MOTI RAM, DIWAN (1770-1837), was the only son of Diwan Muhkam Chand, one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s most trusted army generals. Moti Ram officiated as the governor of the Jalandhar Doab during the absence of bis father on military expeditions. After the death of his father in 1814, he was confirmed as governor of the Jalandhar Doab. In 1818, Moti Ram participated in the successful Multan campaign. He became the first governor of Kashmir when in 1819 the territory was conquered and annexed to the Sikh kingdom, but he became so heartbroken after the death of his son, Ram Dial, killed in the battle of Hazara in 1820, that he resigned his post and retired to Banaras to live the life of a recluse.
However, the Maharaja recalled him after an year and sent him again to Kashmir as governor which post he held up to 1826. He returned to Lahore and was assigned to protocol duties. He accompanied the Sikh mission to wait on Lord Amherst, the Governor General of India, when he came to Shimla for the first time in 1827. In 1831 also he was a member of the mission sent from Lahore to meet Lord William Bentinck. In December 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted to Diwan Moti Ram in jagir Kunjah, his ancestral hometown, and several villages around it worth over three lakh rupees annually. Court machinations led Diwan Moti Ram in 1832 to take leave of his royal master and to proceed to Banaras where he died in February 1837.
References :
1. Suri, Sohan Lal, `Umdat ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-89
2. Griffin, Sir Lepel, The Punjab Chiefs. Lahore, 1890
3. Latif, Syad Muhammad, History of the Punjab. Calcutta, 1891
4. Khushwant Singh, Ranjit Singh: Maharajah of the Punjab. London, 1962
5. Hasrat, Bikrama jit, Life and Times of Ranjit Singh. Hoshiarpur, 1978
Diwan Moti Ram
He was the son of famous Diwan Mohkam Chand, a Hindu Khatri who was at the service of both Maha Singh and his son Ranjit Singh. Lepen Griffin calls him “the best governor”, who was “kind-hearted and liked by the people”. He introduced number of measures
Cow slaughter was banned, as it was in all territories under Sarkar Khalsa,
Call for public Azan was stopped,
Congregational prayers on Fridays in the Jama Masjid of Srinagar were stopped
The Afghan soldiers used to kidnap the pretty girls for their ever expanding harems. This practice came to an end,
The terror of Sikh name brought an end to thefts and robbery.
In all other religious matters, Muslims were given full freedom. They could pray in any other mosque and celebrate their festivals. Many of them were in the government. However, the first three measures were enough for ‘Muslim’ writers and historians to declare the rule as exploitive’ and ‘oppressive’. Cow had a religious and sentimental value for the minority Hindu community (Muslim formed the majority in Sarkar Khalsa’s territory) hence it was banned. A public call for Islamic prayer is called Azan. It is done 5 times a day. As the state was ruled on the principles of secularism, perhaps it was banned. The congregation prayer on Friday, at the main mosque was banned as it attracted mass gathering and it could potentially be used to incite or instigate a revolt against the government. In hindsight it was not a smart move. However this did not meant that anyone was stopped from performing ‘namaz’. Ranjit Singh’s cabinet and military included several Muslims. The majority of the artillery was under the Muslims.
Sikh rule was welcomed both by Hindus and Muslims but Moti Ram had to contend with a natural calamity. Cholera took a heavy toll of the population, shortly after the occupation of Kashmir. Diwan Devi Das from Lahore was deputed to report on the condition of the country. He presented a painful picture of the people. The grain was scarce and due to difficult terrain it was difficult and time consuming to send them to the rural areas. In desperation people were willing to sell their children for food and it had an impact on law and order. It was reported that Moti Ram was doing his best, but his officers lacked sympathy.
In 1820 his eldest son, Ram Dayal, a fine soldier, was killed in Hazara at the age of about 20. Moti Ram was so heartbroken that he resigned his governorship in June, 1820, and retired to Banaras.
Moti Ram (1770–1837) was a towering figure in the Sikh Empire, remembered not only for his military exploits but also for his exceptional aptitude as an administrator and diplomat. His most celebrated role was as the first Sikh governor of Kashmir—a post he initially held from 1819 to 1820 and then again from 1821 to 1826 after Kashmir was successfully annexed from the Durrani rule. As governor, he was entrusted with the formidable task of integrating this newly conquered, strategically and culturally rich territory into the expanding Sikh polity. His mandate involved restructuring local governance, fortifying defensive measures, and overseeing initiatives such as coin minting (for instance, coins adorned with the Gobindshahi couplet from his second tenure) that reflected both administrative control and the cultural ethos of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign .
Before his illustrious tenure in Kashmir, Moti Ram had already demonstrated his capabilities at the Lahore Court by serving as an administrator, military commander, and diplomat. He first showcased his leadership by officiating as the governor of the Jalandhar Doab while his father, Diwan Mokham Chand—the famed military strategist of the Sikh Empire—was engaged in various campaigns. Following his father’s death, Moti Ram was confirmed in these roles, and his involvement in crucial military operations, such as the 1818 Multan campaign, cemented his reputation as a reliable and resourceful leader .
However, his career was marked by personal sacrifice as well. The loss of his son, Ram Dial, in the battle of Hazara in 1820 plunged him into deep sorrow—a tragedy that prompted him to resign from his first stint as governor and withdraw temporarily to Banaras. Yet his intrinsic value to the empire was undeniable; Maharaja Ranjit Singh recalled him to serve again in Kashmir until 1826. Beyond his administrative roles, Moti Ram played a significant part in the Sikh Empire’s diplomatic ventures. He was among the emissaries sent to meet British dignitaries, exemplified by his participation in the missions to honor Lord Amherst in 1827 and later engagements with Lord William Bentinck in 1831. These responsibilities attest to his diplomatic finesse in navigating the emerging complexities of British colonial interactions while safeguarding the interests of the Sikh state .
