Moti Ram

Diwan Moti Ram (1770–1837) was the first Sikh governor of Kashmir, serving from 1819–1820 and again during 1821–1826.

Family Diwan Moti Ram was a son of Dewan Mokham Chand. His sons Diwan Ram Dayal and Kirpa Ram also 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. 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 in the Gujrat district of West Punjab and several of its villages as jagir to Moti Ram. The place was Moti Ram's ancestral hometown and worth over three lakh rupees in revenue 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.