Diwan Moti Ram | |
|---|---|
| Sikh governor ofKashmir | |
| In office 1819–1820 | |
| Monarch | Ranjit Singh |
| Preceded by | Azim Khan (as Durrani governor) |
| Succeeded by | Hari Singh Nalwa |
| In office 1821–1826 | |
| Preceded by | Hari Singh Nalwa |
| Succeeded by | Chuni Lal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1770 (1770) |
| Died | 1837 (aged 66–67) |
| Children | Diwan Ram Dayal Diwan Kirpa Ram |
Diwan Moti Ram (1770–1837) was the firstSikh governor ofKashmir, serving from 1819–1820 and again during 1821–1826.
Diwan Moti Ram was a son ofDewan Mokham Chand. His sonsDiwan Ram Dayal andKirpa Ram also served honourably at the Court ofLahore.[1]
Moti Ram served at the Lahore Court as an administrator, a military commander and a diplomat.
In 1799, following the occupation of Lahore, MaharajaRanjit Singh deputed Moti Ram to repair the city wall and moat.[1] Before 1814, Moti Ram officiated as the governor of theJalandhar Doab in place of his father, who was on military expeditions. Following his father's demise in 1814, he was appointed the Governor of the Jalandhar Doab. Moti Ram served as the Governor of Kashmir for two spells— from 1819–1820 and 1821–26.[1] In 1818, Moti Ram participated in the successfulMultan campaign.
In 1827, Moti Ram was a member of the Sikh mission sent by Ranjit Singh to felicitateLord Amherst, theGovernor-General of India, when he paid his first visit toShimla. In 1831, Moti Ram was nominated a member of the delegation sent from Lahore to meet LordWilliam Bentinck.[2] In October 1831, Diwan Moti Ram was present at theRopar Meeting between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Lord William Bentinck held on the bank of theSatluj River.
In December 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh grantedKunjah in theGujrat district of West Punjab and several of its villages asjagir to Moti Ram. The place was Moti Ram's ancestral hometown and worth over three lakh rupees in revenue annually.[1]
Diwan Moti Ram was hounded out of theSikh Empire byDhian Singh Dogra.[1] He left forBenaras, where he died in 1837.