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Sa'ádat-i Jáwed, of Harnám Singh (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)

Translation of Tarikh-i saʿadat-i jawid (Tārīkh-i saʿādat-i jāwīd)

Language
English
Date
1877 CE
Translators
Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson
Extent
15 passages, 4,635 words
Text
complete digital text
Source
archive.org · The History of India, as told by its own Historians. The Muhammadan Period. The posthumous papers of Sir H.… · Public domain (published before 1930)

Contents

Text

1

He was an inhabitant of Tun, and his name was Mirza Rafi'. His father, Muhammad Afzal Khan, was one of the nobles of the Emperor Muhammad Aurangzeb. Mirza Rafi', who was the diwan of Prince 'Azimu-s Shan, displayed great bravery in the battle with A'zam Shah, and obtained the title of Mumtazu-l Mulk Sarbuland Khan. In the time of Mu'izzu-d din Jahandar Shah, when Prince 'Azimu-s Shan was slain, Sarbuland Khan, disregarding his obligations, forsook Farrukh Siyar, son of 'Azimu-s Shan, and joined Mu'izzu-d din. He was deputed to Gujarat on the part of Asad Khan, the minister; and through the recommendations of Kutbu-l Mulk Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan, Farrukh Siyar, after his accession, pardoned him for his past conduct, and conferred on him the Governorship of Oudh and Allahabad.
After some time he became Governor of the province of Bihar. He then obtained the rank of seven thousand, as well as a jagir in the suba of Lahore, and the office of subadar of Kabul. In the time of Muhammad Shah Badshah, he was again made Governor of Gujarat, and when he was removed from that office, he fought a desperate battle with Raja Dhankal Singh Rathor, who had been appointed Governor in his place, and obtained victory over him. When he came to Agra, the displeasure of the Emperor was evinced by prohibiting him from attending Court for one thousand days. When that period had elapsed, he was admitted to an audience by Muhammad Shah, and was raised to the Governorship of Allahabad. At the time of the invasion of Nadir Shah, he came to Court. Nadir Shah entrusted him with the duty of collecting the amercement fixed upon the people of Dehli. He departed to the next world in 1153 A.H. He was a favourite of the Emperor, and always victorious in battle. He was generous, polite, merciful and humane. He always drank the water of the Ganges, and during his governorship of Gujarat and Kabul, large sums were laid out in carrying it to those provinces. It was said by Mansur Ram, his treasurer, that fifty-six krors of rupees in cash, independent of personal allowance, had passed through his hands for the payment of the Nawab's troops, and other necessary expenses of the different departments. His power may be readily conjectured from this single statement.

Nawab Burhanu-l Mulk's contest with Raja Bhagwant Khichar.

2.1

Raja Bhagwant Khichar, Zamindar of Ghazipur, in the district of Kora, was the chief of the insurgents of that time. He was a source of constant trouble to Jan-nisar Khan, who had married the sister of Kamru-d din Khan, the minister, and who had charge of the district of Kora. On one occasion, when Nawab Sarbuland Khan, the Governor of Allahabad, came to Kora, Jan-nisar Khan asked him for his aid in destroying Bhagwant. Sarbuland Khan said that it would take much time to subdue Bhagwant, and he had no money to pay the army; but that, if Jan-nisar Khan could provide him with this necessary, he would punish Bhagwant. Jan-nisar Khan refused, and Sarbuland Khan returned to Allahabad. Bhagwant, who was watching the opportunity of rising against Jan-nisar Khan, allowed but a short time to elapse, before he suddenly fell upon him, and having put him to death, plundered his camp, and took the ladies of his household, and distributed them between himself and his relatives. Kamru-d din Khan, the minister, was furious at this intelligence, and, aided by all the nobles of Dehli, he marched against Bhagwant. The rebel secured himself within the fort of Ghazipur, and though the minister exerted every effort against him, they all proved ineffectual. In the end, he left Nawab Muhammad Khan Bangash, of Farrukhabad, to prosecute the siege, and himself returned to Dehli. Muhammad Khan adjusted the matter by receiving a contribution, and then returned to Farrukhabad.

