HAKIM RAI, DIWAN

HAKIM RAI, DIWAN (1803-1868), whose forebears had served the Kanhaiya chiefs, was born the son of Kashi Ram in 1803. In 1824, he joined the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, but soon rose to the high civilian office of diwan. He became tutor to Karivar Nau Nihal Singh, the Maharaja`s grandson, and held charge of his estates. In 1834, after the annexation of Peshawar in which he took a leading part, he became the governor of Dera Ismail Khan, Torik, Bannu and `Isa Khel. He played a conspicuous role in the AngloSikh negotiations preparatory to the Afghan war of 1839.

Upon Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s death in 1839, he was recalled to Lahore and appointed chief justice of the city. During the time of British residency, he was sent to Kashmir (1846) to dissuade its governor, Shaikh Imam udDin, from the path of revolt. In 1847, he was appointed governor of Peshawar, but was soon recalled owing to the hostile attitude of Raja Tej Singh, who wanted to oust him from his jagirs in Sialkot. During the second AngloSikh war, Diwan Hakim Rai sided with the rebel forces against the British. Consequently, all his estates were confiscated after the annexation of the Punjab and *************