Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 18.1
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 18.1
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18.1.1
Account of a number of learned, or pious men, who lived in Aaly-verdy-qhun's Court, or in his dominions — Seradj-ed-doula commences his reign, by striping and confining his own aunt, Bibi Gahassicy — Cause of the war, which he declares against the Unglish — Calcutta taken by him — General discontent against Seradj-ed-doulah — Account of Shdocat-djung, his cousin, resumed — Strange character of that young Prince — Wise advice given him by the author — Dissensions between the two Princely cousins — Extravagant letter of Shdocat-djung's to Seradj-ed-doulah — He prepares for war — Is defeated, and slain — The author's distressful situation — Seradj-ed-doula's prosperity declines, on the famous Sabut-djung's (alias Colonel Clive's) coming to Bengal — Calcutta retaken — The Navvab surprised in his camp, close to Calcutta — Submits to a disgraceful peace — Informed of a conspiracy, he orders cannon to be planted against Mir-djaafer-qhan's palace — War between the English and French, in Bengal — The English object to Seradj-ed-doula's keeping a few of them in his service — Answer of Moosher Lass, (Monsieur Law) the French Commander, and his prediction — Mir-djaafer-qhan arms, and enters into a secret treaty with the English — The Navvab betrayed, and beaten, at the Battle of Palassy — Noble speech of his to his General — The latter proclaimed Navvab — Seradj-ed-doula flies to Radj-mahal — Is taken, and unworthily used — This sight affects every bystander;
18.1.2
and some officers want to rescue him — Mir-djaafer-qhan takes possession of the palace, where his son governs absolutely — Abominable character of that young man — Seradj-ed-doulah barbarously murdered, by his order — Affecting narrative of his death. The course of our history requires now that, before we part with Aaly-verdy-qhan, we give some account of the learned and pious men that lived in his Court and in his dominions; or who, coming on the report of his munificence, had just time to see him before his death. The foremost of them was the Moluvy, or Doctor Nassyr, a native of Sheh-pura, and a descendant of Shems-eddin, the Complaint-promoter, whose tomb and monument are in great repute in the province of Aud. The Moluvy's grandfather had quitted the place of his native country, to come and settle in that town, in the province of Bahar; and in his youth, that is, in the times of the Navvab Saistah-qhan the Forgiven, he had been a disciple of Mollah-sheh-mahmed-Shirazi, a learned man, who after having passed some time in Bengal, had quitted India, and returned to his beloved country, which had been all this while the constant object of his regrets. The disciple, who was enthusiastically attached to his master, and to the sciences, quitted both friends and country to follow him into Iran; and such was his attachment to his studies, that although he was so distressed, as to travel all the way on foot, from India to Iran, he never missed a day's lesson.
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Arrived in Iran, he attended to the lessons of the masters of that country, until he became himself a complete proficient in the whole circle of Sciences, especially in the speculative ones; such as Astronomy, Mathematics, and Algebra. So that become himself now a man of character and renown, he passed his days in Iran, in honor and affluence. He afterwards came to Cabul, where he was employed as Second, in carrying messages to the Iranian Governors and Grandees of that frontier, as that employment had been lately declined by Mir-ghulam-mahmed the Mehadian, a man of great eminence, and incomparable learning, who had been hitherto employed in those negotiations, and had more than once served the famous Emir-qhan, as a mediator in his differents with the neighbouring powers. Moluvy-nassyr, after a long stay in that country, returned to India; and having obtained from the Emperor a small Djaghir or freehold in the province of Bahar, his native country, he settled at Azim-abad, where the house he has raised is still standing, and was, according to his will, left to his grandson, Mahmed-hassen-qhan, who inhabits the same to this day. The second of those eminent men was Daud-aaly-qhan, better known under the name of Zair-hossein-qhan. He was the eldest son of Moluvy-nassyr; equal to him in the practical sciences, which he had learned from him; and superior to him in the spiritual ones, which he held only from himself.
