KAHN CHAND

KAHN CHAND, son of Amir Chand, served under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors in various capacities. His family originally belonged to Multan. His father had served as a revenue officer under Misr Divan Chand at the Lahore court and afterwards as a commander under Hari Singh Nalva. Kahn Chand joined service as a scribe in 1823 and was promoted to the position of murdsaldnavis or dispatch writer in 1834. This was an office of trust.

The correspondence being secret was conducted under the direct farmdn or order of the Maharaja by his trusted courtier Faqlr `Aziz udDin. It was Kahn Chand who first raised the Dera Khas or bodyguards, a regiment of young Sikh sarddrs, who were the pick of the Sikh army. On the annexation of the Punjab in 1849, Kahn Chand`s jdgirs were resumed and he was granted a pension of Rs 1,200 by the British.

References :

1. uri, Sohan Lal, `Umdat-ui-Tiudnjfh. Lahore, 1885-89
2. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Massy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909