English
It was a failing which stood out in jamng contrast to the noble traditions and examples of aBabar, aSher Shah, an Akbar, and an Aurangzeb, each of whom ‘scorned delights and lived laborious days.’ As bearing on the same point, I may also quote from Bernier’s Travels pp. 129-130 the weighty words of Aurangzeb, whilst admonishing one of his Omarah who had ventured to express bis fears lest the Emperor’s incessant occupations might bo productive of injury to his health. Thus burst forth the Great Monaroh in the follow- ing noble strain “ There can surely be but one opinion among you learned men as to the obligations imposed upon a sovereign, in seasons of difficulty aud danger, to hazard his life, and, if necessary, to die sword in hand in defence of the people committed to his charge. And yet this good and considerate man would fain persuade me that the public weal ought to causo me no solicitude ; that in devising means to promote it, I should never pass a sleepless night, nor sparo a single day from the pursuit of some low and sensual gratification. According tahim, I am to be swayed by considerations of my own bodily health, an<l.chief!/ to study what may best minister to my personal ease and enjoy¬ ment. No doubt, he woald have me abandon the government of this vast kingdom to some Vizier: ho seems rot to consider that, being born the sou 2 The Seirul-Uutakherin describes Alamchand as having formerly held the office of Diwan under Shuja'u-d-din Khan, when the latter held the office of Nazim of Orissa. Seir, Vol. II, p. 473, Pers. text. It is worthy of note that... Kattak (Cuttack) town, there is still a quarter or Mahalla known aa ‘Alam- ch aud Bazar/ 293 in the period of Shuja'u-d-danlah's Nizamat of Orissa, was a Muhrar attached to the latter’s household. At this time, he was invested with the Deputy Diwani of t!ie Subah of Bengal, and being ap¬ pointed Superintendent-General of the Affairs of the Nizamat and the Diwani, he effected considerable retrenchments in the public ex¬ penditure, and received the personal Mansab of a Hnzari with the title of Rai Raian—a title which until that time no officer of the Bengal Nizamat or Diwani had enjoyed. And Haji Ahmad 1 and Mirza Bandl were sons of Mirza Muhammad, who was a cup-bearer of A‘zzam Shah, a son of Emperor Aurangzeb AMamgir. Haji Ah¬ mad, on the death of his father, was appointed Cup-hearer and Superintendent of the jewellery-stores of Sultan Muhammad A'zzam Shah. A 9 A‘zzam Shah 3 fell in tho struggle for the Em- of a king, and placed on a throne, I wsb sent into tho world by Providenco to live and labour, not for myself, but for others; that it is my duty not to think of my own happiness, except so far aa it is inseparably connected with the happiness of my people. It is the ropose and prosperity of my subjects that it behoves me to consalt; nor are these to be sacrificed to anything besides the demands of jnstico, tho maintenance of tho royal authority, and tho security of the State. This man cannot penetrate into tho conscquenco of the inortness he recommends, and he is ignorant of the evils that attend upon delegated power. It was not without reason that our great Snndi emphatic¬ ally exclaimed ‘ Cense to be kings; Oh, cease to be kings; or determine that your dominions shall bo governed only by yourselves....' Alas! wo are sufficiently disposed by nature to seek ease and indulgence ; wo need no Buch officious counsellors. Onr wives too, are sure to assist us in treading tho flowery path of rest and luxury.” What a noble ideal of kingly duty!, and what a sad falling-off in later Moslem times ! 1 In Seirul-Mutakhcrin and Stewart’s History of Bengal, it is stated that Mirza Muhammad’s eldest son was Haji Ahmad, and his second son was Mirci Muhammad Ail (the latter received the title of Muhammad A‘li Vardi Khin. through the favour of ShujiVu-d-din Khin, whilst the latter was N;im of Orissa). See Seir, Vol. II, p. 470. A'zjaui Shah, surnaroed Prince Muhammad Abram, was the second son of Emperor Aurungzeb, his eldest brother being Prince Muhammad Munjwrm, afterwards surnamed Emperor Bahadur Shuh. On Emperor Aurnngzeb’s death, there was a fratricidal struggle for the Empire between the above two brothers, with tho result that at the sanguinary battlo of Jnjo, near Agra, in 1119 A.II., A‘pm 1 Rhlh, or Prince Muhammad Abram, was killed, and Baha¬ dur .Shah became victorious. Sco description of this sanguinary battle with ie slaughter of several Princes Royal in the Scirul-Mutatherin, Vo). II, p. 377 . Emperor Aurangzeb's third Bon, Princo Korn Bakhsh, similarly fell shortly after in 1120 A.H., near Haidarabad, in a similar fratricidal struggle with 294 pire, at the time of this Revolution, the two brothers leaving the Imperial Capital proceeded to the Dakhin and thence to