Moti Ram

Diwan Moti Ram (1770–1837), son of Dewan Mokham Chand, was one of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's most trusted and faithful officers.

Family
Diwan Moti Ram and his sons, Diwan Ram Dayal and Kirpa Ram, served honourably at the Court of Lahore.

Career
Moti Ram served at the Lahore Court as an administrator, a military commander and a diplomat.

In 1799, following the occupation of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh deputed Moti Ram to repair the city wall and moat. Before 1814, Moti Ram officiated as the governor of the Jalandhar Doab in place of his father, who was on military expeditions. Following his father's demise, he was appointed the Governor of the Jalandhar Doab. Moti Ram served as the Governor of Kashmir for two spells—1819-1820 and 1821–26. In 1818, Moti Ram participated in the successful Multan campaign.

In 1827, Moti Ram was a member of the Sikh mission sent by Ranjit Singh to felicitate Lord Amherst, the Governor-General of India, when he paid his first visit to Shimla. In 1831, Moti Ram was nominated a member of the delegation sent from Lahore to meet Lord William Bentinck. In October 1831, Diwan Moti Ram was present at the Ropar Meeting between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Lord William Bentinck held on the bank of the Satluj River.

In December 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted Kunjah (Gujrat district of Pakistan) and several villages as jagir to Moti Ram. The place was Moti Ram's ancestral hometown and worth over three lakh rupees annually.

Departure
Diwan Moti Ram was hounded out of the Sikh Empire by Dhian Singh Dogra. He left for Benaras, where he died in 1837.