[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Tuḥfa-yi Akbarshāhī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi) › [Tarikh-i Sher Shahi of 'Abbas Khan Sarwani (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot) › 3.4 # The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.4 Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.4 - **Language:** English ### [3.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.1) Míán Hasan sent to Farid in reply, saying, "There is no reason that I should make inquiries; for while I was even absent with the army, I understood the real state of the parganas, and that you doubled the prosperity of the country. And if you have appropriated anything, well and good. It is your own property, and it is no reproach. \* \* \* Your degenerate brothers, Sulaiman and the rest, give me daily annoyance. I do not think they are able to manage the country. However much I advise, it makes no impression on them: they have taken away my rest and peace, and their mother is interfering perpetually in my affairs on behalf of her sons. I am obliged to permit Sulaiman and Ahmad to act for a short time as shikkdárs of the parganas, that I may be freed from this daily and nightly vexation." When Farid heard these words from his father, he said, "The two parganas are my father's, let him give their management to whomsoever he will." ### [3.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.2) When Míán Hasan's relations heard that he had taken away the management of the two parganas from Farid, and was intending to confer it on Sulaiman and Ahmad, and that Farid was preparing to go to Ágra to gain his livelihood (for in those days Agra was the capital city), they came to Mian Hasan, and said : — "It is not right for you to take away the management of the parganas from this son, and give it to Sulaiman and Ahmad; for Farid, by his care, has doubled their prosperity, and has so established his authority in them, as no one ever before did, nor has he committed any fault for which he ought to be removed. It is not right to quarrel with such an able son in your old age; especially in these times, when the authority of Sultán Ibráhím is shaken, and every Afghan of influence is aiming at power and independence." ### [3.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.3) Mian Hasan replied to his relatives, "I know it is not right to grieve Farid; but what can I do? for Sulaimán and his mother have driven me into a strait, nor do they give me a moment's rest. \* \* \* I am an old man, the time of my death is near at hand. I cannot break my promise. I give the management of the parganas to Sulaiman and Ahmad during my life. If they govern well, so that the parganas prosper, the people are happy and the soldiery content, well and good; for then during my lifetime they will acquire a good name. For thus Farid has gained a name among men, and has gladdened my heart. Wheresoever he may go, he will be able to gain his own livelihood. But if they prove unfit, they will (at any rate) be for some time during my life laying up worldly goods. Of this I am certain, that after my death the government of the parganas will be conferred on Farid, who is deserving of it." \* \* \* When his kinsmen heard this reply of Míán Hasan, they said, "You send Farid away from you to please a slave-girl! It is wrong in these times to stir up strife for a slave-girl's sake. For from the proceedings of the Lohánís in Bihar, it appears that they will shortly throw off the king's yoke, and declare their independence. It has been said, 'it is wrong to place confidence in women,' " etc. \* \* \* But in spite of what his relatives said, Mian Hasan, who was a captive in the bonds of his love for the slave-girl, did not assent to their representation. ### [3.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.4) When Farid entertained no longer any hope from Míán Hasan, he took leave of his friends, and set off for Agra, by way of Kahnpur (Cawnpore), which pargana then belonged to the jagir of 'Azim Humayun Sarwani, who there maintained a large number of followers. Most of the Sarwanis were settled in that neighbourhood. When Farid reached Kahnpur, the Sarwanis who were connected by marriage with Mian Hasan entertained Farid. Among them, one Shaikh Isma'il was present. Farid asked who he was. The Sarwanis at first said that he was a Sarwani; but afterwards that he was a Sur of Farid's own tribe, but that his mother was a Sarwani. Farid said to him, "Why did you not tell me you were a Sur?" Shaikh Isma'il said, "I did not tell you that I was a Sarwani, but if they said so, what fault is it of mine?" Farid said to Shaikh Isma'il, "Come with me." Shaikh Isma'il and Ibrahim both accompanied Farid, and in the battle in which Farid defeated Kutb Shah, King of Bengal, Isma'il greatly distinguished himself. Habib Khan Kakar, who was his sister's son and lived in his house, slew Kutb Shah with an arrow, and as Habib Khan was a follower of Shaikh Isma'il, the latter got the credit of having killed Kutb Shah. On that occasion, Farid gained the surname of Sher Shah, and he bestowed that of Shuja'at Khan on Shaikh Isma'il. ### [3.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.5) When Sher Shah Sur gained the kingdom of Hindustan, he bestowed the government of Mandu on him, and gave to Ibrahim Khan, who also attained to great consideration, the title of Sarmast Khan. It so happened that when Farid arrived at Agra, Daulat Khan, the son of Budhu (who had been brought up in 'Azim Humayun Sarwani's house), held the command of 12,000 horse, and was in great favour with Sultan Ibrahim. Farid Khan chose Daulat Khan for his patron, and did him such good service that Daulat Khan often said: "I am ashamed to look Farid Khan in the face; if he will only say what I can do for him, I will not fail to use my utmost endeavours to accomplish his desire, only let him say what he wants." ### [3.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.6) When Farid understood that Daulat Khan took an interest in his affairs, he wrote saying, "Mian Khan is old, and his senses are failing him, and he is spell-bound and infatuated with a Hindu slave-girl. Whatever she tells him he does, and has permitted her to manage his districts, and she has trampled on all his relatives, and disgusted his soldiery and the people he rules. Both parganas are falling to ruin from the folly of this slave-woman. If the king will confer on me the two parganas, I and my brother will, with 500 horse, serve him in any place or way he orders, in addition to the service Mian Hasan now renders. When Daulat Khan heard his request, he encouraged him in every possible way, and said, "Be of good heart, for I will tell the king the truth about Mian Hasan, and will get the parganas taken from your father and given to you." ### [3.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.7) Daulat Khan, on representing the state of Mian Hasan's case to the king, said: — "Farid is the ablest of his sons, and has long managed the parganas. The soldiery and inhabitants are content with him. If the king will bestow on him the management of the two parganas, he and his brother will do whatever duty you may command with 500 horse." The king replied, "He is a bad man who complains against and accuses his own father." Daulat Khan informed Farid, and said: — "This reply came from the king's own mouth, but do not you be cast down. God willing, I will get for you the management of these two parganas, and will, moreover, watch over your interests." When Farid heard the matter, he was grieved, but to please Daulat Khan remained with him. He assisted Farid with money, and indeed gave him such a daily allowance as to enable him to accumulate somewhat. After some time Mian Hasan died. On the third day after his death Sulaiman placed Mian Hasan's turban on his own head, and was sitting among his friends when Mian Nizam came, accompanied by his partisans, and took the turban from off Sulaiman's head, saying, "It does not become you, in the absence of your elder brother, who is celebrated for every excellent quality, and is on service with the king, to place the turban of Mian Hasan on your own head. Have a fear of God! ### [3.4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4.8) Have you no shame before the people of the Lord, that you thus act in contravention of law and custom, and create a cause of contention? During our father's life you acted ungenerously to Farid through your mother's influence; on my father's account I could say nothing. Had it been otherwise, your strength and courage should have been tried; but now such conduct is no longer right. It behoves you to act to Farid in a very different manner from what you have in times past; and abandon strife, for it is not good to contend with your elder brother. Mian Hasan in his lifetime assigned separate jágírs to his sons; be content with this, and resign your superiority; for it is your elder brother's right. If you will not give up fighting, you will become dependent on others; nor will any one speak well of you. Contention will only get you a bad name and ruin the parganas." Sulaiman said, "If my brother treats me with any kindness, I cannot choose but serve him." --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.4) · Pramāṇa