English
3 RULE OF NAWAB ISLAM KHAN, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE FALL OF ‘OSMAN IOJAN. # When in the third year of Emperor Jahangir’s accession, the Nizamatof the $ubah of Bengal was entrusted to Islam Kljan, the latter had strict orders to extinguish the fire of insurrection and rebellion that had been kindled by 4 Osman Khan. Islam Khun on 1 Islam Khan was married to a sister (named Ladli Begam) of Abul Fazl, Akbar’s renowned Prime Minister. Islam Khan died as Governor of Bengal in 1022 A.H. (Tuzuk, p. 126). Hie name was Shaikh Alau-d-din Qhishti. and ho was a grandson of Shaikh Salim, the Saint of Fathpur Sikri. He received the title of Islam Khan, and was Governor of Bengal from 1016 to 1022 A.H. He shifted in 1015 A.H., the Mughal Viceregal Capital of Bengal from Tandah to Dacca. See Iqbalnamah-i-Jahongiri, p. 33 and Maanir-ul. Umara . * Shaikh Abul Fa$l Allami, Akbar’s friend and Prime Minister, was bom on 14fch Janaary, 1551 A.C., (6th Mnhhrram, 958 A.H.) at Agrah, during the reign of Islam Shuh. He was a son of Shaikh Mubarik; held the office of Prime Minister under Akbar and actively co-operated with the latter in the enuncia¬ tion of a liberal policy of toleration in the government of the mixed races subject to the Mus&lman Rule in India. He was a great scholar, and author of several works including the Akbarnamah and the Ain-i-Akbarl. He was murdered by Bir Singh, at the instigation of Prince Salim (afterwards Emperor Jahangir) on 12th August, 1602 A.C. See his life in Blorhinann’s Tr. of Ain-i-Akbarl, Vol. I, and also in J lautir-ul- Umara . * Abdur Rahman, son of Abul Fazl Allami, received the titlo of Afyil Kh5n, and was appointed by Emperor Jahangir, in the third year of h. j eign, Governor of Behar, rice Islim Khan who was appointed Governor of Beu-rnl. Iqbalmimt'h, p. 33, and Mansir-ul-Umara. 174- arrival at Jaliangirnagar (Dacca), 1 set himself to the affairs of the administration of the country. When his good administra¬ tion and his thorough grasp of the affairs of the Nizamat came to be known by the Emperor, the latter, in recognition of his good services, in the 4th year of accession, raised him to the rank of n Panjhazdri, including soldiers and troopers. Islam Khan detach¬ ed a large force under the command of Shaikh Kabir Shuja‘it Khan 8 for the extirpation of ‘Osman Khan, leader of the Afghan insurrection, whilst other notable grandees, like Kishwar 3 Khan, son of Qotbn-d-din Khan Kokah,* Iftikhar Khan, 6 Syed Adam Barha, 6 Shaikh Achha, 7 M'utaqad Khan, the sons of 1 At this time (1015 A.H.) the Capital of Bengal was transferred from Tandah to Dacca or Jahangirnagar (so called after Emperor Jahangir) by Jahangir’s Viceroy of Bengal, named Islam Khan. Dacca continned to remain henceforth the Mughal Viceregal Capital of Bengal for nearly a century (barring a few years when it was temporarily shifted to Rajmnhal). 2 His name was Shaikh Kabir Chishti. and his titles were “ Shujait Khan Rustam-i-Zaman.” In the printed Pers. text, j is inserted by mistake be¬ tween “ Shaikh Kabir” and “ ShnjaitKhan,” thus misleading the reader to fancy that these were two individuals. See note post. He was a relation of Islam Khon-i-Chishti, Governor of Bengal, and received first the title of ghujait Khan ’ from Prince Salim, who on ascending the throne, gave him the additional title of “ Ruslkm-i-Zaman,” on account of his services in putting down the Afghans under ‘Osman in Bengal. See p. 64, Iqbalnumah Jahangiri and Maasir-ul-Umara. S His title was ‘ Kishwar Khan,’ in the text it is misprinted as “Kir Khan. His name was Shaikh Ibrahim; he was a son of ghuikh Khuba (Qntbu-d-din Khiin-i-Chishti), Governor of Bengal. In 1015 A.H., ho was a commander of 1,000 foot, 300 horse, and received the title of Kishwar Khan from tbe Emperor Jahangir. He was for some time Governor of Rohtas, and served in Bengal in 1021 A.H., under ghujait Khn (Shaikh Kabir CKishti) against ‘Osman Khan Lohani, the Afghan. See Iqbalnamah, pp. 61 and (Mi and Maasir-ul-Umara . 4 See n. 1, p. 169, ante. ^ 6 Two sons of Ahmad Beg Kabuli (see Bloch. Tr., Am, \ol. I, PP- ^ 466) named Maqbullah Khan and Abdid Baqabeld the title of ‘ Iftikhar Khan ; eithor of them is meant. Mo _ t 6 He was a grandson of Syed Mahmud of Barha, who served Akbar- Most of the Barha Syeds received from the Mughal Emperors the hononfio dtjtmc- tion of ‘Khan,’ which in those days, was considered he Indo-Moslem peerage, next only in rank to Princes Royal and the Jhan Khanan” and “ An m-l-Umara.” (See Bloch. Tr., Am, Vol. I, P- ■*, Alamgir • namah). lie was nephew Of Shaikh Hassnn or Ilassu alia iiuqqnrab Khin who Mu'azzam Khan, 1 together with other Imperial officers, were ap¬ pointed his auxiliaries. When these reached the frontiers of the