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At length, by way ot treachery and stratagem, sending to the Emperor Shaikh Khalil, the well-known saint who was his spiritual guide, Slier Khan sought 1 In Badaani (p. 350, Vol. I). " Jahangir Bog Mughal.” His regal stylo'was Fariduil-din Abnl Muzaffiir Sher Shah. Ho reigned from 944 to 952 A.H or 1538 to 1545 A.C. Ho Hob buried at Saliasrfwn (Siisseram) in Beliar. His first Govoroor of Bengal, Khizr Khan, who married a daughter of Mabmud Shah III, kiDg of Bengal, was replaced by Qazi Fuzilat, of Agra. Those who earo to know tho life and career of this remarkable Sovereign, will find a full account iu Badaoni (Vol. I, pp. 356 to 374). A man of learning and wonderful resources, a dashing soldier, a general of high order (always ready to avail himself of all stratagems and tactics in war), n politician of keen diplomacy, when ho mounted the throne, he exhibited the highest qualities of a statesman and a beneficent sovereign. Moderate and scientific in his revenue-assessments, liberal in his gifts. Jageers and benefactions, generous in supporting learning and the learned, wise in liia army-reforms (copied subsequently by Akbar) munificent in laying down trunk roads, planting trees, sinking wells, establishing caravanserais, building Mosques, Madrasahs nnd Kluinqahs, and erecting bridges, few Indo-Moslem Kings come up to his level. He administered justice 60 vigorously that ho impressed his perso¬ nality on all, and established thorough peace, so thnt, says Badaoni (p. 3G3, Vol. I), no dacoit dr robber would dare to touch a gold plate, though it might be left on the road by an old Woman, during her 6leep. 8 Sher Khan had encamped ort the right bank of the river between Chausa and Baksar. The river here is called Thora Nadi. The battle of Chausa was fought on 9th Safar 916 A.-H. or 26th June, 1539 A.C. (See Badaoni, pp. 351 and 362, Vol. !). 144 for peace. The Emperor, owing to the exigencies of the times, accepted his overtures, 1 and it was agreed that Bengal and the fort of Rolitas would continue in the possession of Sher Khan, and that the latter would put forth no further pretensions, but that the Imperial coin and Kliutba would be in force in those provinces. Slier IChan, taking his oath on the holy Qoran, accepted these terms ; and the Imperial army were re-assured by this oath. But Sher Khan, on the following day, with an efficient and well-equipped Af gh an force, taking the Imperial army by surprise, did not allow it time to rally into ranks, and after fighting became victorious, and closed the ferries where boats were moored. Owing to this cause, the king as well as the beggar, the high as well .as the low, became dispirited and straitened, and being hardpressed by the Afghans, plunged pell- mell into the river Ganges, so that besides the Hindustanis, nearly twenty thousand Mughals got drowned. The Emperor also, plunging into the river, with the help of a water-carrier, with great difficulty crossed over to the bauk of safety, and with a small number of followers, the cup of whose lives was not yet full to the brim, set. out for Agra. Sher Khan, after gaining this stmnge victory, returned to Bengal, fought repeatedly with Jahan¬ gir Quli Beg, and at length by way of deception aud treachery, invited him to his presence, and slew him and his retinue. An putting to the sword the remainder of the Imperial army who were at other places, he introduced the Khutba and the com after his own name, and brought the provinces of Bengal and Be ai absolutely under his domination. And from that time he assume the title of Sher Shah,* and that year devoting himself to 1 Rather the evertnres for peace were made by Homayon, who sen Malta Muhammad Aziz for the purpose to Sher Khin, who was ta Chausa. At the time, Sher KhAn with his in hand, in grilling weather, was digg.ng u trench and for 7 f ^ ^ On seeing the Molla, he sat down on the bare groand P ^ he Mulla said: " Tell this one word on iny behalf to t P „ seeks war, and not his soldiers, whilst I do not a des- Sher Shah then sent to the Emperor h.s> spiritual gui Cendant of Shaikh Farid Gauj Shakan (See ^ ^ (9th * After defeating Humayon at Ch* ^ 2 Governor, Safar, 946 A.H.) Sher Kian marched to Q^ur, Blew ^ 7 ^ of Jahangir Quli Beg, and assumed the year a t ^ Faridu-d-din Abnl Muzaffar Sher Shah, nd struck com . _ — U5 settlement of hi* kingdom, aft.lined great power and pomp. At the end of the year, leaving Khi*' Khan to rule over Bengal, l.e himself started for Agra. And from that side, Hun.ayun’s force, despite the fraternal dissensions, consisting of one hundred thousand soldiers, marched forward to encounter him. And in the year 947 A. U . 