The Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915)/Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja of
Jamm and Kashmir, Maharaja of; H.H. Maharaja Major-General Sir Pratap Singh Bahadur, Indra Mahruda Bahadur Sipar-i-Saltanat, G.C.S.I. (1892) G.C.I.E. (1911); e.s. of Maharaja Ranvir Singh, and g.s. of late Maharaja Ghulab Singh, founder of the dynasty; b, 1850; succeeded to gaddi, 1885; educ: privately in Sanskrit; has acquired knowledge of law, science, and medicine; received practical training in the administration by working in the Revenue, Judicial and Military departments of the State; relinquished his share in the administration, 1887; became President of the State Council, 1901; invested with full powers 1905; introduced reforms in all branches of the administration; carried out railway extensions and works of public utility such as, waterworks in the towns of Jammu and Srinagar, provision of electrical installation for lighting Srinagar, construction of canals, opening of roads, etc.; maintains a first grade College, a High, Primary and Middle Schools; sent troops to help the British Government for the Black Maintain and the Tirah Expeditions; Major-General, 1896; maintains a force of about 8,000 Infantry and Cavalry and 288 guns; is entitled to a salute of 21 guns within his own territories and 19 guns outside; is an orthox Hindu and is greatly intorested in the cause of education among the Rajputs; area of the State, 88,000 square miles; population, over 2,000,000. Recreations: Cricket, swimming, wrestling, horsemanship, and religious discussion. Address: Kashmir, Punjab, India.