Mahmud Khan Gujjar

Mahmud Khan Gujjar (Punjabi: محمود خان گوجر, romanized: Maḥmūd Khān Gujjar) (died 1772) was the Nawab of Dera Ghazi Khan from 1738 till 1772.

Mahmud was the eldest son of Muhammad Yusuf, a grazier. After Yusuf passed away, his widow raised and educated her children. After completing his education, Mahmud, through the intercession of Makhdum Sahib, entered the service of Ghazi Khan.^[1] There, through his ability and connections, Mahmud gradutally rose to become Wazir of Ghazi Khan, though he appears really to have been more powerful than his nominal masters. In 1738, he set aside his master and himself became the ruler of the country. When the country west of the Indus was ceded to Nadir Shah in 1739, the latter, finding Mahmud Khan a good ruler, confirmed him as Governor.^[2]

Mahmud Khan Gujjar had power for upwards of thirty years, both over Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh. He was an energetic and enterprising man and was very active in bringing the district under cultivation. He excavated the Nur, Manka, Muhammadwah Canals, and also the Nur Branch of the Dhingana Canal. He was a large landowner, and owned lands as far south as Bhagsar. He had a great reputation as a good governor in this district and bought much land. He built the fort of Mahmud Kot.^[3]

He was succeeded by his nephew, Barkhurdar Khan, who was killed in a family quarrel in 1779.^[4]