Deewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani (Sindhi: ديوان ڪوڙومل چندن مل کلناڻي) 5 October 1844–16 December 1916) was an educator, scholar and writer. He was one of the first major prose writers during the British Raj in India. He served as the first principal of the Training College for Men Hyderabad, Sindh, British India (now Pakistan), City Magistrate, Deputy Collector, Municipal Commissioner and Health Officer. He authored more than 60 books in Sindhi language. He wrote extensively on the panchayat system, health, agriculture, and folklore.
Childhood and education Kauromal was born on 5 October 1844 in Bhirya, District Naushehro Feroz, Sindh, British India (Now Pakistan). At his birth he was named 'Pritam', but because none of the children had survived earlier, the women folk felt superstitious and instead of sugar candy (misri) and sugar lump (patashas) they distributed pepper (kara mirch)on his birth. And relatives also changed his name to 'Kauro', meaning bitter. He studied Sindhi and Persian in the private school of Akhund Qazi Muhammad Suleman at village Darya Khan Jalbani (near his hometown Bhirya). He studied there from 1849 to 1855. When first primary school was opened in his hometown in 1855, he got admission there. He was a very intelligent student and mastered Sindhi and Persian language at a very early age. The Education Inspector of Sindh appointed him as a 'Boy Translator' for which he was given a scholarship of Rs 25/-. He then studied at Karachi. He was one of the four Sindhi students who went to Bombay (now Mumbai) for matriculation examination of the University of Bombay (Now University of Mumbai).
Career He started his career as a clerk in the office of the Commissioner of Karachi. He then served as a junior school teacher at Hyderabad and Sukkur. Afterwards, he served as Head Master of these schools. He also served as a Sindhi translator.
After qualifying Revenue and Judicial examinations, he was appointed as City Magistrate of Shikarpur and then City Magistrate of Hyderabad. He also served as Deputy Collector of Rohri and Hala subdivisions for seven years. He then joined the education department and served as the founding principal of the Training College for Men Hyderabad. In the year 1866, he got school opened in Bhiriya Sindh from Govt side (which is known as Kauromal Chandanmal Academy after his death). He also served as Municipal Commissioner and Health officer of Hyderabad. He retired in 1899.
After retirement, he remained member of the Sindh Education Department's Text Books Committee for many years. He also served as the as an Examiner for vernacular languages for the convenience of the Englishmen.
Books Deewan Kauromal Chandanmal is known as the father of Sindhi prose. He has written many essays on various topics in a simple and effective style. His 44 essays written up to 1907 were compiled by his son Manohar Das Khilnani and published by Sahitya Akademi, Delhi in 1960. He had mastery on Sindhi, Arabic, Persian, English, Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali languages. He translated many books from Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit and English into Sindhi. He was among the first who introduced terminology of Geometry and Chemistry into Sindhi. He also produced original work like Mahatmaoon ja Darshan, Arya Naari Charitra, Bhishma Pitamaha and Bhaktan joon Sakhiyun. An incomplete alphabetical list of his books is presented below:, +S.No.Name of the Book (Roman English)Name of