English
The Khan-i-Khanan, with the small remnant of troops that yet held the ground, advanced in front of Gujra, and by chance, Gujra and the Ehan-i-Khanan encountered each other. When the two heroes encountered each other, They unsheathed from both sides dazzling swords. Now one, and then the other, inflicted sword-cuts, Worthy of heroes. The one did not succeed in penetrating the cuirass, The other defended himself with a shield. At length, by the sword of Gujra, The body of the Khan-i-Khanan got wounded. Other adherents came in the midst. And intervened between the two combatants. writes to Munim to como np and join him, as Daud had collected his troops near Katak, and the whole Imperial army moves to Katnk, where a peace is concluded.’ 1 When Baynzid was killod by Hanso, it is related in the Sawanih Akbari that Gnjra Khnn attempted to raise in Behar Baynzid’s son to the throne. It may be noted that a Tillage called Gnjarpur lies abont 5 miles from Katak, and that there is a fatnily there that claims Gujra Khan as its ancestor. 160 The Khan-i-Khanun, in that plight fighting, retired from tin battle-field and halted, and when the scattered Mughal forces again rallied round him, ho again advanced to fight with Gujra. AThen Gujra a second time came to fight, From the aim of destiny, the bow became stretched. When the arrow hit him clean on the forehead, The arrow passsd right through the head. Gujra fell on the field like a mountain. By his fall, his army became dispirited. When fortune turned its face from Daud Khan, From every side, misfortune hemmed him in. Daud Khan fled from the battle, As he no longer dreamt of victory. Daud Khan, leaving behind the war-elephants and other armaments, iu despair fled from the battle-field. And Rajah Todar Mai and other Imperial grandees marched in pursuit 1 of Daud Khan. When Daud Khan reached the environs of the river ChiD, 8 he took refuge in the fort of Katak. Since every avenue of escape was closed, he was obliged to place his family and children inside the Fort, and then himself advanced to fight, putting the coffin on the shoulder, and preparing to die. Rajah Todar Mai communicated to the Khan Khanan the state of affairs. Although wounded, the Khan Khanan on the wings of swiftness proceeded to that place. But Daud Khan negociated terms of peace through the mediation of one of the Omra, an Zl owiog . ---r ing only Orissa. T dec i a ive battle, as it virtually ended Afghan Badaoni ‘Bichwa was d Mng h a , rnle io its place. supremacy in Bengal and Behar, _ iatake f or the “ Mahanadi ” rivor. ' “Chin" Persi „ might In shelcista writing, the words resemble each other. 1C1 when the basis of the treaty 1 was settled, he went to meet Mun'im Khan. The Khan Khanan, showing chivalry and generosity, presented to him a belt, a dagger, and a sword set in jewels, left to him the province of Orissa and Katak Benares, and himself (on behalf of the Emperor) taking possession of other parts of the kingdom, returned with triumph and pomp, entered the city of Tandah, and set himself to administer the country. Since in former days, from the time of Muhammad Bakhtiar Kliiljrdown to the time of Shcr Shah, Gaur had formed the Cap it'd of Bengal, (though owing to the climate of the latter place not suiting foreigners, the Af gh ans had built Kliawnfipur Tandah for the settlement of the rulers), the Khan Khanan, setting him¬ self to the reconstruction of the city of Gaui\ proceeded to the latter place, and built it anew, and made it his head-quartois. Soon after, owing to the badness of its climate, he fell ill, and on the 19th Rajab, 983 A.H. 8 died. Daud Khan, on hearing the news of the Khan Khanan’s death, with the assistance of the Afghans. rc*occupied Bengal and Behar, and immediately marched to wrest the city of Khawaspur Tandah. The Imperialists, not being able to tarry, evacuated the place. Daud Khan with full independence resumed his former sovereignty. -o- THE RULE OF NAWAB KHAN JAHAN IN BENGAL, AND AN ACCOUNT OF DAUD KHAN’S DEATH. When the news of Mun'im Khan, Khan Khanan’s death reached Delhi, Emperor Akbar appointed Husain Quli Khan 1 Under this ,ionty of Kntak, Behar and Bengal were formally ceded by Daud 61ah, the Afghan king of Bengal, to the Mnglml Emperor {Akbar), Orissa being still retained by Daud Shah. Biulaoni gives an interesting description of the Darbar bold on the occasion by Mun'im Khan Khin Khanan, across the M&hanadi river, opposite to the fort of Katak (Cuttack).. Both Mun'im and Daud shewed refined chivalry nud magnanimity towards each other, at this Stato function. * Corresponding to 1576 A.C. Professor Blochmann, in his Tr. of Aind-Akharl, Vol. I, p. 376, gives a list (compiled from the Afcbarnoinah) of 14 other principal Mughal officers who died at Gaur of malaria * 1 * this time (983 A.H. or 1576 A.C.) Badaoni also