tract 8 under ‘Osman, they first deputed a sagacious envoy to con¬ ciliate the refractory mind of the leader of the insurrection. Thev • * strung the precious pearl of good advice to the ear-corner of his heart. Inasmuch as that wretched man (‘Osman Khan) was by inherent, nature a bad stuff, and had nob the capacity of appreciat- ing goodness, not appraising the value of this pearl of advice, he collected brickbats of vain aspirations in the vessel of his bad luck, and in tho face of that shining pearl, he put forward the stature of his wild ambition, gave permission to the envoy to withdraw without accomplishing his mission, and preparing to die, spurred swiftly the horse of aggressiveness and fighting, and in 1027 A.H. was Governor of Behar. (Sec Bloch. Tr., Ain, Vol. I pi, 521 and 513). 1 Shaikh Bayazid (Muazzam Khan) was a grandson of Shaikh Salim Chishti of Fathpur Sikri. He was mado Subadar of Delhi by Jahangir. His son Mukkaram Khin whs a son-in-law and nephew of Isliim Khan, Viceroy of Bengal, and served nndcr the latter, ennquored Koch Hajo and Khur- dah, became Governor of Orissa and subsequently of Bengal. See Itaatir-uU Umara. The tract under 'Osman appears to have been Bhati,’ that is the tract including the Sundarbans, the lands alongside the Brahmaputra and the Megna, in fact, the whole tract from Ghora-hat (or Rantrnnr) southward to the sea. His residence is mentioned in the histories Jsee BJoch., Ain,. Vol. I, p. 620) to have been at Kohistan-i-Dacca.” the Vilayet-.-Dacca, hot his father ’Isa Khan’s residence (vide p. 0 f do , i(? mentioned to have been at Baktarapur, close to Khizrpur. Khizrpur has be-m identified with a place about a mile north of modern Nurninganj, close to wh.ch are ruins of the forts built by Mir Jumla, Mughal Viceroy at Dnoea in the 17th century. There is still there a M.qbamh, which is supposed to bo’the resting-place of one of Jahangir’s daughters Here w.. the chief naval fort of a M “ a : G °7 rnment> V" 7 ? tHe COnflnenC ° ° f th ° Gan ° es ’ the Lakhiya frem D Brahm ^ atra 7 V6rS - Ifc 18 three miIes of Sunargaon. and nine n.iies rom Dacca About th.rty miles north of Khizrpur. arc two villages within a mile of each other, called BSUarpur ” and “ Usurp,u-,” bnt these contain oo nuns. (See J.A.S. for 1874, pp. 211-213). '• Bhati ’’from its LZ^Z “n'b' 1 “‘ ,tr ”" Sh ° ,d ° f U,e elterod omidat Z ± ° ssn ^ rr; r ,b “' auj “ " nKth ^ h 176 i“allied his forces on the banks of a river,’• foil of mod. When news of this daring; impudence reached Jahangir’s officers, in the Seventh year of accession, towards the end of the month of Zilhaj, 1020 A.H., the latter arrayed their forces, and advanced to the field of warfare. From the other side. ‘Osman Khan also arrayed his miscreant troops for battle on the field of adversity, in front of the auspicious Imperialists. The heroes of the battle, on both sides advancing to fight, displayed heroism and bravery. When the fighting hosts on both siues faced each other, They fell to fighting against each other from every 6ide. From the gun, the musket, the spear and the arrow, The banquet of warfare became warm. From excess of smoke and dust up to the sky, The universe could not be descried. From the din and tumult of both the armies, The battle-field turned into the field of the Day of Resur- [rockets, rection. Showered from every side cannon-balls, arrows and war- And emptied the world of heroes. The corpses of heroes frisked in every direction, Like slaughtered cocks, on both sides. In the thick of the Bating, and amidst the nrrows and rockets, ‘Osman, displacing great valonr, placed befo l.imself rogue war-elephants, and assaulted the vanguard of Imperiahsts- t9 ftdvnncing , grappled with their I Id arrears and exhibited heroism worthy of a Rustam and swords and spear., qi -l-h Acha a who were ciom Sved Adam Barha* and Shaikh Acna wi Commanders of the ^- tins moment, the flan Rn d Ke5 ],war SStr *<• nil. 61 and 64. Ki R l lW ar Khan (son of Qntbn-d-din ‘ The Tatnk (p. 102) mention, that K&nx ^ Bftrha , shaikh Khan, late Governor of Benga ), nnd Ihtim‘am Khan Acha, brother's son of Moqqan >< Jl • . 0 smS . r Sycd IftjBiar, p - ■-— — 177 of adherents, were killed ; and on the enemy’s side also many passed to hell. 1 On seeing that some of the leaders of the Imperialists had been killed, and their ranks emptied of veterans, a second time ‘Ogman placing before himself the rogue elephant, named Bacha, himself mounted on a saddled elephant, personally assaulted the Imperial van, and delivered successive onsets. From the side of the Imperialists, Shujait Khan, 3 with hi® relations and brothers, advancing to oppose him, exhibited great bravery and heroism. Many of his relations were killed, and many letreated On receiv¬ ing mortal wounds.