Chaudhari Dewan Chand Saini
Encyclopedia
Rai Bahadur Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini, MBE (1887-unknown) of Gurdaspur
was a well-known criminal lawyer and politician of British Punjab.
. His father died when he was merely seven years old. He was brought up by Lala Ram Sharan who was a pagvat friend of Chaudhary Fateh Chand. Both friends had cemented their friendship by exchanging turbans and had sworn to take care of each others family in case of death of one of them.
Lala Ram Sharan who brought up Chaudhary Dewan Chand intended him to become an engineer but Dewan Chand chose the profession of law instead. In 1915 he gained law degree from Lahore
and in the same year he got married to Bibi Achhra Devi of Marara (Dina Nagar, district Gurdaspur). He had eight daughters and two sons. One of his sons retired from the rank of Major in the British Indian Army.
He was also a member of Legislative Council of colonial Punjab. As an elected legislator , he was known for his tireless advocacy of the agricultural communities of Punjab.
He was also subsequently awarded the title of 'Rai Bahadur' by the British government."
community of Punjab during his time.
Reportedly he successfully used his political clout to get the colonial British Indian government to raise a new regiment called 'Saini Infantry' which was to recruit exclusively from Saini community of Punjab. It is noteworthy that although this community was already enlisted as a martial class since the institution of this category via Punjab Alienation of Land Act of 1900 and members of this community were recruited in the British Indian Army since its earliest recruitment history in Punjab , this was the first time they were able to have a dedicated regiment or a division exclusively named after their tribal identity. Hitherto they had been recruited in regiments such as Sikh Regiment, Grenadiers, Sikh Pioneers, Mountain Gunners, Sappers, etc. along with troops recruited from other martial classes. Saini Infantry, along with Christian Infantry, was completely disbanded after 1947 in the general movement of Indian Army towards more open and equitable recruitment policy.
He was also alloted a large estate of several Murabas by the colonial government in recoginition of his distinguished public services.
Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur is a city in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. It is located in the center of and is the administrative head of Gurdaspur District. It was the location of a fort which was famous for the siege it sustained in 1712 from the Mughals...
was a well-known criminal lawyer and politician of British Punjab.
Family and early life
Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini was the son of Chaudhary Fateh Chand who was a Wazeer (minister) in the erstwhile princely state of ChambaChamba, Himachal Pradesh
Chamba is an ancient town in the Chamba district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India. According to the 2001 Indian census, Chamba has a population of 20,312 people...
. His father died when he was merely seven years old. He was brought up by Lala Ram Sharan who was a pagvat friend of Chaudhary Fateh Chand. Both friends had cemented their friendship by exchanging turbans and had sworn to take care of each others family in case of death of one of them.
Lala Ram Sharan who brought up Chaudhary Dewan Chand intended him to become an engineer but Dewan Chand chose the profession of law instead. In 1915 he gained law degree from Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
and in the same year he got married to Bibi Achhra Devi of Marara (Dina Nagar, district Gurdaspur). He had eight daughters and two sons. One of his sons retired from the rank of Major in the British Indian Army.
Career as a lawyer and politician
Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini 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 .He was also a member of Legislative Council of colonial Punjab. As an elected legislator , he was known for his tireless advocacy of the agricultural communities of Punjab.
He was also subsequently awarded the title of 'Rai Bahadur' by the British government."
Leader of Saini community of Punjab
Due to his repute as a distinguished lawyer and his political clout as a member of Legislative Council of Punjab, Chaudhary Dewan Chand was also known as undisputed and most articulate spokesman of SainiSaini
Saini is a Rajput descent caste of India. Sainis, also known as Shoorsaini in Puranic literature, are now found by their original name only in Punjab and in the neighboring states of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh...
community of Punjab during his time.
Reportedly he successfully used his political clout to get the colonial British Indian government to raise a new regiment called 'Saini Infantry' which was to recruit exclusively from Saini community of Punjab. It is noteworthy that although this community was already enlisted as a martial class since the institution of this category via Punjab Alienation of Land Act of 1900 and members of this community were recruited in the British Indian Army since its earliest recruitment history in Punjab , this was the first time they were able to have a dedicated regiment or a division exclusively named after their tribal identity. Hitherto they had been recruited in regiments such as Sikh Regiment, Grenadiers, Sikh Pioneers, Mountain Gunners, Sappers, etc. along with troops recruited from other martial classes. Saini Infantry, along with Christian Infantry, was completely disbanded after 1947 in the general movement of Indian Army towards more open and equitable recruitment policy.
Awards and decorations
Rai Bahadur Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini was also among the most highly decorated public figures of his time. He earned following awards and titles during his lifetime :- Rai Sahib (along with two other personalities from the district)
- Rai Bahadur (only personality within district Gurdaspur to gain this distinction)
- Order of British Empire (MBE)
He was also alloted a large estate of several Murabas by the colonial government in recoginition of his distinguished public services.