1 on the tenth day of the month of Muliarram, in the neighbourhood of Qananj, on the hanks of the river Ganges, the contending hosts faced each other. And whilst the Mughal forces were preparing to encamp at this stage, nearly fifty thousand Afghan cavalry dashed up. The Imperial army, •without fighting, was routed, and Sher chasing it up to the river, marched forward to Agra. RULE OK lOJIZR KHAN AT GAl’tt. Whcu \Sh\zv Khan was appointed Governor of Bengal on behalf of Sher Shah, he married a daughter of one of the kings of Bengal and in his mode of living, and in his paraphernalia of comforts and luxuries, observed the kingly mode. And when Sher Shah at Agra came to know about this, exercising fore¬ sight, he deemed it proper to adopt remedial measures against the disease before it shewed itself, and swiftly marched to Bengal. Aud when Kliizr Kh&n went forward to receive him, Sher Shall imprisoning him, divided the province of Bengal amongst several tribal chiefs, and appointed Qazi Fazilnt, who was one of the learned scholars of Agra, and who was distinguished for his vir¬ tues, houesty aud trustworthiness, to be the over-lord, and entrusting to his hands the power of making peace and war in the country, lie himself returned to Agra. 3 till end of December 1539 A.C, at Gaur, and then leaving Khizr Khan na his Governor of Bengal, ho marched towards Agra. (Badaoni, pp. 352 and 864 Vol. I). 1 Corresponding to the year 1540 A.C. 5eo description of battle of Qananj in Badaoni, p. 354, Vol. I. 8 He married a daughter of Mahmud §hsh III, tho Into king of Bengal, and gave himself royal aire, in consequence of which §her Shah promptly removed him, and appointed Qazi Fazilnt aa Governor of Bengal in hia plaoe. (See Badaoni, p. 365, Vol. I) 8 In 948 A.G. Khizr Khan was depoaed at Gaur by Sher Shah. §h'e> fihah bad political insight of a high orjler. The administrative arrange* 19 HG ACCOUNT OF THE OVER-LORDSHIP OF MUHAMMAD KHAN SUR IN BENGAL. When in the year 952 A.H., gher Shah, in captaring the fort of Kalinjar, 1 by the will of Providence, was accidentally burnt by the explosion of the gunpowder of a mine that had been laid underneath tne rampart, and his younger son, named Jallal Khan, ascended the throne of Delhi and assumed the title of Islam Shah, 2 popularly known as Salim Shah, Muhammad Khan Sur, who was one of the principal Omra and a connexion of Salim Shah, and who was renowned for his justice and equity and courteous deportment, was appointed Governor of Bengal. And for some years until the end of Salim Shah's reign he continued so, after which he raised the standard of rebellion, and turned towards the ments that ho introduced at this time in Bengal, viz., of placing different tribal chiefs to rule over different territorial divisions would indicate that he was fully alive to the policy “ Divide and rule.” His installation of Qazi Fazilat, a scholar of Agra, in a position of over-lordship over these tribal chiefs, further indicates that he set a high value on learning. §her Shah died on 12th Rabi 1,952 A.H. (3rd June, 1545); he lies bnriod at Sahsram, in South Behar, Sec Tarikh-i-Sber Shahi for an interesting account of Slier Shah’s career, and also Badaoni, p. 3G5. Vol. I, Firishta and Akbarnamah. Sher Shah was the first ruler who from a king of Bengal, became tho Emperor of all India. His triumph was a triumph for Bengal, whose prosperity and welfare continued to receive his special attention, even after he became Emperor of India. Mughal historians generally (no doubt from their delioato position) have failed to appraise Sher Shah’s qualities as a statesman and as a soldier at their proper worth. His reign was fraitfnl of military, fiscal- agricultural, economic, currency and revenue reforms in Bengal, and also of many public works of utility, such as roads, rest-houses, bridges, fortifications, Khanqas, colleges and wells, Ac. 1 " Kalinjar is a stone fortress in Subab Allahabad, upon heaven-reaching j,jU _Ain. During its siege in 1545 A.C., a shell rebounded from the walls into tho battery where Sher Shah stood, and set fire to tho gun-powder. He was severely burnt, and died next day. (Jarrett’s Tr., Ain., Vol. II, p. 1604). Ain simply says “ he fell at the powder magaziuo when the fire opened in the fort.” (See Badaoni, p.372, Vol. I). i Jallal Khan assumed the royal title of Jallitln-d-dm Abul Muzaffar Islam §hah in 1545 A.C. (or 952 A.H.) He reigned from 1546 to 1553 A.C. He appointed his relative Muhammad Khan Sur as his Governor of Bengal, removing Qnzi Fazilat. Islam Shah lies buried at Snssaram. He drew up a comprehensive Procedure Code, and followed tho enlightened and statesman¬ like policy of his illustrious father. See Bu&'ont, Vol. I, p 374. 147 conquest of Chunar, Jaunpur 1 and Kalpi. 8 Muhammad Shah ‘Adli, 3 taking in his company Hemu 4 the grocer, who was one of his leading Omra, with a large army, proceeded to encounter Muhammad Khan, and in the village of Chaparghatha, which is fifteen kro distant from Kalpi, between the two armies, a san¬ guinary engagement took place.