Maharaja Chandu Lal


Chandu Lal Sadan, better known as Maharaja Chandu Lal was the Prime Minister for 3rd Nizam of Hyderabad Sikandar Jah. He was born in Hyderabad Deccan and hails from a family from Raebareli, India. He was also a poet of Urdu and Persian.

Family

Chandu Lal Sadan's father was Rai Naryen Das, who migrated from Rai Bareilly to Hyderabad State, his ancestors were Hindus. who served in the Mughal courts and his great grand parents included Raja Todar Mal, the Finance Minister of Akbar the Great. His family is the founder of the Dafter-e-Mal in Hyderabad Deccan during Nizam ul Mulk Asif Jah I. The later prime minister, Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad first 1901-1912, and then 1926 - 1937, is his great-grandson. The family is famously known as Malwala Family in Hyderabad, India,

Career

He started career as a subordinate in the customs department of Kingdom of Hyderabad. Later he received the title of Raja Bahadur from Nawab Sikandar Jah. Sikandar Jah selected him as accounts officer of his army.
In 1819 Chandu Lal received the title of Maharaja from Sikandar Jah and a cash award of one crore rupees. In 1822 he was made the head of seven thousand horsemen with the title of Raja e Rajagan from Nawab Nasir ud dawlah. After the death of Monir-ul-Mulk in 1833, Chandu Lal succeeded him as a prime minister.

Prime minister

Chandu Lal was made prime minister of Hyderabad Deccan in the year 1833 AD and he held the office until 1844 AD.

Poet

Chandu Lal as a learned man, was a patron of Urdu poetry and literature. His patronship attracted Urdu poets to his court. He even invited poets from Northern India like Zauq and Baksh Nasikh from Delhi to Hyderabad State but they couldn't turn up for some reasons. Despite the responsibility of his prime ministerial office he used to regularly organize and attend Mushaira.