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Misr Diwan Chand | |
|---|---|
_of_the_court_of_the_Sikh_Empire.jpg) Painting of Misr Diwan Chand,c. 1799–1849 | |
| Born | 1755 (1755) |
| Died | 18 July 1825(1825-07-18) (aged 69–70) |
| Years of service | 1816 – 1825 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | |
| Known for | Military expeditions in |
| Awards | Zafar-jung-Bahadur Fateh-o-nusrat-nasib |
| Children | Misr Beli Ram Misr Rup Lal Misr Sukh Raj Misr Megh Raj Misr Ram Kishan[1] |
| Relations | Misr Sahib Dayal (brother) Misr Basti Ram (brother) |
Misr Diwan Chand (1755 – 18 July 1825) was a notable officer and a powerful general ofMaharaja Ranjit Singh's reign. From a petty clerk he rose to the position of chief of artillery and commander-in-chief of the armies that conqueredMultan andKashmir and also served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Khalsa Army from 1816 to 1825.[2][3]
Diwan Chand was the son of aBrahmin shopkeeper ofGondlanwala village (in present-dayGujranwala,Pakistan).[4][5]
Diwan Chand was bestowed the title ofZafar-Jang-Bahadur—Brave Victor of Battles—by Ranjit Singh. Diwan Chand rose from the post of Artillery Chief to the Chief Commander of Khalsa Army in 1816. He suppressed the rebellion of Tiwana nawab of Mitha Tiwana and forced him to pay tribute.[2][6] Diwan Chand capturedMultan in 1818 and governor Muzzafar Khan and seven of his sons were killed.[7] In 1819, he led an expedition toShopian in Kashmir region and conquered it fromDurrani governor Jabbar Khan. He defeated the Afghans in Some hours.Took Mankera present dayMankera Tehsil in 1821[8] and he also conqueredBatala,Pathankot,Mukerian,Akalgarh etc., he also took part in the conquest ofPeshawar andNowshera.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh had a great regard for the general. Once atAmritsar, the Maharaja had purchased a very precioushookah from a Hindustani merchant, although this was against the injunctions of his own religion. He presented the hookah to Misr Diwan Chand to mark the high esteem in which he was held by the Maharaja. Permission was also given to him to smoke.[9]
The contribution of Misr Dewan Chand in the making of the Maharaja's empire has also been under-estimated by British historians who have described him as a "hookah-smoking general'.[10] It is a fact that Maharaja had once presented him a hookah himself.[10]
He was a great warrior and general who achieved the title ofFateh-o-Nusrat-Nasib (one who never lost in war) andZafar-Jang-Bahadur (conqueror in wars) fromMaharaja Ranjit Singh himself and was made Governor of Kashmir.[11]