Editing Himachal Pradesh (section)

== History ==
=== Early history ===
{{Main|History of Himachal Pradesh}}
[[File:Full view of Masroor temple.jpg|thumb|left|8th-century CE rock-cut [[Masrur Temples|temples at Masroor]]]]

Tribes such as the [[Koli people|Koli]], Hali, Dagi, Dhaugri, [[Dasa]], [[Khasas|Khasa]], [[Kanaura]], and [[Kirata]] inhabited the region from the prehistoric era.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bhatt |first1=SC |last2=Bhargava |first2=Gopal |title=Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories Vol. X |date=2006 |publisher=Kalpaz publications |isbn=81-7835-366-0 |page=2}}</ref> The foothills of the modern state of Himachal Pradesh were inhabited by people from the [[Indus valley civilisation]], which flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE.<ref name="nichist">{{cite web |url=http://himachal.nic.in/tour/history.htm |title=History of Himachal Pradesh |access-date=31 March 2008 |publisher=National informatics center, Himachal Pradesh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121013200/http://himachal.nic.in/tour/history.htm |archive-date=21 November 2006}}</ref> The Kols and [[Munda people|Mundas]] are believed to be the original inhabitants to the hills of present-day Himachal Pradesh, followed by the [[Bhotiya|Bhotas]] and [[Kirata]]s.<ref name="nichist" />

During the [[Vedic period]], several small republics known as ''Janapada'' existed which were later conquered by the [[Gupta Empire]]. After a brief period of supremacy by King [[Harshavardhana]], the region was divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some [[Rajput]] principalities. These kingdoms enjoyed a large degree of independence and were invaded by [[Delhi Sultanate]] several times.<ref name="nichist" /> [[Mahmud Ghaznavi]] conquered [[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]] at the beginning of the 11th century. [[Timur]] and [[Sikander Lodi]] also marched through the lower hills of the state, captured several forts, and fought many battles.<ref name="nichist" /> Several hill states acknowledged [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[suzerainty]] and paid regular [[tribute]] to the Mughals.{{sfn|Verma|1995|pp = 28–35, ''Historical Perspective''}}

[[File:Rajput states in Himachal Pradesh.svg|left|thumb|230px|A map of the major Rajput kingdoms in Himachal Pradesh]]

The [[Kingdom of Gorkha]] conquered many kingdoms and came to power in [[Nepal]] in 1768.<ref name=nichist /> They consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory.<ref name=nichist /> Gradually, the [[Kingdom of Nepal]] annexed [[Sirmaur district|Sirmour]] and [[Shimla]]. Under the leadership of [[Amar Singh Thapa]], the [[Nepali Army|Nepali army]] laid siege to [[Kangra district|Kangra]]. They managed to defeat [[Sansar Chand]] [[Katoch]], the ruler of Kangra, in 1806 with the help of many provincial chiefs. However, the Nepali army could not capture [[Kangra fort]] which came under [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] in 1809. After the defeat, they expanded towards the south of the state. However, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of [[Siba State]], captured the fort of Siba from the remnants of [[Lahore]] Darbar in Samvat 1846,<ref name=nichist /> during the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]].

They came into direct conflict with the British along the ''[[tarai]]'' belt, after which the British expelled them from the provinces of the [[Satluj]].<ref name=nichist /> The British gradually emerged as the paramount power in the region.<ref name=nichist /> In the revolt of 1857, or first [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian war of independence]], arising from several grievances against the British,<ref name=nichist /> the people of the hill states were not as politically active as were those in other parts of the country.<ref name=nichist /> They and their rulers, except Bushahr, remained more or less inactive.<ref name=nichist /> Some, including the rulers of [[Chamba, Himachal Pradesh|Chamba]], [[Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh|Bilaspur]], Bhagal and Dhami, rendered help to the British government during the revolt.

The British territories came under the British Crown after [[Queen Victoria]]'s proclamation of 1858. The states of [[Chamba State|Chamba]], [[Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India|Mandi]] and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields during the British rule.<ref name=nichist /> During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort, both in the form of men and materials. Among these were the states of [[Kangra district|Kangra]], Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, [[Rajgarh State|Rajgarh]], [[Nurpur State|Nurpur]], Chamba, Suket, Mandi, and Bilaspur.<ref name=nichist />

=== Partition and post-independence ===
After independence, the Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh was organised on 15 April 1948 as a result of the integration of 30 petty princely states (including feudal princes and ''zaildars'') in the promontories of the western [[Himalayas]]. These were known as the Simla Hills States and four [[Punjab]] southern hill states under the Himachal Pradesh (Administration) Order, 1948 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Extra-Provincial Jurisdiction Act, 1947 (later renamed as the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, 1947 vide A.O. of 1950). The State of Bilaspur was merged into Himachal Pradesh on 1 July 1954 by the Himachal Pradesh and Bilaspur (New State) Act, 1954.{{sfn|Verma|1995|pp = 239-254, ''Territorial Gains''}}

Himachal became a Part 'C' state on 26 January 1950 when the [[Constitution of India]] came into effect and the Lieutenant Governor was appointed. The Legislative Assembly was elected in 1952. Himachal Pradesh became a [[union territory]] on 1 November 1956.<ref name=nichist /> Some areas of the Punjab State, namely, Simla, Kangra, Kullu and Lahul and Spiti Districts, Lohara, Amb and Una Kanungo circles, some areas of Santokhgarh Kanungo circle and some other specified area of Una Tehsil of [[Hoshiarpur District]], as well as Kandaghat and Nalagarh Tehsils of erstwhile [[Patiala and East Punjab States Union|PEPSU State]], besides some parts of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of Pathankot District—were merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966 on the enactment by Parliament of the [[Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966]].{{sfn|Verma|1995|pp = 239-254, ''Territorial Gains''}} On 18 December 1970, the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament, and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971. Himachal became the 18th state of the Indian Union with [[Yashwant Singh Parmar|Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar]] as its first chief minister.<ref name=nichist />