The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.19
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.19
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3.19.1
When Shaikh Bayazid surrendered his life to the Almighty, my father, Shaikh 'Ali, took his place in the country of Roh, and in those days he had an interview with Islam Khan, who also paid the customary respect and honour to Shaikh 'Ali without difference or diminution, and confirmed his assignments. In the reign of the Emperor Akbar I also enjoyed these as usual, until the twenty-fourth Ilahi year (corresponding to 987 A.H.), when the Emperor ordered that I should be advanced to the command of 500 horse, and brought to his presence. But the Kazi-'ali did not give a true account of myself or of my ancestors, but spoke ill of us, and said, "Shaikh 'Abdu-l Nabi has given 2000 bighas of land to two Afghans!" In short, my bad fortune so ordered it that my share of the assignment (madad-ma'ash) was resumed. When the Khan-khanan, who was a follower of Saiyid Hamid, son of Saiyid Miran, son of Saiyid Mubarak of Bukhara and Gujarat, became acquainted with my history and that of my ancestors, he said it was a pity I should remain unemployed; but I refused employ, and said that I would go to the country of my fathers. He then brought Mir Hamid to my house without invitation, and since Mir Hamid was so kind as thus to honour me, I could not act in contravention to his wishes. So I entered the service of the chief of the great Shaikhs, Mir Saiyid Hamid. He assigned to me a clear 200 rupees a month, and moreover showed me all manner of kindness.
3.19.2
At last, by ill luck of the unpropitious heavens, he sent me to Bajwara on some urgent business, and a short time afterwards was himself slain, at which I remained immersed in grief and distress. Sher Shah gave to many of his kindred who came from Roh money and property far exceeding their expectations. * * * Sarang Ghakkar did not come to wait on Sher Shah. That monarch, therefore, marched with all his forces and retinue through all the hills of Padman and Garjhak, in order that he might choose a fitting site and build a fort there to keep down the Ghakkars, in which he might leave a garrison on the Kabul road, when he himself returned. Having selected Rohtas, he built there the fort which now exists, and laid waste the country of the Ghakkars, and carried them into captivity, and having seized the daughter of Sarang Ghakkar, bestowed her on Khawas Khan.
3.19.3
In the midst of this, news came from Bengal that Khizr Khan Bairak, the governor of Bengal, had married the daughter of Sultan Mahmud, late King of Bengal, and, after the manner of the kings of that country, sat on the "Toki," which means "an upper place." Sher Shah was much annoyed at this, and wishing to avert the evil ere it could take place, left Haibat Khan Niazi, Khawas Khan, 'Isa Khan Niazi, Habib Khan, Rai Husain Jalwani, in the fort of Rohtas, and set out himself for Bengal. On his arrival in Bengal, Khizr Khan Bairak came to give him a regal reception. Sher Shah said to him : "Why did you without my order take in marriage the daughter of Sultan Mahmud, and seat yourself on the "Toki," after the manner of the kings of Bengal? It becomes not a noble of the State to do a single act without the King's permission." Sher Khan ordered him to receive a severe punishment and to be put in chains, and said, that if any of his nobles should do anything without his leave, he should receive a similar punishment. And he divided the kingdom of Bengal into different provinces, and made Kazi Fazilat, better known as Kazi Fazihat, manager (amir) of Bengal, and himself returned to Agra. When he arrived at Agra, a letter arrived from Shuja'at Khan, saying that Muhammad Kasim had consented to the following terms:—that the Afghans should be allowed to enter the fort; that the Mughals should have free access to the camp of Sher Shah;
3.19.4
and that as soon as Sher Shah should come to Gwalior, Muhammad Kasim was to be introduced to the king's presence, when he would give up the fort to the king's commissioners. Sher Shah replied that his standards would shortly move towards the country of Mandu, by way of Gwalior, in order to wreak on the rulers of Mandu his revenge for their backwardness in assisting Kutb Khan. At this time there were persons in the kingdom of Mandu who ruled independently. Mallu Khan, who had assumed the title of king, and the name of Kadir Shah, held possession and rule of the city of Shadiabad, that is to say the fort of Mandu, and of Ujjain, Sarangpur, and the fort of Rantambhor; secondly, Sikandar Khan Miana, who was ruler of the country of Sewas and Hindia; thirdly, Raja Partab Shah, the son of Bhupat Shah, son of Salahu-d din, who was a minor, and whose deputy Bhaia Puran Mal held the districts of Chanderi and Raisin; and, fourthly, Bhopal, who possessed the country of Bijagarh and Tamhk. When the king came to Gwalior, Muhammad Kásim, who was one of Humáyún's nobles, and governor of the fort, came and paid his respects to the king, and surrendered the fort to the royal commissioners. When he came to Gágrún, Shujá'at Khán sent Rám Sáh, Rája of Gwálior, to bring Púran Mal of Ráísín to the king. Púran Mal wrote, saying he would come if Shujá'at Khán himself went to fetch him. So Shujá'at Khán went to the fort of Ráísín, and brought Púran Mal with him to the king's presence.
