Wazir-e-Wazarat Duni Chand Mehta: The Forgotten Hero of Kishtwar Who Died Defending India in 1947
A Kishtwar-born administrator who stood his ground against Pakistani tribal raiders in Muzaffarabad — and paid with his life.
Who Was Duni Chand Mehta?
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| Duni Chand Mehta - Wazir-e Wazarat of Muzaffarabad |
In the turbulent final months before India's independence, few figures embodied courage and duty as completely as Duni Chand Mehta — a native of Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, and a high-ranking official in the administration of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehta came from a prestigious family of Vaidyas — traditional Ayurvedic physicians — some of whom had served in the royal court of Jammu and Kashmir. Rising through the ranks of the colonial administration, he served as Assistant Governor of Kashmir before being appointed to one of the most critical posts in the region.
In July 1947, just weeks before Indian independence, the Kashmir government elevated him to the position of Wazir-e-Wazarat (Deputy Commissioner) of Muzaffarabad — a strategic frontier town at the northwestern edge of the princely state. It was a fateful appointment, made at the worst possible moment in history.
Muzaffarabad, 1947: On the Edge of History
Muzaffarabad in 1947 was not just any town. It sat at the gateway to Kashmir — a point that Pakistan-backed tribal militias would soon target in their violent push to seize the princely state before it could accede to India.
Duni Chand Mehta traveled from Srinagar to assume his post in July 1947. A month later, he returned briefly to Srinagar for official work — and on his return journey, he brought his family with him to Muzaffarabad: his wife Smt. Krishna Mehta, and their five children.
His eldest daughter Veena was 14 and a half. His youngest son was just 7 years old. Also with them was his niece Swadesh, aged 14 — the daughter of his elder brother.
None of them could have imagined what was coming.
The Attack: October 22, 1947
The night of October 21, 1947 began quietly. Mehta had invited army colonels and captains to dinner at his home — but they arrived late, delayed by a meeting at the Police Superintendent's bungalow nearby. By 12:30 AM, the gathering had ended and the officers returned to their quarters.
Just four hours later, everything changed.
At around 4:30 to 5:00 AM on October 22, 1947, the sound of gunfire erupted across Muzaffarabad. Explosions rattled the town every few minutes. By morning, panic had taken hold. Bullets flew. People screamed. Fires spread. The tribal raiders — armed, organized, and advancing street by street — were burning buildings and killing anyone in their path. Even the local hospital was set ablaze.
Mehta Refuses to Flee
When the attack began, Duni Chand Mehta left his wife and children at their official residence — the kothi — and went to organize resistance. He made his way to the local high school, where cannon had been positioned just days earlier, accompanied by the Superintendent of Police, a Sub-Inspector, and 23 police constables.
But the situation had already collapsed. Nine constables assigned to the post had abandoned it. Local people urged Mehta to hide, to escape, to let others get him out safely. He refused every plea.
He called out to the crowd:
"An attack has come upon your country — stand together and save it. Instead, you are asking me to hide. Come, and let us go where the police have taken up their position."
No one listened. The constables had lost their nerve. The crowd dispersed. Mehta tried again and again to rally anyone willing to fight. He was alone.
He made a final statement:
"I have made every effort to fight, but no one listens. Everyone is only worried about himself. Now I cannot save you. I am going home — that is also my duty."
People warned him that the raiders had already entered his home. He went anyway.
The Final Moments: A Hero's Death
When Duni Chand Mehta approached his kothi, he found forty to fifty raiders already inside, looting and destroying everything. The police inspector who had accompanied him turned and fled.
His loyal servant Om, hiding in the bathroom, spotted Mehta approaching and whispered a warning about the situation inside. Mehta's reply was unflinching:
"This was the time of sacrifice, not for running away. I came home so that we could all embrace death together."
Moments later, raiders poured out of the house. They leveled their guns at him. A local man ran forward to try to save him — but the raiders opened fire. Duni Chand Mehta was shot in the chest and died on the spot.
Hours later, two local men — Shivdayal and Ramchand — found his body on the ground. They carried it to the bedroom of his home, and in the absence of any other means, set the kothi on fire to perform his last rites.
When the raiders emerged after killing him, they were reportedly heard saying:
"Today we have killed a Dogra soldier. His bravery will remain in our memory for a long time. We had orders to capture him alive — but he replied in such a way that we became angry and opened fire."
Even his enemies acknowledged his courage.
What Happened to His Family?
When the attack began, Smt. Krishna Mehta fled the kothi with her children. On the road, a local man — the Nawab's chaparsi — guided them to his home for temporary shelter. But by 10 PM that night, they were forced to flee again.
Smt. Krishna Mehta later documented these harrowing events in her personal account, Kashmir Par Hamla ("Attack on Kashmir") — a primary source that preserves this story for history.
Why Duni Chand Mehta's Story Matters Today
The 1947 tribal invasion of Kashmir is well recorded in military and political history. But the stories of civilian administrators — those who stood their ground without weapons, without backup, without escape routes — are rarely told.
Duni Chand Mehta was not a soldier. He was a civil servant, a Vaidya's son from Kishtwar, an administrator doing his duty at a frontier post. When the moment came, he chose to stand rather than run. He organized resistance when armed officers had already scattered. He walked into certain death rather than abandon his post or his principles.
His story is also a window into the diverse social fabric of pre-1947 Jammu & Kashmir — a state where Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities had lived together under Dogra rule, and where families like the Mehtas contributed their learning, their service, and ultimately their lives to the institutions of governance.
For the people of Kishtwar, he remains a son of the soil — a brave heart who gave everything.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Duni Chand Mehta |
| Origin | Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Family background | Vaidya (Ayurvedic physician) lineage, royal court heritage |
| Position at time of death | Wazir-e-Wazarat (Deputy Commissioner), Muzaffarabad |
| Date of martyrdom | October 22, 1947 |
| Cause | Killed by Pakistan-backed tribal raiders during the invasion of J&K |
| Primary source | Kashmir Par Hamla by Smt. Krishna Mehta |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Duni Chand Mehta? He was a native of Kishtwar and the Deputy Commissioner (Wazir-e-Wazarat) of Muzaffarabad in 1947. He was killed by Pakistani tribal raiders during their invasion of Jammu and Kashmir on October 22, 1947.
What was the Wazir-e-Wazarat? It was the position of Deputy Commissioner — the senior-most civil administrator of a district in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir under Dogra rule.
What happened in Muzaffarabad in October 1947? Pakistan-backed tribal militias invaded Muzaffarabad on October 22, 1947, in an attempt to seize Kashmir before it could accede to India. The attack led to widespread violence, looting, and killings.
Where can I read more about the 1947 tribal invasion of Kashmir? A firsthand account by Smt. Krishna Mehta, wife of Duni Chand Mehta, is documented in her book Kashmir Par Hamla, which preserves personal testimony from survivors of the invasion.
Authored by: Sunil Bhagat, Technician-I, Govt. Degree College Kishtwar
Source: Kashmir Par Hamla by Smt. Krishna Mehta
Published on: www.mykishtwar.com
Disclaimer: This article presents the author's personal research and interpretation of historical events. The accuracy, completeness, and validity of any statements made within this article are the sole responsibility of the author.