Standing left of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, is said to be the only image of Hari Singh Nalwa, painted in the period of Lahore Darbar (Refer Book: Hari Singh Nalwa, Champion of Khalsa Ji, by Vanit Nalwa). Compare his looks with that going viral in the video being sent across social media today. What everyone forgets is that Hari Singh Nalwa was not just a warrior – He was an able administrator, agriculturist, poet and also command leader. His photo and personality image is in reality very different from what modern artists have started depicting.

Haripur, close to Rawalipindi was named after Hari Singh Nalwa after he took charge as the administrator of Hazara Region. The cultivation of Malta that happens in this region in present times, is credited to Hari Singh Nalwa’s vision of building the ‘Rangila’ water canal system that irrigated the land. He imported special varieties of plants and one of them that became the revenue generator of this region till date is the Malta Fruit.

One should read his Persian poetry as official exchange with the Pathan leader of Amb State – it is bureaucracy dialogue in fine poetic language.

He also led an army because of situational need but his personality was far greater than a warrior!