Bayan-i waqiʿ 4: Murder of Nawab Bahadur. Battle between Nawab Safdar Jang and the nobles of Ahmad Shah. Destruction and plunder of the old city of Dehli.
Bayan-i Waki', of Khwaja 'Abdu-l Karim Khan (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 4
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Murder of Nawab Bahadur. Battle between Nawab Safdar Jang and the nobles of Ahmad Shah. Destruction and plunder of the old city of Dehli.
4.1
Jawed Khan Nawab Bahadur, the eunuch, was desirous of getting into his own hands, and without a partner, the whole direction of the Government of the country, with the assistance of Nawab Kudsiya, mother of the Emperor. The Nawab Safdar Jang Wazir-i 'azam also was desirous of doing the same thing for himself. So both these men became enemies to one another, and each waited for an opportunity of preventing the other from being a sharer in the Government. Nawab Safdar Jang was the first to begin, and called into the city Suraj Mal Jat, openly on the pretence of consulting him about taking and setting in order the capital of the Empire, but secretly and really with the object, that if the Emperor's men and followers should begin to raise a disturbance, they both together might be able to extinguish the flame of opposition.
4.2
They sent a message to the Nawab Bahadur to this effect, that without him they could not deliberate on the affairs of the Empire. So, on the 27th day of the month Shawwal, in the year 1165 A.H. (28th August, 1752 A.D.), he repaired to the house of the Waziru-l Mulk, where they killed him in a private closet, and threw his body into the river. The followers of the wazir said that his death in this way was the reason why the slaughter and plunder was not so bad as it would otherwise have been; because, in the event of a battle and contest taking place, the royal fort, which was his dwelling-house, and the dwelling-houses of the citizens, would have been sacked, and very many men on both sides would have been killed. After this event, Nawab Kudsiya, who had been patron of Nawab Bahadur, exhibited her displeasure. But the Wazir-i 'azam sent to say that in this matter he was not to blame, because the physician, Hakim Shaki Khan, had brought a verbal message from the Emperor to the effect that the best thing that could be done was to kill and get rid of Jawed Khan. He had reprimanded the physician, and made Hakim Akmal Khan his physician in his room. During the month Jumada-s sani, in the year 1166, there was a disagreement between the wazir and the Emperor, and the enemies of the wazir apprised the Emperor in many ways that it was Safdar Jang's intention to seat on the throne Buland-akhtar, younger brother of Muhammad Shah, who was of the same sect with himself, viz. a Shi'a.
4.3
The Emperor accordingly commanded that the wazir should be deposed from his office of commandant of artillery. This measure he did not approve of, and asked for leave to go towards Oudh, to put the country in order. The Emperor and the enemies of the wazir looked upon this as an unexpected piece of good fortune and a secret victory, so they forthwith sent him a khil'at and leave to depart. After delaying and lingering, he determined that it was not advisable to go to the province, and halted in the city, but the Emperor had laid this injunction on him, that he should go to his own province, viz. Oudh. When the quarrel between the parties became known, the Nawab Wazir, from fear lest the Turani chiefs, along with the Emperor and common people, should attack him, left the city with all his property and baggage, and halted for some days in or near the garden of Isma'il Khan and the Tal-katora and Khizrabad. This delay and waiting was planned in order that Suraj Mal Jat might arrive. When he came, he urged the Emperor to send 'Imadu-l Mulk (Ghaziu-d din) and Intizamu-d daula to him, and to tell Nawab Kudsiya to come out of the fort and take up her abode in the house of Ja'far Khan; because it was well known to Nawab Safdar Jang that Intizamu-d daula had been the cause of the firing of muskets on the day of the 'I'd, and Nawab Kudsiya, in consequence of the murder of Nawab Bahadur, had become the enemy of his family.
