Tarikh-i Hindi 16: Twentieth Year of the Reign.
Tarikh-i Hindi, of Rustam 'Ali (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 16
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Twentieth Year of the Reign.
16.1
In the commencement of this year 8000 horse of the Rathor Rajputs, among whom were eighteen chiefs, the relatives of Raja Dhankal Singh, assembled on some pretence in the city of Sambhar. Bharat Singh, their leader, by whose hands Shaikh Illahyar Khan of Bilgram had been slain in the battle which was fought between Sarbuland Khan and Dhankal Singh, openly drank wine on a Friday in the Masjid of Sambhar, and prohibited the muazzin from calling to prayer. It happened that Hayatu-llah Khan, son of Jamalu-llah Khan, the governor of the place, with a few men, went to them in the evening. After some verbal altercation, the matter ended in a regular fight. That lion of the field of battle thrust Bharat Singh into the well of destruction with a stroke of his lance. The market of the angel of death was thronged through the use of rockets, arrows, and lances. Eighteen chiefs of the opponents were slain, and the rest fled away. Three followers of the Khan, who were Saiyids of Narnaul, obtained the degree of martyrdom, and were interred near the tomb of Saiyid Husain Khan.
16.2
During this year I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, with 50,000 horse and many elephants and guns, moved towards Barha, the native place of the Saiyids, and sent 'Azimu-llah Khan Zahiru-d daula with a large army to precede him. 'Azimu-llah Khan, for fear of his life, placed several guns around him in the shape of a triangle. Saifu-d din 'Ali Khan, brother of Kutbu-l Mulk and Husain 'Ali Khan, who was the chief of Barha, with three hundred horse, boldly attacked that miserable body. When the Mughals fired their guns, a great number of the Saiyids were killed; but Saifu-d din 'Ali Khan, with a few other Saiyids, to avenge their death, drew out their swords, and repulsed the Mughals to the distance of three miles. Suddenly the wanderer of the forest of wretchedness and misfortune, by name 'Ali Muhammad, a Rohilla, at the direction of I'timadu-d daula, and with the hope of preferment, came from the rear with 20,000 Rohillas, and fell upon the Saiyids. Thus he sacrificed the good of the next world to the desires of this earth, and became the cause of victory to the Turanis. 'Azimu-llah Khan, having buried the Saiyids, returned to Dehli laden with immense plunder, and accompanied by I'timadu-d daula. It was just punishment of this crime of persecuting the Saiyids, that soon after they suffered the calamities occasioned by Nadir Shah.
16.3
In this year Nizamu-l Mulk, on the condition of subduing the enemy, was appointed governor of Agra and Malwa. Proceeding through Bundelkhand, he reached the latter province, and a battle was fought with the enemy near the town of Bhopal, founded by Dost Muhammad Khan, whose eldest son, Yar Muhammad Khan, is still ruling over it with wisdom and equity. As the crooked mind of Nizamu-l Mulk was bent towards such things as were contrary to what his name imports, viz. administration, he allowed disturbances to break out in the country, and with his eyes open suffered for one or two days grain to be sold in his camp one sir for a rupee. On account of the tumults and quarrels raised by him, many people were hastened to their graves with the stroke of starvation, and many Musulmans, by the tricks of that unprincipled man, fell into the hands of the enemy, and met with their destruction. At last, on being informed of this, Muhammad Shah sent orders appointing Baji Rao to the governorship of Malwa. Nizamu-l Mulk, reproached by the people, and deceived by the enemy, returned to the capital. The Mahrattas laid siege to the fort of Kota; and the Maharao Raja fled away in alarm, and took refuge in Gagrun, which is one of the strongest forts in that part of the country. The inhabitants of Kota, to preserve their honour, opposed the ravagers and saved the city.
16.4
At last peace was declared, and the invader, having taken a contribution of several lacs of rupees, went towards Ahirwárá, the country of the tribe of Ahirs. He overran this district, and besieged the fort of Korwai, near the town of Sironj, which was the residence of 'Izzat Khan, son of Diler Khan Afghan. 'Izzat Khan fought very bravely for two months, when peace was made. During the siege of Korwai, the compiler of this work went to the enemy's camp. On seeing the fort encircled like the stone of a ring by the army which resembled swarms of ants and locusts, the safety of those who were in it appeared impossible; but the result deceived expectation. When Nizamu-l Mulk, with all the pomp and circumstance attaching to his high station, accompanied the Mahrattas against the fort of Bhopal, Yar Muhammad Khán, ruler of the place, who was celebrated for his courage, by dint of great bravery and determination, expelled Nizamu-l Mulk out of his possessions without sustaining any injury from the insurgents. Many nobles and other respectable people, on account of the ravage and desolation committed in the Emperor's dominions by the enemy, found protection in this territory, and lived in peace and tranquillity under the Khan's just rule.
16.5
The compiler of this book, on hearing the praises of the Khan, left the enemy's camp at Sironj, and came to the city of Bhopal, which is full of nobles and excellent people from all parts of the country. In fact, from the day he had left Shah-Jahanabad, and travelled through the country of idolatry, it was here only that he found Islam to be predominant.
16.6
It is said that Bhopal was founded in the time of Rája Bhoj. Afterwards by some accident it was ruined and reduced to only a small village on the borders of the lake, which in length and depth is the greatest of all the lakes in this country. When, by a lucky accident, Dost Muhammad Khan, son of Nur Muhammad Khan Afghan, of the tribe of Warakzai Mirzai Khail, came from Roh to the country of Hindustan, he met at Jalalabad his relatives, who were the descendants of the same ancestors. When Almighty God wishes to raise one of his creatures to some great rank in this world or the next, He first throws him into difficulties and troubles, and after that exalts his dignity in order that he may estimate its true merits. And so it happened that a misunderstanding arose between the brothers, and that Khan of noble disposition, alone, and without any means of subsistence, left Jalalabad, and went to the province of Malwa. By his judicious plans and great exertions, he took possession of several parts of this province, and at a most auspicious moment, in the fifth year of Muhammad Shah's reign, corresponding to A.H. 1135 (1723 A.D.), laid the foundation of the city of Bhopal. Under his just rule the lion and goat drank water at the same pool. He was so generous that even Hatim would envy him. A great number of saints always dined with him.
16.7
When the fame of his virtues reached the ear of the ministers of the Emperor's court, he was favoured by His Majesty, through Saiyid Husain 'Ali Khan, with a mansab, tuman, togh, kettle-drums, naubat, as well as a title. But he died. After this event the eldest son of the noble Khan, who was with Nizamu-l Mulk in the province of the Dakhin, arrived in this territory, and at a most auspicious time sat upon the masnad, administered justice, subjugated a great number of the refractory chiefs, and by his wise measures the country from the banks of the Nerbadda to the vicinity of the town of Sironj, was brought under his power. Notwithstanding that the enemy, having gained great dominion, infested the country from Sattaragarh to the suburbs of Dehli, yet under the good management of this equitable chief the people of his territory were perfectly secure from the ravages of the tyrants. For his surpassing courage and wise administration of the country he received great favours from the throne, and was honoured with the rank of 5000 personal and 5000 horse, together with the insignia of Mahi and Maratib.