Chandu Lal | |
|---|---|
 Painting of Chandu Lal of Hyderabad State, by John Godwin Williams, ca.1836 | |
| Prime Minister of Hyderabad | |
| In office 1833–1844 | |
| Monarch | Sikandar Jah |
| Personal details | |
| Died | (1845-04-15)15 April 1845 |
Chandu Lal Malhotra (1766 – 15 April 1845), better known asMaharaja Chandu Lal was thePrime Minister (1833–1844) for the 3rdNizam ofHyderabad,Sikandar Jah. He was born in Hyderabad Deccan (nowHyderabad, India), and hailed from a Hindu family of theKhatri caste with origins inLahore. He was also a poet ofUrdu,Hyderabadi,Punjabi andPersian.[1][2]
Chandu Lal Sadan was born in a HinduMalhotra family ofPunjabi Khatri background.[3][4] His family wereNanakpanthis.[5] His father was Rai Naryen Das, who migrated fromRai Bareilly to Hyderabad State.[6] His ancestors had served in theMughal courts.[7][6][5] His family is the founder of theDafter-e-Mal (Department of Finance) in Hyderabad Deccan duringNizam ul Mulk Asif Jah I. The futurePrime Minister,Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad, was his great-grandson. The family was famously known asMalwala Family in Hyderabad.[7]
Chandu Lal was a Minister within the court ofMaharaja Ranjit Singh under theSikh Empire. They both had good relations and Chandu Lal Malotra became a General in theSikh Khalsa Army. He then converted and became a devoutSehajdhari Sikh.
In an agreement between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and theNizam of Hyderabad for the construction of a Gurudwara in the spot whereGuru Gobind Singh Ji died and the Nizam of Hyderabad making it 4 acres large made of marble, Ranjit Singh would give him 24,000Nihang Sikhs as private unpaid soldiers to quell rebellions.[citation needed]
Chandu Lal may have considered himself aNanakpanthi, as he was devotee of the Udasi saint, Baba Priyatam Das.[4]
He started his career as a subordinate in the customs department ofKingdom of Hyderabad.[8] Later he received the title ofRaja Bahadur from NawabSikandar Jah. Sikandar Jah selected him as accounts officer of his army. British historian states "Due to the ladting effect of Chundoo Lal the dominions of the Nizam seem to look like a Sikh one rather than a Mohhamedan." The Nihang forces refused to be paid and said they would only be paid by the Akal Takht. Later after the Anglo Sikh Wars Nihangs fled to the South, where they battled against revolt earning respect by many. It is even noted by historians that Nihangs were used as bodyguards.[citation needed]In 1819 Chandu Lal received the title ofMaharaja from Sikandar Jah and a cash award of onecrorerupees. In 1822 he was made the head of seven thousand horsemen with the title ofRaja e Rajagan from NawabNasir ud dawlah. After the death of Monir-ul-Mulk in 1833, Chandu Lal succeeded him as a prime minister.[6]
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Chandu Lal was made prime minister ofHyderabad Deccan twice. First in the year 1808 then in 1832 AD and he held the office until 1843 AD.[6]
As per legends, a saint returning from a pilgrimage to Tirumala, stopped atAlwal. During his stay, the saint who was carrying an idol ofLord Balaji, sat meditating under a tamarind tree. Chandulal Bahadur, along with his family paid a visit to the saint to seek his blessings. The saint told Chandulal thatLord Venkateswara had appeared in his dreams and told him that a temple should be built at Alwal for devotees who could not afford to go to Tirumala. Chandulal built a small temple and installed the idol of Lord Venkateswara.[9] The temple has been declared as an heritage structure.[10]
Chandu Lal (who used the pen name "Shaadan" (شادن) ) as a learned man, was a patron ofUrdu poetry and literature. His patronship attractedUrdu poets to his court. He even invited poets from Northern India likeZauq andBaksh Nasikh and Mirza Ghalib from Delhi to Hyderabad State but they couldn't turn up for some reasons.[citation needed] Despite the responsibility of his prime ministerial office he used to regularly organize and attendMushaira.[6]
2024-04-04
| International | |
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| National | |
