Ahwal-i-dina Beg Khan

Ahwal-i-dina Beg Khan is a Persian manuscript of unknown authorship, whjch gives biographical details about Adina Beg Khan, fauj'dar of Jalandhar. The manuscript forms part of the collection of Persian Manuscripts, Sir H.Elliot's Papers, Additional MS. 30780 (ff. 215292), Extracts relating to India, vol. VIII. 1 , preserved in British Library, London. Copies of the manuscript are also held by Panjab University Library, Lahore, Sikh Historical Research Department, Khalsa College, Amritsar and the Dr. Ganda Singh Collection at Punjabi University, Patiala (25 pages in neat and clear handwriting). The lastnamed collection also holds an English translation of the manuscript.

According to the author, Dina (Adina) Beg Khan was born in Arain family in Sharakpur, near Lahore. He started his career as a sepoy exercising jurisdiction over a few villages in Lohian area near Sultanpur Lodhi for revenue collection. He, through his own prudence and astuteness and by the help of his patron, Lala Sri Nivas Dhir, a wealthy merchant of Sultanpur, rose, not without undergoing several ups and downs, to be the virtual ruler of the Jalandhar region. Shrewd in diplomacy and statecraft, he developed, as it suited his interests, friendly relations with Mughal governors, Afghan invaders, Sikh chiefs and even the Marathas.

Adina Beg's real name was Mian Rahimullah, elder son of Mian Azimullah. Adina Beg was also well known as a man of letters who possessed the gift of eloquence, on which account Maharaja Ranjit Singh called him Nawab Dina Beg of the Punjab.

Mian Rahim Bukhsh, younger son of Mian Rahimullah, had two sons, Maulvi Qadir Bukhsh and Mian Karim Bukhsh, according to the Arain Mian Family website. [1].