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.