2.2

At this Bhagwant, being more emboldened than ever, raised the head of arrogance to the heavens, and took possession of Kora. When the charge of that district was conferred by His Majesty on Burhanu-l Mulk, he went there with a formidable army. Bhagwant, with a body of three thousand horse, sallied from the fort of Ghazipur, and suddenly appeared before the army of the Nawab on its arrival, upon which occasion many of his followers were killed by the Nawab's artillery. Bhagwant, avoiding the fire of the guns, fell upon the advanced division of the army, which was headed by Abu Turab Khan. This officer was slain, and Bhagwant then attacked the Nawab's body-guard. Mir Khudayar Khan, with 6000 horse, advanced to oppose him, and was defeated after a severe action. The Nawab himself thought it necessary to move to his support, and a close conflict ensued. Shaikh 'Abdu-llah of Ghazipur, Shaikh Ruhu-l Amin Khan of Bilgram, Durjan Singh chaudhari of Kora, Dilawar Khan, 'Azmat Khan and other Afghans, attacked and surrounded Bhagwant, who affected to despise his enemy, but was slain by the hands of Durjan Singh chaudhari. Nawab Burhanu-l Mulk obtained the victory, and the head of Bhagwant was sent to Dehli.

2.3

Be it known that heaps of paper would have to be written were I to give an account of the battles which the deceased Nawab fought, or were I to attempt to describe the acts of his generosity, patronage, and liberality. The Almighty God, by virtue of the excellent character of that great noble, whose rank was as high as the heavens, and who possessed the qualities of Rizwan the doorkeeper of Paradise, has opened the gates of prosperity to his descendants even to this very time. May the holy God preserve the foundation of the wealth, dignity and authority of this house to eternity, and give victory to its well-wishers; and may the wicked enemies of his family, from which the whole of Hindustan is benefited, be confounded and punished! May the desolated world be filled by his noble descendants to the day of resurrection! An account of the death of Nawab Burhanu-l Mulk, which happened at the time of the invasion of Nadir Shah, by a disease in his legs, has been given above. After his death it was found by his accounts that his army had received two krors of rupees in advance. Nawab Safdar Jang, his son-in-law and successor, expunged that enormous sum, and resigned all claim to it. An account of Nawab Safdar Jang, and of his accession to the post of Wazarat in the time of Ahmad Shah, son of Muhammad Shah, will be given hereafter.

3

His ancestors have been from ancient times the Rajas of Amber. Amongst them was Raja Bhara Mal, whose son was Raja Bhagwan Das, and Raja Man Singh was the eldest son of that Raja. These, in the time of the Emperor Akbar, were raised to the dignity of Amiru-l umara or generals of the army. With a view to strengthening the foundation of his government, Akbar connected himself by marriage with this family. They rendered valuable services and performed great exploits, which are narrated in the histories of Hindustan. Maharaja Jai Singh was very generous, kind, wise and brave. After his death, thirty krors of rupees were reckoned to have been given by him in charity and rewards. He performed the sacrifice of a horse according to the well-known Hindu custom.
The city of Jainagar is a monument of his greatness. After his death, Muhammad Shah granted a khil'at to his son Raja Isri Singh, confirming him in his hereditary dominions. This Prince, in the battle fought against Ahmad Shah Durrani, fled from Sirhind, and went to his country as has been before related. The descendants of Raja Jai Singh Sawai are still in possession of their hereditary dominions, and maintain great state. As the lamp of Dehli has been long since extinguished, and the Dakhinis (Mahrattas) have taken possession of most of the cities of Hindustan, and the Rajas of Joudhpur, Udipur and other Chiefs of Marwar have become weak, and pass their days as if they were nights; so also the Rajas of Jainagar pay a fixed annual tribute to the Dakhinis and enjoy a state of peace.

Nawab Zakariya Khan, son of Nawab 'Abdu-s Samad Khan.

