DECCAN KHALSA DIWAN, a philanthropic organization of the Sikhs, now nonexistent, was formed in Bombay on the eve of Indian Independence (August 1947), with Partap Singh as president and Hari Singh Shergill as general secretary. The DIwan`s main object was to provide help for the rehabilitation of persons uprooted from

JAN SAHIB (as the name is recorded in Sikh documents), a Frenchman, originally employed by the Barakzai sarddrs of Kabul. He left them in 1824 and entered Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s service.

DEPUIS or DE LUST, a French soldier of fortune who came to Lahore in 1842, and was employed by the Sikh Darbar as a trainer of gunner recruits. Later, he was made commandant of a battalion, but, being found unfit for command, he was removed from service in 1844.

JONES, a deserter from the East India Company`s service, joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s army as a gunner. According to Charles Masson, the traveller, Jones participated in the final battle of Multan in 1818 and took charge of the guns, enabling the Akalis to storm the fort.

DOTTENWEISS or DOTTERWICH, a short statured, stoutly built German who, in 1835, joined the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a military tactician. He was found unequal to the appointment and was dismissed from the service soon afterwards.

LAIRDEE (d. 1846), an Englishman who deserted the East India Company`s artillery and came to Lahore. He took up service under the Sikhs in 1842. He trained the gunners and was one of the few Europeans who actually fought against the English in the first Anglo Sikh war. At

EUROPEAN ADVENTURERS OF NORTHERN INDIA, 1785 to 1849, by G. Grey, first published in 1929 and reprinted by the Languages Department, Punjab, Patiala, in 1970, contains biographical sketches of over one hundred Europeans who came to or served in the Punjab during Sikh times. The book, which is the result

MAHER JOHN, was a Eurasian musician who served as a drum-major in Maharaja Ranjit Singh\'s army.

FARRIS (d. 1842), a Frenchman, who joined the Sikh army in 1841 and was employed in the gunpowder factory. He died at Lahore within one year of his appointment.

MARTINDALE, an AngloIndian who is mentioned by Alexander Gardner in his Ranjit Singh and His White Officers as being in the infantry service of the Sikhs. He was the son of General Martindale, an officer who figured prominently in the Gurkhawar of 1814, his mother being Indian. Prior to

FORD, MATTHEW WILLIAM (d. 1841), an Englishman who started his career in 1804 as an ensign in a West India regiment. He successively served with the 7th Foot, the 70th Foot, the 1st Royal Scots and the 22nd Light Dragoons. In 1823, he was appointed paymaster to the 16th Foot.

METUI, a Russian soldier of fortune, described to be a captain in one of the regiments of the Sikh army in 1841 on a monthly salary of Rs 300. According to one account, he had married a Kashmiri woman and had a daughter by her and was a resident