Riyaz al-salatin 111.4
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 111.4
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111.4.1
True, the night was dark, but the sword flashed, So as amidst the dusky clouds, lightning flashes. From profuse shedding of blood on that battle-field, Earth's face turned crimson. Heaps of corpses crashed on heaps of corpses, Aye, formed veritable mounds on every side. Overwhelmed with disaster, and unable to stand their ground, Mir Habib and Bhaskar Pandit with other Mahratta officers fled from the battle-field, leaving their army to their fate, just as a cow is left to the tender mercies of a butcher. A crushing defeat was inflicted on the Mahratta army, which was triumphantly chased to some distance Bhaskar and other Mahratta Generals fell back to Ramgadh, from where with common consent they marched with celerity across jungles, to invade and ravage the Subah of Orissa. Shaikh Muhammad Ma'sum, the Deputy Nazim of Orissa, in order to resist the enemy, advanced from Katak, and opposed the enemy's march. When the two armies encountered each other, the fire of conflict flared up once again. Although the Zamindars had deserted his side, with a small band numbering five thousand cavalry and infantry, Shaikh Muhammad Ma'sum stood his ground dauntlessly on the field. The Mahratta army, which was more numerous than ants and locusts, surrounded Shaikh Ma'sum from all sides like a circle, and slaughtered him together with his comrades. The Subah of Odisah (Orissa), together with the Fort of Barabati and the citadel of the City of Katak, fell once again into the hands of the enemy.
111.4.2
Nawab Mahabat Jang, on hearing of the above disaster, marched swiftly to Bardvvan. He paid to each soldier two months' pay and also other gifts on account of the victory of Katwah, advanced to Katak, and repeatedly assaulting the Mahratta troops drove them from Katak, and victoriously entered its citadel. Leaving General Abdu-r-Rasul Khan, who was a second Mustafa Khan and who was also the latter's nephew, as the Deputy Nazim of Orissa, together with a contingent of six thousand cavalry and infantry, Mahabat Jang returned to the Subah of Bengal.
111.4.3
On receiving news of the defeat of Bhaskar Pandit, Sis Rao evacuating the fort of Hugli retreated to Bishanpur. Other Mahratta officers, who were posted at different places for the collection of revenue, also fled. The Collectors and Faujdars of Mahabat Jang entered the ravaged tracts, and again set about to re-settle them. But Bhaskar Pandit, after his defeat, sent Bairagi dacoits towards Akbarnagar (Rajmahal), Bhagalpur, and Behar. Mahabat Jang, who had not yet breathed freely, again set out from Bengal for those places. He had not yet reached the Subah of Behar, when the Bairagis retreating from those parts swooped down on Murshidabad. Mahabat Jang fell back from Behar, and pursued them. These Bairagi freebooters were busy with looting Baluchar, when the music of the drum and tambourine of Mahabat Jang's vanguard rang in the ears of those maniacs. Losing all courage, and leaving behind bags of booty, they fled from Baluchar. Mahabat Jang chased them up to Ramgadh, from where he returned. In short, this sort of guerilla warfare lasted three years. Victories on both sides were mingled with defeats, and it was hard to decide which side eventually came off the best. Nawab Mahabat Jang, following the saying that " war is made up of fraud," diplomatically established friendly relations with Ali Qarawal, who was one of the Mahratta leaders that had embraced the Muhammadan faith, and was surnamed Ali Bhai. From considerations of expediency, Mahabat Jang invited him over.
111.4.4
Receiving him kindly and courteously, using dissimulation and artfulness, and professing friendship and benignity, he made him consent to arrange an interview between himself and Bhaskar Pandit with other Mahratta Generals. Heedless of the duplicity of the times, that simpleton was taken in, and arrived at Diknagar. He induced Bhaskar and other Mahratta Generals to meet Mahabat Jang, by conveying to them the assurances and avowals of Mahabat Jang with reference to the settlement of the Chauth and the establishment of friendly relations. And these, in accordance with the saying ; — " One perceiveth according to the length of his sight," placing the finger of acceptance on their blind eyes, summoned to their presence Rajah Janaki Ram and Mustafa Khan for fixing the basis of a treaty, and for ratifying it by protestations and oaths. These going over to Bhaskar made vows and oaths, according to the forms of their respective religions and creeds. Mustafa Khan had with him, under a cover, a brick instead of the Qoran, and holding it he repeated oaths. Falling into the trap laid by Mahabat Jang, and reiterating the vows of peace, Ali Bhai and Bhaskar with other Mahratta Generals promised to meet Mahabat Jang at a place called Mankarah, and permitted Mustafa Khan and Rajah Janaki Ram to return. These going to Mahabat Jang assured him of the success of their mission, and related the mutual promises and vows that had taken place.
