Pundit Man Singh Rawat, commonly known as “Mani Compassi”, was one of the famous Pundit Brothers who played a significant role in the exploration of Central Asia during the ‘Great Game’ between the British and Russians in the second-half of the 19th century. Man Singh was the eldest son of Deb Singh Rawat (Debu Buda), who was among the wealthiest and most influential traders of Johar valley in Pithoragarh. During an expedition in Neeti valley of Garhwal Himalayas, Dr. William Moorcroft was helped and accompanied by Deb Singh Rawat in his journey to Mansarovar via Daba. Man Singh was the older cousin of Pundit Nain Singh Rawat, the famous explorer and cartographer who worked in The Great Trigonometrical Survey.