The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.7
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.7
- Language
- English
3.7.1
When Sher Khan reached his jágír after leaving the army, he sent a handsome present to Sultán Junaid, and wrote to say, "I was necessitated to quit the king without taking leave. If I had asked for leave, he would not have given it to me. I was compelled to come to my jágír, for my brother Nizam wrote to say that Muhammad Khan and Sulaimán had represented to Sultan Muhammad that I had allied myself with the Mughals, by whose aid I had seized their parganas, and they offered, if ordered, to retake these districts. Sultan Muhammad, however, gave them no answer. When I heard this news, it was impossible for me to remain where I was. I am His Majesty's grateful servant; I will do whatever he desires."
3.7.2
After this, Sher Khan took counsel with his brother Nizam and others, saying, "I have no longer any confidence in the Mughals, or they in me; I must go to Sultan Muhammad Khan." He decided on this plan, and when he came to Sultán Muhammad, in Bihar, the latter was much delighted, for he had had experience of his great talent. He entrusted his son Jalal Khán to him, and said: "I make you my son's lieutenant. Do you instruct him with all your care, for he is of tender age." Sher Khán was much pleased, and took great pains in the discharge of his office. When Sultán Muhammad died, his son Jalal Khan succeeded him, whose mother's name was Dúdú, a concubine; and being himself very young, his mother Dudu ruled the kingdom, and she made Sher Khan her deputy in the Government of Bihár and its dependencies. After the death of Dúdú, Sher Khán also discharged the duties of the State as deputy for Jalál Khán.
3.7.3
An intimate friendship sprang up between Sher Khan and Makhdum 'Alam, ruler of Hajipur, a noble in the service of the King of Gaur and Bengal. The King of Bengal became displeased with Makhdum 'Alam; for he (the king), having conceived a design of conquering Bihar from the Afghans, despatched Kutb Khan with a large force for that purpose. Sher Khan earnestly and repeatedly remonstrated. * * * Nevertheless, Kutb Khan gave no heed to his remonstrances. Sher Khan therefore said to his Afghans, "With the Mughals on one side and the army of Bengal on the other, we have no resource save in our own bravery." The Afghans replied, "Be of good cheer, for we will fight to the utmost; we will never yield the field until we either conquer or die, nor will we be ungrateful to those we have served so long." Sher Khan having prepared for a sturdy resistance, met the enemy. A severe action ensued, in which the Bengal army was defeated. In that engagement Shaikh Isma'il much distinguished himself, and Kutb Khan and Habib Khan Kakar were with him. Kutb Khan, leader of the Bengal army, was struck by an arrow, and falling off his horse, expired. Shaikh Isma'il gained the victory, and Sher Khan bestowed on him the title of Shuja'at Khan. Of the treasure, horses, elephants, etc. which fell into his hands, Sher Khan did not give any part to the Lohanis, and so he became a man of wealth.
3.7.4
The Lohanis were much angered at this, and hostile feelings sprang up between them and Sher Khan; but they did not openly manifest them. Now Makhdum 'Alam had not assisted Kutb Khan, and as this misfortune had befallen the latter, the King of Bengal sent an army against Makhdum 'Alam. I, who am the author of the Tuhfa-i Akbar Shahi, reckon among my ancestors 'Abbas Khan. Very many sons of 'Abbas Khan were in Sher Khan's service; (of these) he gave to Mian Hasnu the title of Darya Khan. Among the Khan's nobles, none were equal to him, and he had married Sher Khan's own sister. This Darya Khan died in the beginning of Sher Shah's reign. My object in this detail is as follows : Since a connexion exists between Sher Shah and myself, I am thus better acquainted with his history, which I have learnt from my ancestors. To be brief, Sher Khan was prevented by the hostility of the Lohanis from assisting in person Makhdum 'Alam, but he sent Mian Hasnu Khan to his assistance. Makhdum 'Alam made over all his property and worldly possessions to Sher Khan, saying, "If I am victorious, I will reclaim my property; if not, better you should have it than any other." Makhdum 'Alam was killed in battle, but Mian Hasnu Khan returned alive, and Makhdum 'Alam's property fell to Sher Khan.
3.7.5
The enmity between Sher Khan and the Lohanis increased daily, until the latter at last plotted to kill Sher Khan, and they thus took counsel among themselves, saying, "Sher Khan waits every day upon Jalal Khan with a very small retinue; let us pretend that Jalal Khan is ill. Sher Khan will go inside the palace to inquire after him. When he is returning, and has passed through one gate, and before he reaches the other, let us kill him, while thus inclosed between the two gates of Jalal Khan's palace." Some of the Lohanis, who were friends and connexions of Sher Khan, having heard of these machinations, told Sher Khan, who, before receiving the news, had, by his own penetration, discovered from the actions and motions of the Lohanis that they meditated some injury to himself. As he was a wise man he said nothing of the matter, but privately took precaution for his own safety; and all the land and property he had recently acquired he expended in enlisting fresh retainers, to whom he gave Jagirs and maintenance to their heart's content; but to the Lohanis he gave nothing. When he perceived that he had got so large a number of new soldiers collected together that the Lohanis could not injure him or prevail against him in battle, he proclaimed the enmity of the Lohanis, and said to Jalal Khan, "You well know that the King of Bengal has the design to send an army and seize to-morrow, if not to-day, the kingdom of Bihár.