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At his father's death, he was appointed not only his universal and sole heir, by a bill of sale in due form, but also acknowledged as his executor. Nevertheless, without availing himself of those deeds, he had the generous equity to make an equal division of the paternal estate between all the members of his family ; and it was such as would have been otherwise required by the laws of God ; keeping only such a share to himself as he might have been intitled to, in that case. After having in this manner arranged his affairs, he felt himself fired with a desire of visiting the Gate of the Pontiff of the World, of beholding the completion of Musalmanism, and of kissing the threshold of that door which is watched by hosts of Angels, that is, the luminous monument of the Prince of Prophets (upon whom, as well as upon his pure offspring, be salute and grace to all eternity ! ) After having enjoyed, to his heart's content, that measure of happiness, after which his heart had so long panted, he returned to the place of his nativity, where he passed his time in assisting the Seyds and necessitous, and in serving his God, by obliging his creatures. In the number of causes daily brought before him for his decision, (for he was both a Casuist and a Magistrate) his sole view was to cut the different short, to the satisfaction of both parties ; always contenting himself with his legal fees ;
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and this small pittance, joined to his portion of the paternal estate, he managed with so much industry and economy, as to live honorably himself, whilst he proved a sure resource to the needy and necessitous, and especially to the forsaken widow, and the forlorn orphan, all which he constantly admitted, in great numbers, at his table partaking of a simple fare in their company, without pretending to live better by himself in private ; and it would be difficult on that subject to give him all the praises he deserves ; nor does the historian make any difficulty to acknowledge the impotence of his tongue, on that extensive article. We ought also to observe that on his return from having kissed the sacred and sublime thresholds, he altered his name from Daood-aaly-qhan, which he had, to that of Zair-hossein-qhan, which he assumed, constantly glorying in the alteration. After a glorious life of seventy years, he repaired to the mansions of Divine Mercy; and it was observed that at the moment of rendering the ghost, after a virtuous life in which he had been invariably serving his God, he had that adorable name in his mouth; and that he breathed his last in pronouncing the words, O God! may the Almighty's mercy rest upon him for ever!
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The third person was Mir-mahmed-aalim, one of the most virtuous and most venerable persons of Azim-abad, as well as a disciple of Mirza-moez-moosevi-qhan, the Poet. His knowledge was in much repute, and his compositions in much esteem and celebrity; but I cannot speak properly of them, having no personal knowledge of either. The fourth was the Moluvy, or Doctor Mahmed-aaref; one of the most learned men of his time, and one of those men fond of corners and retirement. He was reported to have an excellent character; but he died in the first years of Aaly-verdy-qhan's taking possession of Bengal, and he was entombed in the Castle of Azim-abad, where he had always resided. One of his disciples, called Shah-gurg or Saint Wolf, was a pious man, (seeking God), whom I have often seen. He lived in solitude and celibacy, at a distance from the world ; and he spent his time in prayer.
18.1.7
The fifth was Mir-rustem-aaly, a man satisfied with his corners but not destitute of science and erudition. This is, at least, the character given him by the persons that much frequent religious men. I knew him but little ; but he passed for a man versed in the sense of the Coran, and capable of all the subtilities of explanation. He died at Azim-abad, in Ram-narain's Government, and lies buried close to the spot called the Monument of Mir-afzyl, the Cashmirian merchant. It was for this following reason : The merchant, who intended to embrace the same kind of life, and was attached to him personally, got him buried in that spot which he had bought for his own burial ; and on his death-bed, he ordered that himself should be buried at his feet. The sixth was Shah-mahmed-aamin, who lived in celibacy, a man much versed in the sense of the Coran, and so very intelligent as to be inferior only to an Angel. Intent, both interiorly and exteriorly, on the service of his God, he seemed to be brimful of the rays of the love of his Maker. In his actions and words he seemed to have no other view than that of concentring his ownself in the love of the Eternal being, and in a boundless attachment to the Infinite One.
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His words and actions made so much impression on the mind, that I, the poor man, having gone on the fame of his character, to render him a visit, felt within myself, on entering his dwelling such a disgust at the avocations of this world, and so strong an inclination for abandoning this borrowed habitation, and for addicting myself henceforward to the love of God only, that I was nearly taking my last resolution on that subject. He passed the nights in adoration and mortifications, always awake ; sleeping hardly one hour's time by day. His dwelling was endlessly thronged by visitors ; but he was so intent on the object of his love, and he pronounced the ejaculation, " O my beloved!" in such a manner; he fetched such deep sighs, and drew from his breast such moving sobs ; that the hearts of the by-standers were set on fire. He was not deficient in learning ; but his master, Shah-mahmed, was famous at Azim-abad for miracles and prodigies. Although fully learned himself, he avoided explaining the higher sciences and difficult passages; for whenever his temper softened (and he was somewhat rough and passionate) he would read lectures publicly.