HARCHARAN DĀS (b. 1815), youngest of the five sons of Misr Ralīā Rām, began public life as an assistant in the customs department under the Sikh government of Lahore. During the wazārat of Rājā Hīrā Siṅgh Ḍogrā, he was made commandant of 700 horse in the Mūlrājīā Ḍerā. In 1848, he was appointed by the Lahore Darbār an Adālatī or judge of Lahore with the honorary title of Rukn ud-Daulah, i.e. honoured member of the empire. After the annexation of the Punjab, he was appointed by the British an extra assistant commissioner which office he resigned in 1852. He resided at Amritsar and had a serāi (inn) built at his own expense for public welfare between the city of Amritsar and Lahore.