gives the list 21 162 Turkman, after bestowing on him the title of Khan Jahan, 1 to the office of Governor of Bengal. And when Khan Jahan reached the frontiers of Bengal, Khwajah Muzaffar All Turbati, 8 who was a servant of Bahram 3 Khan, and, obtaining the title of Muzaffar Khan, was Governor of Behar, and had come for the conquest of the Rohtns fort, joined him with the troops of Behar, Tirhot and Hajipnr, <fcc. And all the Imperialists uniting their forces, advanced to storm the fort of Teliagadhi and Sakrigali. Daud Khan also with a formidable nrmy advanced to Akmahal, 4 which lies midway between GadhI and Tandah, to fight with Khan Jahan. But Khan Jahan, by delivery of the first assault, stormed Gadhi, slaughtered about 1,500 Afghans, and advanced towards the site where Daud Khan was entrenched. When the distance * Ue was appointed in 983 A.H. (1676 A.C.) by Akbar Military Governor of Bengal, on the death of Mnn'im Khan Khiin-i-Khiuian. Ilie second-in- command was Rajah Todar Mai. He wob a sister’s son of Bairam Khan-i-Khanan. See his biographical sketch in Blochmann’s Tr. of Ain-i* AkbarT, Vol. I, p. 329, and also Maasir-ul-Umara. At Bhagalpur, the Amirs of Bengal waited on Khan Jahan. From this period the whole of Behar, including South and North Behar, was placed under a separate Mughal Governor, whilst Bengal was similarly governed by another separate Mughal Governor. The Governorship of Behar generally henceforth formed a sort of stepping-stone for the more responsible and lucrative office of Governor of Bengal (see the text). 8 “Tirhuti” is a copyist’s mistake in the text for “Turbati.” He was Akbar’s Governor of Behar, and held all Behar from Chansa to Teliagadhi. He was ordered by Akbar to assist Khin Jahan, Akbar’s Governor of Bengal, when the latter encountered opposition from the Afghans under Doud Khan, who had at this time entrenched himself in the fort of Akmahal (subse¬ quently, Rajmahal or Akbarnagar). He was at one time Finance Minister or Dewan of Akbar, and had Todar Mai under him. He, together with his Deputy, Todar Mai, was the author of Akbar’s revenue-roll called “ iam-i-hasil-i-hal, ” which supplanted the former revenue-roll of the Emperor, called ‘ Jami Raqmi,’ that had existedI from Bairam s time. Ho was previously Bairam’s Dewan also. The old Jam-.-Masj.d (now m rahw) </ Agra was erected by him. He wa„ killed et Tae ah by MasQm Khan, the rebel. (See his full biographical sketch in Blochmann. Tr. of Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. I, p. 348. and also Maattr-ul-Umara). „ 8 “Bahram” is a copyist’s mistake in the text for Baira • 4 t'.e., Rajmahal or Akbarnagar-Previous to Man Singh selecting it, She Shah had seleoted its site. between was covered, or the 15tl Muljanam, 98* A.H., which was a Thursday, both the contending hosts arrayed their forces in battle-rank. The two armies fell into battle-array ; The warriors became anxious to tight. When the market of fight and combat became warm, The warriors drew against each other sharp swords. From the thundering of guns, and the raging of war- rockets, The sky itself quaked. Kala Pahar who was one of the renowned generals of Daud Khao. attackiug the right wing of Khan Julian, 1 spread consterna¬ tion, and Muzaffar Khan assaulting the left wing of Daud Khan, caused it to reel back, and simultaneously, Klu'm Jaliaa as¬ saulted the centre of Daud Khan, and a great battle commenced. Ou that battle-field, 8 mutual fightings occurred : Both the armies lost numbers of men. From the numbers of the killed, mounds were raised, And signs of the Day of Resurrection appeared. The renowned hero, Khan Jalian, in the battle, Reduced to dust the army of Daud : Whichever side he raised his sword, He severed the head of the enemy from the body. And from this side, Daud with the sharp sword, Caused havoc in the army of Khan Jahau : Whichever sido he turned with his sword, He felled on his feet the helmet of the enemy’s head. If he struck a horse with his sharp sword, It was ripped into two pieces up to the bow of the saddle. 1 “ Khin Jalian ” waB a title nest in importance to “ Khan-i-Khnnan.” * This was the decisive battle of Alcmahal or Agmabal (subsequently called Rajmahal or Akbarnagar), on 15th Kabi II 984 A.H., corresponding to 12th July, 1576 A.C. It finally crashed Dnud Shah or Daud Khan, the last Afghan king of Bengal, Behar and Orissa, and laid firmly the foundation of Mughal supremacy over thoso provinces, reduced Bengal to a §ubah of tlio Great Mughal Empiro, and extinguished forever Independent Moslom Royalty in Bengal. See fall acoount of this great battle in the Akbarnamah and Bailnout, which are contemporary accounts. Ami if he struck a spear on the chest of any person, Iks point passed right through his back : By the strength of arm, that furious lion Killed many, and squeezed many.