4.1

Zakariya Khan was for many years Governor of Lahore. He had married the daughter of Kamru-d din Khan. He was a just, harmless and honourable nobleman, and as he found the people of Lahore to be similarly disposed, their company was very agreeable to him. In those days the bigoted Mullas of Lahore used to dispute with the Hindus on religious points, and persecuted them; but the Khan always tried to adjust their quarrels amicably. A Mughal was enamoured of the wife of a Khattri, and cast a longing look upon her; but the modest woman refused to receive his advances. The Mughal hit upon the expedient of making an accomplice of the wife of the washerman whom she employed, and gave her a large sum of money. The washerman's wife wrapped up a costly veil and trowsers, such as are generally worn by a Muhammadan bride, in the other clothes belonging to the Khattri's wife, and took them to her in the evening. About the same time, the Mughal celebrated in his own house his nuptials with a slave-girl who lived with him, in the presence of some Muhammadans of his neighbourhood; and, as is done on the occasion of marriages, sweetmeats, etc., were sent in large quantities to the neighbours and friends. The next day, with a number of wicked characters, he went to the house of the Khattri, and declared, that during the night, the Khattri's wife had come to his house of her own free will, and having embraced the Muhammadan faith, had been married to him.

4.2

The relatives of the woman were much surprised at this, and asked her what the truth was. She said that she had never seen the Mughal, who asserted, by way of proof, that the marriage clothes which she had worn last night must be in the house; and when they searched, true enough, there was found a suit of such apparel as is worn, according to Muhammadan custom, at the time of marriage. Great were the consternation and grief of her relatives, and the poor woman in her shame resolved to die. At last, the matter was brought before the Khan, and about a hundred Muhammadans of the neighbourhood of the Mughal, who had eaten the sweetmeats, declared that on the previous night the Mughal had in reality celebrated his nuptials. The Kazi of Lahore decreed that a Hindu woman, who had espoused the Muhammadan faith, and had entered into marriage with a Muhammadan, could not be allowed to apostatize again. The Khan was much surprised, and deferred his decision to the next day. In the night-time, he disguised himself in the habit of a fakir, and first went to the house of the woman. There he saw some other fakirs sitting in a corner, conversing with each other in this wise. "Friends, we have observed this woman for a long time, and have never found her conduct other than modest and continent. How could it be that she went to the Mughal and was married to him? God knows what deception has been practised."

4.3

The Khan, having heard this, went to the quarter in which the Mughal was residing, and there heard some people saying, "This Mughal is a fornicator, liar, and impostor. We never saw the wife of the Khattri coming to his house; how then was she married to him?" The Khan returned to his house, and the next morning, having called the washerman's wife, put her to torture, when she confessed that the Mughal had given her money to place that bridal apparel amongst the woman's clothes. The Khan put both the Mughal and the washerman's wife to death. Many stories like this of the justice of the said Khan were related in Lahore. May God forgive him for his sins! Lala Lakhpat Rai and Jaspat Rai, both Khattris of Lahore, were secretaries and counsellors of Zakariya Khan, and entrusted with the conduct of all his affairs. Although they both had received the title of Raja, yet they did not themselves assume that appellation. When Nadir Shah, after his plunder of Dehli, returned to his native country, he ordered that all the people of Lahore should be taken away prisoners. Lala Lakhpat Rai made him a present of three lacs of rupees, which were accepted; and having thus caused the freedom of about five hundred thousand people, male and female, of the Hindu and Muhammadan persuasions, he left a good name behind him in this world.

