DARBARA SINGH, DlWAN

DARBARA SINGH, DlWAN (d. 1734), originally from the mercantile community of Sirhind, became a Sikh receiving the initiatory rites on 30 March 1699, the day the Khalsa was created, and took part in the battles of Anandpur. During the period after Banda Singh he commanded much esteem as a veteran fighter and as diwan, i.e. commissar in charge of rations and forage.

In 1733 when Zakariya Khan, governor of Lahore, decided to make it up with the Sikhs and sent his envoy, Subeg Singh, with the offer of nawabship and ajagir, the Sikh assembly first decided to confer the mantle of nawabship upon Darbara Singh but he, according to Ratan Singh Bhangu, Prachin Panth Prakash, excused himself arguing that the Sikhs should not compromise their claim to sovereignty by accepting a title from the Mughal rulers. The sangat, however, overruling his objection, bestowed the title upon another leading Sikh, Kapur Singh. Darbara Singh Diwan continued as controller of provisions till his death at Amritsar in 1734.

References :

1. Kuir Singh, Gurbilas Patshahi 10. Patiala, 1968
2. Bhangu, Ratan Singh, Prachin Panth Prakasb. Amritsar, 1914
3. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37