Tarikh-i saʿadat-i jawid 2: Nawab Burhanu-l Mulk's contest with Raja Bhagwant Khichar.
Sa'ádat-i Jáwed, of Harnám Singh (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 2
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- English
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.