English
1 For instance, Ahsanu-1- lah Khan, Faujdar of the port of Hughli, grandson of Baqir Khan, the Senior (after whom a kind of Indian bread has acquired the name of Baqir Khani), was a protegt of Nawab J'afar ©an, and ho possessed great influence with the Nawab. During his adminis¬ tration, Imamu-d-din, Kotwal (Police Superintendent) of the port of Hughli, who had acquired a high position and much influence, enticed away the daughter of a Mughal from the latter’s house. The aforesaid Ahsanu-l-lr.h Khan, conniving at this offence, shewed par¬ tiality towards his Kotwal, and stood surety for his future good behaviour. The Mughals carried their complaint to Nawab J'afar Khan. The Nawab, according to the injunctions of the Holy Book, had the Kotwal stoned to death, and did not listen to the inter¬ cession of Ahsanu-l-lah Khan for the offender. Towards the close of his career, on the eastern plain of the city of MursJ_ndabad, on the grounds of his Khas T‘aluq, the Nawab erected a Treasury, a Katrah, a Cathedral mosque, a monument, a Reservoir, and a s sank a large well, and nnder the staircase of the mosqoe, he 'ocated his own tomb, so that it might be safe from damage, and m gh also owing to the proximity of the mosqne.be blessed with perpetns benedictions for 1 soul. When his life drew to its close, finding that he had no son, he proclaimed Sarfarazghanwo maternal grandson, and who had been heir and succes-sor, and he entrusted to him charge of the treasure , Ern^ror Anrangzeb, though rather Iona regard for the majesty of the '“ r “ r or Mag i,trateB pains to improve the administration o t |, e ranks of eminent scholars, and it-tf. and the, oases carried great pre^fuje. . 285 and effects and the control of both the Nizamat and the Imperial offices. In 1139 A.H. he died. From the following Misr'a, the date of his death is obtained :— (Translation) From the Imperial Capital, tho rampart has fallen. w hen the numerical value of the word is deducted from the word the date of his death is obtained. He spurred on his steed of march towards eternity ; He has passed away, but his good name survives. Aye, what better can anyone aspire to than this ? : That after he has passed away, his many virtues might survive. 1 NIZAMAT OF NAWAB SHUJ 4 A.UD-DlN MUHAMMAD JOJAN WHO WAS ALREADY NAZIM OF THE SUBAH OF ODlSA (ORISSA). When Nawab J‘nfar Khan passed to the regions of eternity, Sarfaraz Khan 3 following the Nawab’s dying wish, laid the former in the tomb under the staircase of the Katrah mosque, and himself ascended the vwsntvl of Nizamat as his snccessor. And conciliat¬ ing the Nizamat and Imperial officials, like Nawab J‘afar Khan he administered fiscal and administrative affairs. Save and except the Public Funds and Imperial treasures, he removed to his private residence the private treasures and effects of J'afar Kban. He reported J'afar Khan’s death to Emperor Muhammad Shah These beautiful lines, I suspect, are borrowed from Saadi, the great Persian Moralist and Poet of Shiraz. 8 He was called •• Mirza Dakni,” and ho hailed from Burhanpnr. ITis father’s name was Nurn-d-din, who came originally from Khorasan. Ho was son-in-law of Murshed Quli Khan, and was Nazim of Orissn, when Murshed Qnli Khn became Subadar of Bengal. He received tho title of Mutamau-ub Malic, Shnjau-d-daulah Asad Khan (See Vol 3, p. 963, and Seir-ul. Mutakhenn, Vol. 2, p.469). H,s name was Mirza Asadn-d-din, and his titles were Alau-d-danlah Sarfaraz Khan Haidar Jang'. He was a son of Shujau-d-din Khan, and a maternal grandson of Murshed Quli Khan. (See Maatir-ul. fWn Vol 3 p. 7o4. and Seir-ul-Mutakherin, Vol. 2, p. 408). ’ * and to Qamru-d-din Husain Kfean Bahadur.* He also commumcat- ed the intelligence to his father, Shuja‘u-d-d!n Muhammad ©&n, who was Nazim of Orissa. The latter on hearing the news said “ The sky has turned towards the fnlfilment of ray aim, And has minted coins of the kingdom after my name.” Since Shuja'u-d-diu was very anxious to obtain the Nizamat of Bengal with its honours, treasures, and privileges, he shelved all paternal and filial attachments, and left his son, Muhammad laqi Khan, who was matchless in bravery and liberality, in charge of the Nizamat ot Orissa in the City of Katak. End of Fasc. 3. , Ilia name *a Mir Hah.mmad Faail, and his title was Itamadn.d.danlah ' ir m,- n B ihndar Ho was a son of Itamadu-d-danlah Mohammad Qnmruddin Khan Bahaa refrieninK the office of Vamr, Amin Shannon Niram-ohMn, A f h 1,57 A.H. yamruddn, — 1 ***#, Vol. 1. p. 558. Ho was liberal, affable, and and Seir-ul-Mutakherin, Vol. 2, p. 457). 