English
When Qutbu-d-din Kokaltash, 1 on the 9th Safar, 1015 A.H., was honoured with the {vhil’at of the Nizamat of Bengal, he was raised to the rank of a Panjhazari , with 5,000 soldiers and troopers ; and 2 lacs of rupees was given him for his allowance, and 3 lacs of rupees was given for the expenses of his contingent. After taking leave of the Emperor, he arrived in Bengal. As yet some months had not passed, when he was killed at the hands of ‘Ali Quli Beg Astajlu, styled Slier Afghan Khan. 8 And the detail of particulars of his career in Bloch Tr. of Ain, Vol. 1, p. 340, and also in Maanir-nl-Uimrat and Iqbal anmah-i-Jaihangiri. 1 His name was Shaikh Khuba [Qnibu-d-din Khin-i-Chishti] and his father was Shaikh Zada of Badaon, and his mother a daugher of Shaikh Salim of Path- pur Sikri. He was a foster-brother of Jahangir, who whilst a Prince conferred upon lOiuba the title of Qutbu-d-din Khan, and made him Subadar of Beliar. On Jahangir’s accession to the throne, Khuba was Appointed Siibadar of Bengal, (1015 A.H.) At that time ghcr Afghan ‘Ali Qali lstajlu was tuyuldar (or jagirdar) of Bardwan, and his wife Mchrunnissa (afterwards Empress Nur Jahan) was coveted by Emperor Jahangir. Qu|;bu-d-din had instructions to send Sher Afghan to coart, but tho latter refusing to go, Qutb went to Bardwan, where gher Afghan came to meet him. On his approach, Qu^bl lifted up his horso-whip. Sher Afghan thereon rushed with his sword against Qofcb. and inflicted a cut on his abdomen. Qutb died, and one of his followers Ambah Khan, gave gher Afghan a sword-cut on tho head, when the latter was also killed. (Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 406 and Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, p. 19). 8 He was safarchi or butler of Ismail II, king of Persia. After the latter’s death, he went to India, and met at Multan, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanop. and received a tnansob, and on arrival at court, Akbar gave him in marriago to Mehrannissa (the future Nur Jahan), daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Tehran?. Prince Salim fell in love with her, and brought about, on his accession to the throne, Sher Afghan’s death. Sher Afghan had received Bardwan district as fuyul or jagir, on Jahangir’s accession. His body was buried in the shrine'of the saint Bahrain Saqqa at Bardwan. (See Iqbalnamah , p. 22). Four tigers had been caught, and Nur Jahan requested Jahangir (Tuznk , p. 186), to let her shoot them. She killed two with one bullet, and the other 22 170 this incident is this. ‘All Quli Beg Astajlu was a bntler of Shah Isma‘il, 1 son of Shah Tahmasp Safavi. 1 On the death of Shah Tsma'il, coming to India vid Qandahar, at Multan he entered the service of ‘Abdur Rahim Khan, Elan Khanan,* who was then employed on the conquest of Thatah and Sindh. The Khan Khan an informally enlisted him in the ranks of Imperial officers, and in that expedition, ‘All Quti shewed bravery and rendered valuable services. When the Khan Kljanan from that expedition returned triumphant to the Imperial presence, at his request, ‘All Quli was 1 honoured with an appropriate Mansab, and at the same time, a daughter of Mirza Ghiyas Beg Tehrani, 3 named Mehrunnisa, 4 was wedded to him. And at the time when Emperor Akbar proceeded from Akbarabad (Agra) to the conquest of the Dakhin, and the Crown-Prince (Prince Salim, afterwards Emperor Jahangir), was ordered to undertake the subjugation of the Rana of Udaipur, ‘Ali Quli Beg was appointed as an auxiliary to the Prince. The Prince, two with two bullets, and so ono of the courtiers spoke out on the spur of the moment the verse given in the text. See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 524. 1 These were kings of Persia. See p 97, Namaih-Khusnia'.. 9 He was h scpahsalar or Commauder-in-Chief under Akbar. His great military services were conquests of Sindh and Gnjrat. He was also an ac¬ complished scholar, and translated into Persian Memoirs of Babar. See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 334 and Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, p. 287. 8 His real name was Mirza Ghiyasu-d-din Muhammad, and his father was Khwajah Muhammad Sharif, who was Vazir to Tatar Sulfim and his son Qazaq Sian, and who was subsequently appointed, by Shah Tahmasp, Vazir of Yazd. After his father’s death, Ghiyas Beg fifed from Persia with two sons and one daughter. On the way at Qandahar, his wife gave birth to a daughter, named Mehrunnissa—the future world-renowned Nur Jahan, consort of Emperor Jahiingir. On his arrival at Fathpur Sikri, Akbar appointed him Diwan of Kabul, and subsequently DiwSn-i-Bayutit. In Jahangir’B reign, he received the title of Itimadu-d-daulah. After the death of her°first husband, Sher Afghan, at Bardwan in the fight with Qut.bu-d-dm Khan, JahSngir's Governor of Bengal, Mehrunnissa was brought to court, and married in 1020 A H. by JahSngir, who bestowed on her first the title of Nur Mahal and then that of Nur JahSn, her father Ghiy5s Beg being at the Bft me time advanced to the office of Prime Minister or Vakil-i-Kul. See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, p. 608 and Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, pp. 3, 54 Bnd ^Udaipur is mentioned by Abul Fazl in SarkarChitor under the Subah of Aimir (See Jarrett’s Tr. of Ain, Vol. II, p. 273). It is related that a daughter of Naushirvan, the Persian king, whose wife w daughter of Maurice of Constantinople, was married into the Udaipur Royal family. 