The question asks about the year the Dogra dynasty purchased Kashmir from the British. This historical event is a significant part of the region's history, rooted in the aftermath of the First Anglo-Sikh War.
The correct answer is 1846. Following the British victory in the First Anglo-Sikh War, the Treaty of Lahore was signed in March 1846, which ceded territories, including Kashmir, to the British East India Company. Shortly after, on March 16, 1846, the British signed the Treaty of Amritsar with Gulab Singh, the Dogra ruler of Jammu. Under this treaty, Gulab Singh purchased Kashmir from the British for 75 lakh Nanak Shahi rupees, establishing the Dogra dynasty's rule over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The other options are incorrect dates for this specific transaction:
- 1836 is too early; the First Anglo-Sikh War and subsequent treaties occurred later.
- 1856 is a decade after the event, by which time Dogra rule was already established.
- 1866 is also too late and does not correspond to the sale of Kashmir to the Dogras.