The Akbarī Generations 78.1
Tabakát-i Akbarí of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad (extracts) 78.1
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78.1.1
Agreeing with 991 H. [Festival of the new year.] The news from Bengal was, that Khan-i 'azam had occupied Tanda, that Khaldi Khan, Jabbar Bardi, and Mirza Beg Kakshal had separated from 'Isa Kabuli, and had come to Khan-i 'azam, and that 'Isa had sought refuge with certain zamindars. All the parts of Bengal that were in the possession of the rebels now came again under the authority of the Imperial officers. As 'Itimad Khan had held the government of Gujarat for several years, he was better acquainted with the prosperous management of the country than others could be, and if the government were confirmed to him it might be the means of exciting the emulation of rulers in other countries. For this reason he was appointed governor of Gujarat. Mir Abu Turab was appointed amin, Khwaja Abu-l Kasim, brother of Mulla 'Abdu-l Kadir was appointed diwan, and the humble servant Nizamu-d din Ahmad, the author of this work, was appointed bakhshi. Muhammad Husain Shaikh and * * * were made jagirdars of Gujarat. Amir Fathu-lla, one of the saiyids of Shiraz, a very wise and learned man, had gone from Shiraz to 'Adil Khan in the Dakhin, and had there held high office. On the 22nd Rabi'u-s sani he came to visit the Emperor at Fathpur. Khan-khanan and Hakim Abu-l Fath were sent forth to meet him, and to bring him in with due honour. He was appointed to the exalted office of Sadr.
78.1.2
The suppression and dispersion of the rebels in Bengal was reported to the Emperor. It was known that 'Isa Kabuli was in the country of 'Aisi, and Khan-i 'azam was desirous of returning home. For these reasons the Emperor ordered Shahbaz Khan to proceed to Bengal, to allot the whole of that sarkar in jagirs to the soldiers, and to do his best to exterminate 'Isa Kabuli. On the 17th Jumada-s sani, he started to assume his duties. In this year, an order was given for the translation into Persian of the Maha-bharat, which is the chief book of history of the Brahmans. The translation was completed, and received the name of Razm-nama (Book of War). Information was now brought that Khan-i 'azam had sent Shaikh Farid to make peace with Katlu Afghan (in Orissa). When the Shaikh reached his dwelling, and had an interview with him, Katlu was very humble. Bahadur Gauriya, one of the zamindars of Bengal, and a high officer in the army of Katlu, came to see the Shaikh, who then travelled on under the eyes of the zamindars and the servants of Katlu. Bahadur, in a hostile manner, blocked up the road by which the Shaikh was returning, and attacked him. Many of his men were killed, but the Shaikh escaped without injury.
78.1.3
Burhanu-l Mulk, brother of Murtaza Nizamu-l Mulk, ruler of the Dakhin, fled from his brother to Kutbu-d din Khan, and by command he came from thence to wait upon the Emperor in the month of Rajab. But before this, a person calling himself Burhanu-l Mulk had waited upon the Emperor, and had obtained a jagir. Now that the real man had come, and the imposture was displayed, the impostor fled and hid himself; but he was discovered after the lapse of a week among some Jogis, and was cast into prison.
78.1.4
An order was given to 'Itimad Khan to take away the country of Sirohi from Sartan Deori, and to give it to Jagmal his brother, who was an adherent of the Imperial throne: 1000 mohurs (muhrs) was sent in charge of the writer of this work towards payment of the expenses. When 'Itimad Khan arrived at Jalor, the author, Muhammad Ma'sum Bakhari, Kambar Beg Ishak Aka, Zainu-d din Kambu, and Pahlawan 'Ali Sistani, who was appointed kotwal of Ahmadabad, joined 'Itimad Khan. Muhammad Husain Shaikh and several jagirdars of Gujarat remained behind. After 'Itimad Khan arrived at Jalor, he proceeded to Sirohi, and having removed Sartan Deori, he installed Jagmal, whom he left there with Aghzan Khan, Mahmud Jalori, Bijai Deora, Rai Singh, son of Chandar Sen, son of Rai Mal Deo. Then he proceeded towards Ahmadabad, and on approaching the city, Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan came out and posted himself in 'Usmanpur, one of the suburbs. On the 12th Sha'ban, 'Itimad Khan went into the city. Two days afterwards it was discovered that 'Abid Badakhshi * * and a large party of the servants of Shahabu-d din Khan had left him, and gone off to Kathiwar, to invite Muzaffar Gujarati, who was there living in the retirement to which he had been driven by the Imperial arms; their object being to promote a revolt.
