaily Herald (UK);The Cairns Post (Australia) andNorthern Star (Australia) on 5 December 1924,Time magazine on 15 December 1924,Kingston Gleaner (Jamaica) on 16 December 1924, all published reports revealing the official identification of Maharaja Hari Singh as the central figure in the sensational blackmail case.[79][80][81]
On 19 December 1924, Hari Singh was in Kashmir, recovering from a serious leg injury caused by a tobogganing accident. Around the same time, he fell into deep depression due to the "Mr A Case" and was reluctant to travel to London to give evidence. On Christmas Day 1924,Lord Reading noted Hari Singh's remorse and that his uncle, the Maharaja of Kashmir, had refused his resignation and granted him two to three months' leave to recover his mental balance.[82]
Time magazine revisited the scandal on May 5, 1961, after Maharaja Hari Singh's death, portraying it as an enduring stain on his legacy. The article suggested that his naivety, combined with betrayal and disloyalty from those he trusted most, shaped his suspicious nature. Over time, this lack of trust in both India and Pakistan may have played a role in laying the groundwork for the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir.[83]
He was one ofRolls-Royce's most valued clients, eventually acquiring at least 26 of the marque's cars over the years, which includedRolls-Royce Phantom I 17EX[84]
Despite having a $10 million annual income, a silver-platedAvro Anson[85] 18C VT plane in which he travelled duringWorld War II, and a Versace styled palace in Srinagar—now a luxurious hotel[86]—Sir Hari lived in opulence.[87]
Singh married four times as he faced disturbances in his private life. Two of his wives died childless and a third Rajasthani bride was sent back with honour, to her parents' house as the couple could not establish an emotional connection.[88] Also, Hari Singh faced political and domestic conspiracies at this time and thought it appropriate to send back the third wife to safety. With his last wife,Tara Devi Sahiba ofKangra, he had a son,Karan Singh.[89]
| No. | Name | Date of marriage | Fate of marriage | Issue and fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rani Sri Lal Kunverba Sahiba | 7 May 1913 | Ended with her death | Died during pregnancy in 1915. No issue. |
| 2 | Rani Sahiba Chamba | 8 November 1915 | Ended with her death | Died 31 January 1920. No issue. |
| 3 | Maharani Dhanvant Kunveri Baiji Sahiba | 30 April 1923 | Ended | Died young. No issue. |
| 4 | Maharani Tara Devi Sahiba of Kangra | 1928 | Separated | Separated in 1950. Died in 1967. Mother ofKaran Singh |
As Maharaja, Hari Singh's full style was:
Lieutenant-General His Highness Raj Rajeshwar Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Shri Hari Singhji Bahadur Indar Mahindar, Sipar-i-Saltanat-i-Inglishia, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, LLD
Delhi Durbar Medal
Delhi Durbar Medal
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) (KCIE in 1918)
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Crown of Italy
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George VI Coronation Medal
Grand Officer of theLegion d'Honneur
1939–1945 Star
Africa Star
War Medal 1939–1945
India Service Medal
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) (KCVO in 1922)
Indian Independence Medal
Hari Singh Born: September 1895 Died: 26 April 1961 | ||
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| Preceded by Pratap Singh (as Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir) | Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir 1925–1952 | Succeeded by |
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