Towards the close of the year 1947, soon after the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Kashmir witnessed an upheaval of the biggest magnitude. The all-absorbing question whether the State should accede to India or form part of Pakistan created a serious situation, thanks to the wrong approach to the problem by Maharaja Hari Singh and his short-sighted advisers.The Dogra ruler, without first ascertaining the wishes of the State people on the question of accession through the method of a fair plebiscite as was persistently demanded by most of the principal political parties in the State, took the fatal decision of throwing in his lot with India and consequently signed the Instrument of Accession.