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The Institutes of Akbar 309: 79. Dastam Khan, son of Rustam i Turkistani.

The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 309

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309

The correct name of this grandee is Dastam دستم a very unusual name, though most MSS. of the Ain and many of the Akbarnamah give رستم Rustam. The Maasir correctly places his name under the letter D.
His father’s name was Rustam. His mother—her name is not clearly written in the MSS. of the Maasir and Akbarnamah, which I have seen, either Najibah or Bakhyah—was a friend of Mahum Anagah (vide No. 19), and had free access to the Harem. Dastam appears to have been a play-fellow of Prince Akbar.
Dastam Khan, in the 9th year, served under Mu’izzul Mulk (No. 61) against 'Abdullah Khan Uzbak (No. 14). In the 17th year, he served under Mirza ‘Aziz Kokah in the battle of Patan (vide No. 77), distinguished himself in the war with Muhammad Husain Mirza, and got a flag. In the 22nd year, he was appointed to the Cubah of Ajmir, and got Rantanbhur as tuyul. His administration was praiseworthy: he kept down the rebellious, and protected the oppressed.
In the 25th year, Uchla, son of Balbhadr, and Mohan, Sur Das, Tilaksi, sons of Rajah Bihari Mall’s brother, came without permission from the Panjab to Luni (?), their native town, and caused disturbances. Dastam, from a wish not to be too hard on Kachhwahahs, advised them to return to obedience; but his leniency only rendered the rebels more audacious. Akbar then ordered D. to hold out threats, and if this was not sufficient, to proceed against them. D. had at last to do so; but he did it hastily, without collecting a sufficient number of troops. In the fight, the three nephews of the Rajah were killed. Dastam received a wound from Uchlá, who had attacked him from an ambush. Wounded as he was, he attacked Uchlá, and killed him. Immediately afterwards he fainted and fell from his horse. His men put him again on horseback—a usual expedient, in order not to dishearten the soldiers. The rebels were totally defeated and their estates plundered (988).
Dastam died of his wounds, two days later, at Sherpúr. Akbar said that even D.’s mother could not feel the loss of her son as much as he did, because D., with the exception of three years, had never been away from him.
The Maásir says, he was a Commander of Three Thousand. Rantanbhúr was then given to Mírzá ’Abdurrahím (No. 29) as jágír.
A son of Dastam is mentioned below (No. 362).