Padshah-namah 4: Second Year of the Reign, 1038 A.H. (20th December, 1628 A.D.).
Bádsháh-náma, of 'Abdu-l Hamíd Lahorí (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 4
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Second Year of the Reign, 1038 A.H. (20th December, 1628 A.D.).
4.1
[Text, vol. i. p. 272.] The anniversary of the accession was on the 1st of Jumada-s sani. After the death of Jahangir, and before the accession of Shah Jahan, Khan-Jahan Lodi entered upon a dangerous and disloyal course. * * He formed an alliance with Nizamu-l Mulk, and gave up to him the Balaghat in the Dakhin, the revenue of which amounted to fifty-five krors of dams. But Sipahdar Khan, who held Ahmadnagar, bravely and loyally refused to surrender that city. Khan-Jahan summoned to his presence all the Imperial servants who were in those parts. He left a small force at Burhanpur under the command of Sikandar Dotani, who was related to him, while he himself marched with a large force to Mandu, with the intention of taking possession of Malwa, which province was then under the government of Mir 'Abdu-r Razzak, who had received the title of Muzaffar Khan. Shah Jahan proceeded from Ahmadabad by way of Ajmir to Agra, and there ascended the throne. * * The news of this event awakened Khan-Jahan and brought him to a sense of his folly and wickedness. Raja Gaj Singh, Raja Jai Singh, and other distinguished Rajputs who had accompanied him to Mandu, parted from him when they heard of Shah Jahan having arrived at Ajmir. Thereupon Khan-Jahan wrote a letter of contrition and obedience, in the hope of obtaining forgiveness. A royal farman was sent in answer, informing him that he was confirmed in the governorship of the Dakhin, and directing him to return at once to Burhanpur.
4.2
He then retired from Malwa to Burhanpur, and engaged in the duties of his office. But when it was reported to the Emperor that the country of Balaghat, which Khan-Jahan had given to Nizamu-l Mulk, still remained in his possession, and had not been recovered, the Emperor appointed Mahabat Khan to the governorship of the Dakhin. Khan-Jahan then returned to Court. The Emperor paid little heed to the reports and observations about his improper conduct, and for eight months passed no rebuke upon him. He still continued moody and discontented, and ready to listen to the incitements and suggestions of mischievous men. * * One night Lashkari, son of Mukhlis Khan, in a malicious, mischief-making spirit, told the son of Khan-Jahan that he and his father were to be made prisoners on the following day or the next. * * The son told his father, whose apprehensions were instantly aroused by this malicious report, and he kept close to his quarters with two thousand Afghan followers. His Majesty asked Yaminu-d daula Asaf Khan the reason why Khan-Jahan did not attend the darbar, and after inquiry had been made, it was ascertained that he had fears and suspicions, and he begged for a letter under the Emperor's signature, forgiving him all his offences, and relieving him from all his fears. * * The Emperor graciously acceded to his request, and sent him a kind letter under his own hand. He then came to Court and paid his respects.
4.3
But Fortune was aggrieved with him, and so his perverse temper prevented him from appreciating the Emperor's kindness. On the night of Safar 26, the men of Yaminu-d daula brought in the intelligence that Khan-Jahan meditated flight, and he sent to inform the Emperor. * * After the first watch of the night, Khan-Jahan, with his nephew Bahadur and other relations and adherents, began his flight. As soon as the Emperor was informed of it, he sent Khwaja Abu-l Hasan and * * in pursuit of the fugitive. Unmindful of the smallness of their own force and the numbers of the Afghans, they followed them and overtook them in the vicinity of Dholpur. The fugitives saw their road of escape was closed; for the waters of the Chambal were before them and the fire of the avenging sword behind. So they posted themselves in the rugged and difficult ground on the bank of the river, and, fearing to perish in the waters, they resolved upon battle. * * [After many were killed and wounded], Khan-Jahan, with his two sons and several followers, resolved to hazard the passage of the Chambal, although the water was running high. He and his followers, wounded and unwounded, in great peril and with great exertion, succeeded in crossing over, thus escaping from the fire of battle and the waters of the stream. Many horses and much baggage fell into the hands of the royal forces.
4.4
* * A party gathered to follow up the fugitives, but on reaching the bank of the river, it was found that it could not be crossed without boats, and an endeavour was made to collect some. Khwaja Abu-l Hasan came up when one pahar of the day remained, and after consultation it was resolved to stay there for the night, and rest the horses, which had made a long and fatiguing march. Boats were collected, and the whole force passed over before noon next day, and recommenced the chase. But the fugitives pressed forward with all haste, and threw themselves into the jungles of Jajhar Singh Bundela. When the traitor (Khan-Jahan) entered the territory of Jajhar Singh Bundela, that chieftain was absent in the Dakhin; but his eldest son Bikramajit was at home, and sent the rebel out of the territory by unfrequented roads. If Birkramajit had not thus favoured his escape, he would have been either taken prisoner or killed. He proceeded to Gondwana, and after staying there some time in disappointment and obscurity, he proceeded by way of Birar to the country of Burhan Nizamu-l Mulk.