Diwan Kirpa Ram | |
|---|---|
| Sikh governor ofKashmir | |
| In office 1827–1831 | |
| Monarch | Ranjit Singh |
| Preceded by | Chuni Lal |
| Succeeded by | Bham Singh Ardali |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1842 (1843) |
| Children | Dhanraj (adopted, d. 1889) |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | |
Diwan Kirpa Ram (died 1842), the youngest son of DiwanMoti Ram, was a civil administrator and historian in theSikh Empire. He was the Sikh governor ofKashmir from 1827 to 1831. He also authoredGulabnama, a history of theDogra dynasty ofJammu.[1]
Diwan Kirpa Ram was born into a family with a rich legacy of military and administrative service. His grandfatherDewan Mokham Chand had contributed significantly to the early consolidation of territories that came under the sway ofRanjit Singh. His fatherMoti Ram was an honest, well-respected administrator and faithful courtier, who served as the governor ofKashmir for two terms. Diwan Kirpa Ram's brother,Diwan Ram Dayal, was killed in the line of duty while trying to enforce tribute collection from rebellious tribes inHazara.[2]
Kirpa Ram managed theJalandhar doab while his father Diwan Moti Ram was serving in Kashmir. In 1823, Diwan Kirpa Ram participated in theBattle of Nowshera against theBarakzaiAfghans in the trans-Indus region on the banks of theriver Kabul. He was with the advance troops and played a crucial role alongsideHari Singh Nalwa in securing Sikh dominance against Afghan forces, which underscored his strategic capabilities and military prowess.[3][4]
In 1827, Diwan Kirpa Ram was appointed the Governor of Kashmir, a post he held till 1831. Despite his success, and like his father before him, Kirpa Ram faced political challenges and intrigues within the Maharaja's court, particularly from rivals likeDhian Singh andGulab Singh Dogra, who had long been eyeing Kashmir. Accusations of embezzlement led to Kirpa Ram's imprisonment.[5]
Repeated insults, slights, imprisonment and the imposition of an unjustified exorbitant fine forced Kirpa Ram to apply for permission to join his father in Benares. While Moti Ram obtained permission from Ranjit Singh before he left the Sikh Empire for Benares in May 1833, Kirpa Ram applied but got no answer. Tired of waiting, Diwan Kirpa Ram undertook a pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi and crossed theSatluj into British territory. En route, he was offered a job by the Phulkian rajas whose state he travelled through, but he refused them.[6]
After Kirpa Ram's departure, Ranjit Singh applauded the capability and intelligence of Dewan Mokham Chand, Moti Ram, Ram Dayal and Kirpa Ram in the Durbar.[7] He attempted to facilitate Moti Ram's return without success. After Ranjit Singh's demise, his inheritors tried to tempt Diwan Kirpa Ram with money and position but failed.[8]