On this day in 1792, Gulab Singh was born into a Dogra­Rajput family near Jammu, laying the foundation for a dramatic ascent that would reshape the Himalayan region.

He began his career as a soldier in the Sikh Empire, distinguishing himself in campaigns across Punjab and the hills. In 1822 he was formally installed as Raja of Jammu by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, marking the start of the Dogra ascendancy. 
Following the First Anglo-Sikh War, the British brokered the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, by which Gulab Singh acquired control of Kashmir, Ladakh and surrounding territories in exchange for 75 lakh rupees. Thus he became the first Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, navigating complex geography, diverse populations and trade routes to build his realm. 

Gulab Singh’s legacy is one of military acumen, shrewd diplomacy and institution-building - his reign laid the structural contours of a state whose significance continues to resonate in India’s history.