3.19.5
Upon his setting out, the wife of Rája Púran Mal, by name Ratnávali, who was exceedingly beloved by him, sent to Shujá'at Khán, saying, "I will then break my fast when I shall see Púran Mal again, and the whole time he is away I will sit on a bastion of the fort, and watch for his return." Shujá'at Khán sent to her to be of good cheer, for that Bhaiá Púran Mal would return to her next day. Shujá'at brought Púran Mal to the king's presence, with 6000 horsemen, none of whom were forty years of age. Sher Sháh instantly bestowed 100 horses and 100 splendid dresses of honour on Púran Mal, and allowed him to return. Bhaiá Púran Mal left to serve the king his younger brother, whose name was Chatur Bhoj. When the king arrived at Sárangpúr, the agent of Mallú Khán came and made his obeisance, and said that Mallú Khán was coming to meet the king. Sher Sháh ordered Shujá'at Khán to go and receive him, and he went accordingly. Sher Sháh came, seated himself outside his tents, and held an open darbár. Shujá'at Khán brought Mallú Khán to him, and he asked where Mallú Khán had pitched his camp. He replied: "I have come alone into your presence, my place is in your darbár. My hope is, I may be permitted to perform the office of a sweeper therein." Shujá'at Khán represented that Mallú Khán had brought 200 horsemen with him. Sher Sháh ordered that a scarlet tent, a bed, a canopy, and other conveniences, as well as a handsome entertainment, should be provided for him.
3.19.6
When they marched from Sárangpúr, Sher Sháh showed the whole array of his army to Mallú Khán, who was astounded, for he had never anywhere seen such an army before. At every stage they threw up an earthen entrenchment, and when he saw the labour and exertions of the soldiers, and the rigour of Sher Shah's discipline, Mallu Khan said to the Afghans, "You submit yourselves to wonderful labours and exertions, night and day you have no rest; ease and comfort are things forbidden to you." The Afghans replied—"Such is our master's custom. * * * It behoves a soldier, whatever service his chief may order, or whatever labour or exertion he may require, not to consider it a hardship. Ease is for women, it is shameful to honourable men." When Sher Shah went to Ujjain, he encamped at Kalidah. Sikandar Khan Miana came and made obeisance. Sher Shah assigned the country of Mandu to Shuja'at Khan; and when he reflected that Mallu Khan had submitted to him, * * * he pardoned him, and bestowed on him the sarkar of Kalpi. Mallu Khan, having brought his family out of Ujjain, considered that he was not equal to the labour and exertion which Sher Khan required, and that therefore it was better to escape by some contrivance from his camp. Accordingly, like a Hindu slave, he made up his mind to run away. Sher Sháh perceived his intention, and ordered Shuja'at Khán to arrest him.
3.19.7
Shuja'at Khán looked towards Mallú Khán, who, being an intelligent man, understood what was going on, and said to Shuja'at Khán: "Tell the king that I have no carriage to take my family to Kálpí." When Shuja'at Khán represented this, it was ordered that 100 camels and 100 mules, with camelmen and mulemen, and several carts with drivers, should be given to Mallú Khán for the conveyance of his family. When he received the camels, mules and carriages, he took them, together with their drivers, to his own encampment, and gave them some very powerful wine, so that they got drunk and became insensible. Mallú Khán, taking his treasures and his family, absconded. When it was day, it became known that Mallú Khán had fled. Sher Sháh said: "Mallú Khán, the slave! Have you seen what a trick he has played me?" * * * Sher Sháh was angry with Shuja'at Khán, and sent him in pursuit of Mallú Khán, saying: "Wherever Mallú Khán may go, you go also and bring him to me. Did not I tell you to arrest him? But you did not, and acted negligently." Shuja'at Khán went in pursuit, but failed to overtake Mallu Khan, who went to Sultan Mahmud at Gujarat, and Shuja'at Khan returned from the frontier of Mandu. The whole of the kingdom of Mandu had been bestowed on Shuja'at Khan; but the king in his anger deprived him of it, and in lieu of it gave him Sewas, Hindia, etc., which had been in Sikandar Khan Miana's possession, equal to the maintenance of 4000 horse;
3.19.8
and gave Ujjain to Darya Khan Gujarati, who had been wazir of Sultan Mahmud, King of Gujarat, and who had fled to Sher Shah; and Sarangpur to 'Alam Khan Lodi, who also had been a noble of Sultan Mahmud's court; and making Haji Khan and Junaid Khan faujdars of that country, he left them in the city of Dhar, and returned himself, by the fort of Rantambhor, on the road to which place Sikandar Khan Miana, who had been ruler of sarkar Sewas, fled. 'Usman Khan, whose name was previously Abu-l Farra, was governor of Rantambhor, on behalf of Mallu Khan. When Sher Shah approached, he came and submitted to him, and Sher Shah, making over the fort of Rantambhor to his eldest son 'Adil Khan, went himself to Agra.