At various points in Indian history, the title of diwan has designated differing, though similar functions. During the Mughal empire the diwan served as the chief revenue officer of a province; afterwards, frequently, the chief minister of a princely state became known as a diwan. The History of India covers the birth of humanity as long as 700,000 years ago, to the birth of human civilization 5,000 years ago. ... The Mughal Empire, (Mughal Baadshah, alternative spelling Mogul) was an empire that at its greatest territorial extent ruled parts of Afghanistan, Balochistan and most of the Indian Subcontinent between 1526 and 1857. ... A princely state or native state was a feudal monarchy in British India ruled by a hereditary ruler, who was nominally sovereign. ...
The titlediwan is derived from the name of a particular sofa-like piece of sitting furniture known as a divan, which is the common shape of thrones in the Indian subcontinent, either a Hindu Gadi or a Muslim Musnaid.
Nowadays, the title is used amongst certain upper-middle-class families in the Indian subcontinent; several landlords in villages and provinces across the subcontinent have names prefixed with this title.
Diwan Deo was the hereditary title borne by the Chief Minister of Cooch, held by a junior branch of the ruling Narayan dynasty
Diwan (title), also dewan or divan- a number of Middle Eastern titles used in various languages for high officials, especially of cabinet rank, or as a rank of nobility in South Asia
Diwan (ritual) - a religious ritual in Algeria
Diwan (Ottoman poetry) - poetry of the Ottoman Empire