Maharaja Ranbir Singh Jamwal of Jammu & Kashmir, brought up in the hard school of his father who had given him ample training as a Soldier & a Statesman & had even crowned him as 'Maharaja' in 1855 nearly two years before his death so that no one could think of the Maharaja.

He proved himself every inch a 'Maharaja'.During the 5 centuries of the muslim rule, Kashmir had withdrawn into its shell. In 1857, she was still a medieval state; her culture & society had reached the nadir. By 1885,Kashmir was profoundly changed both in the heart and the face.

The general prosperity which the most strenuous Maharaja who invariably attended his Court twice every day, brought in Kashmir, enabled him to launch out into a series of productive legislations for which he was excessively beloved by his subjects.

Both the Civil and Military administration were overhauled; roads were laid out; hospitals were built ; Wine shops and Silk lndustries were working under expert European management.

Schools imparting technical & academic education were progressively functioning although attendance was compulsory.

The University of the Punjab was handsomely financed & a State Translation Department under the expert guidance of Dr. Leiter of the Punjab University was started.

Sati and female infanticide were made penal.
The administration of the Forests, Revenue & Customs departments was overhauled laws and aims for the guidance of Revenue & Judicial Officers were codified and printed side by side with the printing of Annual Administration Reports.

Waste land were reclaimed and brought under cultivation. The Maharaja spared no funds, to alleviate the distress caused by the flood, famine and fever of 1870-72, which took a heavy toll of the population.

The Maharaja himself toured indefatigably through the length and breadth of the distressed areas making wholesale remissions of land revenue, advancing Taccavi loans and supplying food grains, imported from outside, freely or at a reduced price.

Above all the Maharaja was proverbially tolerant of other religions,& brought the historic compromise between the Sunnis & Shias.

He even encouraged Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans to settle in Kashmir giving them services & land for cultivation.

Roads connecting Kashmir with Central Asia, Afghanistan, Tibet, Gilgit and other surrounding areas were measured and thoroughly guarded, and specially qualified men were appointed as secret Political Agents in all these foreign countries.

Gilgit Agency was settled, and officers of the calibre and integrity of Sir Frederick Drew, and Mr. W.H.Johnson were appointed as the First District Officers in Leh to establish order and guard the interest of Darbar on the Treaty High Road.

He neither bent nor broke but fought his way, serving the State and its all subjects most adroitly and assiduously, against all obstacles till his death on 12th September 1885.