The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.1
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.1
- Language
- English
3.1.1
I derive my information from trustworthy Afghans, skilled in the science of history and in rhetoric, who accompanied the king from the beginning of his fortunes to the end of his reign, and were employed in his confidential service. I have written also what I have well ascertained from others. Whatever was opposed to the information thus acquired, and could not stand the touchstone of truth, I have rejected. When Sultan Bahlol, of the family of Sahu-khail, of the tribe of Lodi Afghan, possessed the throne of Dehli, there were many persons in the various kingdoms of Hind who struck coin, and had the khutba read in their own names, and who were hostile to him. Sultan Mahmud bin Sultan Ibrahim Sharki possessed the throne of Jaunpur, Sultan Mahmud Khilji reigned in Malwa, Sultan Kutbu-d din in Gujarat, Sultan 'Alau-d din Ahmad Shah in the Dekhin, and Sultan Zainu-l 'abidin in Kashmir; but the names of the rulers of Bengal and Tatta are not known to me. The ruler of Multan was Shaikh Yusuf, the spiritual successor of Shaikh Makhdum Bahau-d din Zakariya Kuraishi. As long as Sultan Bahlol remained within the great city of Dehli, the capital, no one of these Sultans placed the foot of presumption in the plain of opposition.
3.1.2
Rai Sihar Langah, Zamindar of Zabiri, having expelled Shaikh Yusuf from the city of Multan, himself assumed the kingdom, with the title of Sultan Kutbu-d din. Shaikh Yusuf came to Dehli and entreated the Sultan's aid. Sultan Bahlol and his veteran army having accordingly set out for Multan, in company with Shaikh Yusuf, Sultan Mahmud of Jaunpur came to Dehli and besieged it. Sultan Bahlol was at Dipalpur when he heard the distressing intelligence of the siege of Dehli, and he said to his nobles and ministers: "The countries of Hind are broad and rich, and their kings are of Indian extraction. In my own land I have many kinsmen renowned for their valour and strength, who are pressed for a livelihood. Were they here they would be relieved from the contempt of poverty, and I could grasp Hind and destroy my enemies."
3.1.3
His chiefs replied: "* * * It is expedient under present circumstances that His Majesty the Sultan should send letters to the chiefs of the tribes in the Roh country to this effect: 'God in his goodness has granted the kingdom of Dehli to the Afghans, but the other kings of Hind wish to expel them from the country. The honour of our women is concerned; the lands of Hind are broad and rich, and can afford maintenance to many. Come, then, to this country; the name indeed of sovereignty shall remain with me, but whatever countries we may conquer shall be shared between us as brothers. Sultan Mahmud of Jaunpur is now besieging Dehli, where the families of the Afghans are. If you feel disposed to assist me, you must do so now, and with a large force.'" * * The king, approving of this advice, issued farmans to the chiefs of the various Afghan tribes. On receipt of the farmans, the Afghans of Roh came, as is their wont, like ants and locusts, to enter the king's service. When they drew near to Dehli, a force was sent by Sultan Mahmud Sharki to give them battle. Fath Khan Hirawi, Sipah-salar of Sultan Mahmud, had with him a large force, and elephants like mountains; but the Afghans, in a moment, overthrew his army and levelled it with the dust. When Sultan Mahmud heard of the death of Fath Khan, he fled without fighting; and of the countries of Hind a considerable portion fell on this occasion into the possession of Sultan Bahlol.
3.1.4
Kalu Khan, chief of the Mahmud-khail, of the family of Sahu-khail Bahloli, was wounded in the engagement above mentioned, and Sultan Bahlol sent him a present of money by way of recompense; but he refused it, saying, "I did not come here to sell my wounds." At the same time, many of the chiefs of name besought the king for leave to depart. The king entreated them to remain, but they said:—"We came on this occasion to succour and assist you, to save the reputation and honour of your women. Dismiss us now we entreat of you, hereafter we will again return to your service." The king loaded them with presents of money and goods of all kinds, beyond their utmost expectations, and provided them with everything they could possibly want. Such Afghans as chose to remain in his service he ennobled, and gave them jagirs to their full content. Kalu Khan, however, said:—"Your Majesty must excuse my declining to accept anything, as I did not come to this country from any worldly motives."
