Kashmir
The term ‘Dogra’ is believed to originate from ‘Durgara’.
The Durgara kingdom is mentioned in an
eleventh century copper plate inscription at
Chamba. In medieval times, it was also known as
Dugar which later came to be known as a Dogra.
Presently, Dogra has turned into an ethnic group of
people who speak Dogri language. The ancestors of
Gulab Singh belong to Jammuwal. According to some
sources, Raja Kapur Dev ruled the region of Jammu
in 1560 AD. He had two sons named Jag Dev and
Samail Dev. Their descendants came to be known as
Bahuwals and Jammuwals respectively. However, the
family claims to be descents of Suryavanshi dynasty
by Jambu Lochan who is believed to establish the
Jammu city.
The Dogra state was ruled for a century. This period
is marked as the most peaceful and progressive
times in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Gulab
Singh was an important noble of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh at Lahore. After the Sikh Empire collapsed,
Gulab Singh established Dogra princely states in
Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir was the
second largest princely state in British India.
The first Maharaja, Gulab Singh was the founder of
Dogra dynasty. He was born in the Dogra Rajput
family. During his reign Jammu and Kashmir
became a part of the Sikh Empire in 1808. Gulab’s
father, Ranjit Singh was the governor of Jammu
region in the Sikh Empire. ith the help of General
Zorawar Singh, Gulab Singh extended the Sikh
Empire to western Tibet. After thefirst Anglo-Sikh
War, the East India Company annexed Kashmir
Valley, Ladakh and Gilgit- Baltistan territories of Sikh
Empire.