Riyaz al-salatin 101: AN ACCOUNT OF THE RULE OF SHAH SHUJ'A, FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THE END OF HIS CAREER.
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 101
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE RULE OF SHAH SHUJ'A, FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THE END OF HIS CAREER.
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years. In the 22nd year of Shah Jahan's reign, he was superseded, and Prince Muhammad Shuj'a was for the second time re-appointed to the Nizamat of Bengal. When, for the second time, Prince Muhammad Shuj'a arrived in Bengal, for eight years more he carried on vigorously the work of administration, and conquering other tracts added laurels to himself. In the 30th year of the Emperor's accession, corresponding to 1067 A.H., Emperor Shah Jahan fell ill. As the period of illness became protracted, and the Members of Government could not obtain audience with the Emperor, great confusion ensued in the affairs of the Empire. Since amongst the Monghyr, set out for Bengal. (See Alamgirnamah, p. 31). Whilst these events were transpiring in Bengal, Aurangzeb with his marvellous insight grasping the situation forestalled Dara Shekoh by making a move from Aurangabad towards Burhanpur on Friday, 12th Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1068 A.H. (Alamgirnamah, p. 43). After halting for a month at Burhanpur to get news of the state of things at Agra, Aurangzeb learnt that Dara Shekoh had detached a large army under Rajah Jaswant Singh, who had already arrived at Ujjain, in Malwah. This made Aurangzeb decide his plans. He immediately on 25th Jamadi-ul-Akhirah on a Saturday marched from Burhanpur, reached the banks of the Narbadda, crossed it, and on the 20th Rajab encamped at Dibalpur. On the 21st Rajab, setting out from Dibalpur, he met on the way Prince Murad, and won him over to his side (Alamgirnamah, p.
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55), and reached Dharmatpur, a place 7 kos from Ujjain, and one kos from Rajah Jaswant Singh's army, and pitched his camp on the banks of a rivulet, called Char Narainah. (Alamgirnamah, p. 56). Rajah Jaswant Singh was quite out-witted by this strategic move of Aurangzeb who had united his forces with those of Murad. Aurangzeb then inflicted a crushing blow on Rajah Jaswant Singh at Dharmatpur. (See charming description of this battle in the Alamgirnamah, Pers. text, pp. 61, 66 to 74). Marching quickly from Dharmatpur, Aurangzeb passed through Gwalior. In the meantime Dara Shekoh had marched to Dholpur (p. 85, Alamgirnamah), to oppose Aurangzeb's progress, and to prevent his crossing the Chambal river. Aurangzeb quickly however crossed the Chambal river at the ferry of Bhadureah, which is 20 kos from Dholpur, on the first day of the month of Ramzan. On the 7th Ramzan, the battle of Dholpur was fought, and Dara Shekoh was completely defeated by Aurangzeb. (See description of the battle of Dholpur in the Alamgirnamah, pp. 100 to 104). Dara Shekoh fled to Agra, and thence to the Panjab and other places, was eventually captured and beheaded. Shortly after his installation, Aurangzeb drew his force against Shah Shuj'a who had advanced, and occupied Rohtas, Chunar, Jaunpur, Benares and Allahabad. The battle between Aurangzeb and Shuj'a was fought at Kadwa, a place close to Korah, and resulted in Shuj'a's defeat. (See description of the battle in the Alamgirnamah, Pers. text, p.
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243). After his defeat, Shuj'a fled to Bahadurpur, thence to Patna, thence to Monghyr which he fortified, and thence (owing to the treachery of Rajah Bahroz, zamindar of Kharakpur) to Rangamati, and thence (owing to treachery of Khwajah Kamalu-d-din, zamindar of Birbhum) to Rajmahal, thence through minor places to Dacca, thence through Bhaluah and minor places to Arrakan, always heroically contesting every inch of ground against the hosts of Aurangzeb, led by his General Muazzam Khan alias Mir Jumla, but every time baffled by the treachery of so-called adherents, barring a noble band of Barha Syeds who clung to him to the last. (See pp. 495 to 561, Alamgirnamah, Pers. text). Princes Royal, no one except Dara Shekoh was near the Emperor, the reins of Imperial administration were assigned to him. Dara Shekoh, viewing himself to be the Crown-Prince, fully grasped the threads of Imperial administration. Owing to this, Prince Murad Baksh in Gujrat had the khutbah read after his own name, whilst in Bengal, Muhammad Shuj'a proclaimed himself King, and marshalling his forces, marched towards Patna and Behar, and advancing thence, reached the environs of Benares. On hearing this news, Dara Shekoh, during the serious illness of the Emperor, marched with the latter from Shahjahanabad (Delhi), to Akbarabad (Agra), on the 20th Muharram, 1068, A.H corresponding to the 31st year of the Emperor's accession, and on the 19th Safar, reached Akbarabad (Agra).
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From this place, Dara Shekoh detached Raja Jai Singh Kachoah, who was a leading Rajah and a principal member of the Empire, together with other leading noblemen, such as Diler Khan, Salabat Khan and Izad Singh, and other officers holding the ranks of Panjhazari and Chaharhazari, besides a large army composed of his own and the Imperial troops, along with guns and armaments, under the general command of Sulaiman Shekoh, his eldest son, in order to fight against Muhammad Shuj'a. Accordingly, these marched from Agra on the 4th of the month of Rabiul-Awwal of the aforesaid year, and set out on the aforesaid expedition. And after marching several stages, and passing through the city of Benares, these encamped at the village of Bahadurpur (which is situated on the bank of the Ganges at a distance of two and a half kroh from the city of Benares) to a distance of one and a half kroh from Muhammad Shuj'a's army. Both the armies exhibited military strategy and tactics, and sought for an opportunity to surprise the other. In consequence neither side made a sally. On the 21st Jamadiul-Awwal, the Imperialists made a feint as if to shift their camp, but suddenly wheeled round, and rushed Shuj'a's army, which was completely taken by surprise. On hearing the news of the feint retreat of the Imperialists on the previous day, Shuj'a had neglected his war-preparations, and was fast asleep.
