Initially, Maharaja Hari Singh had decided to remain independent and sign standstill instruments with both India and Pakistan. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) Initially, Maharaja Hari Singh had decided to remain independent and sign standstill instruments with both India and Pakistan. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)From 2020, people in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a public holiday on October 26 for the first time. In essence, these princely states were given the option to remain independent or to join the Dominion of India or Pakistan. This is what the Maharaja signed on October 26, 1947 — essentially, a treaty between the state of Jammu and Kashmir and India.

Source: Indian Express December 29, 2019 13:55 UTC