Dictionary of Indian Biography/Chanda, Sahib
CHANDA, SAHIB ( ? –1752)
Another name of Husain Dost Khan, son-in-law of Dost Ali Khan, Nawab of Arcot, 1732–40, and his Diwan : regarded as a great soldier of his time : he obtained possession of the Hindu kingdom of Trichinopoly by cajoling the Rani, 1736. The Mahrattas invaded the Carnatic, 1740, besieged Chanda in Trichinopoly, and took him prisoner in 1741 to Satara : Dupleix in 1748 procured his release for a large ransom. On the death of Anwarud-din, the Nawab of the Carnatic, in 1749, at the battle of Ambur against Chanda Sahib and Muzaffar Jang (the claimant to succeed as Nizam), Chanda was proclaimed as Nawab : the British supported Muhammad Ali, son of Anwaruddin, as their candidate for the Nawabship, while the French supported Chanda's aspirations. Muhammad Ali fled from Ambur to Trichinopoly, where he was besieged by Chanda : in the fighting that ensued Chanda surrendered to the Raja of Tanjore, in May, 1752, who barbarously put him to death and sent his head to Muhammad Ali.