British Policy Towards Kashmir 1846-1946

The nineteenth century has been an eventful century in the history of British India. Events not only in India but also in Europe towards the close of the 18th century largely shaped the policy of the then British Government in India. They took active steps to maintain this precious colonial possession of theirs. Hostility between the European powers found their expression in India resulting in the overall supremacy of the British as the rulers of India. In the history of 19th century British India, Kashmir occupied a very strategic position. Czarist Russia had her covetous eyes on Kashmir whose conquest would give her an opportunity to directly confront the British in India. This logistical reality was realized by the British very early and she went all out to maintain at any cost Kashmir as a buffer state against Russian designs.

This is the first diplomatic history of Kashmir written after a deep study of original archives, housed in India and abroad.

In 1969 he was invited by several Japanese Universities to give extension lectures on Buddhist culture and history. Since then he has visited various cities in Asia and Europe and has given lectures on history, culture and Sufism. He is a recipient of several degrees and awards from various institutions in India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico. He was granted the title of Rastra Sanskrit Samrat or the Emperor of National Culture in 1987. The Jammu and Kashmir government has bestowed upon him the prestigious lifetime achievement award on January 25, 2009.

He is the author of about two dozen books on history, culture and mysticism which have been published in India, UK, Russia, Italy, and USA.

He lives with his wife at 32, Dastgir Villa, Umer Enclave, Parray Pora, Baghat, Airport road, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

Sufi mystic Haji Fida Mohammad Khan Hassnain was born in the year 1924 at Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Having graduated from the University of Punjab, Lahore he completed his post graduation in history and law at the Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He started his career as a professor of history in SP College, Stringer, Kashmir, 1947. Later he joined the national archives of India, New Delhi and obtained diploma in archives. He was promoted by government of India as the Director of Archives, Archeology, Research and Museums in 1953 and continued as such as till his retirement in 1983. He is credited with the having salvaged hundreds of manuscripts in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and Urdu by preserving this heritage in the oriental research libraries and the three archives repositories at Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar.

In 1969 he was invited by several Japanese Universities to give extension lectures on Buddhist culture and history. Since then he has visited various cities in Asia and Europe and has given lectures on history, culture and Sufism. He is a recipient of several degrees and awards from various institutions in India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico. He was granted the title of Rastra Sanskrit Samrat or the Emperor of National Culture In 1987. The Jammu and Kashmir government has bestowed upon him the prestigious lifetime achievement award on January 25, 2009.

He is the author of about two dozen books on history, culture and mysticism which have been published in India, UK, Russia, Italy, Spain and USA.

He lives with his wife at 32, Dastgir Villa, Umer Enclave, Parray Pora, Baghat, Airport road, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

**Contents and Sample Pages**