SHANKAR NATH, DlWAN (1805-1876), born at Delhi in 1805, was brought to Lahore in 1820 by his father Pandit Hari Ram, an employee of the Lahore kingdom. Shankar Nath was placed in the treasury office of Prince Kharak Singh and was afterwards transferred to the central record office where he remained until annexation of the Punjab in 1849. During the time of the residency from 1846 to 1849, he worked mainly with the British officers. Shankar Nath was appointed honorary magistrate of Lahore in 1862. He possessed great knowledge of Hindu law and his opinion was sought by the British magistrates of Lahore. He was created a Diwan in January 1865. He died at Lahore in 1876.
References :
1. Griffin, Lepel, and C.F. Masscy, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab. Lahore, 1909
DIWAN SHANKAR NATH
Diwan Shankar Nath was born in 1805 at Delhi. He originally belonged to Kashmir. His grandfather Ragunath Kaul worked with the Maharaja of Gwalior and became Mir Munshi of Colonel Louis Burqien, one of the French officers of Maratha army. Shankar Nath’s father Hari Ram also worked with him. After the downfall of the Maratha power Hari Ram was invited to Lahore by a relative Diwan Ganga Ram and he joined as a Munshi in Diwan Ganga Ram’s office. Shankar Nath also came to Lahore alongwith his father Hari Ram in 1820 and was placed in Kanwar Kharak Singh’s treasury office.192 After sometime he was transferred to the Central Record Office, in which he remained under the successors of the Maharaja till the annexation of the Punjab. He had much influence at the Lahore Darbar because he was married to the sister of Diwan Dina Nath.
Shankar Nath: Diwan and Honorary Magistrate of Lahore
Shankar Nath’s life offers a compelling window into the complex fabric of 19th-century Punjab, where tradition, administration, and law converged under both indigenous and colonial influences. Born in Delhi in 1805, he was brought to Lahore by his father, Pandit Hari Ram, an employee of the Lahore kingdom. This early relocation set the stage for Shankar Nath’s lifelong involvement in the administrative and legal affairs of the region.
A Steady Rise in the Service of the State
On his arrival in Lahore, Shankar Nath was first placed in the treasury office under Prince Kharak Singh. His aptitude for meticulous recordkeeping and sound judgment led to his transfer to the central record office—a career journey that continued unimpeded until the tumultuous times of the 1849 annexation of Punjab. During the Residency period from 1846 to 1849, his skills became particularly valuable as he worked closely with British officers, bridging the traditional administrative framework of the Lahore kingdom with the emerging colonial system.
Mastery of Hindu Law and Administrative Acumen
Shankar Nath’s reputation soon blossomed beyond routine bureaucratic service. He was distinguished by his deep knowledge of Hindu law—a field in which his opinions were highly esteemed by the British magistrates in Lahore. His erudition helped ensure that traditional legal principles were given their due weight, even as colonial administrators sought to impose their own frameworks on the region.
In recognition of his expertise and steady service, Shankar Nath was appointed honorary magistrate of Lahore in 1862. This was a position that not only underscored his deep-rooted understanding of law and governance but also testified to the trust placed in him by both local and British authorities.
The Title of Diwan
In January 1865, Shankar Nath was created a Diwan—a prestigious title that reinforced his standing as a key figure in the administrative landscape of Lahore. As Diwan, he was expected to manage critical state affairs efficiently and to consult on matters that required an authoritative interpretation of traditional legal and administrative practices. His dual role, straddling both the indigenous legal traditions and the colonial administrative framework, underscores the transitional nature of governance during that period.
Legacy and Significance
Shankar Nath’s career is emblematic of a broader historical narrative in Punjab. His journey from treasury clerk to Diwan and honorary magistrate mirrors the adaptation required by traditional administrators coping with the disruptions of colonial rule. His expertise in Hindu law not only helped shape legal practices but also ensured that indigenous perspectives continued to influence governance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Shankar Nath passed away in Lahore in 1876, leaving behind a legacy of diligent public service and legal scholarship. His life is remembered as a testament to the enduring value of indigenous wisdom, even as colonial systems sought to redefine the region’s administrative structures.
