The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c14.16

v4.c14.16

Sher Khān’s position was now difficult. He would not appeal to Sultān Muhammad, who he knew was unwilling to quarrel with Muhammad Sūr. He therefore opened negotiations with Sultān Junaid Birlās, Bābur’s governor of Karā and Mānikpur, and, with his brother Nizām, sought aid in recovering his assignment which he promised to hold as the subordinate of Junaid. Junaid welcomed this opportunity of extending Bābur’s influence and supplied Sher Khān with a force, by the help of which he not only recovered his own assignment but expelled Muhammad Sūr from Chaund and drove him into the Rohtās hills. This success so enhanced his reputation that large numbers of Afghāns entered his service, and he returned the contingent placed at his service by Junaid with a handsome reward and thanks for the assistance. He then sought reconciliation with his kinsman, Muhammad Sūr, inviting him to return and resume his estates, as it behoved all Afghāns to unite. Muhammad Sūr returned to Chaund, and Sher Khān, having, as he believed, gained his good will, visited Junaid at Āgra where he was presented to Bābur. He now temporarily entered Bābur’s service, really with the object of studying Bābur’s system and ascertaining how he could be expelled from India. He accompanied Bābur on an expedition to Chanderī, but is said to have been indiscreet in his criticism of the system of administration and of the army, and to have caused offence by his behaviour at the royal table. Bābur was disposed to imprison him had he not been dissuaded by Junaid and his brother Mīr Khalifa, the minister, who warned him of the danger of making enemies of the Afghāns. Sher Khān, perceiving how matters stood, fled with his contingent from the royal camp, and excused his departure in a letter to Junaid, feigning that local affairs urgently required his presence. He had also incurred the suspicions of his former master, Sultān Muhammad, by entering Bābur’s service, and Muhammad Sūr was endeavouring to obtain permission to eject Nizām Khān from Sasarām. Sher Khān had seen enough of Bābur, and from now onwards sought to unite the Afghāns against the Mughuls. He repaired once more to the court of Sultān Muhammad, who welcomed and again appointed him tutor and guardian of Jalāl Khān. The Sultān died very shortly after this and, his son being yet a minor, his mother assumed the regency and appointed Sher Khān her agent, so that he became the ruler of Bihār and, when Jalāl Khān’s mother died, king in all but name. He strengthened his position by entering into a close alliance with the governor of Hājīpur on behalf of Sultān Mahmūd of Bengal, perceiving that unless Bihār and Bengal united to oppose Bābur both might fall into his hands. The king of Bengal, however, desiring to acquire Bihār, sent a force to invade it which was defeated with great loss of treasure, horses and elephants.