ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>AHW&#256L-I-D&#298N&#256 BEG KH&#256N</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="AHWL,D*N,BEG"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279AHW&#256L-I-D&#298N&#256 BEG <u>KH</u>&#256N, Persian manuscript of unknown authorship, gives biographical details about &#256d&#299n&#257 Beg <u>Kh</u>&#257n, <i>faujd&#257r</i> of Jalandhar. The manuscript forms part of the collection of Persian Manuscripts, Sir H. Elliot's Papers, Additional MS. 30780 (ff. 215-292), Extracts relating to India, vol. VIII. 1, preserved in British Library, London. Copies of the manuscript are also held by Panjab University Library, Lahore, Sikh Historical Research Department, <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 College, Amritsar, and Dr Ga&#7751&#7693&#257 Si&#7749gh Collection at Punjabi University, Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 (25 pages in neat and clear handwriting). The last-named collection also holds an English translation of the manuscript.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the author, D&#299n&#257 (&#256d&#299n&#257) Beg <u>Kh</u>&#257n was born in a poor Ar&#257&#299&#7749, vegetable-growing, family in Sharakpur Pa&#7789&#7789&#299 village, near Lahore. He started his career as a sepoy exercising jurisdiction over a few villages in Loh&#299&#257&#7749 area near Sult&#257npur Lodh&#299 for revenue collection. He, through his own prudence and astuteness and by the help of his patron, L&#257l&#257 Sr&#299 Niv&#257s Dh&#299r, a wealthy merchant of Sult&#257npur, rose, not without undergoing several ups and downs, to be the virtual ruler of the Jalandhar region. Shrewd in diplomacy and statecraft, he developed as it suited his interests friendly relations with Mu<u>gh</u>al governors, Af<u>gh</u>&#257n invaders, Sikh chiefs and the Mar&#257&#7789h&#257s He married only towards the close of his career, but divorced his bride as soon as he learnt that she came of a high Sayyid caste. Thus he died childless and his territories and treasure were upon his death usurped by local chieftains.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Major Gurmukh Si&#7749gh (Retd.)<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>