Mahan Singh Hazarawala

Mahan Singh Hazarawala (died 1844) was a military officer in the Khalsa Army of Sikh Empire, serving under Hari Singh Nalwa.^[1] The city of Mansehra in Pakistan is believed to be named after him.^[2]

Mahan Singh Hazarawala
Governor of Hazara
In office 1837–1838
Monarch	Ranjit Singh
Preceded by	Hari Singh Nalwa
Succeeded by	Tej Singh
Personal details
Died	1844 Hazara, Sikh Empire
Parent	Data Ram Bali (Father)
Signature

Early life

Mahan Singh was born into a Punjabi Hindu family from the Bali clan of Mohyal Brahmins. He was the son of Data Ram Bali, a trusted servant of Sultan Mukarab Khan, the Muslim Gakhar chief of the city of Gujrat.^[1][3]

Military career

While in Lahore in search of a job, he happened to participate in a hunting expedition of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, in which he caught the notice of the Maharaja by single-handedly killing a leopard with his sword.^[4] Impressed by his valor, the Maharaja had him inducted into the army under Hari Singh Nalwa.^[4]

Mahan Singh served in the battles of Peshawar and Kashmir, and in the 1818 siege of Multan, where he was wounded twice.^[4] In April 1837, he was the main defender of the Jamrud Fort, holding out against an invasion by the Afghans during the Battle of Jamrud. Nalwa was killed in that battle but Mahan Singh kept the news secret until reinforcements arrived from Lahore.^[4]

Death

Mahan Singh succeeded Hari Singh as the Diwan of Hazara, where he was killed in 1844 by his own soldiers when a mutiny broke out.^[4]

See also

• Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Generals
• Mansehra