Son of Faqir 'Aziz ud-Din, minister to Maharaja
Ranjit Singh, was the Sikh court's envoy with the British political
agent at Ludhiana and later at Firozpur. He is described in contemporary
chronicles as an able diplomat who often accompanied foreign dignitaries
visiting Lahore and acted as an interpreter. Successive British
political agents- C.M. Wade, Dr Murray and George Russell Clerk-
spoke highly of his skill and wisdom. In 1831, Faqir Shah Din was
assigned to C.M. Wade at Ludhiana and , in 1834, he conducted Dr
Murray to the Sikh capital. At Firozpur, he acted as the Maharaja's
envoy and supply officer. He enjoyed the trust of both the Sikh
Darbar and the British. Shah Din was also associated with some of
the Darbar's commercial enterprises, in particular the shawl trade
with British India, Sindh and Afghanistan.
In 1839, he was deputed to Mitthankot to supervise the Indus navigation
trade on behalf of the Lahore government. Later, he accompanied
Major Mackeson to Amritsar to exhibit to the British agent the silk
manufactures, of the Sikh kingdom with a view to promoting export.
Both Victor Jacquemont, the French naturalist who visited India
in 1834, and Munshi Shahamat 'Ali speak highly of the discretion
shown by Faqir Shah Din in public lfie. The Sikh Darbar rewarded
his services and he and his brother, Faqir Chiraghh Din, shared
a jagir valued at 15,000 rupees annually. Shah Din died at Lahore
in 1842.
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