English
” * Most of these legends ana traditions regarding Bengal and India of prc*Mosletn times have been borrowed by oar author from Feriahta. For the most part, they consist of a huge mass of mythological fictions, to extract a few grains of sober historical truth wherefrom, I mast leave to more competent hands. Yet it is worthy of note (03 our author's narrative indicates) that India and Bengal in very early times had political connection of some sort with Scythia and (through the latter ) with Persia. It is probable that ethnologically, these Scythinu incursions resulted to a groat extent in an admixture of Scythian and Aryan races in India y which admixture was further complicated by the subsequent Dravidian incursions from the soutli 8 •* 58 CHAPTER I. A DESCRIPTION OP THE RULE OF THE MUSALMAN RULERS WHO RULED OVER THIS KINGDOM OP BENGAL, AS VICEROYS OF THE EMPERORS OF DELHI.' Be it not hidden from *he enlightened hearts of those who enquire into the histories of Musalman sovereigns and rulers, that the commencement of the effulgence of the sun of the Muhammadan faith in the Kingdom of Bengal, dates from the period of the reign of Sultan Qutbu-d-din Aibak, 8 Emperor of i This period extended from 1198 A.C. to 1338 A.C. 8 This is not qnite accurate. Bengal was conquered by Bakhtiar Khilj-al- Ghazi (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 146), in 594 A.H. or 1198 A.C. (for the discussion of the date, see Tubaqat, p. 150, and Blochmann’s contribution to history of Bengal), whilst Emperor Shahabuddin Ghori alias Muiznddiu Muhammad Sara was yet alive, and whilst Qutbuddin Aibak ruled at Delhi, ns the latter’s Indian Viceroy, that is, only 7 years after the Musalman occupation of Delhi, which took place iu 587 A.H. or 1191 A.C. ( Tabaqal , pp. 139, 140 and 128). He was called “ Aibak,” because his little finger was feeble or paralyzed (Tabaqat, p. 138), whilst according to another account, "Aibak” signified the “brilliant chief.” His name is preserved in bis Capital by the Qujb mosque and by the Qut.b Minar, though these were erected to commemorate other more or less forgotten worthies. Bakhtiar Khilji in the first instance conquered Bengal on his own initiative, though lie acknowledged the nominal suzerainty of Shahabuddin and subsequently of Qutbuddin, when the latter mounted the throne of Delhi ( Tabaqat , p. 140). That this was so, appears from the circumstance that in the list of Maluks and SuljanB under Shahabuddin alias Muizu-d-din contained iu Tabaqat (pp. 146 and 137), Bakhtiar is assigned a co-ordinate position with Qutbuddin. In this connection, it is worth noting that owing to a popular and common fallacy, these early pre-Mughul Moslem rulers of India have been described as ‘ Pathan rulers of India.’ As pointed out by Major Kaverty in his trans¬ lation of Tabaqat-i-Na?iri, iwither the Ghoris, nor their slaves, “ the Slave- kings of Delhi,” nor the Tughluks, nor the Khiljis were Afghans or • Pathans,’ but that they were all Turkish tribes. (See also Tahaqat-i-Naftn, p. 150, where the expression “ Turkdn ” or ‘ Turks ’ is constantly employed, with reference to the first Musalman conquerors of Behor and Benga ). 59 Delhi. And the origin of the title ‘‘Aibak" is that his little finger was feeble; hence he was called ‘ Aibak. ’ When Sultan Qutbu- d-din in 590 A.H. wrested by force the fort of Kol from the Hindus, and captured one thousand horses and an immense booty, the news spread that Saltan Mui’zu-d-din Muhammad Sam, also called Sultan Shahabu-d-din, had planned expeditions for the conquests of Kanuj and Bauaras. Sultan Qutbu-d-din marched forward from Kol to receive him, presented to him the booty of Kol with other valuables, and becoming recipient of a special Khila’t, formed the vanguard of the imperial forces, and marched ahead. And engaging in battle with the forces of the Rajah of Banaras, he routed them, and at length, slaying on the battle-field Rajah Jaichand, the Rajah of Banaras, he became vic¬ torious. Sultan Shahabu-d-din, marching with a force from the rear, moved up and entered the city of Banaras, and pillaging the whole of that tract up to the confines of Bengal, carried off as booty incalculable treasures and jewels. The Sultau then re¬ turned to Ghazni. And the Kingdom of Bengal as an adjunct of the Empire of Delhi, was left in the hands of Qutbu-d-diu. Sultan Qutbu-d-din entrusted to Malik Ikhtiaru-ddiu Muham¬ mad Bakhtiar JQjilji the Viceroyalty of the Provinces of Behar and Lakhnauti. 