British Paramountcy in Kashmir, 1876-1894

Book excerpt: The British Considered India As 'The Brightest Jewel In The British Crown', Hence Were Very Solicitous Of Its Safety And Security. The Galloping Russian Empire Generated Fears Of Advancement Of Russia In Northern India. The Thinking In The Foreign Office Gained Ground That The Tight Control Over Kashmir Was The Only Panacia To Stem The Tide Of The Russian Expansion.The British Imperialists Realizing Their Folly In Selling Kashmir To Maharaja Gulabsingh In 1848 Tried To Bring It Under Their Sphere Of Influence By All Possible Means. But Because Of The Strong Personality Of Maharaja Ranbir Singh They Could Not Establish Their Agency In The Border Area Of Gilgit. The Death Of Maharaja Ranbir Singh Was A Windfall For Them. By Engineer¬Ing Court Intrigues Between Pratap Singh And Amar Singh For Succession To The Throne, They Managed To Depose Pratap Singh And Instal Amar Singh As The President Of The Council Which Ostensibly Was Working Under The Dictates Of President Through Fraud And Forgery.The Book Brings To Light The Machinations Employed By The British Rulers Of India In Maintaining Their Paramountcy Over The Princely States. It Therefore Constitutes A Valuable Addition To The History Of The British Rule In India.