The Institutes of Akbar 275: 49. A’caf Khán ’Abdul Majíd (of Harát), a descendant of Shaikh Abú Bakr i Taibádí.
The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 275
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49. A’caf Khán ’Abdul Majíd (of Harát), a descendant of Shaikh Abú Bakr i Taibádí.
275.1
His brother Vazir Khan has been mentioned above (No. 41). Shaikh Zainuddín Abú Bakr i Taibádí was a saint (sáhib kamál) at the time of Timur. When Timur, in 782, set out for the conquest of Harát, which was in the hands of Malik Ghiásuddín, he sent, on his arrival at Taibád, a messenger to the Shaikh, to ask him why he had not paid his respects to the conqueror of the world. “What have I,” replied the Shaikh, “to do with Timur?” Timur, struck with this answer, went himself to the Shaikh, and upbraided him for not having advised Malik Ghias, “I have indeed done so,’ said the Shaikh, ‘but he would not listen, and God has now appointed you over him. However, I now advise you, too, to be just, and if you likewise do not listen, God will appoint another over you.” Timur afterwards said that he had seen many dervishes; every one of them had said something from selfish motives, but not so Shaikh Abi Bakar, who had said nothing with reference to himself. Khwajah ’Abdul Majid was a Grandee of Humayun, whom he served as Diwan. On Akbar’s accession, he also performed military duties. When the Emperor moved to the Panjab, to crush Bairam’s rebellion, ’Abdul Majid received the title of Asaf Khan, regarding which vide the note after this biographical notice. Subsequently Asaf was appointed Governor of Dihli, received a flag and a drum, and was made a Commander of Three Thousand.
275.2
When Fattu, a servant of ’Adli, made overtures to surrender Fort Chanadh (Chunar), A., in concert with Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus, took possession of it, and was appointed Governor of Karah-Manikpur on the Ganges. About the same time, Ghazi Khan Tannuri, an Afghan noble who had for a time been in Akbar’s services, fled to Bhat’h G’hora, and stirred up the Zamindars against Akbar. A., in the 7th year, sent a message to Rajah Ram Chandr, the ruler of Bhat’h, to pay tribute to Akbar, and surrender the enemies. But the Rajah prepared for resistance. A. marched against the Rajah, defeated him, and executed Ghazi Khan. The Rajah, after his defeat, shut himself up in Bandhu, but obtained Akbar’s pardon by timely submission, chiefly through the influence of several Rajahs at Court. A. then left the Rajah in peace; but the spoils which he had collected and the strong contingent which he had at his disposal (vide p. 241, l. 18) made him desirous of further warfare, and he planned the famous expedition against Gadha-Katangah, or Gondwanah, south of Bhat’h, which was then governed by Durgawati, the heroine of Central India. Her heroic defence and suicide, and the death of her son, Bir Sah, at the conquest of Chauragadh (about 70 miles west of Jabalpur), are wellknown. The immense spoils which A. carried off, led him temporarily into rebellion, and of the 1000 elephants which he had captured, he only sent 200 to Court. But when Khan Zaman (No.
275.3
13), in the 10th year, rebelled and besieged Majnun Khan Qaqshal (No. 50) in Manikpur, A. came with 5,000 troopers to his relief, presented himself before Akbar, who had marched against Khan Zaman, and handed over the remainder of the Gadha spoils. He thereby regained Akbar’s confidence and was appointed to follow up the rebels. At this juncture, the imperial Mutasaddis, whom A. before had handsomely bribed, reported from envy his former unwillingness to hand over the spoils, and exaggerated his wealth. Hypocritical friends mentioned this to A.; and afraid of his personal safety, he fled to Gadha (Cufar, 973). Akbar looked upon his flight as very suspicious, and appointed Mahdi Qasim Khan (No. 36) to Gadha. A. then left Central India ‘with a sorrowful heart,’ and joined, together with his brother (No. 41), Khan Zaman at Jaunpur. But he soon saw that Khan Zaman only wanted his wealth and watched for a favorable moment to kill him. A. therefore made use of the first opportunity to escape. Khan Zaman had sent his brother Bahadur (No. 22) against the Afghans, and A. was to accompany him. Vazir Khan, whom Khan Zaman had detained, managed likewise to escape, and was on the road to Manikpur, which A. had appointed as place of rendez-vous. No sooner had A. escaped than Bahadur followed him up, defeated his men, and took A. prisoner. Bahadur’s men immediately dispersed in search of plunder, when suddenly Vazir Khan fell over Bahadur.
275.4
Bahadur made some one a sign to kill A., who sat fettered on an elephant, and A. had just received a wound in his hand and nose, when Vazir in time saved his life, and carried him away. Both reached, in 973, Karah, and asked Muzaffar Khan (No. 37) to intercede for them with the emperor. When Muzaffar, in 974, was called by the emperor to the Panjab, he took Vazir with him, and obtained full pardon for the two brothers. A. was ordered to join Majnun Qaqshal at Karah-Manikpur. His bravery in the last struggle with Khan Zaman induced Akbar, in 975, to give him Piyag as tuyul, vice Haji Muhammad Sistani (No. 55), to enable him to recruit a contingent for the expedition against Rana Udai Singh. A. was sent in advance (mangala). In the middle of Rabi’ I, 975, Akbar left Agrah for Chitor. The Rana had commissioned Jai Mall, who had formerly been in Mirt’ha, to defend the fort, whilst he himself had withdrawn to the mountains. During the siege, which lasted four months and seven days, A. distinguished himself, and when, on the 25th Sha’ban, 975, the fort fell A. was made Governor of Chitor. Neither the Badaoni, nor the Tabaqat, mentions the year of his death. He must have been dead in 981, because the title of Asaf Khan was bestowed upon another noble.