The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c13.34.1

v4.c13.34.1

From his brothers Humāyūn could rely on no help. Hindāl had abandoned his post on the line of communications when Humāyūn advanced into Bengal, and was living in the palace at Āgra where he enjoyed the outward forms of power without using them for the benefit of the state. But while his immediate advisers traded on his youth and inexperience other officers saw more clearly the dangers which threatened. Faqr ‘Alī, the governor of Delhi, with difficulty persuaded Hindāl to mobilise the troops available at Āgra and to move them east. He also visited Yādgār Nāsir at Kālpī lower down the Jumna and planned a concentration in southern Oudh which would threaten Sher Khān’s designs on Jaunpur. These wise designs were, however, ruined by the arrival at Kanauj of Mughul officers who had abandoned Humāyūn in Bengal, including Zāhid Beg, who had declined to remain there as governor. They found Nūr-ud-dīn Muhammad, who was in charge of Kanauj, favourable to their disloyal proposals though he was married to Humāyūn’s sister. Offering their services to Hindāl they at once advanced to Kol (‘Alīgarh), where they would be in a position to join Hindāl or to move farther west to Kāmrān in the Punjab if Hindāl did not meet their wishes. Hindāl, though he received their message graciously, was not yet prepared to declare his own independence and despatched news of their arrival to Yādgār Mīrzā.