[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Tadhkirah i Ānand-Rām “Mukhliṣ”](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis) › [Tazkira, of Anand Ram Mukhlis (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot) › 3 # Tadhkirah i Anand-Ram “Mukhlish” 3: Battle between the Persians and the Mughals. Tazkira, of Anand Ram Mukhlis (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 3 - **Language:** English ### Battle between the Persians and the Mughals. ### [3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.1) Burhanu-l Mulk, after his interview with His Majesty on the 14th, the day of his arrival, had been dismissed to his own tents. News was at this time brought to him that a Persian force had fallen upon his baggage, which was coming up in the rear from Panipat, and had plundered it, and committed great slaughter. Burhanu-l Mulk, with headlong impetuosity, misplaced in a commander, flew to the scene of action, accompanied only by the few horsemen who were with him, without taking time to collect his artillery, or to form his men in any kind of order. Soon he was engaged in the thick of the fight, nor did he desist from his efforts until he had scattered the Persians. The latter, experienced in every kind of stratagem, the acquiring of which indeed forms part of the soldiers training, fled in apparent confusion, followed by the Názim, who was thus led into an ambush where stood the Persian advanced guard with a powerful artillery. The armies engaged, and the shouts of the combatants and the clashing of sabres ascended to the heavens. ### [3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.2) Muhammad Shah, hearing of what was going on, ordered Amíru-l umará to reinforce the Názim. The Amir represented that the army had not expected a fight that day, and that the soldiers were consequently quite unprepared ; reinforcements could but add to the severity of the defeat. It was far better to delay a battle until the morrow, when the army could be disposed according to the rules of war, with advanced and rear guards, and their artillery, on which everything depended in Indian warfare, could be placed in the front. The struggle would then be one of comparative ease, and a little skill would insure an easy victory. The monarch was displeased with these objections, and addressed the Amir as a " conceited idler." But Amíru-l umará Bahadur was a chieftain who had the good of his master at heart ; never had he been guilty of aught like disobedience, and now, arming himself and mounting an elephant, he gathered round him Muzaffar Khan Bahadur and a few horsemen, all that could be collected in that hour of bewilderment, and hastened to the support of the Názim. The struggle raged so fiercely that firearms and arrows were put aside, and swords and daggers were brought into play. Blood flowed from gaping wounds and crimsoned the combatants ; the red Kazalbásh caps had the appearance of poppies ; a dense smoke hung over the field of battle. ### [3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.3) The heroic efforts of Amíru-l umará and his prodigies of valour could not prevail against the Persians, who far exceeded the Indians in number, and had, moreover, the advantage of having been placed in position by the Shah himself. The Mughals broke at length and fled; but Amiru-l umara maintained the combat until, mortally wounded in the face, he fell covered with glory. His brother, Muzaffar Khan, his son Muhtaram Khan, Ali Hamid Khan his koka, and some others stood by him to the last. Burhanu-l Mulk and Nisar Muhammad Khan Bahadur became prisoners. The remainder of the followers of Amiru-l umara, headed by Rai Majlis Rai Mir-saman, closed round their master's elephant, resolved to extricate him or to perish. They reached the Amir's tents by evening. This nobleman's wounds were mortal, and he lived but one day longer. God have mercy on him! By his decease, Asaf Jah Bahadur became Mir-bakhshi. Officers were sent by the Emperor's order to seize the property of the late nobleman, which it would have been more generous to leave to the heirs. Had the Emperor himself led his powerful army to the support of Burhanu-l Mulk, there would have been no cause to lament the loss of such a sardar as Amiru-l umara; and who can say that victory might not have smiled on his arms? ### [3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.4) The consequences of this disaster were lamentable; for the loss of baggage and the great scarcity of supplies that soon prevailed (four rupees could hardly purchase a sir of flour) totally deprived the soldiery of the little spirit they ever possessed. The Persian Emperor sent a message offering to treat for peace; for though so powerful, he was not one to overlook the advantages of negociation. Waziru-l mamalik Asaf Jah was opposed to the proposition; but his arguments did not prevail on the Emperor. On the 16th of the month Asaf Jah Bahadur and 'Azimu-llah Khan Bahadur were deputed to the Shah, to conclude the negociations; they returned to camp that evening. The next day Muhammad Shah repaired in person to the Persian camp. The monarch took with him a small escort. ### [3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.5) 'Umdatu-l Mulk Amir Khan Bahadur, Mu'tamadu-d daula Muhammad Is'hak Khan Bahadur, Bihroz Khan, and Jawed Khan, were among the number. Nasru-llah Mirza, the Shah's son, received His Majesty at the limits of the camp. When they drew near, the Shah himself came forth, and the etiquette usual between the Persian and Mughal courts was faithfully observed. The two monarchs, holding one another by the hand, entered the audience-tents, and seated themselves side by side on a masnad. It was as if two suns had risen in the East, or as if two bright moons shed their light at one time ! As Muhammad Shah was unaccompanied by any one of his chiefs, the subject of conversation between the two Emperors has remained unknown. After this had lasted some time, a repast was prepared, the remains of which were given to Amir Khan Bahadur and the other noblemen. Nothing that courtesy and friendship require was omitted during the whole conference, which lasted a quarter of the day, and Muhammad Shah regained his camp about the third quarter of the day. These proceedings restored tranquillity to the minds of the soldiery; all looked forward with joy to renewed plenty, to a return to their beloved Shah-Jahanabad and the society of friends; but fate smiled at these fond hopes, for more suffering, more bloodshed awaited them. ### [3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.6) The author has already related how he obtained leave to visit Shah-Jahanabad, and left the army for this purpose when it had reached Panipat. The Emperor had taken his departure from the town the day before the writer reached it. Strange to relate, numbers of people of every degree followed the royal standards. Some thought thus to enjoy a pleasant excursion through the Panjab, while others were of opinion that a battle would be fought and won in the neighbourhood of the town, and that their absence would only be of short duration. The writer sought in vain for a house within the walls in which to place his wife and family; he could find no suitable one. Under these circumstances, he resolved to leave his family in their usual residence outside the town. The security of the entrances to the lane was looked to, and armed servants above the ordinary number were entertained. The author now prepared to return to the army, and sent on his advanced tents. ### [3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3.7) But just at this time a report spread through the city of the death of Amiru-l umara and the capture of Burhanu-l Mulk. Many were the false reports circulated, which there is no need to record here, and such was the state of the town that, but for the vigilance of Kotwal Haji Fulad Khan, it must have been plundered, and the Persian army would have found the work done. The kotwal, no ordinary man, was at his post day and night; his exertions were unceasing, and, wherever there was an appearance of sedition, he seized and punished the guilty parties. The roads were infested with malefactors, and there was safety for none. Having received certain tidings of the Persians having formed a circle around the royal army, and rendered ingress to the camp impossible, the author was compelled to relinquish his design of proceeding thither. He therefore turned his attention to his means of defence. Sentries were placed, and the darogha and the writer himself patrolled the bazars at night to collect news. A supply of lead, powder, and rockets was laid in, and distributed among the people of the quarter, who began to take heart. Thus the nights were spent in watching, and the days in the society of friends. This state of things continued until the arrival of Burhanu-l Mulk Bahadur and Tahmasp Khan Jalair, the latter the representative of the Persian Shah. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.tadhkirah-i-anand-ram-mukhlis~en-elliot.3) · Pramāṇa