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DARGAH MALL


Diwan Dargah Mall Chhibber (? – 10.2.1695) was son of Bhai Dawarka Das Chhibber, grandson of Shaheed Bhai Parag Das and great-grandson of Bhai Gautam, of village Kariala (district Jhelum, Pakistan). Guru Hargobind Sahib appointed him Diwan (minister). Bhai Dargah Mall remained Diwan up to the time of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. In June 1656, when Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib went out for a long missionary journey, he accompanied Guru Sahib. In 1660, when Aurangzeb summoned Guru Har Rai Sahib to his court, Guru Sahib sent his elder son Ram Rai to Delhi. Bhai Dargah Mall accompanied Ram Rai. When Ram Rai distorted a hymn to please Aurangzeb, Bhai Dargah Mall informed Guru Har Rai Sahib about the same. Similarly, in 1664, when Guru Harkrishan Sahib was summoned by Aurangzeb, Bhai Dargah Mall accompanied Guru Sahib to Delhi. After the death of Guru Harkrishan Sahib, Bhai Dargah Mall accompanied Mata Sulakkhani, the mother of Guru Harkrishan Sahib to Bakala (now Baba Bakala). During the time of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Bhai Dargah Mall had grown old. He requested Guru Sahib to relieve him of active charge of his duties. Guru Sahib accepted his request and appointed latter’s nephew Bhai Mati Das (son of Bhai Hira Mall) as Diwan. However, Bhai Dargah Mall accompanied Guru Sahib during tour of Bihar, Bengal and Assam (1665-70). On May 25, 1675, when Pandits of Kashmir, under the leadership of Bhai Kirpa Ram Dutt, visited Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, at Aanandpur Sahib, Bhai Dargah Mall was present there. Diwan Mati Das and his brother Bhai Sati Das accompanied Guru Sahib, when Guru Sahib left Aanandpur Sahib for Delhi and embraced martyrdom, on November 11, 1675. After the martyrdom of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Dargah Mall had to perform again the duty as Diwan. He was however, formally relieved, on March 29, 1676. He was succeeded by his son Bhai Dharam Chand (later Dharam Singh). Bhai Dargah Mall died at Aanandpur Sahib in 1695, at a very ripe age.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)