Proto-Democracy under Autocracy: Voting and Representation in Pre-1947 Kashmir

This paper examines the emergence of limited electoral practices in the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947, situating them within the broader framework of autocratic governance and colonial state formation. It argues that while substantive democracy was absent, certain restricted and state-controlled forms of representation evolved under political pressure and imperial influence. The creation of Jammu and Kashmir through the Treaty of Amritsar (1846) institutionalized an autocratic polity under Dogra rule, consolidating diverse regions into a single princely state primarily unified by monarchical authority. Governance structures preserved feudal hierarchies, limited political participation, and denied subjects meaningful political rights. Within this constrained environment, proto-electoral arrangements—though neither democratic in intent nor representative in practice—introduced procedural aspects of voting and limited consultation. These developments reflected authoritarian constitutionalism rather than popular sovereignty, as ultimate authority remained vested in the ruler. Nevertheless, such practices generated an early political vocabulary of rights, representation, and participation. Over time, these controlled mechanisms contributed to the emergence of political consciousness and mobilization, laying the groundwork for later democratic demands in Kashmir. By analyzing voting as a restricted political activity rather than a manifestation of democracy, this study highlights the paradox of proto-democratic forms functioning within an autocratic framework and shaping subsequent trajectories of political modernity in the region.