171 shewing every attention to him, gave him the title of Sher Afghan, and qn accession to the throne, bestowing on him a Jagir at Bard wan in the Subah of Bengal, he sent him there. Afterwards, when the crookedness of his conduct, his wickedness and ill-temper became known to the Emperor, the latter, whilst sending Qntb Khan to Bengal, gave the latter a hint that if he fonnd Sher Afghan well-behaved and loyal, well and good, but if otherwise, he should send him to the Imperial presence, and that in coming if he made excuses, he should punish him. When Qutbu-d-din Khan reached Bengal, he was dissatisfied with Sher Afghan's action and conduct. Although he summoned the latter to his presence, potting forward idle excuses, he did not attend. Qutbu- d-din Khan communicated the matter to the Emperor, who ordered that agreeably to the injunctions conveyed at the time of his departure, he should punish Sher Afghan. 'Jhe above Khan, on receipt of the Imperial order, instantly marched swiftly to Bardwan. Sher Af gh an on getting news of the arrival of the above Khan, advanced forward with- two grooms to receive him. At the time^ of meeting, the soldiers of Qutbu-d-din Khan crowding in stood at a distance, like a ring. Sher Afghan said: “What is this treatment, and what does it mean ? ’ The Khan told his soldiers to disperse, moved alone in Sher Afghan’s company, and commenced conversation. Sher Afghan read signs of treachery in the aspect of affairs, and forestalling the other, he thought it prudent to apply the remedy before the disease appeared, and with great agility hit Qutbu- d-din on the abdomen with a sword, so that the latter’s entrails came out. The Khan 1 seizing his abdomen with both hands, shouted out: “ Don’t spare him, don’t let this wretch escape.’’ A Kashmirian, named Aina Khan* who was one of Qutb’s principal officers, spurring his horse, struck Slier Afghan with a sword on the head. In that plight, S]jer Afghan with another blow finished Aina Khan’s work. At this moment, the soldiers of Qutbu- d-din Khan collecting from all sides, killed Sher Afghan also, by inflicting successive cut* Sher Afghan Khan is that person, l He was a stout man, and one can well imagine his pitiful posture at this moment. % * He is called Pir Khan, also “ Eaibah Khan " and - Daibah Khun *• in I^balnamah-i-Jah;ngiri j*. 24* whose widow, Nur Julian, 1 as Consort of Emperor Jahangir, is so renowned. A poet says :— o~*| 2 dl*jS Translation: Nur Jalian, albeit in appearance a woman, In the ranks of heroes, is a tiger-hunting woman. After Qutbu-d-din Khan was slain, the office of Governor of the Sabah of Bengal was bestowed on Jahangir Quli Khan, who was Governor of the Sabah of Behar; and Islam Khan was appointed Governor of Behar in the latter s place. THE NIZAM AT OF JAHANGIR QULl KHAN. 3 Towards the end of the year 1015 A.H., which was the second year of Emperor Jahangirs accession, Jahangir Quli Khan, who was Governor of the $ubah of Behar, was appointed to be Governor of Bengal. And his name was Lalah Beg, and he was a slave-boy 1 What chivalry towards women was possible under Islsm in olden days even in India, is eloquently testified to by the career of Nur Jahan^ the renowned Empress. Emperor Jahangir, her Royal Consort, used pa y of her, “ Before I married her, I never knew what carnage meant I have conferred the duties of Government on her; I shall be satisfio i -d tail . ~ of n.o.t per ™on Of the J&vtba, she received all the privileges of royalty. She 7 the side of h! it: * r r r ~ alao a poete . Khan’s bands She lies buried at Lahore near j h :r;tr .—<-** - tLi jji) ft* ^ js t Note the pun here. See I^alnamah-i-Jahangiri, pp. dW. 8 See Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I, P- 501, and Iqbalnamah-.-Jahangin, P . . 173 of Mirza Hakim. After the Mirza s death, he entered the service of Emperor Akbar, who bestowed him on Prince Nuru-d-din Muham¬ mad Jahangir, He was a strong-built man, and he had rendered useful services* In religious matters and in regard for justice, ho was very firm. After reaching Bengal, as yet he had not fully set his hand to the work of administration, when death claimed him. His rule lasted one month and some days. When news of his death reached the Emperor, Islam Khan, 1 son of Shaikh Badru- d-din Fatel?puri, who held the office of Governor of Behar, was appointed Governor of Bengal. And the Governorship of Sabah Behar and Patna was conferred on Afzal Khan. a son of Shaikh Abul Fazl ‘Allami.