when Kashmiri was sold for 7.50 Rupees (World's worst ever Human Trafficking )

Human trafficking is the trade in humans or their organs. From the beginning of the civilization the dominant society would buy poor people for their household jobs, Sex, Agriculture etc. From the ancient Greek and Romans of the medieval times and even today there trade is still flourishing.

  Although slavery existed before the 1400, as Arab before Islam used to buy black Africans in terms of Money. The 1400s marked the start of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves. In 1562, the British joined in on the slave trade in Africa. 1600s, other countries became more involved in the European slave trade. These included Spain, North America, Holland, France, Sweden, and Denmark (Agatucci). Modern America also has a rich history of Human Trafficking.

 Though history is full of events narrating incidents of human trafficking, Historians seems not interested in narrating one of the worst ever human trafficking incident that happened in 1846, when East India Company sold Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh Dogra for Ruppes 75 lakhs (7.5 million) of Nanak Shahi rupees (the ruling currency of Punjab). A Human was sold for 7.5 rupees.  Gulab Singh acquired "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 Lahul. It is famous by the name of Treaty of Amritsar.

  The Treaty of Amritsar was signed on March 16, 1846, to settle a dispute over territory in Kashmir after the First Sikh war with the United Kingdom, ceding some land to Maharaja Ghulab Singh Dogra. Based on the provisions of the treaty, Ghulab Singh acquired the lands "River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi including Chamba. Ghulab Singh was to pay 7.0 million Nanak Shahi rupees  to the British Government as the price for the cessation along with other annual tributes. The Treaty of Amritsar marked the beginning of Dogra rule in Kashmir .

Ghulab Singh who conquered Ladakh and Dardistan in 1840. Poonch remained with his brother Dhyan Singh. Ghulab Singh betrayed and helped the British to defeat Ranjit Singh. British demanded a heavy fine to relinquish Kashmir. Ghulab Singh offered to pay and Kashmir was sold to him for Rs 75,000 Nanak Shahi (the ruling currency of Punjab) Rupees one horse, 12 goats and three shawls. One shawl and 100 goats also to be given every year otherwise Kashmir would revert back to the British.. This became the famous Treaty of Amritsar.

   The Dogra rule in Kashmir is thought to be one of the darkest periods in Kashmir's history. In this period the people of Kashmir have suffered a lot at the hands of Dogra rulers. Dogra Rulers forced Kashmiri people 'Beggar' or for free labour and Muslims were executed for slaughter Cow.

The 10 Articles/Conditions of Treaty of Amritsar

ARTICLE I

The British Government transfers and makes over, for ever, in independent possession, to Maharaja Ghulab Singh and heirs male of his body, all the hilly or mountainous country, with its dependencies situated to the Eastward of the river, Indus and Westward of the river Ravi, including Chamba and excluding Lahol, being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State according to the provisions of Article IV of the Treaty of Lahore dated 9th March 1846 A.D.

ARTICLE II

The Eastern boundary of the tract transferred by the foregoing Article to Maharaja Ghulab Singh shall be laid down by commissioners appointed by the British Government and Maharaja Ghulab Singh respectively for that purpose and shall be defined in a separate engagement after survey.

ARTICLE III

In consideration of the transfer made to him and his heirs by the provisions of the foregoing Articles, Maharaja Ghulab Singh will pay to the British Government the sum of seventy five Lakhs of rupees (Nanakshahi), fifty Lakhs to be paid on ratification of this treaty and twenty-five Lakhs on or before the 1st October of the current year, 1846 A.D.

ARTICLE IV

The limits of the territories of Maharaja Ghulab Singh shall not be at any time changed without the concurrence of the British Government.

ARTICLE V

Maharaja Ghulab Singh will refer to the Arbitration of the British Government any disputes or questions that may arise between him and the Government of the Lahore or any other neighbouring State and will abide by the decision of the British Government.

ARTICLE VI

Maharaja Ghulab Singh engages for himself and his heirs to join with the whole of his military forces, the British troops when employed in the hills or in the territories adjoining his possessions.

ARTICLE VII

Maharaja Ghulab Singh engages never to take or retain in his service any British subject nor the subject nor the subject of any European or American State without the consent of the British Government.

ARTICLE VIII

Maharaja Ghulab Singh engages to respect, in regard to the territory transferred to him, the provisions of the Articles, V, VI, VII of the separate engagement between the British Government and the Lahore Darbar, dated 11th March, 1846 A.D.

ARTICLE IX

The British Government will give its aid to Maharaja Ghulab Singh in protecting his territories from external enemies.

ARTICLE X

Maharaja Ghulab Singh Acknowledges the supremacy of the British Government and will in token of such supremacy present annually to the British Government one horse, twelve perfect shawl goats of approved breed (six male and six female) and three pairs of Kashmiri shawls.

This Treaty consisting of the above Articles has been this day settled by Frederic Currie Esq. and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence, acting under the directions of the Right Honorable Sir Henry Harding, and by maharaja Ghulab Singh in person and the said Treaty has been this day ratified by the seal of the Right Honorable Sir Henry Harding, G.C.B., Governor General.

Done at Amritsar this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord, 1846, corresponding with the seventeenth day Rabi-ul-Awwal 1264 Hijri.

H. Harding

Maharaja Ghulab Singh

F. Currie H. M. Lawrence

By order of the Right Honourable the Government of India

F. Currie

Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General

Kashmiri people are sleeping since the capture of Yusuf Shah Chak till today. Kashmiri people even do not know their own history. 

The above is purely for Educational & Research purpose. I don’t represent any Political aspect or Party.

.. Shadab Ibn Hasan