Riyaz al-salatin 112.1
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 112.1
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112.1.1
When Nawab Ali Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang passed to the regions of eternity, Nawab Siraju-d-daulah, son of Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan Haibat Jang, and maternal grandson of Ali Vardi, who from before had been declared heir-apparent by Ali Vardi Khan, and whom Ali Vardi Khan had in his life-time placed on the cushion of the Nizamat, and to whom Ali Vardi with all the grandees of the court had paid homage and offered presents—ascended the masnad of the rulership over Bengal, Behar, and Orissa. Siraju-d-daulah exhibited insolence and arrogance, which are the worst of attributes, and are displeasing to God. At that time, owing to certain reasons, Ghasiti Begam, widow of Nawazish Ahmad Khan Shahamat Jang, who resided at Mutijhil, resolving to oppose Siraju-d-daulah, appointed Mir Nazar Ali, who was her servant and was bound to her by ties of various favours and obligations, to be the commander of her Vanguard, and Nawab Bairam Khan to be generalissimo of her army. Then the Begam of Mahabat Jang, and Jagat Set, as an emissary of Siraju-d-daulah, went to Ghasiti Begam and gave her assurances; and so the latter refrained from hostility, whilst Nazar Ali fled, and Bairam Khan taking refuge with one of the generals fell into disgrace. Siraju-d-daulah's army arriving captured Ghasiti Begam, together with all her effects. The Begam saw what she had never seen, and heard what she had never heard.
112.1.2
Siraju-d-daulah's army rased to the ground her buildings and her palace, and unearthing her buried treasures carried them to Mansurganj. Owing to Siraju-d-daulah's harshness of temper and indulgence in violent language, fear and terror had settled on the hearts of everyone to such an extent, that no one amongst the generals of the army or the noblemen of the City was free from anxiety. Amongst his officers, whoever went to wait on Siraju-d-daulah despaired of life and honour, and whoever returned without being disgraced and ill-treated offered thanks to God. Siraju-d-daulah treated all the noblemen and generals of Mahabat Jang with ridicule and drollery, and bestowed on each some contemptuous nick-name that ill-suited any of them. And whatever harsh expressions and abusive epithets came to his lips, Siraju-d-daulah uttered them unhesitatingly in the face of everyone, and no one had the boldness to breathe freely in his presence. Appointing a Kyeth, named Mohanlal, to be the minister and controller of all affairs, Siraju-d-daulah bestowed on him the title of Maharajah Mohanlal Bahadur, gave him a large bodyguard of cavalry and infantry, and ordered all his generals and nobles to pay respect to him. All did so, except Mir Mohammad Jafar Khan, a brother-in-law of Nawab Mahabat Jang, and the generalissimo of the army, who refused to pay respect to Mohanlal, and for some time ceased to pay respect even to Siraju-d-daulah.
112.1.3
But Rajah Mohanlal, coiling himself round the brain and skin of Siraju-d-daulah, forgot himself so far that he fancied nobody else existed, appointed his own kith and kin to posts connected with the Crown-Domains and also to other revenue offices, and dismissed the old officers. For instance, Rajah Mohanlal sent a message to Nawab Ghulam Husain Khan Bahadur that if he accepted a pay of Rs. 200 a month, he might stay on, otherwise he should quit the country. The latter, of necessity, on the plea of visiting the Kabah, set out for Hugli. Inasmuch as before Mahabat Jang's death, in the beginning of that year, on the 13th of Rabiu-l-Awal, Nawab Nawazish Muhammad Khan Shahamat Jang, who held the office of Diwan of Bengal, had died, Siraju-d-daulah arrested Rajah Rajballab, Peshkar of Shahamat Jang, on the plea that he should render up his accounts. Although Rajballab tried hard to pay up some cash and to compromise the demands, Siraju-d-daulah did not consent, and kept him under surveillance. Rajballab sent his family and children to Calcutta, to take shelter with the English. Siraju-d-daulah desired to arrest Rajballab's family also, and ordered Rajah Ram, head of his spies, to proceed to Calcutta, arrest Rajballab's family, and bring them over. Mahabat Jang, whilst on sickbed, had dissuaded Siraju-d-daulah, and directed him to postpone the matter, and urged that after recovery he (Mahabat Jang) would himself summon them.
112.1.4
At this time, Siraju-d-daulah ordered Rajah Ram, head of his spies, to proceed to Calcutta and arrest and bring over Rajballab's family and children, and himself in the month of Shaban, on the plea of touring, proceeded towards Akbarnagar (Rajmahal). Whilst Siraju-d-daulah reaching Dunahpiir had encamped on the bank of the river Kalapani, he received news that the English Chiefs in Calcutta had offered opposition, and prevented the arrest of Rajballab's family and children. On the very receipt of this news, the fire of Siraju-d-daulah's rage kindled, and he summoned the officers of his army, and said: "I intend proceeding on an expedition against Calcutta. It is necessary that none of you should go back to Murshidabad, but that all should proceed straight from here to Chunakhali and encamp there." Next morning, setting out, Siraju-d-daulah reached Chunakhali, and from there proceeding by forced marches invaded Calcutta. In the month of Ramzan, fighting with the English, Siraju-d-daulah became victorious and triumphant, and the English Chief embarking on a boat fled. Sweeping the town of Calcutta with the broom of plunder, and naming it Alinagar, Siraju-d-daulah left Rajah Manikchand with a large detachment as Governor of Calcutta. Posting strong garrisons at Makhuah and Bajbajia (Budge-Budge) and other fords for the crossing and passage of English ships, Siraju-d-daulah at the end of the above month returned to Murshidabad.
