Riyaz al-salatin 109.2
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 109.2
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109.2.1
of a king, and placed on a throne, I was sent into the world by Providence 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 as it is inseparably connected with the happiness of my people. It is the repose and prosperity of my subjects that it behoves me to consult; nor are these to be sacrificed to anything besides the demands of justice, the maintenance of the royal authority, and the security of the State. This man cannot penetrate into the consequence of the inertness he recommends, and he is ignorant of the evils that attend upon delegated power. It was not without reason that our great Saadi emphatically exclaimed :—' Cease to be kings; Oh, cease to be kings; or determine that your dominions shall be governed only by yourselves....' Alas! we are sufficiently disposed by nature to seek ease and indulgence; we need no such officious counsellors. Our wives too, are sure to assist us in treading the flowery path of rest and luxury." What a noble ideal of kingly duty!, and what a sad falling-off in later Moslem times! 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'u-d-daulah. Adopting a policy of tact and prudence which "is a friend, and like water, takes to every hue," these two brothers got into the good graces of Shuja'u-d-daulah.
109.2.2
When Shuja'u-d-daulah acquired the Nizamat of the Subah of Bengal, Haji Ahmad became his intimate associate and councillor in all affairs of the Nizamat; whilst Mirza Bandi was invested with the Mansab and title of A'li Vardi Khan, and appointed Faujdar of the Chaklah of Akbarnagar (Rajmahal). Similarly, the Haji's eldest son, named Muhammad Riza, received the office of Daroghah or Superintendent of the Bajutrah of Murshidabad; 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 A'li Khan. Pir Khan, who during Shuja'u-d-daulah's stay at Burhanpur 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 Faujdari of the Port of Hugli, on the transfer of Ahsanul-lah Khan. Merit is no passport to worldly advancement, When times are propitous, failings seem accomplishments.
109.2.3
The new Faujdar of Hugli commenced exactions and oppressions. The Port of Hugli from his rapacity was ruined; and he commenced quarrelling with the European merchants. On the pretext of collecting the customs-duties of the Imperial Customs- House, he requisitioned troops from the Emperor, commenced hostility with the English, Dutch, and 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 fort, 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, he reduced 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 Calcutta, borrowing the nazarana money from the Calcutta bankers, remitted it to Shuja'u-d-daulah.
109.2.4
In short, as the good services of Shuja'u-d-daulah came to the notice of the Emperor through the medium of Khan Dauran Khan, in recognition thereof, the Nizamat of the Subah of Behar, on the transfer of Fakhru-d-daulah, brother of Raushanu-d-daulah Turabbaz Khan, was also conferred by the Emperor on Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah. The aforesaid Nawab considering Muhammad A'li Vardi Khan to be a person of capacity and tact, appointed him to be his Deputy Governor of Behar, and sent him to 'Azimabad (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 Karim Khan, Chief of the Afghans of Darbhanga, and raised a levy of efficient troops. Entrusting the reins of authority over administrative and revenue affairs to the hands of Abdul Karim Khan, A'li Vardi Khan sent 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, subduing the Banjarah tribe, gained a large booty. Muhammad A'li Vardi, by chastising the Banjarah tribe, achieved a high reputation. And being aided by the Afghans, A'li Vardi advanced with his forces against the tracts of the Rajahs of Bitiah and Bhawarah, who were refractory and turbulent.
109.2.5
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 the imperial revenues and taxes. After fighting with them incessantly, A'li Vardi Khan became victorious and triumphant. Raiding 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 administration increased. And drawing his forces against the Chakwar tribe, who had acquired a world-wide notoriety for their marauding propensities, Ali Vardi also extirpated them. Invading the tracts of the refractory and turbulent Zamindar of Bhojpur, and of Rajah Sundar Singh, Zamindar of Tikari, and of Namdar Khan Muin, who, sheltered by dense forests and rocks, had not cared for former Nazims, and had neglected to discharge loyal duties, and without coercion had never paid the Imperial revenue, Ali Vardi set about chastising every one of them, subdued their tracts thoroughly, levied the revenues from them to the 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.
109.2.6
And 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 State affairs, he exercised absolute sway, and ignored Muhammad Ali Vardi Khan. Hence the latter becoming suspicious of the former, inveigled him by some device into his own house, and slaying him raised the standard of triumph. And through the agency of Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Diwan of the Imperial Khalisah, Ali Vardi Khan opened negociations with Qamru-d-din Khan, the Imperial Vizier, and also with other Imperial Ministers, and succeeded in obtaining directly from the Emperor the title of Mahabat Jang Bahadur, without Shuja'u-d-daulah's recommendation. Shuja'u-d-daulah, who reposed full confidence in 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 coolness set 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 but was also popular with the Army. Haji Ahmad and Ali Vardi Khan basing their intrigue on his rivalry contrived to bring about a rupture, advantageous to themselves, between the two brothers. When the plan of this intrigue was matured, Haji Ahmad secured the adhesion of Rai Raian 'Alam Chand and Jagatset Fateh Chand;
109.2.7
and the Triumvirate 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 Khan, 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 fomented 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 Murshidabad Fort, on the other side of the river Bhagirati. Thence he advanced to interview his father, but did not plunder the City. And the army of Sarfaraz Khan was arranged in battle-array from Naktakhali to Shahnagar, and was ready to kindle the fire of war and slaughter. 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.
109.2.8
Muhammad Taqi Khan, who in bravery was the Rustam of his day, did not care for the enemy. The negociations for peace and war passed and repassed between the two brothers. When Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah saw that affairs had taken a grave turn, he intervened, reconciled the brothers, and prevented their fighting. And out of regard for the feelings of Sarfaraz Khan and the Begams, rebuking several times Muhammad Taqi Khan, Shuja'u-d-daulah prohibited the latter from coming to see and salute him. At length, at the intercession of Sarfaraz Khan's mother, he pardoned Muhammad Taqi Khan, and permitted him to go back to the Subah of Orissa. But on arrival in Orissa, in the year 1147 A.H., owing to the witchcraft of the enemy, he died. On this, Murshid Quli Khan, surnamed Makhmur, who was a son-in-law of Shuja'u-d-daulah and was already Deputy Nazim of Jahangir-nagar (Dacca), and was a son of a merchant of the Port of Surat, and who in his writings and compositions, and in his poetical productions and caligraphy, enjoyed great excellence, was appointed Deputy Nazim of the Subah of Orissa.