Hunza-Legal Status of Hunza - III

Hunza

Hunza is bounded on the north by Barber range, many lofty and snow clad peaks as high as 25,000 feet. It is situated 8,000 feet above sea level and can muster about five thousand fighting men fairly reliable in any emergency. The State had often been hostile to the Maharaja of Kashmir and had often made attacks on Gilgit, either in combination with Yasin or with some other petty states. But Ranbir Singh (1856-86 A.D) quelled the hostility and affected peace with the Raja of Hunza.

Sanad granted by His Highness, the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir to Mohammed Nazim Khan of Hunza.

Whereas the State of Hunza has recently been in armed rebellion against my authority, and whereas in consequence thereof, Raja Safdar Ali Khan, has justly forfeited any rights which he may have possessed as ruler of the State ;

And whereas the said Safdar Ali Khan has fled from Hunza, and has not returned or made submission to me or to the Government of India and whereas, I nevertheless desire to continue the Chiefship of the said State of Hunza in the person of a member of the ruling family of the said State;

Now, therefore, I have, with the approval and the authority of Governor General of India in Council, selected you, Mohammed Nazim Khan, to be ruler of the said State of Hunza.

The chiefship of the Hunza State will be hereditary in your family, will descend in the direct line by primogeniture provided that in each case the succession is approved by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir for the time being and by the Government of India.

An annual tribute of the following amounts, that is to say ; 25 tolas of gold, equal to 16 tolas and 5 mashas, will be paid by you and your successors to the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Further, you are informed that the permanence of this grant conveyed by the Sanad will depend upon the ready fulfilment by you and by your successors of all orders given by the Jammu and Kashmir State with regard to the conduct of relations between the State of Hunza and the States and tribes adjoining it, the administration of your territory , the prevention of raiding and man-stealing, the construction of roads through your country, the composition of such troops as you may be permitted to retain, and any other matters in which the Jammu and Kashmir State may be pleased to intervene. Be assured that so long as your house is loyal to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and to the British Government, and faithful to the conditions of the sanad, you and your successors will enjoy favour and protection.

The following treaty was affected in August, 1870 between the Mir and Kashmir Darbar :-

By the Holy Quran..........................

I am Raja Ghazan Khan son of Raja Ghazanfar Khan and grandson of the late Raja Saleem Khan of Hunza. Whereas my father late Ghazanfar Khan remained under the control of Kashmir from a long time, especially the deceased Raja was obedient to the Maharaja, I also agree to remain obedient and present the tribute in the same manner. Hence I on my own accord, without force or pressure, depute my motabir, Wazir Fazal Khan and accept the following terms:-

1. The following Nazrana will be paid by me to the Maharaja annually : 

Gold 12 Tolas

Horses 2

In return, a Khilat-Fakhira and 2,000 Srinagari coins will be granted to me and also a Khilat to my Wazir. 

The revenue of Chaprot, that has been fixed from old times will be paid annually at Gilgit.

One Motabir of mine will always remain present in Gilgit and he will be paid thirty rupees per month by the State and one Motamid will yearly present to the Maharaja the annual Nazrana.

The friends of the Maharaja will be my friends and his enemies will be my enemies.

If a force be required in Gilgit, I shall place my troops at the disposal of the Maharaja for service and I shall not spare any effort in doing the service.

As this agreement has been written, after swearing the Holy Quran, no change whatsoever will take place on my part.

The tribute was paid regularly. When Hari Singh ascended the throne the Mir at Hunza went personally to Srinagar to take part in the coronation. He offered some presents besides the stipulated tribute, and received a robe in return. Before Gilgit was leased out to the British in 1935, a procedure was adopted so that the Mir did not discontinue his offering of tribute to Kashmir Darbar. The Mir was also in receipt of a subsidy of Rs. 2,000/- a year from Kashmir Darbar.