1 Muhammad Bakhtiar, who was one of the According to the ' Mnealik-ul-Mumalik,’ says Major Raverty iu an article in A.S.J. for 1875, No. 1, p. 37, “ the Khalj are a tribe of Turk* which in former times settled iu Garinsir, between Sijistau and the region of Hind. They are in appearance and dress like Turks, and observo the customs of that race> and all speak the Turkish language.’' The Khaljs or Khiljis have been by several writers erroneously confounded with the Afghan tribo of " Gh&lzia M or“Ghilji8.” The first Afghan or ‘ Pathnn ’ who sat on the throne of Delhi- waa Sultan Bahlol of the Lodi tribe, the thirtieth Muealman ruler of India, counting from Qntbuddiu Aibak. I It is worthy of note that in the times of Bakhtiar Khilji and his imme¬ diate successors, South Behar was included in the Bengal or Lakhnant Viceroyalty. South Belior was separated from the Bengal Vioeroyalty in 622 H. by Emperor Altainsh who placed it under a distiuct governor, named Alauddin Jani. Ou withdrawal of the Emperor, Behar was again annexed by the Bengal ruler, Ghiasuddin (see Tabaqnt-i.Nafiri, p. 163). It continued to be a part of the Bengal Kingdom till 1320, when Emperor Ghiasnddiu Tughlak again separated it. Behar belonged to the Sharqi Kingdom of Jannpur from 1397 A.C.; again under Ibrahim, Bahadur Khan, son of Governor Darya Khan, assumed independence in Behar, with the titlo of Shah Muhammad, and about 1498 A.C. or about 903 A.II. South Behur 60 chiefs of Ghor 1 and Garmsir, was a brave man, well-built and very strong. 1 In the beginning, he was in the service of Sultan Shababu-d-din Ghori at Ghazni. He was allowed a small allowance, as neither he was externally prepossessing, nor was his appearance grand. Becoming despondent, Muhammad Bakhtiar came to Hindustan in the company of the Sultan, stayed behind, and did not even then get into the good graces of the Ministers of Hindustan. Departing thence, he went to Burdawon 8 to Anghal Beg who was the ruler over the Doab country, and there gaining in eminence, he advanced himself to the exalted office of generalissimo. And the tract of Karabalah 4 and Bctali was given to him as a jagir. From there he went in the service of Malik Rassama-d-din B to the Subak of Audh (Oude). Subduing again became moro or lees subject to the Mosalman Kings of Gaur, Husain §hah and Na?r;it Shah. Under the early Muglinl Emperors, Behar was again formed into a distinct §ubah, but under the later Moghuls, it again became incorporated along with Orissa iu the great Bengal Viceroyalty. North Behar appears to have been generally included in tho Musalman Kingdom of Bengal (see Tarikh-i-Firuz Shdhi, pp. 451 and 586). 1 Abul Fazl places ‘Ghor’ to the north „f Kandahar, and ‘Garmsir’ to the west of Kandahar. In ‘ GarmBir’ lay the city of Ferozkoh, tho capital of the Ghorian Sultans. * Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, (Pers. text, p. 146) which is the nearest contemporary account, describes Bakhtiir Khilu as “ active, agile, brave, bold, learned and intelligent.” It says that he went to Ghazni to seek service under Sulton Muizuddin, but owing to his slender appearance was rejected by the SuU.on s War Minister. Disappointed, Bakhtiar came to Delhi, where also he was rejected by the War Minister (Dewan-i-‘Arz). ( , 3 In Tabaqat-i-Nasiri p. 147, which is the most reliablo account, ‘ Badaou. Tho Tabaqat mentious the name of the feudatory of Badaon to ba Btpanalar Hazbaru-d-dlu Uaean Arnab. \ # * Major Rnverty identifies Bakhtiir Kkilji’s jagir lands with tho /parganahs of ‘ Bhagwat and Bhoili,’ south of Benaras, and east of Chunargarty Professor Blochmann considers this identification satisfactory. (See Kavoryy ■ trans a tion of Tabannt-i-Natiri and Blochmann’s oontr. to history and Geograp y 6 ThiB account does not aooord strictly with what is contained in the Tob.q.t-i-No,iri, (Pent fit, p. U7), lb. tbo period. Id Tab..,at, it i. .Uted that afUt being rejected by r M.nnde both at Ghami and at De.hi, coring to hi- .loader appe*r.;.,tt^ Sjilji proceeded to Badaoa, presented hitniolt before i general Hazbarn*d-dio Haeaaa Arnab, who allotted Lace Bakhtiir proceeded to Cadb aud predated hrnnadf bofort .1. 61 that province, he advanced himself further in rank and dignity. When the fame of his bravery and liberality, and the reputation of his heroism and gallantry, spread over the confines of Hindustan, Sultan Qutba-d-din who, not yet ascending the throne of Delhi, was still at Lahor, 6ent to him valuable IChila’t, and summoned him to his presence, and granting to him an illuminated Farnian of Chiefship over the province of Behai*, deputed him there. And Muhammad Bakhtiar marching quiikly to that side, spared no measure of slaughter and pillage. It is said that in Behar there was a Hindu Library which fell into the hands of Muhammad Bakhtiar. The latter enquired from the Brahmins as to the reason for the collectiou of the books. The Brahmins replied that the whole town formed a college, and that in the Hindi language a college was called Behar, and that hence that town was so called. After this, when Muhammad Bakhtiar beiug victorious 1 4 eturned to the service of the Sultan, he became more renowned and enviable than other servants.