3.1.5
When the chiefs of the tribes of Roh had gone, the king commanded his nobles, saying:—"Every Afghan who comes to Hind from the country of Roh to enter my service, bring him to me. I will give him a jagir more than proportioned to his deserts, and such as shall content him; but if he for reasons of kindred or friendship prefers remaining in the service of any one of you, do you provide for him to his satisfaction; for if I hear of one Afghan from Roh returning thither again for want of a livelihood or employment, I will resume the jágírs of that noble who may have refused to entertain him." When the Afghans of Roh heard of this, and saw the favour and affection of the king towards them, they began every day, every month, and every year, to arrive in Hind, and received jágírs to their heart's content. It was at the time of this bounty of Sultán Bahlol, that the grandfather of Sher Sháh, by name Ibráhím Khán Súr, with his son Hasan Khán, the father of Sher Sháh, came to Hindústán from Afghánistán, from a place which is called in the Afghán tongue "Shargarí," but in the Multán tongue "Rohrí." It is a ridge, a spur of the Sulaimán Mountains, about six or seven kos in length, situated on the banks of the Gúmal. They entered into the service of Muhabbat Khán Súr, Dáúd Sáhú-khail, to whom Sultán Bahlol had given in jágír the parganas of Hariána and Bahkala, etc., in the Panjáb, and they settled in the pargana of Bajwára.
3.1.6
Sher Sháh was born in the reign of Sultán Bahlol, and they named him Faríd Khán. After some time had elapsed, Ibráhím Khán left Muhabbat Khán, and entered the service of Jamál Khán Sárang-khání, of Hisár-Fírozah, who bestowed on him several villages in pargana Nárnaul for the maintenance of forty horsemen. And Mián Hasan Khán, the father of Faríd Khán, entered the service of Masnad-i 'álí 'Umar Khán Sarwání Kalkapúr, who bore the title of Khán-i 'azam, and was a counsellor and courtier of Sultan Bahlol. After the death of Masnad-i 'ali Tatar Khan, Bahlol gave (the government of) Lahore to this 'Umar Khan, who held as jdgirs, in the sirkdr of Sirhind, Bhatnur, Shahabad, and Paelpur; and 'Umar Khan gave several villages in the pargana of Shahabad as a jdgir to Hasan Khan.
3.1.7
After some time, Farid Khan said to his father Hasan Khan, "Take me before Masnad-i 'ali 'Umar Khan, and say for me: 'Farid Khan wishes to serve you—order him on any duty of which he is capable.'" Hasan Khan declined compliance on account of his tender age, recommending him to wait some time longer. Farid Khan then spoke to his mother, and his mother said to Hasan Khan—"Since he desires to see the Masnad-i 'dli, take him with you—perhaps he may be pleased at the request of so young a boy, and give him something." Hasan Khan, to please Farid and his mother, took him with him before Masnad-i 'ali 'Umar Khan, and said:—"Farid wishes to serve you." 'Umar Khan replied—"Farid is now a little boy; when he is fit for my service I will employ him. For the present I give him Balhu, a hamlet of the village of Mahawali." Hasan Khan and Farid Khan were exceedingly delighted, and when Farid got home he said to his mother—"My father would not take me but at your request, and Masnad-i 'dli has given me a village in pargana Shahabad."
3.1.8
Several years after this, Ibrahim Khan, the father of Hasan Khan, died at Narnaul. Hasan Khan, when he heard of his father's death, left Shahabad, and coming before 'Umar Khan, who was with Sultan Bahlol's army, requested leave of absence to condole with the members of his father's family and retainers, saying he would return with them, for that he would not quit 'Umar Khan's service for any worldly advancement. 'Umar Khan replied: "You are aware that I have already given you your share of the jdgirs which I possess, nor can I entertain more men. Your father's retainers now all look to you. You will be able to obtain your father's jágír, or even a larger one than your father's was. I am not so unjust to my own tribe as to keep you on a small jágír." Such were the Afghán nobles, and such their favour towards their own race and kindred, that if they saw their Afghans could elsewhere obtain more than they themselves were able to give, they at once sent them with recommendations in search of better employment.