5

Raja Majlis Rai, a Sarsuti Brahmin, inhabitant of Lahore, was diwan of Kamru-d din Khan, the minister. It is said that although he was the head of the minister's office, yet he could not write a letter. His clerks used to compose all his official records. One day, Kamru-d din Khan ordered the Raja to write in his presence, and having seen bad writing, said, "Raja Majlis Rai, how could you get the Wazarat of Hindustan with this elegant hand?" He replied, "My master, good luck does not require either knowledge or art, for it is said, 'Fortune equal to a barleycorn is better than a whole load of science.'" Raja Majlis Rai was very generous and a great friend of the needy. During the winter he gave quilts to the fakirs who wandered about the lanes and streets of Dehli; and from his dispensary all kinds of medicines were given to the poor patients.
Nadir Shah seized Majlis Rai, with a view to discover the treasures of Kamru-d din Khan, and in his own presence, asked him where they were. He replied, "O King of Kings! the minister is very luxurious and a great drunkard; what he gets he consumes, and lays by nothing." Nadir Shah, being angry, menaced him with punishment. Majlis Rai then presented him, from his own stores, with a kror of rupees in cash, jewels and other property, and said that it was all procured from the treasure of the minister. Nadir Shah, at the instigation of some of the nobles of Hindustan, who acted according to the saying that people of the same profession hate each other, put Raja Majlis Rai to the torture, and cut off one of his ears. Although the whole treasure of the minister was in his possession, yet he did not discover it to any man. He took the Emperor's soldiers with him to his house, and having stabbed a dagger into his belly, departed this world. Nadir Shah was very sorry on hearing of the intelligence, and remarked that he was a rare instance of a grateful Hindu. He then ordered the Raja's servants to be punished. In all the city of Dehli exclamations arose in praise and admiration of the departed soul of Majlis Rai. His eldest son, Raja Khushhal Rai, was superintendent of the bath and private chapel, an office which generally belongs to the prime minister.

6

In these days, Hurmat Khan Rohilla, son of Hafiz Rahmat Khan, having collected a force of about 20,000 vagabonds and Afghans, crossed the Ganges at Anupshahr. He laid siege to the fort of Pilibhit, which was in possession of the minister's adherents, and began to spread devastation throughout the country. He determined that when the army of the minister should come against him, he would fly to the forests at the foot of the Kumaun hills. Maharaja Surat Singh sent the father of the writer of these pages, Rai Gurdas, against Hurmat Khan, who, on hearing that the army of the minister was approaching, abandoned the siege of Pilibhit, and pitched his camp on the borders of the jungle. Rai Gurdas Singh pursued and came up to his encampment, upon which Hurmat Khan set his army in array, and, after a very severe engagement, was defeated and fled, leaving some of his men in ambush in a ravine. Rai Gurdas Singh, being an experienced man, obtained intelligence of the ambuscade, and with a body of his gallant companions in arms went to the place. The scheme of the Afghans being thus disconcerted, they fled away. About two thousand of them were killed and wounded, and victory declared in favour of the Nawab Wazir. Hurmat Khan took refuge in the Kumaun hills, and Rai Gurdas Singh sacked the villages which were below the hills, and within the territory of the Raja of Kumaun. He also determined to invade him in the hills, but the Raja sent his ambassadors, and sued for peace. Hurmat Khan fled beyond the Kumaun jurisdiction, and sought protection under some other hill chiefs. In the mean time a letter was received from Nawab Asafu-d daula, of which the following is a copy:
"May the sincere and faithful Rai Gurdas Singh be protected from evil! It has been represented by the intelligencers, that having proceeded with the army placed under you against Hurmat Khan Rohilla, you have given him a complete defeat. This is considered a most valuable service on your part. You should now take a written engagement from the Raja of Kumaun to the effect that he will never give protection to the enemies of this State within his dominions, and having done this, you should return from that country. You should consider these orders imperative, and act according to them."
In short, the father of the writer of this book took a definite agreement from the Raja of Kumaun to this effect, and returned. During these same days Maharaja Surat Singh was removed from the governorship of Bareilly, which was bestowed upon other officials.

