Hari Chand (? – 1688) was the chief of small hill State in Garhwal (now Uttrakhand). He joined Fateh Shah in attack on Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, in the battle of Bhangani (on September 18, 1688). Hari Chand fought bravely. He killed several Sikhs. During the middle of the battle, Hari Chand killed Bhai Jit Mall (a cousin of Guru Gobind Singh) with his spear. Hari Chand too fell down unconscious but after some time he got up again and fought bravely. He shot three arrows at Guru Gobind Singh, one of these arrows hit horse of the Guru and another hit Guru’s belt. At this the Guru too shot arrow at him and killed him. After Hari Chand’s death, the armies of the hill chiefs fled the battlefield.
Hari Chand’s samaadh still stands near Gurdwara Tirgarh in Bhangani village.
(Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)