Khushal Ram (1790 – 18.6.1844), son of Hargovind Gaur, a Brahmin of Ikri, Merrut (Uttar Pradesh), joined the army of (Maharaja) Ranjit Singh, in 1807. In 1810, he became a ‘Sikh’ and entered the private circle of Ranjit Singh. Soon after Maharaja Ranjit Singh appointed him his personal attendant. In 1811, he was appointed Deodiwala (Chamberlain) of Ranjit Singh. Since then, his grip over Ranjit Singh became tighter and tighter. With the exception of the Dogras, he was the most powerful officer in the Lahore Darbar. No body could meet Maharaja Ranjit Singh without his permission. After some time, his son Ram Lal also became Ram Sinh and his nephew Tej Ram became Tej Sinh. Both of them were appointed as the senior officers in the Lahore Darbar. Khushal Sinh supervised several military campaigns too, including Kashmir (1814), Peshawar (1823) and Kangra (1828). Khushal Sinh had a Jagir of 180 villages with an income of rupees 120,000 per year. When Hira Sinh Dogra became prime minister, he confiscated some of his Jagir. He died within a few months later, leaving his son Kishan Sinh a big fortune. His nephew Tej Ram (Tej Sinh) was in league with the British during the Anglo-Sikh wars. He betrayed the Sikh army and helped the British in occupation of the kingdom of Ranjit Singh.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)