Dewan Mulraj

Diwan Mulraj Chopra was the leader of the Sikh rebellion against the British from Multan. He was son of Diwan Sawan Mal Chopra who was appointed as governor of the city of Multan by the Sikh Emperor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. His territory included Southern Punjab region of Jhang. After the annexation of Lahore palace by the British, the Sikh Army fought valiantly in the two Anglo-Sikh wars. Diwan Mulraj was part of the last Sikh stand against the British and was supported by Sikh Saint Bhai Maharaj Singh, Sikh Sardars from West Punjab, and Punjabi Muslims. After British captured Multan, Diwan Mulraj was imprisoned and died in a jail near Calcutta, India.

In the 19th century, the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh conquered Multan. The Afghan ruler of Multan, Muzaffar Khan Saddozai was defeated and killed. His death marked the end of Afghan rule in Multan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh appointed Diwan Sawan Mal Chopra, a Punjabi Khatri, who was known to be one of the most able administrator of the Sikh empire. He is well known for agricultural reforms and spread of Sikhism in Multan. His first son, Mulraj, became the Governor of Multan, after the assassination of Sawan Mal at the hands of Afghans.

On 18 April, Vans Agnew and another officer, Lieutenant Anderson from the East India Company's Bombay Army, arrived outside Multan with a small escort of Gurkhas to take control of Multan from the Sikhs. The next day, Mulraj was to present the keys of the city to the two British officers. As the two officers began to ride out of the citadel, a soldier from Mulraj's army attacked Vans Agnew. This may have been the sign for a concerted attack, as a mob surrounded and attacked them. Mulraj's troops either stood by, or joined the mob. Both officers were wounded, and took refuge in a Mosque outside the city, where Anderson wrote a plea for help. Mulraj had probably not been a party to the conspiracy among his own troops. He nevertheless regarded himself as committed to rebellion by their actions. The poet Hakim Chand recites, "Then the mother of Mulraj spoke to him reminding him of the Sikh Gurus and martyrs: "I will kill myself leaving a curse on your head. Either lead your men to death or get out of my sight; (and) I shall undertake the Khalsa army and go to the battle ...". She tied a bracelet on his wrist and sent him to the battle. Next morning, the mob hacked the two British officers to death. Mulraj presented Vans Agnew's head to Khan Singh and told him to take it back to Currie at Lahore.

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