Reassessing the Socio-Economic Transformation and Challenges in Kashmir under Sikh Rule

Dr. Hareet Kumar Meena

Durrani Empire, Ranjit Singh, Land Revenue, Famine, Migration

The period of Sikh rule in Kashmir (1819-46) represents a complex and often paradoxical chapter in the history of Kashmir. When the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh wrested control of the Kashmir Valley from the Afghan administration, many inhabitants initially viewed the change as a moment of relief. The preceding decades under the Durrani Empire, founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, had been marked by instability, heavy taxation and widespread hardship. The arrival of a new power thus carried with it the hope of stability, justice and economic recovery. Yet, as Sikh rule unfolded, it became clear that while political authority had changed, many structural challenges persisted and, in some cases, intensified. The socio-economic conditions of Kashmir during this period were shaped by a combination of administrative priorities, fiscal demands and evolving global connections. This era cannot be reduced to a simple narrative of decline or progress; rather, it reflects a layered reality where hardship coexisted with limited transformation. This article examines the socio-economic landscape of Kashmir under Sikh rule, focusing on agrarian conditions, taxation policies, trade and industry, social hierarchies and the lived experiences of the population.

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"Reassessing the Socio-Economic Transformation and Challenges in Kashmir under Sikh Rule", JETNR - JOURNAL OF EMERGING TRENDS AND NOVEL RESEARCH (www.JETNR.org), ISSN:2984-9276, Vol.4, Issue 4, page no.b103-b108, April-2026, Available :https://rjpn.org/JETNR/papers/JETNR2604138.pdf

Volume 4 Issue 4, April-2026

Pages : b103-b108

Paper Reg. ID: JETNR_233623

Published Paper Id: JETNR2604138

Downloads: 00039

Research Area: Arts All

Country: -, -, India

Published Paper PDF: https://rjpn.org/JETNR/papers/JETNR2604138

Published Paper URL: https://rjpn.org/JETNR/viewpaperforall?paper=JETNR2604138

ISSN: 2984-9276 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.87 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2023

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.87 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

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