This is the first comprehensive, detailed and bold biography of Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir. This authoritative and uniquely insightful biography explores the fascinating public and private life of this man of character in all its human complexity. He compels our admiration because even in the turbulent decades, he enthusiastically enough streamlined the whole government set up, cleared the aegean stables and brought improvement in all other aspects in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh’s life reads like a Greek tragedy besieged by outer and inner conflicts. No doubt, he was not assassinate directly like Caesar by the conspirators but he was injured and humiliated, harassed and abused and made to abdicate unceremoniously and forced to leave his home and hearth in a shabby manner, never to return. The book is vivid, penetrating and wholly absorbing to look at the book protoganists-Maharaja and the Sheikh and the horrors and miseries of the people. There are many characters who have been delineated with skill. All the characters and events appear alive. The turbulent and strife-torn times in Jammu and Kashmir’s history are narrated with vividness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Somnath Wakhlu
Professor Somnath Wakhlu, born at Srinagar in Kashmir, spent his life both in Jammu and Kashmir and got steeped in Dogri as well as Kashmiri history and culture. He was elected as Secretary of the Historical Society, Srinagar and Secretary of the Philosophical Association, Srinagar. After his superannuation as Professor of English Literature, he was appointed as Head (Founder) Librarian-cum-Curator of the Amar Mahal Library and Museum, Jammu. He continues to be Emeritus Curator-cum-Librarian and is engaged in doing reseaerh in Dogri History and Culture. He has contributed about three hundred articles and papers on variuos subjects to newspapers and magazines and has written reviews on books of eminent scholars. He has contributed six articles to the Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature published by the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi. Prof. Wakhlu has authored several books. His magnum opus is 'Habba Khatton', the Nightingale of Kashmir. His another book, 'The Rich Heritage of Jammu and Kashmir' was also very well received. Prof. Wakhlu is a member of 'The Fame', a society of free-lance journalists and member of 'Art Heritage', a registered organisation, and advisor to 'The Individuals', a society of articles. He is also a member of ALFA, an association of litterateurs, artists and intellectuals.
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