4.4
The cause of Safdar Jang's displeasure with 'Imadu-l Mulk Mir Bakhshi was this, that at the death of his father, Nawab Ghazio-d din Khan deceased, Safdar Jang had influenced the Emperor, and had freed from confiscation the house and land of 'Imadu-d Mulk, and had procured for him the office of Mir Bakhshi, notwithstanding his youth. Besides, he had adopted him as his son, and was his friend in all matters ; but for all that he would not assist his patron. The short of the matter is that the Emperor sent this answer, " You obtained leave to go from this province and went ; and now, for the sake of obtaining assistance from Suraj Mai Jat, you vex me in this way." At this crisis, the Jat men began to injure and plunder the old city. Ahmad Shah sent for Nawab Zu-l fikar, who for a long time had been out of office, and living in idleness at home. He had him conducted to his presence with all honour, with the intention, that if the wazir should rebel, he would appoint him to the office. The next day Nawab Safdar Jang endeavoured to work upon the cupidity of the above-mentioned man, by holding out this hope to him, that if he would come over to him, he would confer upon him the office of Mir Bakhshi, from which 'Imadu-l Mulk had been deposed.
4.5
When all, small and great, were of opinion that Safdar Jang would be victorious, Zu-l fikar Jang asked the Emperor for leave of absence. On pretence of going to pay a visit to the tomb of the saint Shah Mardan, he went and joined the wazir's army, and engaged in robbing and plundering the old city. Accordingly Ahmad Shah Bahadur, acting upon the opinion of his mother and the nobles, bestowed the office of commandant of artillery upon Nawab Samsamu-d daula, son of the late Khan-dauran ; and the khil'at of the wazirship upon the Nawab Intizamu-d daula, son of Kamru-d din Khan the late wazir. Nawab Safdar Jang, on hearing this, was struck with consternation, and took a young eunuch, who had beautiful features and a good figure, and was about thirteen years of age, who had been lately purchased by Nawab Shuja'u-d daula, and calling him Akbar Shah, placed him on the throne, and constituted himself Wazir. Zu-l fikar Jang he made Mir Bakhshi, and the other nobles he appointed to the different offices, both great and small. from the 6th of the month Rajab, in the year 1166 A.H. fighting and contests commenced in earnest. But how can one call it fighting, when on the side of Safdar Jang there were 50,000 horsemen, and the Emperor had only a small body of men, and they too, by reason of the strength of their enemies and the weakness of their own party, were terror-stricken? But I must relate the victory of the weakest, among my records of extraordinary incidents;
4.6
and the reason why these already half-conquered and almost unarmed men obtained the victory, and the others who considered themselves already conquerors were worsted, was apparently this, that Nawab Safdar Jang perceived, when he considered the state of the people of the old city, and the smallness of the army, and want of money, that they would of their own accord return to their allegiance; and so, whilst he was in fear and anxiety himself, he instilled fear into the minds of his chiefs, and did not consider it advisable to make an attack till late in the day, when Mahmud Khan of Kashmir, steward of Nawab 'Imadu-l Mulk, Hafiz Bakhtawar Khan, and the relations of the Nawab Kudsiya and others, having raised a large army, and called together the landholders from the district around, supported by their artillery, they took up their position so as to block up the entrance into the city. Accordingly the inhabitants of the city, with a view to obtaining protection for their families and property, and on account of their being of the same sect and kindred tribe with the Mughals, deserted from the army of the wazir in troops; and with the hope of obtaining presents, dresses of honour, and increase of pay, entered the service of Nawab 'Imadu-l Mulk. The troop of horse called the dagh-i sin, which Nawab Sa'adat Khan and Safdar Jang had left behind, he ('Imadu-l Mulk) kept in perfect order, and appointed Mahmud Khan to their command.
4.7
Notwithstanding this state of things, negociations for peace went on. But the Jat and Kazalbash soldiers reduced to ashes the old city and Wakilpur and other places; and the Nawab Wazir spread the report that they had gone to the Kashmir Gate. So the citizens were in a dilemma on both sides. Outside the city the Jat and Kazalbash soldiers were carrying on the attack; inside, the Emperor issued an order that the houses of those men who joined the Wazir should be seized. On this pretext wicked and ill-disposed men followed their own devices. The first thing that happened immediately on the Emperor's order being issued was that the houses of the sons of Mahmud Is'hak Khan deceased were plundered, because that from their houses balls and rockets fell by night upon the ramparts, and in this way a world of people were injured and wounded. As every one knew that he was the brother-in-law of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula, son of the wazir, who was with the Emperor, they all had left their families and property there, and were plundered. Some perished by the flames, and some were drowned in the river. The same thing happened to the house of the Khwaja Mahmud Basit, who was the spiritual guide of the wazir. His house was outside the city walls, and as he had received a message from the wazir to keep his mind at ease, he had not moved out of his place.
