CHHAJJU MALL

CHHAJJU MALL (d. 1822), son of Keval Narain, belonged to a Brahman family. He and his ancestors had been in the service of the emperors of Delhi. His father, who had shifted to Lahore in Sikh times, died young. Chhajju Mall, entered the service of Sardar Jai Singh of the Kanhaiya misl. He received a command in the chief`s force, and participated in most of the warfare against the neighbouring chiefs. He was present at the battle of Achal in 1783 when Gurbakhsh Singh, the only son of Sardar Jai Singh, was killed fighting against Jassa Singh and Mahari Singh Sukkarchakkla.

After the battle, Chhajju Mall was appointed chaudhan of Katra (quarter) Kanhaiya in the town of Amritsar. On the death of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, he held the position courageously under the chief`s daughterinlaw, Mat Sada Kaur, defending the Katra against several successive assaults. He was able to reduce custom duties by more than half which attracted many merchants to come and settle in the Katra. Young Ranjit Singh, after his marriage willi the daughter of Mai Sada Kaur, usually put up with Chhajju Mall on his visits to Amritsar and received crucial assistance from him in getting possession of the city.

Chhajjii Mall was entrusted with the collection of customs at Amritsar for some time and then moved to Kangra where he served for three years before proceeding to Haridvar and Banaras on a pilgrimage. On his return in 1820, he received no public appointment. Chhajju Mall died in 1822.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1890
2. Suri, Sohan Lal, `Umdat-ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-89