The Akbarī Generations 19: Account of Khwaja Mu'azzam.

19

Khwaja Mu'azzam was maternal uncle of the Emperor. He was son of 'Ali Akbar, and a descendant of Shaikhu-l Islam Ahmad Jam. This person had been guilty of several disgraceful actions during the reign of the Emperor Humayun, who had felt constrained to speak about and censure his offences to his son and successor. His unseemly conduct at length compelled the Emperor to banish him, whereupon he went to Gujarat. From thence he proceeded to Mecca, and after staying there some time he returned to the Court of Humayun. Upon the demise of the crown, Bairam Khan Khan-khanan became the ruling power in the State, and he, knowing the character of the Khwaja, procured an order for his exile. After his banishment, the Khwaja stayed for a while in Gujarat, but subsequently returned to the Court of the Emperor. Bairam Khan then countenanced him, and he received some degree of attention. Upon the disgrace of Bairam Khan, the Emperor took compassion on the Khwaja, and gave him some districts in jagir. But the Khwaja's perverse and evil nature got the better of him, and he was guilty of some disgraceful deeds. To mention one — There was a woman named Fatima attached to the harem of the late Emperor, and the Khwaja had taken to himself a daughter of hers named Zuhra Agha. After some time he formed the design of putting her to death. Upon her mother being informed of this fact, she hastened to make it known to the Emperor, and to crave his protection. The Emperor was just about to start on a hunting excursion, and he assured the poor mother that he would take measures to rescue her daughter from the Khwaja. Accordingly he sent Tahir Muhammad Khan Mir-i faraghat and Rustam Khan to give the Khwaja notice that the Emperor was about to visit him. When Tahir Muhammad reached his house, he was so enraged that he killed the poor woman. As soon as the Emperor arrived, and was informed of the Khwaja's cruel actions, which cried for punishment, he gave orders to his followers to well thrash him, and then to put him in a boat and souse him several times in the river. After this he sent him a prisoner to the fort of Gwalior, where he died in confinement.