112.1.5
Saulat Jang, Faujdar of Purniah, that year, previous to Mahabat Jang's death, in the month of Jamadi-l-Awal, had died, and his son, Shaukat Jang, who was a cousin of Siraju-d-daulah, had succeeded his father. At this time, Siraju-d-daulah desiring to displace Shaukat Jang demanded the revenue of Purniah. Shaukat Jang replied: "You are lord of three Subahs (Provinces), whilst I am fallen in this corner, and am content with a bit of bread. Now it does not become your high aspiration to set the teeth of your avarice on this bit of bread." Siraju-d-daulah, on receipt of this reply, which did not satisfy his designs, despatched Diwan Mohanlal, together with other Generals such as Dost Muhammad Khan, Shaikh Din Muhammad, Mir Muhammad, and Jafar Khan, &c., with a large army, to fight with Shaukat Jang; and he also wrote to Ramnarain, the Subahdar of Azimabad, to march quickly to Purniah. From the other side, Shaukat Jang detailed for fighting Shaikh Jahan Yar and Karguzar Khan, the generalissimo, and Mir Murad Ali and others, and subsequently he himself set out and assaulting and sacking and burning Haiatpurgolah returned to Purniah. On arrival at Manihari, Siraju-d-daulah's army encamped, whilst Shaukat Jang's army at a distance of one Karoh at Nawabganj entrenched itself. On the next day, Shaukat Jang also arrived and joined his army; and on the same day, Rajah Ramnarain, the Subahdar of Azimabad, with his contingent of troops, joined Siraju-d-daulah's army.
112.1.6
On the morning of the following day, Rajah Mohanlal advanced with his force in order to fight, and unfurled his flag carrying the ensignia of the Mahi Order which he held. Shaukat Jang, on seeing the ensignia of the Mahi Order, fancied that Siraju-d-daulah himself had joined his army, and was marching up for fight, and so Shaukat Jang advanced also with his army. Shaikh Jahan Yar dissuaded Shaukat Jang, saying: — "To-day the moment for fighting is not auspicious, if it pleases God, to-morrow early in the morning we shall fight, and whatever is decreed by Providence shall take place." Shaukat Jang, paying no heed to this dissuasion, marched up to the battle-field. Shaikh Jahan Yar was also obliged to advance with his corps, and whilst fighting bravely he received a gun-shot. Shaikh Abdu-r Rashid, his brother, and Shaikh Qudratu-l-lah, his son-in-law, together with Shaikh Jahan Yar, his nephew, as well as his other kinsmen were slain on the battle-field, and earned present and future glory. At this time of strife, a sword fell on the neck of the horse of Shaikh Jahan Yar, and cut asunder its rein, and the horse furiously gallopped away with its rider from the field. As he had already received several mortal wounds, by the time of his arrival at Birnagar, he expired. At that crisis, Shaukat Jang, himself joining in the fight, advanced, discharging arrows, and came in front of Dost Muhammad Khan.
112.1.7
The aforesaid Khan said, "Come on my elephant, as you will find security then." Shaukat Jang not consenting fixed a sharp arrow in his teeth, and shattered his fronttooth. At this time, besides two horsemen, one of whom was Habib Beg, no one else was with Shaukat Jang. Habib Beg dismounting from his horse stood in front of his elephant on the field. As decreed by fate, a bullet from the gun of a servant of Dost Muhammad Khan hit Shaukat Jang on the forehead, and the bird of his soul flew away, and nestled on the branches of annihilation. And Kalguzar Khan, the generalissimo Shaikh Bahadur Karnuli, Abu Turab Khan, Murad Sher Khan, nephew of Shaikh Jahan Yar, Shaikh Murad Ali, disciple of Nawab Saif Khan, Mir Sultan Khalil, the archer, Loha Singh Hazari, and Mir Jafaru-l-ju, &c., displayed gallant bravery, and tasted the potion of death on the battle-field. Siraju-d-daulah had advanced to Akbarnagar (Rajmahal), when the tidings of victory arrived; and he ordered the music of victory to strike up. He also caused the adherents of Shaukat Jang, such as were captured, to be punished in various forms. Rajah Mohanlal confiscating fifty-one elephants, and horses, and camels, and other treasures of Shaukat Jang, and leaving his own son as Deputy Governor of the Faujdari of Purniah, returned.