7

A person named Beni, who was first employed by Raja Maha Narain as the carrier of his water-vessel, but latterly was employed by him on certain occasions as a medium of communication with the Nawab, actuated by his bad disposition, began to complain of the conduct of his master before the Nawab. The Nawab at first appointed him to the charge of certain districts, but by degrees the star of his fortune rose to the height of the fulfilment of his desire. He became deputy of the Nawab, obtained the title of Raja Beni Bahadur, and was exalted with the grant of the insignia of the Mahi-maratib, Naubat-khana, and Roshan-chauki. This is the same Beni Bahadur who, in the contests with the English, acted very treacherously, and combined with them. The Nawab, after he was established in his kingdom, deprived him of sight. "I do not expect that you, who have sown barley, will reap wheat at harvest."
In short, from such conduct as has been before mentioned, the Nawab was very angry with Raja Maha Narain, and kept him for some time under surveillance. He was at last set free through the intercession of the great and most respected mother of Nawab Waziru-l Mamalik Shuja'u-d daula. The most extraordinary part of it was this, that during all the time Raja Maha Narain suffered this severe treatment, the Nawab never gave any annoyance to his father, Raja Ram Narain, or his uncle, Raja Partap Narain, who were both living.
When, in 1186 A.H. (1772 A.D.), the province of Kanauj, and the country up to the boundary of Anupshahr, was wrested from the possession of the Dakhinis by the Nawab, Raja Maha Narain was appointed governor of it. At the same time, Rai Gurdas Singh, the author's father, according to the Nawab's orders, having resigned his office as deputy in the district of Kora, under Mirza Haidar Beg Khan, was employed in the settlement of the new acquisition. During the time that he was so employed, Mukhtaru-d daula, being disgusted with Raja Maha Narain, obtained Nawab Asafu-d daula's orders to confiscate his jagir.

8

He was a Suksaina Kayath by caste, and an inhabitant of the district of Etawa. In the commencement of his career he served Nawab Burhanu-l Mulk as a writer; but Nawab Safdar Jang gave him the title of Raja, and appointed him his deputy and commander-in-chief, in which capacity he punished the insurgents of the province severely. Although the Nawab Wazir resided at Dehli for several years, yet, through the good management of the Maharaja, no disturbance ever arose in the country under his rule. At the time when Muhammad Shah Badshah went against 'Ali Muhammad Khan, and besieged the fort of Bangash, he could not take it, though it was made only of mud, and he was accompanied by all the nobles of his Court. But when, according to the orders of the Nawab Wazir, the Maharaja reached the place, he demolished the wall of the fort in one day with the fire of his heavy artillery, and having enhanced his reputation, was received with distinction by his master. It has been above mentioned that Maharaja Nuwul Rai was slain after a bold resistance in the battle with Ahmad Khan Bangash.

9

Raja Khushhal Rai was the son of Maharaja Nuwul Rai. Although he obtained no distinguished employment under Nawab Wazir Shuja'u-d daula, yet Nawab Asafu-d daula, in consideration of the services of his ancestors, raised him to the office of Paymaster, and gave him charge of Allahabad. He lived till his death in a state of affluence and comfort.

10

Faizu-llah Khan Rohilla, whom Nawab Shuja'u-d daula, at the conquest of Bareilly, had placed in possession of the districts of Rampur and other mahals yielding a revenue of thirteen lacs of rupees, maintained as long as he lived great dignity and pomp, and having taken great pains to improve his country, he realized double the amount of revenue from it.
Muhammad 'Ali Khan, his eldest son, sat upon the masnad with the sanction of Nawab Asafu-d daula. But Najju Khan, 'Umar Khan, and his son Sarbuland Khan, together with other Rohilla chiefs, attempted to remove Muhammad 'Ali Khan and instigated his younger brother, Ghulam Muhammad Khan, to usurp the masnad. Muhammad 'Ali Khan was an intimate friend of Nawab Asafu-d daula, and had received from him much kindness, so the Nawab wrote to Ghulam Muhammad Khan to the effect that it was of no great consequence that he had usurped the masnad, but that, as he had taken Muhammad 'Ali Khan prisoner, he should send him to Lucknow, where some employment might be given to him, which would induce him to abstain from annoying the usurper. Ghulam Muhammad Khan, apprehensive that Muhammad 'Ali Khan's departure would occasion some disturbance, with the advice of Najju Khan and 'Umar Khan, put him to death in prison.
The Nawab, thirsting for the blood of Ghulam Muhammad Khan, marched from Lucknow with a powerful army of his own, aided by his English allies. Ghulam Muhammad, having collected eighty thousand Rohillas and Afghans, raised the standard of revolt, and advanced from Rampur with the intention of plundering the city of Bareilly, which belonged to the Nawab. In those days Rai Gurdas Singh had charge of Bareilly in conjunction with Sambhu Nath. Depending upon the good fortune of the Nawab, he prepared to defend the city, and the Afghans were not able to plunder it. Before the arrival of the Nawab, the army of the English had reached Bareilly, and Ghulam Muhammad, who had encamped at five kos from the city, made a vigorous attack on the English battalions, and fought most desperately. But the English, who in battle are very Rustams and Isfandiyars, made a good stand, and having confounded the Afghans with the shot of their guns, gave them a complete defeat. Najju Khan and Sarbuland Khan were slain, and Ghulam Muhammad Khán fled towards the forests under the Kuradun hills. The compiler of this book was with his father in this battle. The victorious army encamped for two months near the forest to chastise the Rohillas, and Ghulam Muhammad was obliged to surrender. With the advice of the English he was sent prisoner to Calcutta. It is said that he obtained leave to go to Mecca; but where he went to afterwards is not known. In short, Nawab Ásafu-d daula, proceeding through Rámpur, entered the city of Bareilly in triumph. He gave some maháls of the district of Rampur, the revenue of which amounted to about ten lacs of rupees, as jágírs to the other sons and descendants of Faizu-llah Khan; the rest of the territory he confiscated, and then returned to Lucknow.
At the present time Bareilly and other places have been ceded to the English, and although the jágírs of the descendants of Faizu-llah Khán are still maintained, yet the English keep their eyes upon this tribe of Afghans, and in their wisdom deal with them with great circumspection and prudence, as is essential in politics.