4.8
The Jat plunderers, who went by the name of Ramdal among the people of that part, attacked his house, and carried away the property of a number of men who had left their goods there; this became the source of very great affliction to the people. Considering the quantity of property that was collected near the Kashmir Gate, which was looked upon as a safe place, the inhabitants of that part may be said to have been the worst off. All, small and great, became involved in confusion, and began to utter complaints and lamentations; and the state of the people was like a wreck, for save in the presence of Him who hears the prayers of all in deep distress, they had no place of refuge. At this crisis Najib Khan Rohilla came with 10,000 horse and foot in answer to the Emperor's call, and on the 1st of the month above mentioned, viz. Sha'ban, he arrived in camp. Isma'il Khan of Kabul, who was Mir-shamshir to the Wazir, and had a battery in the house of Salabat Khan, made a mine under the tower of the city wall, which was adjoining the house of Kamru-d din Khan, where there was a battery of the Emperor's troops, and on the 3rd of Sha'ban they fired it. Notwithstanding that it did not produce such universal destruction as might be expected, yet many of the Emperor's followers, and the servants of 'Imadu-l Mulk who were assisting them, and who were at work trying to frustrate the enemy's design, were destroyed;
4.9
and a crowd of men were wounded and in part destroyed by the stones of the tower that were blown up in the direction of the burning battery. The wazir's troops made an attack, and the fruits of victory were nearly visible on their side, when Nawab 'Imadu-l Mulk Mir Bakhshi, Hafiz Bakhtawar Khan, Najib Khan and others, opposed them and behaved with great bravery, and a large number from both sides became food for the all-devouring swords. Najib Khan Rohilla was wounded by a ball, but both sides remained as they were, neither party gaining the victory. At night Isma'il Khan left his battery, and went out to the camp of Safdar Jang. This was a source of relief to the citizens, because, when the field of battle was close, the balls and rockets fell on every one like the blows of sudden misfortune. After his retreat, the Mir Bakhshi, Hafiz Bakhtawar Khan, and others advanced their batteries and got possession of the little fort of Firoz-shah, and another called the Old fort. After a few days spent in fighting, Nawab Safdar Jang abandoned his intention of keeping to the road by the river, on account of the strength of the enemy's intrenchments, and marched by way of the Tal-katora. In that direction he added fresh splendours to the city of the angel of death. The Mir Bakhshi and the others then hastily strengthened their intrenchments in that quarter. Some well-contested engagements took place, and Gosain, who was an officer of great bravery in Safdar Jang's army, was killed.
4.10
When Safdar Jang found that an entrance to the city on that side was impracticable, he returned by Khizrabad and the river. The same course of events ensued. Daily the bark of life of crowds of warriors of both sides floated down the river of death. After many battles and a great deal of fighting, the wazir came to the conclusion, that on account of their being so close to the city and fort, the enemy were enjoying rest. So he determined to retreat by a circuitous route, and thus draw the enemy into the plain, and engage him there. Accordingly he retreated gradually to a distance of twelve kos; and as he retreated, 'Imadu-l Mulk advanced his trenches. But he was prevented by the prayers and tears and complaints and persuasions and panic of the citizens from attacking his adversary in the plain and turning his flank. While matters stood thus, Saiyid Jamalu-d din Khan, who had been sent by Mu'inu-l Mulk, governor of the Panjab (who was the uncle and father-in-law of 'Imadu-l Mulk), arrived with 5000 horse, which added greatly to his strength. They were anxious to engage in battle, as men who are confronted by enemies, but Najib Khan Bahadur showed signs of disapproval.