287 Faso. IV. Sliaiau-d-dln marched with a large army towards Bengal In order to obtain the Imperial Sanad of the Nizamnt of Bengal, and i„ order to secure the support of the Imperial Ministers, he sent a message to Rai Balkishan, agent of Nawab Ja'far ghan, at the •Imperial Court, who enjoyed more confidence and eminence than Ja'far Khan’s other agents. Ho also sent messages to other agents of his own. , Emperor Muhammad Shah, 1 on receiving news of Nawab Ja tar Khan’s death, had conferred the $uhahdSri of Bengal on Amiru-1. Umara Samsamu-d-daulah Kban-i-Danran Khan Bahadur, Chief Pay-Master-General of the Army. The latter was Emperors loyal friend and intimate associate both in social gaieties as well as in State deliberations, and was his comrade, companion, and coun¬ cillor in matters pertaining to feasts, as well as to wars. The Arairu-l-Umava misled by the intrigues of the aforesaid agent, sent the patent and Khila't of the Deputy Nizamnt of Bengal in the name of Shujau-d-din Muhammad Khan. Shujau-d-din ghan had reached this side of Mcdnipur, when the patent address¬ ed to his name arrived, and viewing this event as a good omen, he named that place “ Mubarak-Manzil” or "the Auspicious place,” and ordered a Kalr&h (a Tower) and a masonry-built Caravanserai to be erected there. When news of the approach of his father reached 1 Emperor Mohammad Shah was raised to tho Imperial throne of Delhi by the Syed brothers in 1131 A.II. See 8eirn.l-ilutak&crin, Vol. II, p. 422. 8 His name was Khwajah A?am. Ilia ancestors had come from Badoyi- slmn to India, and settled at Agra, no held a small 3f<in?a6 in thp beginning under Prince Azimu-sh-Shan, and was in tho latter’s company in Bengal nt Dacca. When tho Prince in obodienco to the summons of bis father, Moham¬ mad Moazzam (afterwards Emperor Bahadur Shah), on the death of Emperor Aurangzcb, loft Bengal to join his father at Agra, ho left Khwajah A$nm in tho company of his son Farrukh Sir, who remained in Bengal on bol.alf of his father, llo soon made himself a persona grata to Princo Farrukh Sir, and exercised considerable influence over his conduct and policy. Farrukh Sir conferred on him tho title of ‘ Ashraf Khan, ’ and on ascension to tho throno conferred on him tlic further titles of “ Sam^amu-d-doulah J^an Dauran,” and created him a Haft hazarl, and second Bakhshi. In tho reign of Muham¬ mad §hiih, on tho fall of Syed Husain Ali Khan, ho receivod tho title of * Amiru-l-Umara ’ aud also became tho Suprcnn- Bakhshi or Generalissimo, or Paymaster-General of the Army. lie fell during tho war against Nadir Shah who had invaded India in 1151 A IT. Seo Slaasiru-l-Hinoi a, Vol. I, p. bit), 87 288 Sarfaraz Khan, owing to recklessness of youth, the latter intended marching to Katwah, in order to oppose his father’s advance. The Dowager Begam of Nawab Ja‘far Khan, who was a very wise and sagacious lady, and who regarded Sarfaraz Khan as dearer than her own life, dissuaded the latter, and with soft and sweet words of counsel set his mind at ease. She said to Sarfarfiz Khan: Your father is old ; after him, the Subahdar! as well as the coun¬ try with its treasures would devolve on you. To fight against one’s own father, is cause of loss both in this world and in the next, as well aB of ignominy. It is meet that till the lifetime of your father, you should remain contented with the DiwSni of Bengal. Sar¬ faraz Khan, who never acted against the advice of his grand-mother, acquiesced in her counsel. Advancing, he received Shujau-d-din Muhammad Khan, and escorted him to Murshidabad. Making over to his father the Fort and the offices of the Nizamat, Sarfaraz Khan retired to his private residence at Naktakhali. From there he used to attend daily on his father, and spend his timo according to the latter’s wishes. Retaining in bis own service the Qoran-readers, hymn-reciters, and scholars belonging to Nawab Ja‘far Khan’s household, Sarfaraz Khan employed them on devotions and on re¬ citations of the Qoran, as was the practice under Nawab Ja‘far Khan. He further consecrated his life to winning the hearts of people, and also sought for help and blessings from saints and hermits. Shujau-d-din Muhammad Kban, who in point of bravery and 1 The author of the Seiru-l-Mutakherin also pays a glowing tribute to the memory of Nawab Shujau-d-din Khin, and styles him a second Nanshirvao in jnstice and liberality. He treated all his officers, h.gh and low, ^eluding diers and household servants, with affability and consideratenesB, and at the time of his death, bogged their forgiveness, and gove them .11twe> "jontt. pay in advance. In the administration of jost.ee, he was vary ,mpar ntl and made no difforonco between his own son and h,s homblost sobjecL Ho appreciated talent, and daring bio ndminiatrot.on, pooplo possessed of the oast talent flocked into Bengal from all parts of Hindoo,an, and fonnd a ready friend and helper in him. Bengal which enjoyed the t.tle of J.nna 1 Bilad ’ or ■ Paradise of Provinces,' now literally became eo, ooder Shnj.n d din Khin’o wiao and benefleent ndminialratien. His chant,es were anas S£TJd^U - His libera,ity was enstinted. Hia subjecl.