111.4.5
Expressing his satisfaction, Mahabat Jang ostensibly set about collecting valuable khillats and jewelleries, together with elephants, horses, and other rare and precious presents for presentation to the aforesaid Mahratta Generals. Announcing to the general public news of the approaching peace, Mahabat Jang covertly laid a plot of treachery, and took into confidence his own Generals towards its development. He picked out veteran and brave soldiers from his army, and caused long and wide tents, capable of holding large detachments with horses and elephants, to be pitched at Mankarah. Himself going into one of the tents, he arranged a grand party of friends and comrades. He secreted in battle-array inside the tents a battalion of picked men, and sent a message to Ali Bhai to bring over Bhaskar with all the Mahratta Generals. In short, Bhaskar, leaving all his troops in camp, came to Ali Vardi's tent, together with Ali Bhai and twenty-one other Mahratta Generals. The tent-pitchers following the signal dropped down the screens of the pavilion, tied them strongly with tent-ropes, and cut off the ingress and egress of friends and foes. Mahabat Jang, at the very sight of Bhaskar, said to his comrades who were waiting for the signal : "Kill these heathen sinners." Instantly, swords sprang up from every side on the Mahrattas. The clamour of assault rose up to the skies, Breasts were pierced through by swords.
111.4.6
Bhaskar and twenty-one other Mahratta Generals were butchered. In the midst of this carnage, Mahabat Jang mounting an elephant ordered the music of victory to be struck up, and ordered his select battalion to charge the Mahratta army with their swords. On seeing this, one of the Mahratta Generals, who was posted outside the pavilion with ten thousand cavalry, fled together with his force. Mahabat Jang's soldiers pouncing like fighting lions on this flock of sheep fiercely attacked the Mahratta troops, and slaughtered them, right and left, raising human shambles, and captured those who escaped the sword. On hearing of this disaster, other Mahratta detachments which were encamped at Bardwan and Diknagar, &c, or patrolled the tracts between Mednipur and Akbarnagar (Rajmahal) fled to Nagpur. When news of this disaster reached the ear of Raghoji Bhoslah, He knitted his brow, from fury of rage, And coiled, like a serpent, from anxiety of lost treasures. He kindled such a fire of wrath in his heart, That he scorched himself from head to foot. After the rainy season was over, Raghoji Bhoslah mobilised a large force, and marched towards Bengal, to avenge the slaughter of Bhaskar and other Mahratta Generals, and engaging on massacres, captures, and plunders, tortured many of his cap- Vardi's Subadar in Orissa. His name was Dulab Ram, and he was a son of Rajah Janoki Ram, Ali Vardi's Peshkar.
111.4.7
Ali Vardi had appointed Dulab Ram as Subadar, in the place of Abdul Rasul Khan (son of Abdul Nabi Khan) who had resigned his office and joined Mustafa at Patna. Dulab Ram was not only cowardly, but superstitious, and most probably, also treacherous (as his subsequent conduct towards Ali Vardi's grandson indicates). He associated at Katak with the Sanyasis, most of whom were spies in the employ of Raghoji Bhoslah. As soon as Dulab Ram heard of the approach of the Mahrattas, he attempted to run away; but was soon after captured by the Mahrattas. At this time, a small band of Syeds, under the command of Mir Abdul Aziz, bravely held out for over a month in the Fort of Barabati. The heroic stand against heavy odds made by this small beleaguered garrison and its unflinching loyalty, once more relieves the darkness of the moral chaos that had seized the times. When cajoled and threatened by Raghoji Bhoslah's friend, Mir Habib, and entreated by Dulab Ram and by his own brother to join Raghoji's side, Mir Abdul Aziz returned the following gallant and loyal answer : " I own no brother nor any other master ; I acknowledge only one master, namely, Mahabat Jang ; true, some cowards have joined you ; but from regard for the salt I have eaten, I will, by God, stand by this Fort, so long as there is breath in my life." (Seir, p. 546).
