English
Entrusting the reins of authority over administra¬ tive and revenue affairs to the hands of Abdul Karim Khan, A‘li Vnrdi Klmn seut the former on an expedition against the Banjarah tribe, who were a class of marauders and murderers, and who in the guise of traders and travellers used to plunder the imperial domains and treasures. Abdul Karim Khan, sub¬ duing the Banjarah tribe, gained a large booty. Muhammad A‘li Vardi, by chastising the Banjarah 8 tribe, achieved a high repu¬ tation. And being aided by the Afghans, A‘li Vardi advanced with his forces against the tracts of the Rajahs of Bitiah and Bha- warah, 5 who were refractory and turbulent. Their regions had never previously been trod by the feet of the armies of former Nazims, nor had their proud heads ever bended before to any of the former Subahdars. Indeed, they had never before paid tho imperial revenues and taxes. After fighting with them inces¬ santly, ATi Vardi Khan became victorious and triumphant. Raid¬ ing and pillaging their tracts, A‘li Vardi Khan carried off a large booty, amounting to several laks, in specie and other effects. And settling with the Rajahs the amounts of tribute, presents and the imperial revenue, he raised an immense sum. The soldiery also were enriched by the booty, and the strength of Ali Vardi’s ad¬ ministration increased. And drawing his forces. against tho Qfcakwar tribe, who had acquired a world-wide notoriety for their marauding propensities, Ali Vardi also extirpated them. Invad¬ ing the tracts of the refractory and turbulent Zamindar of Bhojpiir* and of Rajah Sundar Singh, Zamindar of Tikari, and of Namdar Khan Muin, 6 who, sheltered by dense forests and rocks, l Abdul Karim Khan was a Rolnlla Afghan ; he was very bravo and power- fnl and had a largo Afghan following. See Beir Vol. II. P- 4 ' 3 - 3 Banjarah is described as a zemindar! with 100 horse and 1000 foot, under §ubah Berar in the Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. II, p. 230. The tr.be of Banjarah TBhairah or Btowerah is mentioned ns a Mahal ondar Sarkar Tirhut m Sabah Debar. See Ain, Vol. II, p. 150. Stewart .n.ecnrately calls it Phol- warah Phnlwnri is a Mahal under Sarkar Behar. ♦ Bhoipur, a parganna in Sarkar Rohtns, Bihar, west of Arrah ‘udnort . _ JP Tho Kiiahs of Bhoipur called themselves Ujjinniah Rajahs, t “Ld ’loL the detect Bajlha o, UJJ* in Malwah. See At > ^cannot 'trace of width place in Bihar he was a local chieftain. 297 had not cared for former Nazims, and had neglected to discharge loyal duties, and without coercion had never paid tho Imperial revenue, All Vardi 6et about chastising every one of them, subdued their tracts thoroughly, levied the revenues from them to tho fullest extent, and reduced them to thorough subjection And similarly punishing other insolent rebels, Ali Vardi Khan placed the ring of submission on their ears. Aud in a short period becoming master of immense treasures and a large army, Ali Vardi’s power and prestige grew enormously. As ‘Abdul Karim Khan held control over all the Stato affairs, he exercised absolute sway, aud ignored Muhammad Ali Vardi Khan. Hence the latter becoming suspicious of tho former, inveigled him by some device into his own house, and slaying him raised the stand¬ ard of triumph. And through tho agency of Muhammad Ishaq Khan, 1 Diwan of the Imperial Khalisah , Ali Vardi Khan opened negociations with Qamru-d-din Khan, 8 the Imperial Vizier, and also with other Imperial Ministers, and succeeded in obtaining directly from the Emperor the title of Mahabat Jang 8 Bahadur, without Shuju‘a-d-daulah’s recommendation. Shuja‘u-d-daulah, who re¬ posed full confidence iu Haji Ahmad and Ali Vardi Khan, viewed without misgivings this elevation of Ali Vardi’s rank; but his son, Sarfaraz Khan, felt misgivings about it. On account of this difference in views, between the father and the son a cool¬ ness sot in. Another son of -Shuja’u-d-daulah by a different wife was Muhammad Taqi Khan. He was Deputy Nazim of Orissa, and was not only brave and bold hut was also popular with the Army. Haji AJjunad and Ali Vardi Khan basing their intrigue on his rivalry contrived to bring about a rupture, advantageous to themselves, betweeu tho two brothers. When tho plan of this intrigue was matured, Haji Aljmad secured the adhesion of Rai Raian ‘Alam Qhaud and Jagatset Fateh Qtaud; and tho 1 For Ishaq Khan, Bee Seir, Vol. II, p. 48U. He enjoyed Emperor Muham- mod Shnb’s confidence. 