Queen Victoria's Gift to Kashmir

A mechanical marvel gifted by Queen Victoria to Maharaja Ranbir Singh lies abandoned at the city museum, its decay reflecting history, memory, and lingering prejudice.

- Vikas Thakur

I stepped out of the Shri Pratap Singh Museum on Srinagar's Jhelum riverfront and stopped in my tracks at the sight of a large iron object resting on a rusted trolley.

The metal was pitted and corroded, almost like bones, and bits of trash had collected inside, as if the city had simply thrown it aside.

At first, it looked like an old, forgotten barge left to rot. Then a tarnished plaque caught my eye. I had to lean in to read it: "Presented by H.M. Queen Victoria to H.H. Shree Maharaja Ranbir Singh Ji Bahadar." I could hardly believe it. Back home, I scoured archives and sources online. It was indeed the royal steam boat, a gift from Queen Victoria to Maharaja Ranbir Singh, who ruled Jammu and Kashmir from 1857 to 1885.

The Maharaja had earned it for aiding the British Empire, a token of imperial favour.

Kashmir had always been a river-ine land, but until then, boats had relied entirely on human strength. This mechanical marvel promised something new: a vessel that could glide across Dal Lake and the Jhelum without oars or manpower.

The inauguration drew thousands to Dal Lake banks. Locals murmured in wonder and skepticism. How would this affect their livelihoods?

Boatmen feared the novelty would make their shikaras obsolete. British engineers had arrived to demonstrate the technology, though the boat refused to start that day.