Riyaz al-salatin 109.4

109.4

Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah, on the advice of his Triumvirate Council, deputed Sarfaraz Khan to chastise Badi'u-z-zaman, zamindar of Birbhum. Sheltered by rocks and forests and supported by numerous Afghans, this zamindar did not bend his head in submission to the Nazim, and failed to pay the revenue beyond the stipulated tribute. He had also diverted to dancing-parties and pleasures fourteen laks of revenue derived from the measured and cultivated lands, that had been endowed for the express purpose of helping the poor and the scholarly. The zamindar himself was plunged in dissipations and frivolities. On the ridges of Khubra Kandi and Lakra Khondah and of other hills and narrow rocky defiles, he had mounted strong guards, and cut off all ingress and egress of the Imperial troops and scouts, and he fancied the forest flanked by the hills to be a secure recess, in that no one could enter that tract without his passport. He had appointed his brother, Azam Khan, to administer his State, and his son, A'li Quli Khan, to command his army, and Naubat Khan to be his Diwan and Minister. Badi'u-z-zaman himself did no work, but wasted his time on flute-playing and on carousals. Sarfaraz Khan sent him a message, containing promises and rewards in the event of his submission to Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah, and embodying also threats and punishments in the event of his recalcitrance and disloyalty. Subsequently, Sarfaraz Khan despatched via Bardwan his special confidantes, Khwajah Basant and Mir Sharfu-d-din, the second Paymaster-General, with a large army. Badi'u-z-zaman now prudently woke up from the slumber of vanity, and ten. dered his homage and submission. Inducing the aforesaid Mir and the above Khwajah to become his interceders, he sent through the latter a petition expressive of submission and loyalty, and subsequently in the company of the former he set out for Murshidabad. And after waiting on Sarfaraz Khan, through the introduction of Mir Sharfu-d-din, Badi'u-z-zaman was granted an audience by Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah, who not only pardoned his past misdemeanour, but generously bestowed on him khila'ts. Badi'u-z-zaman agreed to pay three laks of rupees annually on account of the Imperial revenue, consented to abide by the ordinary procedures for payment of land-revenue and for execution of orders, and furnished as his surety Karatchand, zamindar of Bardwan. He was then allowed to return to Birbhum.
Towards the close of the year 1151 A.H., when Nadir Shah invaded the Imperial Capital, and Samsamu-d-daulah Khan-dauran fell in the battle against Nadir Shah, Nawab Shuja'u-d-daulah being ill and confined to bed permitted Yahya Khan and Durdanah Begam (son and wife respectively of Murshid Quli Khan) to go to Orissa, and proclaimed Sarfaraz Khan as his heir. Earnestly exhorting the latter to confide in Haji Ahmad, the Rai Raian and Jagatset, and always to respect their feelings, and entrusting to him control over the offices of the Nizamat, Nawab Shuja'u-d-din Khan died on the 13th Zilhaj of the aforesaid year. After laying to rest Shuja'u-d-daulah's corpse in the sepulchre which he (Shuja'u-d-daulah) had in his lifetime erected at Dehpara, opposite to the Fort and the City of Murshidabad, Sarfaraz Khan mounted the masnad of the Nizamat in the place of his father.