OCHTERLONY, SIR DAVID (1758-1825), soldier and diplomat, son of David Ochterlony, was born at Boston, Massachusetts, on 12 February 1758. In 1777, he joined the service of the East India Company as a cadet. He served under Lord Lake in the battle of Delhi and was appointed British resident in 1803 at the court of Shah `Alam, emperor of Hindustan. In 1808, he was the garrison commander at Allahabad when he was ordered to advance to the Sutlej with a detachment to meet the Sikh troops in the cis Sutlej region. From 1809-14 he was agent to the Governor General at the Ludhiana Political Agency.
Explore the Rakhi System, an 18th-century Sikh protection method under Dal Khalsa, granting villages safety amid chaos in exchange for revenue.
Discover Sitala, the deity associated with smallpox, worshipped for protection. Learn about her symbolism and significance in spiritual practices.
