<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>DES&#256 SI&#7748GH MAJ&#298&#7788H&#298&#256 (1768-1832)</TITLE>
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<p class="C1">&#65279DES&#256 SI&#7748GH MAJ&#298&#7788H&#298&#256 (1768-1832), an army general and civil administrator in Sikh times, was the son of Naudh Si&#7749gh, a feudal retainer under Amar Si&#7749gh Bagg&#257 of the Kanhaiy&#257 <i>misl</i>. When Naudh Si&#7749gh died in 1788, Des&#257 Si&#7749gh succeeded to the family estates. He served Buddh Si&#7749gh Bagg&#257, successor of Amar Si&#7749gh Bagg&#257, for a number of years before joining Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh's army. In 1804, Des&#257 Si&#7749gh was made a commander of 400 <i>sow&#257rs</i>. He served the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 in many of his early campaigns. In August 1809, he was appointed commandant of the Fort of K&#257&#7749g&#7771&#257 after Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh had occupied it driving away the Gurkh&#257 general, Amar Si&#7749gh Th&#257p&#257. In 1811, he was charged with reducing the Fort of Ko&#7789l&#257, half-way between K&#257&#7749g&#7771&#257 and N&#363rpur. Soon after he was made the <i>n&#257z&#299m</i> (administrator) of K&#257&#7749g&#7771&#257 and hill districts of Chamb&#257, N&#363rpur, Ko&#7789l&#257, Sh&#257hpur, Jasro&#7789&#257, Basohli, Manko&#7789, Jasv&#257n, S&#299b&#257, Guler, Ma&#7751&#7693&#299, Suket, Kull&#363 and D&#257t&#257rpur. Des&#257 Si&#7749gh who had made the hill region his home married a K&#257&#7749g&#7771&#257 girl to whom was born his son Ra&#7751jodh Si&#7749gh.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	Des&#257 Si&#7749gh participated in the campaigns launched to capture Mult&#257n (1818), Kashm&#299r (1819) and Nausher&#257 (1823). He commanded great influence at the Sikh court and was the recipient of several titles and <i>j&#257g&#299rs</i>. For a few years he served as the <i>n&#257zim</i> of Amritsar and its adjoining territories, with management of the Golden Temple as his special charge . He was often sent to receive and look after foreign dignitaries visiting the court. He established in the hill territories under his control a mild and humane administration. The Guler style of Sikh painting with the ten Sikh Gur&#363s and the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 and his courtiers as its main themes developed during his time.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;	Des&#257 Si&#7749gh died in 1832, and was succeeded in all his estates and honours by his eldest son, Lahi&#7751&#257 Si&#7749gh Maj&#299&#7789h&#299&#257.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> S&#363r&#299, Sohan L&#257l, '<i>Umd&#257t-ut-Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u></i>. Lahore, 1885-89<BR>
<li class="C1"> Griffin, Lepel and C. F. Massy, <i>Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab</i>. Lahore, 1909<BR>
<li class="C1"> Prinsep, Henry T. , <i>Origins of the Sikh Power in the Punjab and Political Life of Maharaja Ranjit  Singh </i>. Calcutta, 1834<BR>
<li class="C1"> Lawrence, H. M. , <i>Adventures of an Officer in the Punjab in the Service of Ranjit Singh </i>. London, 1846<BR>
<li class="C1"> Hasrat, Bikrama Jit, <i>Life and Times of Ranjit Singh</i>. Nabha, 1977<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">B. J. Hasrat<br></p><BR>
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