Dewan Chand Saini

Rai Bahadur Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini, MBE [1] (1887-unknown) of Gurdaspur[2][3][4][5][6] was a well-known criminal lawyer and politician of British Punjab.

Early life

Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini was the son of Chaudhary Fateh Chand, a Wazeer (minister) of the erstwhile princely state of Chamba. His father died when he was seven years old. He was brought up by Lala Ram Sharan who was a pagvat friend of Chaudhary Fateh Chand. The two men had exchanged turbans and had sworn to take care of each other's family in the event of one dying.[7]

Lala Ram Sharan intended Chand to become an engineer but Chand chose the profession of law instead. In 1915 he gained law degree from Lahore and in the same year he married Bibi Achhra Devi. The couple had eight daughters and two sons.[7]

Career

Chand had a distinguished career as an attorney. He was a highly reputed lawyer of Punjab High Court (Lahore) and was later appointed as the leader of its Criminal Bar.[2] He was also a member of Legislative Council of colonial Punjab and as an elected legislator he was known for his advocacy on behalf of agricultural communities.[3]

Awards and decorations

Chand was awarded the title of Rai Sahib by the British government, which was later elevated to Rai Bahadur[1][2] Later on he was honored and given title of the Member of the Order of the British Empire.[6][7] He also formed Saini infentry. Which take active part in WW2.And awarded war memorial. He was also founder of Saini sabhas in his region.

He was also allotted a large estate of several Murabas by the colonial government in recognition of his distinguished public services.[7]

References
  1. "Saini, RB, DC, MBE, 2 June 1943." The India Office and Burma Office list for ..., Volume 56, pp 106, Great Britain. India Office, 1947
  2. " Chaudhri Dewan Chand Saini was another lawyer practicing on the criminal side those days. Later on he became Rai Sahib and leader of the Criminal Bar, but unfortunately died of cancer at a comparatively young age." Looking Back: The Autobiography of Mehr Chand Mahajan, Former Chief Justice of India, pp 45,Mehr Chand Mahajan, Published by Asia Pub. House, 1963
  3. The Punjab Legislative Council Debates. Official Report,pp 1028 & 1047, Published By Legislative Council, Punjab (India), 1936
  4. Mahatma Hansraj: Maker of the Modern Punjab, pp 132, Sri Ram Sharma, Published by Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha, 1941
  5. The Punjab and the war , pp 185, Maxwell Studdy Leigh, Lahore, Printed by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Punjab, 1922
  6. "Chaudhri Parkash Chand Saini, son of Rai Bahadur Diwan Chand, Civil Lines, Gurdaspur," pp 503, Punjab (India). Legislature. Legislative Assembly – 1964
  7. Saini Jagat: Utpati Ate Vikas, pp 116, Professor Surjit Singh Nanua, Manjota Publications, 2008
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