Diwan Sawan Mal | |
|---|---|
 Diwan Sawan Mal seated holding a lotus. Watercolour by a Company artist, Punjab, ca.1865 | |
| Born | |
| Died | 29 September 1844 |
| Cause of death | Seriously wounded by an under-trial prisoner |
| Known for | Sikh statesman |
| Title | Governor of Multan province (subah) of the Sikh Empire |
| Term | 1821–1844 |
| Successor | Diwan Mulraj Chopra |
| Parent | Hoshnak Rai Chopra (father) |
Diwan Sawan Mal (died 29 September 1844) was a military officer and Governor (Diwan) of Lahore and Multan during the Sikh Empire.
Sawan Mal was born into a Hindu Khatri family of the Chopra gotra originally from Gujranwala,[1][2] the region where Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Misl, the Sukerchakias held sway. He was a 'Munshi' to Malik Mohan Lal, Subahdar of Multan under the Durranis.
Along with Hari Singh Nalwa, he was a top commander in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. As a general under Ranjit Singh, he assisted in wresting the 'subah' (province) of Multan from the Durrani Afghans in 1823, after which he was made Diwan of the region. He instituted improvements in agricultural production through irrigation schemes.
In 1834, he signed an agreement on behalf of the Maharaja with Sardar Karam Khan, a Mazari warrior respected highly in his tribe as well as in the Sikh Army. Sardar Karam Khan was the younger brother of Mir Bahram Khan, Chief of the Baloch Mazari tribe, thereby ending the long war between the Sikhs and the Mazaris of Rojhan. He was succeeded to the governorship of Multan by his son, Diwan Mulraj Chopra, who was the last ethnic Punjabi to administer Multan.[3]
He died on 29 September 1844 due to wounds inflicted upon him by an under-trial prisoner.[1]