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Being thus taken by surprise, he woke up from his slumber, and mounting a female elephant, he moved about restlessly. But the game was already up, especially as Raja Jai Singh making a dashing flank movement from the left side, closed in upon him. Seeing no alternative, Shah Shuj'a got into his war-vessels which he had brought up from Bengal, and sailed down swiftly, abandoning his treasures, guns, horses, baggages and tents. Sailing swiftly down Patna, he reached Mungir, and prepared to fortify it, and halted there for some days. Sulaiman Shekoh's army, after plundering and ravaging and slaughtering and capturing, followed up Muhammad Shuj'a, and reached Mungir. Muhammad Shuj'a, finding it impossible to stand his ground there, fled with the swiftness of lightning and air, and entered Akbarnagar (Rajmahal). The Imperial army reduced to subjection the Subah of Patna and Behar. But in the meantime, Aurangzeb had marched from the Dakhin towards the Imperial Presence, and on the outskirts of the Narbadda had fought an engagement with a numerous horde of Imperialists, and after sanguinary fightings had inflicted a signal defeat, and had marched to Shahjahanabad, and entered the Capital. Deputing his eldest son, Sultan Muhammad, to be near the Emperor, Aurangzeb put the latter under surveillance, and killed Dara Shekoh after much warfare, and in the holy month of Ramzan 1069 A.H. ascended the Imperial throne of Delhi.
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Sulaiman Shekoh, on hearing the news of Dara Shekoh's defeat, gave up the pursuit of Shah Shuj'a, and retreated towards Shahjahanabad (Delhi). Muhammad Shuj'a fancying that the struggle between Dara Shekoh and Aurangzeb would be a protracted one, thought his opportunity had come, and by the bad advice of Alivardi Khan and Mirza Jan Beg and other members of his Government, refurbishing his sword, laid claim as his heritage to the suzerainty of Bengal, and with a large and formidable army marched towards the Capital of Hindustan. As before Shuj'a's arrival, the struggle in Hindustan between Aurangzeb and Dara Shekoh had terminated, and Aurangzeb had already mounted the Imperial throne, on hearing this news of Shuj'a's march, Aurangzeb with his entire army of Hindustan swiftly marched, and at Kachwah the two armies encountered each other, and a battle was fought.
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The armies were arrayed on both sides, They stood forth like mountains on a plain. When the armies from both sides approached each other, From the dark dust that arose, the universe turned dark. When from both sides they struck up drums of war, The lion-like heroes spread their claws to smite. Tumult arose from drums, The ear of the world was deafened. From guns and muskets, rockets and arrows, Security in the world fled to a corner. From the smoke of gun-wagons that mingled with the atmosphere, The sky became hidden from the world's view. The spear warmed in slaughtering, And whispered messages of destruction into the ear of Life. The lightning of the sword kindled fire so much, That it burnt the harvest of existence. The fire of warfare blazed up so keenly, That it scorched the heart of Mars aloft on the sky. After much exertions and fightings, Aurangzeb's army was defeated. Aurangzeb, however, with a number of noblemen and some gunners, stood his ground on the battle-field. Alivardi Khan, the generalissimo of Shah Shuj'a's force, attempted to capture Aurangzeb and checkmate him.
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As God has bestowed greater wisdom on Sovereigns than on the mass of mankind, and as in military affairs, Sovereigns are endowed with a more accurate perception of the situation, that wise sovereign (Aurangzeb) observing the adage that "war is fraud," deceived the aforesaid Khan by holding out to him the chance of being appointed Prime Minister, and said that if the latter could induce Muhammad Shuj'a to dismount from his elephant and to mount a horse, he would win this game. The aforesaid Khan, seduced by the bait held out by Aurangzeb, played false with his own old benefactor, and spoke to Muhammad Shuj'a as follows : " Victory has been already achieved by our army, and the enemy's force has been defeated. As cannon-balls, and rockets and arrows are raining from every side, it is possible that the Royal elephant might be hit ; it is therefore advisable that your Highness should dismount from your elephant and mount a horse. By the good luck of your Highness, I would immediately capture and fetch 'Alamgir." Instantly as Shah Shuj'a mounted a horse, the aforesaid Khan sent information to 'Alamgir. 'Alamgir immediately adopted the ruse of causing the music of victory to be struck up. And since the army did not find Shah Shuj'a on the elephant, news spread in the army about the victory of 'Alamgir and the defeat of Shah Shuj'a. Shuj'a's force fled panic-stricken, thinking that Shuj'a had been killed.
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Although Shuj'a made exertions to stop the panic and prevent the flight, these were in vain. Hence the adage is " Shuj'a lost a winning game." The army of Aurangzeb collecting together, made an onslaught. When Shah Shuj'a found that he had lost the game, he was obliged to take to flight, and fled to Bengal, and fortifying the passes of Teliagadhi and Sakrigali, he entrenched himself at Akbarnagar (Rajmahal). 'Alamgir appointed Nawab Mu'azzam Khan, Khan-i-Khanan, the Generalissimo, to be Subadar or Viceroy of Bengal. And detaching twenty-two renowned noblemen, like Nawab Islam Khan, Diler Khan, Daud Khan, Fateh Jang Khan, and Ihtisham Khan, etc., under the command of Sultan Muhammad, to pursue Shah Shuj'a, Aurangzeb himself triumphant and victorious marched back towards the Capital (Delhi).