Diwan

Sawan Mal
Diwan Sawan Mal seated holding a lotus. Watercolour by a Company artist, Punjab, ca.1865
Born
Gujranwala, Sukerchakia Misl (modern day Punjab, Pakistan)
Died29 September 1844
Multan, Sawan Mal, Sikh Empire (modern day Punjab, Pakistan)
Cause of deathSeriously wounded by an under-trial prisoner
Known forSikh statesman
TitleGovernor of Multan province (subah) of the Sikh Empire
Term1821–1844
SuccessorDiwan Mulraj Chopra
ParentHoshnak Rai Chopra (father)

Diwan Sawan Mal (died 29 September 1844) was a military officer and Governor (Diwan) of Lahore and Multan during the Sikh Empire.

Biography

Early life

Sawan Mal was born into a Hindu Khatri family of the Chopra gotra originally from Gujranwala,[1][2] the region where Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Misl, the Sukerchakias held sway. He was a 'Munshi' to Malik Mohan Lal, Subahdar of Multan under the Durranis.

Career

Along with Hari Singh Nalwa, he was a top commander in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. As a general under Ranjit Singh, he assisted in wresting the 'subah' (province) of Multan from the Durrani Afghans in 1823, after which he was made Diwan of the region. He instituted improvements in agricultural production through irrigation schemes.

In 1834, he signed an agreement on behalf of the Maharaja with Sardar Karam Khan, a Mazari warrior respected highly in his tribe as well as in the Sikh Army. Sardar Karam Khan was the younger brother of Mir Bahram Khan, Chief of the Baloch Mazari tribe, thereby ending the long war between the Sikhs and the Mazaris of Rojhan. He was succeeded to the governorship of Multan by his son, Diwan Mulraj Chopra, who was the last ethnic Punjabi to administer Multan.[3]

Death

He died on 29 September 1844 due to wounds inflicted upon him by an under-trial prisoner.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 The encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4. Harbans Singh. Patiala: Punjabi University. 1992–1998. p. 82. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ Yasmin, Robina (2022). Muslims Under Sikh Rule in the Nineteenth Century: Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Religious Tolerance. Library of Islamic South Asia. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 9780755640348.
  3. ↑ http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/postgurus/herosvillains/heroes%20villains.htm
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