3.7.6
The Lohanis for three or four descents have enjoyed Jágírs, and live at their ease ; nay, they even now covet all the newly acquired land. But I, who am your well-wisher, think it fit to entertain fresh men with the money and districts newly acquired ; so that your power may be strengthened, and that when the enemy (i.e., the King of Bengal) sees our large force, he may abandon his designs on the kingdom. On this account the Lohanis are dissatisfied with me, and complain of me, and are plotting to do me injury, and out of envy and hatred make all kinds of false complaints and accusations to you against me. If you believe me loyal, uphold that which I have in all loyalty done, and dissuade the Lohanis from their hostility to me, nor listen to what they say. You know that the Lohanis are a much stronger and more powerful tribe than the Surs ; and the custom of the Afghans is, that if any man has four kinsmen more than another, he thinks little of killing or dishonouring his neighbour. These are troublous times ; are you not anxious, and on your guard ? For myself, I know the Lohanis are plotting my death. From to-day I shall come to you with every precaution. Excuse me from coming inside of the palace, or, if it be indispensable that I should go within, permit me to enter it with a strong guard."
3.7.7
Jalal Khan and the Lohánis perceived that Sher Khán had found them out in their designs, and that their plots had failed ; so Jalal Khan said to Sher Khan, "What power have the Lohanis that they should regard you with an evil eye ? All the Afghan race know that the Lohanis are a foul-mouthed people, and are without caution or prudence, and that their tongues are not under their control. They speak whatever comes to their lips, but they do not act upon it. Come to me, accompanied by your followers, in any manner that may reassure you, and permit no fear or anxiety to find a place in your mind. I will agree to whatever you do." Thus assuring Sher Khán in every way, Jalal Khan dismissed him. But after that, the Lohanis and Sher Khán distrusted each other, and there sprang up two parties; those of the Lohanis who had given intelligence to Sher Khan sided with him, and thus the Lohanis themselves became disunited. As enmity had arisen among them, a considerable number of the Lohanis bound themselves by vows and oaths to Sher Khan, who said to them, "I cannot choose but serve Jalal Khan loyally; his father and his mother both showed me kindness; when he was very young, I was appointed to educate him, and I did not fail to use my best endeavours in his education, as he well knows." * * * The Lohanis who had joined themselves to Sher Shah replied: "The counsel which your heart has approved is very good;
3.7.8
for between them and ourselves there has arisen deadly enmity: it is not fitting we should be in the same place." * * * Sher Khan said to the friendly Lohanis, "The scheme which I have devised for my own protection and the good of Jalal Khan is as follows; I shall say to Jalal Khan thus: 'You have two matters in hand, one to oppose your enemy, the King of Bengal; the other, the preservation of the internal peace of the country, and the collection of revenue from the cultivators.' " * * * The Lohanis answered: "You have now a large force with you; there is no necessity for retaining men who are seditious and ill-disposed. Say simply to Jalal Khan that he ought to send them away, and should give their jagirs to other soldiers." Sher Khan replied: "My object is my own safety; out of regard for one's own life, it is not good to confirm the hostility of one's enemies." * * * All present assented, and afterwards Sher Khan wrote to Jalal Khan in the following terms: "When Sultan Muhammad exalted me to Your Majesty's deputyship, this was displeasing to the envious Lohanis. After Sultan Muhammad's death, your mother employed me in the administration of the kingdom. The envy of the Lohanis increased, and they constantly complained of me, both openly and secretly; but as my skirts were free from the contamination of dishonesty, how much soever they searched my conduct, they could find in my acts no opening through which they might effect my removal from the office of deputy.
3.7.9
* * The Mughals who conquered the country from Sultán Ibráhím did not do so by the sword, but through the quarrels which the Afgháns had among themselves; It has become known to me from a great many sources that the Lohánís wish to assassinate me, and day and night employ themselves in contriving how to get me out of the way, and presume on the greater number of their tribe. And you also have two objects : one to oppose your enemy, the ruler of Bengal ; the other, to preserve the kingdom against internal enemies, and to collect the revenues. Since your army is split into two parties, opposed to each other, it is impossible to keep them both in one place ; therefore, whichever of the two it pleases you keep with yourself, send the other to their jágírs. I have spoken because it was incumbent on me. A man's life is dear to him, he will not part with it for nothing."