Maharaja Gulab Singh – Founder of J & K state:-

Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of the largest princely state known as the State of Jammu and Kashmir was arguably one of the greatest personalities of the 19th century. He became the ruler of modern J & K state in 1846. He was an exceptional warrior, great leader, a brilliant strategist and statesman, and most importantly, the architect of synergetic cultural space in multi-religious state. The history of his life and the contributions that he made in the different realms of Jammu and Kashmir in general and towards restructuring the map of India that we have today in particular has been inspirational.

Maharaja Ranbir Singh – 1830 AD to 1885 AD:-

Maharaja Ranbir Singh the third and only surviving son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, was born in 1830 in the fort of Ramgarh. Maharaja Ranbir Singh ascended the throne on 20th February 1856 AD while Maharaja was still alive.

Maharaja Ranbir Singh was not only a great administrator but also a patron of literature and a great builder of temples. He constructed many temples, the most prominent being Sri Raghunath temple and Ranbireshwar temple.

Maharaja Pratap Singh – 1885 AD to 1925 AD:-

Maharaja Pratap Singh was the third Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. He was born on 18th July 1848. He ruled for 40 years from 1885 to 1925 AD.

Maharaja Hari Singh – 1895 AD to 1961 AD:-

Maharaja Hari Singh was born on 23rd September 1895 AD. He received his formal education at the Mayo college, Ajmer. He ascended the throne after the death of Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1925 AD, Declaring “My religion is justice”. Maharaja hari Singh took major steps in social reforms like widow remarriage, primary education free and compulsory, Harijan upliftment, discrimination against women. Maharaja Hari Singh made a formal proclamation on October 31, 1932 AD in which he declared that Harijans would be allowed to enter and worship in all the temples.

Dr Karan Singh :-

Born into the ruling family of the State of Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari singh started his political carrier at an early age of 18 when he become the first, and also the last Sadr-i-Riyasat, This was also the time when came in contact with political luminaries and the makers of modern India such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhabai Patel with whom he also shared especial personal bonds.

This was also the time when he played a crucial role in the flowering of democratic institutions and values in the state. From the position of the Sadar a Riyasat, he also made a smooth transition to federal politics when he was appointed as the Governor of the state and then went on to became the youngest-ever member of the Union Cabinet, holding the portfolios of Tourism and Civil Aviation in 1967 which he held for six years and where he created a marked impact by his vision and dynamism. In 1973, he moved to the Ministry of Health and Family Planning. It was during his tenure that Family Planning emerged as major national commitment. In 1979 he assumed the portfolio of Education and Culture.

Apart from being one of greatest parliamentarian, Dr. Karan Singh engagement with activities outside the realm of body politics has also been rather phenomenal. He has been associated with many cultural and academic institutions. He has served as Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, Jammu and Kashmir University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and NIIT University. His exceptional and distinguished service to the nation also earned him the Padma Vibhushan award in 2005.

Dr. Karan Singh is also been a prolific writer and an author of distinction. His works, the list of which is rather long, have been widely acclaimed and many of them have run into several editions, the latest being his Essays on Hinduism.

Music has been a major and magnificent input into his consciousness from a very early age which has turned him into connoisseur of Indian classical music. With his deep insight into the Indian cultural tradition, as well as his wide exposure to Western literature and civilization, Dr Karan Singh is recognized as an outstanding thinker and leader in India and abroad.

Yuvaraj Vikramaditya Singh:-

Vikramaditya Singh, the elder son of Dr. Karan Singh (born on 5th August 1964). He has been the member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharaj Kumar Ajatshatru Singh:-

Ajatshatru Singh, the younger son of Dr. Karan Singh (born on 6th February 1966). He is a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party and a member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.