RATAN CHAND

RATAN CHAND (d. 1629), son of Bhagvan Das Gherar who had been killed in a skirmish with the Sikhs in the time of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), made common cause with Karam Chand, son of Chandu Shah, with a view to avenging his father`s death. Chandu Shah, the main instigator of the Mughal authority against Guru Arjan, martyred in 1606, had also met with his end at the hands of the Sikhs. Ratan Chand and Karam Chand sought the help of `Abdullah Khan, the Subahdar of Jalandhar, who despatched a strong force against the Guru. Ratan Chand was killed in the ensuing battle fought at the village of Ruhela in 1629.

BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevm. Patiala, 1970 2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35 3. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970 4. Macanliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Oxford, 1909 B.S. RATAN CHAND (d. 1857), son of Kanhaiya Lal, was a munshi or writer at the Lahore Darbar from 1831 to 1839. His father had also served under Maharaja Ranjit Singh as had his grandfather, Shiv Dial. Ratan Chand held charge of Ranjit Singh`s private seal.

This was the Maharaja`s small signet which, along with the large one, was affixed to most documents. Ratan Chand, as the keeper of the small seal, received an allowance of two per cent on all khill`ats and money presents made by the Maharaja and of five per cent on all new jdgirs. He was afterwards made commandant in the Ghorcharha Khas. During the reign of Maharaja Sher Singh, he held various offices at Lahore, and became a man of considerable influence. He accompanied Raja Lal Singh to Jammu in February 1845, and was with the party of Fateh Singh Man when that chief was assassinated by Raja Gulab Singh at Jammu.

After the annexation of the Punjab, his jagirswere resumed by the British. Ratan Chand died in 1857. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Sun, Sohan Lal, `Umdat utTwarikh. Lahore, 1885-89 2. Griffin, Lepel, The Punjab Chiefs. Lahore, 1890 S.S.B. RATAN CHAND (d. 1872), nicknamed ddhnvald, the bearded one, to distinguish him from Ratan Chand Duggal who grew no beard, was one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s prominent courtiers. His family originally belonged to Payal, in present day Ludhiana district, and his grandfather had served under Ranjit Singh`s grandfather, Charhat Singh. Ratan Chand joined service in the postal department of the Maharaja in 1829.

After the first Anglo Sikh war, Ratan Chand was made postmaster general. After the annexation of the Punjab, jagirs worth 6,800 rupees were granted to him for his services to the British. In 1862, he was made an honorary magistrate of the city of Lahore. Ratan Chand died in 1872.

References :

1. Griffin, Lepel, The Punjab Chiefs. Lahore, 1890
2. Latif, Syad Mohammad, History of the Panjab. Calcutta, 1891