Odisa (Orissa), and entered there the service of Shuja‘a-d-daulab. Ad- optinga policy oftactand prudence which “isafriend,andlikewater, takes to every hue,” these two brothers got into the good graces of Shnja‘u-d-daulah. When Shuja‘u-d-daulah acquired the Nizamat of the Subah of Bengal, Haji Aljmad became his intimate associate and councillor in all affairs of the Nizamat; whilst Mirza Bandi was invested with the Mansab and title of ATi Vardi Khan, and ap¬ pointed Faujdar of the Chaklah of Akbaruagar 1 (Rajmahal). Simi¬ larly, the Haji’s eldest son, named Muhammad Riza,* received the office of Daroghah or Superintendent of the Bajutrah of Murshida- bad; his second son, Aga Muhammad Sa‘id, was appointed Deputy Faujdar of Rangpur; whilst his youngest son, Mirza Muhammad Hashim, was invested with the Mansab and title of Hashim ATi Khan. Pir Khan, who during Shuja‘n-d-daulah’s stay at BurhanpQr had rendered faithful services, and who from his youth to old age had passed his days in his company, was at this time invested with the Mansab and title of Shuja‘ Quli Khan, and given the Fanjdari of the Port of Hugli, on the transfer of Ahsanul-Iah Khan. Merit is no passport to worldly advancement, When times are propitous, failings seem accomplishments. The new Faujdar of Hugli commenced exactions and oppres¬ sions. The Port of Hugli from his rapacity was ruined; and ho commenced quarrelling with the European merchants On the pretext of collecting the customs-duties of the Imperial Customs- Bahodor ghah. See Seir, VdL II, p. 879. Ifc ought to be noted that these fra¬ tricidal struggles did more to weaken the great ravages of Mahratta freebooters or the incursions of Nadir Shah and Ah Bandi' was another surname of Mirzi Mohammad A'H (sub-o cnent y "tvled Muhammad A'H Yard! Khan). In Seir it ,s stated that he T I thl leading spirit in the Council or Cabinet of advisers of Nawab C dil S, and that the FaajddrsWp of Akbarnagar or Baf-aba. ^aa bestowed ^ Sbnjk'o.d.din Kb- on ™ ▼* KhWe nephaw and Za; f o;r;f ^ -**-■ * the text means It probably signifies “ Miscellaneous Revenue. 205 House, he requisitioned troops from the Emperor, commenced hostility with the English, Dutch, find French, and levied Nazars and taxes. It is said that once unloading from English vessels bales of silk and cotton-stuffs, and placing these below the forti he confiscated them. The English troops advancing from Calcutta, arrived near the fort. Shuja' Quli Khan finding himself an unequal match for them climbed down, when the English troops carried off their goods. The aforesaid Khan writing to Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah requisitioned troops to attack the English, and by cutting off supplies of Qasimbazar and Calcutta, ho re. duced them to straits. The Chief of the English Factory at Qasimbazar was compelled in consequence to arrange terms of peace, by agreeing to pay three laks of rupees as nazar to Shuja'u- d-daulah. The Chief of the English Factory in Calcitta, borrow¬ ing the nazarana money from the Calcutta bankers, remitted it to Shuja’u-d-daulah. In short, as the good services of Shuja'u-d-daulah came to the notice of the Emperor through the medium of Khan Danriln Khan, in recognition thereof, the Nizamat of the Sabah of BclmH on the transfer of Fakhru-d-danlah, brother of Raushanu-d- daulah Turabbaz Kljai), was also conferred by the Emperor on Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah. The aforesaid Nawab considering Muhammad A'll Vardi Khan to be a person of capacity and tact, appointed him to be his Deputy Governor of Behar, and sent him to ‘Azimabiid (Patna) with five thousand cavalry and infantry. A'li Vardi Khan, arriving in the Subah of Behar, associated with himself, in the administration, General Abdul Karlin 1 Fakhru-d-daulah was Sfibadar of Behar from 1140 A.U. for about tlvo years, lie was given to case aud pleasoves, and ill-troatod not only his minister, Shaikh Abdullah, who enjoyed the confidence of the public, but also insulted Khwajnb Mu’ta??am (brother of Amirn-l-Umarn Samjamn-d-daulah JJhnn Dauran Khwajah Asam). The latter in consequence left Patnn, wont to Delhi, and complained to his brother, who held great influence at tho court of the Emperor, Mohammad ShSh-Faklirn-d-daulah wns at once re¬ called, and Behar was added to the Bengal satrapy under Nawnb ghuj'nu- d-din Khiin. Tho latter appointed Muhammad A‘1I Vardi Khfi n as his Deputy in tho Nizamat of Behar, conferring on him (with tho sanction of the Emperor) tho title of Mnhnbat Jang, and promoting him to the rank of a Panj/iaznri. A‘H Yard! ruled over Behar vigorously. See Seirul-ilufa. Herin, Vol.'II, pp. 469, 472. For Raushan-n-d-danlah see page 462, Vol. II, 8eir • 38 296 Khan, 1 Chief of the Afghans of Darbhanga, and raised a levy of efficient troops.