Chandu Lal


Chandu Lal Malhotra, better known as Maharaja Chandu Lal was the Prime Minister for the 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad, Sikandar Jah. He was born in Hyderabad Deccan, and hailed from a Hindu family of the Khatri caste with origins in Lahore. He was also a poet of Urdu, Hyderabadi, Punjabi and Persian.

Family

Chandu Lal Sadan was born in a Hindu Malhotra family of Punjabi Khatri background. His family were Nanakpanthis. His father was Rai Naryen Das, who migrated from Rai Bareilly to Hyderabad State. His ancestors had served in the Mughal courts. His family is the founder of the Dafter-e-Mal in Hyderabad Deccan during Nizam ul Mulk Asif Jah I. The future Prime Minister, Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad, was his great-grandson. The family was famously known as Malwala Family in Hyderabad.

In Sikh Darbar

Chandu Lal was a Minister within the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh under the Sikh Empire. They both had good relations and Chandu Lal Malotra became a General in the Sikh Khalsa Army. He then converted and became a devout Sehajdhari Sikh.
In an agreement between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Nizam of Hyderabad for the construction of a Gurudwara in the spot where Guru Gobind Singh Ji died and the Nizam of Hyderabad making it 4 acres large made of marble, Ranjit Singh would give him 24,000 Nihang Sikhs as private unpaid soldiers to quell rebellions.
Chandu Lal may have considered himself a Nanakpanthi, as he was devotee of the Udasi saint, Baba Priyatam Das.

In Nizam Darbar

He started his career as a subordinate in the customs department of Kingdom of Hyderabad. Later he received the title of Raja Bahadur from Nawab Sikandar Jah. Sikandar Jah selected him as accounts officer of his army. British historian states "Due to the ladting effect of Chundoo Lal the dominions of the Nizam seem to look like a Sikh one rather than a Mohhamedan." The Nihang forces refused to be paid and said they would only be paid by the Akal Takht. Later after the Anglo Sikh Wars Nihangs fled to the South, where they battled against revolt earning respect by many. It is even noted by historians that Nihangs were used as bodyguards.
In 1819 Chandu Lal received the title of Maharaja from Sikandar Jah and a cash award of one crore rupees. In 1822 he was made the head of seven thousand horsemen with the title of Raja e Rajagan from Nawab Nasir ud dawlah. After the death of Monir-ul-Mulk in 1833, Chandu Lal succeeded him as a prime minister.

Prime minister

Chandu Lal was made prime minister of Hyderabad Deccan twice. First in the year 1808 then in 1832 AD and he held the office until 1843 AD.

Maharaj Chandulal's Temple

As per legends, a saint returning from a pilgrimage to Tirumala, stopped at Alwal. During his stay, the saint who was carrying an idol of Lord Balaji, sat meditating under a tamarind tree. Chandulal Bahadur, along with his family paid a visit to the saint to seek his blessings. The saint told Chandulal that Lord Venkateswara had appeared in his dreams and told him that a temple should be built at Alwal for devotees who could not afford to go to Tirumala. Chandulal built a small temple and installed the idol of Lord Venkateswara. The temple has been declared as an heritage structure.

Poet

Chandu Lal as a learned man, was a patron of Urdu poetry and literature. His patronship attracted Urdu poets to his court. He even invited poets from Northern India like Zauq and Baksh Nasikh and Mirza Ghalib from Delhi to Hyderabad State but they couldn't turn up for some reasons. Despite the responsibility of his prime ministerial office he used to regularly organize and attend Mushaira.