WAZIR KHAN (d. 1634) Wazir Khan, as Sikh chroniclers popularly refer to Hakim ‘Alim ud-Din, was the son of Shaikh ‘Abd ul-Latif of Chiniot, a town now in the Jhang district of Punjab, Pakistan. Trained as a physician, he rose in favor with Emperor Shah Jahan, who appointed him as a mansabdar (commander) of 5,000 rank and as governor of Lahore in 1628—a position he held until 1633.
Wazir Khan was known for his piety and admiration of Guru Arjan. According to Bhai Santokh Singh’s Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, he found great relief from dropsy after listening to Guru Arjan’s Sukhmani (hymns of peace). Since then, he reverenced Guru Arjan deeply. Despite his efforts to plead on behalf of Guru Arjan in Emperor Jahangir’s court and shield him from the malice of Chandu Shah, his attempts were unsuccessful.
In 1633, Wazir Khan was transferred to Agra as governor. He passed away there in 1634.
References:
- Gurbilas Patshahi Chhevin, Patiala, 1970
- Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Amritsar, 1927-35
- Satbir Singh, Puratan Itihasik Jivaniari, Jalandhar, 1969
- Trilochan Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur: Prophet and Martyr, Delhi, 1967
