Thought based mostly on the secondary works, books on the political history of the State from the time it was founded in 1846 to its accession in 1948, are galore. But the study of Socio-economic history has practically been neglected. Still more distressing is the fact that evens those few scholars who have lifted their pen to write on it, have done so with a jaundiced eye and on the basis of only a fraction of the available material. As a result, the readers have formed a number of false and misconceived notions about the men who ruled, their motives and the outcome of what they did. The present work is the result of about six years labour of love without prejudice against any region, religion and race, and is expected to promote harmony between all the people of the State by apprising them with the factual events that took place from 1885 to 1925, notwithstanding any difference of opinion an interpretation. Yet another purpose of the book is to assist the policy makers for the greater good of the greater number of people by highlighting the country and people's potential as well as prejudices and other failings which impeded in the past their progress in such important fields of activity as health, sanitation, education, agriculture and industry, besides other.

There has existed enough material for the writing of history in our country, and many scholars have been making their contribution in this field from time immemorial. But the methodology adopted by them was defective in many respects. The myths and legends, for instance, were not always distinguished from historical facts. Some-times, they treated the historical events merely as a means of religious propaganda or as background for the display of their poetical skill. The same is true of Kalhana and many other great historians of Kashmir. While the basic value of their works cannot be underestimated, all of them need a highly critical examination with a view to getting at the truth and writing a reliable history of early Kashmir. The present work is an attempt in this direction. No doubt some other scholars also have done likewise, and successfully, there is still scope for further work. In fact, the source material is so vast and varied that only a few selected topics have been included even in this volume, and it is hoped that these would enthuse other scholars to undertake further research on the history and culture of Kashmir, which would definitely prove rewarding.

The present book is devoted to the study of the Indian National Movement and its impact on the Indian States, which formed a separate and indeed the more oppressed part of the British colonial empire in India. An attempt has been made to trace the course of the Indian Struggle against the British and their princely protectorates in the states. The book brings to light hitherto unknown events about the partition of India and the integration of the states. A separate and detailed treatment has been given to the Muslim movement in India and the Indian States, an aspect of the Indian National Movement which has received much less attention than it has deserved. The book attempts to present a coherent account of the struggle for Indian unity and independence in the British India as well as the Indian States. The book also elaborately deals with the developments in the states on the eve of the transfer of power in India and the role of the states people's movements in the eventual integration of the States with India.

The struggle for freedom in India and the Indian States was committed to the realization of the freedom of India from the British rule and the unity of the Indian people. It was also committed to political change, aimed to reconstitute India into a self-governing, democratic and secular state. It was also committed to social reform and economic reorganization, which ensured the Indian people, equality, liberty and freedom and protection against discrimination. An attempt has been made in the book to analyse the value-structures and belief system, which formed the bases of the objectives and processes of change, the national movement, aimed to realize in the Indian States. Effort has been made to trace the evolution of perspectives, which gave the liberation movement its ideological content. An indepth study of the ideological bases of the Muslim separatist movement and its impact on the development of the freedom movement in the States has been included in the book.