111.4.8
As however, no reinforcements came up, though over a month had elapsed, and as all provisions had run out, this noble band of beleaguered garrison had at length to capitulate on honourable terms to Raghoji Bhoslah, who made himself master of the Fort Barabati and also of the whole of Orissa province, as well as of Mednipur, Hughli and Bardwan. Ali Vardi was occupied at this time in Patna in crushing out the Afghan revolt under Mustafa Khan. When Mustafa Khan was slain and the Afghan revolt was crushed, Ali Vardi hastened back to Bengal. At this time, Raghoji was encamped at Birbhum. Meanwhile the Afghan comrades of the late Mustafa Khan, who lay in a death-trap in the Jungles of Tikari asked Raghoji to help them, and promised him their adhesion. Raghoji marched to Tikari to their rescue via the jungles of Birbhum and Kharakpur, looting en route the villages of Shaikpura and Tikari, &c. Mahabat Jang followed quickly in their heels and moved to Patna. From Patna, Raghoji (on the advice of Mir Habib, who was the inspiring genius of the Mahrattas, also in this second Marhatta invasion) turned towards Murshidabad, pursued closely by Ali Vardi, whose pursuit was hot and unslacking. At Katwah, another battle was fought, in which the Mahrattas were worsted.
111.4.9
Finding that victory was out of the question, and hearing of some troubles in his own country, Raghoji now prudently withdrew to his own country at Nagpur, leaving in Bengal his friend, guide, and philosopher, Mir Habib, with 3,000 Mahratta and 7,000 Afghan troops. (See Seiru-l-Mutakherin, Pers. text, p. 551). It would seem a despicable moral chaos had at this time seized the country, in which neither religious ties tives. Ali Vardi Khan with a large army again advanced to encounter the enemy. At this juncture, Balaji Rao, son of Baji Rao Pandit, Peshwa and generalissimo of Rajah Sahu, who was young, and had enmity with Raghoji, under orders of Emperor Muhammad Shah, came from the Imperial Capital (Dihli) to Bengal with sixty thousand Mahratta cavalry, to re-inforce Ali Vardi Khan. Mahabat Jang, finding floods of disaster approaching Bengal from two sides, shewed firmness and foresight. He deputed experienced envoys with presents to Balaji Rao, won him over to his side by display of courtesy and sincerity, met him at Birbhum, established friendly relations with him, and both unitedly resolved to drive out Raghoji Bhoslah. Raghoji finding it impracticable to accomplish the object of his mission withdrew to his own country, without gaining his end.
111.4.10
Being somewhat relieved of his anxiety by the withdrawal of Raghoji Bhoslah, Mahabat Jang presented a large amount of cash to Balaji Rao, and thus sent him out of Bengal in a contented and thankful mood, whilst he himself returned to Bengal. Being inwardly in anxiety as to the demand of Raghoji for Chauth, Mahabat Jang set about mobilising troops. At this moment, a rupture occurred between Ali Vardi Khan and Mustafa Khan, the Afghan General, and it was so far accentuated that all the Afghans combining with the latter, broke out into revolt, and set out with a large force for Azimabad (Patna), in order to storm that City, and to capture Haji Ahmad and Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan. On reaching Mungir (Monghyr), Mustafa Khan besieged the Fort of Monghyr. The Commandant of the Fort prepared to fight. Abdu-r-rasul Khan, a cousin of Mustafa Khan, advancing in the inebriation of the wine of valour and daring, wanted to storm the Fort, by battering down its gate. The guards of the Fort hurled down a huge stone on his head. From the blow of that heavy stone, his head was smashed to atoms. Mustafa Khan, viewing this disaster to be a bad omen, abandoned the siege of Monghyr, marched with celerity to Azimabad, (Patna), engaged in besieging the latter City, and commenced fighting with Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan.
111.4.11
Most of the detachments of Zainu-d-din Khan, not being able to stand their ground in the face of the onslaughts of the Afghans, retreated to the citadel, but Zainu-d-din Khan himself with a small squadron of cavalry, artillery, and Bhaltah musketeers remained out in the open to encounter the enemy.