11

The impetuous army of the English had the greatest difficulty in taking the fort of Díg belonging to Ranjít Singh, and then laid siege to that of Bhartpur. Jaswant Rao Holkar ventured to plunder the country round the English army, and sent an officer of his, by name Amír Khan, with a body of twenty thousand horse, towards Hardwar. Amír Khan crossed the Ganges, and pillaged the country up to Murádábád and Sambhal. The English officers at Bareilly, with the little force they had with them, prepared to repel him. Some of the Afghan officers who had accompanied Amír Khan made a conspiracy against him. As he could not stand his ground, he fled, and having joined the camp of Jaswant Rao Holkar at Bhartpur, a great part of his army dispersed.
War raged for seven months between the English on one part and Raja Ranjit Singh and Jaswant Rao Holkar on the other, and more than fifteen thousand men were killed on both sides. The daily conflicts before Bhartpur form a narrative which is worth hearing, and on both sides such courage was shown as threw the chivalric stories of the ancients into oblivion. "Such battles nobody had seen in the world, nor the wisest men of the whole earth had heard of."
At last the English, according to the orders of their Governor General at Calcutta, pardoned Ranjit Singh for his faults, and gave him back the fort of Dig. They spent the rainy season at Mathura. Jaswant Singh Holkar fled to Lahore, and sought an asylum with Ranjit Singh, its ruler.
In 1220 A.H. (1805 A.D.), the brave General, Lord Lake, marched towards Lahore, and having forded the Sutlej, pitched his tents on this side of the Biyah, twenty kos east of Lahore. Great alarm spread among the people of the Panjab. Without delay the Sikh chiefs around Lahore, in order to save their lives and property, joined the English army, and were received with favour. Consequently, Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Lahore, sent a mission of experienced men to express his submission, and ascertain the pleasure of the British Government. Through great humility and flattery, which politicians are enjoined to observe, he retained possession of his dominions. Moreover, it was through his mediation that peace was concluded between the English and Jaswant Rao Holkar.
The British Government granted some districts of the Dakhin, etc., part of Hindustan, to Jaswant Rao, and relieved the world from ravage and oppression. They also allotted some districts of the Dakhin and Malwa, and a portion of Hindustan, together with the fort of Gwalior, to Maharaja Daulat Rao Sindhia, and for a long time secured the people from unjust demands. At present, the city of Akbarabad, together with some districts of the province of Dehli, and the whole territory of Bundelkhand, is in their possession. The chiefs also of the Panjab and of the country bordering on the hills acknowledge submission to this powerful body. The administration of the British Government differs in no respect from that of the great Nawab Wazir, who is endowed with the grandeur of the Pleiades.