DARGAH MALL, DIWAN (d. 1695), son of Dwarka Das Chhibbar, was, according to Shahid Bilas Bhai Mani Singh and Guru Kian Sakhian, a diwan (minister) during the time of Guru Hargobind and his successors, managing their households. He was the great-grandfather of Kesar Singh Chhibbar, the author of Bansavalinama. He was in attendance upon Guru Har Rai when summons arrived from Aurangzeb asking the Guru to meet him in Delhi. The Guru instead sent his son, Ram Rai, to call on the emperor, and Diwan Dargah Mall was deputed to escort him to the imperial capital.
It was Diwan Dargah Mall who wrote to Guru Har Rai from Delhi, informing him about Baba Ram Rai’s arbitrary distortion, in Aurangzeb’s court, of one of Guru Nanak’s hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib. He was also part of the entourage of Guru Har Rai’s successor, Guru Har Krishan, who was also summoned to Delhi by the emperor. After the sudden death of Guru Har Krishan, Diwan Dargah Mall traveled with Mata Sulakkhani, the mother of the late Guru, to Bakala, carrying the emblems of succession for the investiture of Guru Tegh Bahadur. According to Bansavalinama, Guru Tegh Bahadur bestowed on Dargah Mall a robe of honour and asked him to continue as diwan. However, Dargah Mall excused himself due to old age and recommended his nephew, Mati Das, for the position.
He, however, did not leave the Guru’s presence. According to Guru Kian Sakhian, Dargah Mall was among those who accompanied the Guru on his journey through the eastern parts between 1665 and 1670. He was present at the accession ceremony of Guru Gobind Singh on the eve of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s departure in 1675 from Anandpur to make the supreme sacrifice. Diwan Mati Das and his brother, Bhai Sati Das, also accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur to Delhi and embraced martyrdom on 11 November 1675. The duties of diwan of the holy household thus once again fell on the shoulders of Dargah Mall. On the next Baisakhi day, 29 March 1676, however, he was finally relieved, and his son, Dharam Chand, was appointed diwan in his place. Dargah Mall continued to stay at Anandpur, where he died on 10 February 1695.
References:
- Chhibbar, Kesar Singh, Bansavalinama Dasari Patshahian Ka. Chandigarh, 1972.
- Garja Singh, Giani, ed., Shaheed Bilas. Ludhiana, 1961.
- Padam, Piara Singh, and Giani Garja Singh, eds., Guru Kian Sakhian. Patiala, 1986.
- Trilochan Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur: Prophet and Martyr. Delhi, 1967.
- Harbans Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Delhi, 1982.