78.1.5
'Itimad Khan thought it desirable to have a conference with Shahabu-d din upon the subject; so he sent me, the author of this work, to him. When I saw him, he told me that this band of conspirators had a design against his life, and that they had for a long time been preparing this plot. Now that they had torn the veil from their designs, they would receive no encouragement or help from him. When I reported the state of the case to 'Itimad Khan, he thought it expedient to conciliate the conspirators; so he sent me and two other persons to appease them. But they rejected our overtures, and continued their journey. Shahabu-d din removed and went to Kari, twenty kos from Ahmadabad. We now sent several letters to Shahabu-d din, urging him to delay his departure for a few days; but making no stay, he went on his way. On the 27th Sha'ban, the intelligence arrived that the rebels had come to Dulaka, bringing with them Muzaffar and some Kathiwar people.
78.1.6
Kambar Beg Ishang Aka now came in from Shahabu-d din, reporting that he had promised to stay at Kari. 'Itimad Khan, Mir Abu Turab, and I, therefore went forth to see Shahabu-d din, to mollify him and bring him back with us. Towards the close of day, 'Itimad Khan set off for Kari. It had been urged upon him that it was not right for the ruler of a city to leave it when the enemy was at a distance of only twelve kos. But it was of no avail. He left his own son with Amir Ma'sum Bakhari and * * * and my son, and started. When he and I reached Kari, we talked with Shahabu-d din, and we reconciled him, upon our promise that the parganas which he had for a long time held in jagir should be relinquished to him, and that he should be paid a subsidy of two lacs of rupees. In fact, all he asked was conceded. Towards close of day, 'Itimad Khan and he set out from Kari, to return to Ahmadabad. On the same day that 'Itimad Khan went to Kari, Muzaffar Gujarati came to Ahmadabad. The men of the city gave him (access to) the fort, and as part of the wall was broken down, he made his way in immediately.
78.1.7
At midnight, when ['Itimad Khan and] Shahabu-d din were ten kos from Ahmadabad, they were met by Mir Ma'sum Bakhari and Zainu-d din Kambu, who had come out of the city and brought the news. They alighted, and after consultation decided that as the enemy had gained only one day, he had had no time to strengthen himself, and that we must get into the city as he had done. So we went on to the city, and in the morning arrived at 'Usmanpur, which is on the side of the river near the city. Muzaffar Gujarati came forth, and drew up his forces on the sandy bank of the river. Shihabu-d din was quite helpless, because his men were not trustworthy, and many of them ran off. I did all I could with a few men, but without effect. My son, who had been left in the city in charge of the fort, was plundered of everything. Shihabu-d din Ahmad Khan and 'Itimad Khan took to flight, and went to Nahrwala, better known as Pattan, forty-five kos from Ahmadabad. I, the author, wrote a report of the occurrences to the Emperor.
78.1.8
Three days afterwards Muhammad Husain Shaikh * * and other jagirdars of Gujarat came to Pattan, and having set the fort in order, prepared to hold out. Muzaffar Gujarati gave away jagirs and titles to the leading rebels, and busied himself in collecting forces. Sher Khan Fuladi had been governor of Pattan for many years, but had (since) lived for some years in adversity in the country of Surath. He joined Muzaffar Gujarati, who sent him with four thousand horse towards Pattan. When Sher Khan arrived at Kari, he sent forward his men to the town of Jutana, twenty kos from Pattan. I attacked them and defeated them, and left Mir Muhibbu-lla * * and a detachment of soldiers at that place. Zainu-d din Kambu was sent to Kutbu-d din, governor of Broach and Baroda, desiring him to advance from that side against Ahmadabad, so that the enemy might be attacked on two sides and overpowered. Zainu-d din went to Kutbu-d din, and brought him to Baroda. When Muzaffar was informed of his arrival there, he led a large force to attack him, and Kutbu-d din, having fought in an unsoldier-like way, was defeated, and had to take refuge in the fort of Baroda. Many of his men and officers joined Muzaffar.