8 When Nizamu-l-Mulk A?af Jali resigned the Imperial Vizarat, I’tamu-d- daulah Qamru-d-diu Khin, son of Mohammad Amin Khin, succeeded him ns Imperial Vazir of Emperor Muluimmad Khali. Sco Yol. II, p. 457, Sciru-l - Mutakhain. Pcrs. text. 8 Tho Sciru-l-Mutakherin, however, (sec n. ante) states that ghuja'a-d-diu Khin secured from Emperor Muhammad Shah tho title of * Mahabat Jang * for his favourite and protege, Ali Vardi Khan. 298 Triumvirato now waited for the development of their conspiracy. Shuja'u-d-daulah, by the advice of the Triumvirate, was induced not to entrust the control of any affair to Sarfaraz Khan. When the fibres of mistrust thus sown took root in the soil of the hearts of the son and the father, as well as of the two brothers, and these were about to germinate, Muhammad Taqi Kljan, ascertaining the real origin of this misunderstanding, proceeded from Orissa to Bengal, to personally interview his father and brother. The Councillors of Shuja‘u-d-daulah, finding the odds of the times evenly balanced, fanned strifes and fomeuted jealousies between the two brothers, so much so that both the latter prepared to fight. Muhammad Taqi Khan with his army rode out, and arrayed his force on a sandy plain, opposite to the Mursl.idabad Fort, on the other side of the river Bhagirati. Thence he advanced to inter¬ view his father, but did not plunder the City. And the army of Sarfaraz Khan was arranged in battle-array from Naktakbali to Shabnagar, and was ready to kindle the fire of war and slaugh¬ ter. Secretly tempting by offers of bribe the commanders and officers of Muhammad Taqi’s army, Sarfaraz Khan won them over to his side, and sending messages for Muhammad Taqi’s capture, waited for the enemy, in the hope that when the two contending hosts would face each other in battle-array, his own officers would capture Muhammad Taqi and bring him in. Muhammad Taqi Khan, who in bravery was t-he'Rustam 1 of his day, did not car.e for the enemy. The negociations for peace and war passed and re¬ passed between the two brothers. When Nawab §huja f u-d- daulah saw that affairs had taken a grave turn, he intervened, re¬ conciled the brothers, and prevented their fighting. And out of regard for the feelings of Sarfaraz Khan and the Begams, rebuk¬ ing several times Muhammad Taqi Khan, Shuja‘n-d-daulah pro¬ hibited the latter from coming to see and salute him. At lengtli, at the intercession of Sarfaraz Khan’s mother, he pardoned Muhammad Taqi JQiau, and permitted him to go back to too Sabah of Orissa. But on arrival in Orissa, m the year 11 A H owiu* to the witchcraft of the enemy, lie 8 died. On tins, Murshid Quli Khan, surnamed Majbnr, who was a son-in-law 1 The Persian Hercules. His (lanntless bravery and splendid heroism has been immortalised in the Sbahnamal. of Ferdausi, the Persian Uom £ a In Maasiru-l-u.nara, Vol.ll, P-844, • Makhmor which seems to be corre^ Muhammad Taqi ^hun, the Kipm of Orissa and a son of Nawab fibajl a- 299 of Shuja‘a-d-daulah and was already Deputy Nazira of Jaliangir- nagar (Dacca), and was a son of a merchant of the Port of Surat, and who in Lis writings and compositions, and in his poetical productions and caligraphy, enjoyed great excellence, was appoint¬ ed Deputy Nazira of the Subah of Orissa. Daring the Vicerojalty of Nawab Ja’far Khan, whilst the aboveraentioned Mur§hid Quli Khan 1 stayed at MurRhidabad, a person named Mir Habib, a native of Shiraz, spoke Persian very fluently, though he was not read in that language. By chance, Mir Habib arrived in the Port of Hugli, where lie earned his live¬ lihood by retailing the wares of Mughal merchants. Owing to his kindred mercantile pursuits, and also owing to his conversational powers, Mir Habib quickly ingratiated himself with Murshid Quli Khao, aud entered the latter’s service. When Nawab Ja’far Khan conferred the Governorship of Jabangir-nagar (Dacca) on Murshid Quli Khan, Mir l^abib also went in the latter's company to Jahangir-nagar (Dacca), aud was attached to the latter as his Deputy. By personally attending to minute details, aud by adopt¬ ing a policy of economy, Mir Habib curtailed the State expendi¬ ture on account of the Nawarah (war-vessels), the artillery, and d-din Khan, lies buried in the Qadam Rasul building at Cuttack, which had been erected by Nawab Shuja'u-d-din Khiin, when the lntter woa Nozim of Orissa, The tomb of Mul.iammnd Taqi Klian is now in a dilapidated condition. On it I found still the following inscription : Aa wlji oGj | H*vcd) I may add that the 8eiru*l*Mutol&erin (Pcrs. text, p. 534), makes mention of this Katak Qadam Rasul building, and of the Deputy Governor, Abdul Nsbi Khan (father of Abdur Rusal Kh an, another Doputy Governor of Orissa), being entombed there. In this connection, I may point out there is a historial anachronism in the Qadam Rasul building inscription which states “it was erected by £haajs‘u-d-dm Khan in the time of Alamgir II. * Shoja'a-d-din wns not a contemporary of Alamgir II at all, ho was a contemporary of Alamgir I whilst at Katak, and of Emperor Muhammad Shah, whilst Nigim of Bengal. 1 The reader must not confound this Murshid Qali Khfin (son -in-latv of §hoja‘u-d-daulah whose real name was Mirza Lulfullah) with Nawab Ja'far Khan, who had formerly held the title of ‘ Murshid Quli Khan.