the Book in SindhiYear of PublicationCommentsArya Nari Charitra (Lives of Aryan Women)آريہ ناري چتر1905Biographies of noted Indian womenAghaz Ilim-e-Hikmatآغاز علم حڪمتAndera Aakhaniانديرا آکاڻيTranslationAqleedas (Euclid), Book I, II & IIIاقليدس (ڪتاب پھريون، ٻيو ۽ ٽيون)1868Books on GeometryBa Mundiyoon (Two Rings)ٻه منڊيون1915Translation of the Bankim Chandera Chatterjee's Bengali novelBaraniyoon Aakhaniyoon (Children's stories)ٻاراڻيون آکاڻيون1891Short stories for toddlersBarana Bhajan aeen Pararthnaٻاراڻا ڀڄن ۽ پرارٿنا1909 (Third Edition)Barana Geetٻاراڻا گيت1891Bhagat Jevniyoonڀڳت جيونيون1908Bhagatan jon Sakhiyoonڀڳتن جون ساکيون 1908Bhalmansi Aeen Painchaityoon Chho Phityoon Aahinڀلمانسي ۽ پئنچاتون ڇو ڦِٽيون آهن؟ 1907ArticlesBhajan Malhaڀڄن مالاChander Mukhiچندر مکي 1918Translation of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Krishnakanta's WillChetan Dev jo Jeevan Chariterچيتن ديوَ جو جيوَن چـريــتـر 1912Coulombs Ji Tareekhڪولمبس جي تاريخ1868TranslationDadu Sant jo Jeevan Chariterدادو سنت جو جيوَن چريتر 1914Hari Darshan (The vision of God)هري درشن 1930Translation of some philosophical lectures of Devendranath TagoreHind Jo Sairھند جو سير1939TravelHindustan Ji Tareekhaهندستان جي تاريخIlim-e-Keemiaعلم ڪيميا1892TranslationJeevan Indri Shasterجيوَن اِندري شاستر (حيوانات ۽ نباتات جي بناوت جو علم)1900Khaiti (Part I)کيتي (ڀاڱو پھريون)1897Khaiti (Part II)(ڀاڱو ٻيو) کيتي1901Kheera jo Kheer Pania jo Paniکير جو کير، پاڻيءَ جو پاڻي1915Translation of Adarsh Noonha's Bengali Novel Lakhay Jo Kitabليکي جو ڪتابMahatma Pavan Ahari Babaمهاتما پون آهاري باباwritten in 1915, published in 1937Mahamari, Tihin man kahri mat sariمهامَري، تنهن مان ڪهڙي مت سَري1897Mahatmaun ja Darshanaمهاتمائن جا درشن1907Nari Nirog Jeevanناري نروڳ جيون1943Naw Sanihtaنؤ سنيهتا (نئون نياپو: 1905ع)1905Nidoro Haruندورو هار1916Translation from BengaliPadarath Sikhyaپدارٿ سکيا1900Pako Pahu (Firm Resolution)پڪو پھ1862A book on the importance of female educationPhool Malaڦول مالا1902Qiso Makh Aeen Koreearay Joقصو مک ۽ ڪوريئڙي جوPurani Shasterپراڻي شاستر1891Translation of A Treatise on BiologyRadha Raniراڌا راڻـي1914Translation of Bankam Chandra Chatterjee's Radha Rani novel from Bengali language. Raj Rashi Bheesham Patamah jo Jeevan Chariterراج رشي ڀيشم پتامهه جو جيوَن چريتر (1914ع)1914Raja Ram Mohan Rai jo Jevan Chariterراجا رام موهن راءِ جو جيوَن چريتر 1907Ratnavali رتناولي1888Translation of famous Sanskrit drama Ratnavali Ravtiريوتي1905Rohniروهني written in 1915, published in 1937NovelSaameea Ja Sulooka (Part I, II, III)ساميءَ جا سلوڪ (ڀاڱو پھريون، ٻيو ۽ ٽيون)1885 & 1892Compilation of the poetry of Sufi poet SamiSang jo Parsangسنگ جو پرسنگ1899Sanitary Primerسينيٽري پرائمرSant Jaidev jo Jeevan Chariterسنت جئديو جو جيوَن چريتر1906Sant Namdev jo Jeevan Chariterسنت نامديوَ جو جيوَن چريتر1908Satela jay tukan diyaran Babatسيتلا جي ٽڪن ڏيارڻ بابت 1887Sindhi Gujharatoonسنڌي ڳجھارتون1888Sindhi Pahakaسنڌي پھاڪا1888Sindhi Text Books for Class IV, V, VI and VIIسنڌي درسي ڪتاب (ڪلاس چوٿون، پنجون، ڇھون ۽ ستون)1873–1876Texts books for schoolsTahaka tay Tahakaٽهڪ تي ٽهڪ (ٽوٽڪا ۽ لطيفا) 1906A book of HumourZahida Rabia Baseryزاھدہ رابعہ بصري
Honours and awards In recognition of his competence and services to the society, he was honoured with the title Rai Bahadur and also gifted with 1160 acres of agricultural land by the British Government of India.
Death Deewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani died on 16 December 1916 at the age of 73 years.
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