The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c14.83

v4.c14.83

‘Ādil Shāh made Chunār his residential capital. During Islām Shāh’s reign he had simulated imbecility, probably without much effort, for he was certainly of defective intellect. He devoted his time almost entirely to frivolous and sensual pleasure and was contemptuously known as ‘Adlī, which is a contemptuous diminutive of his title. For the conduct of the public business of his kingdom he relied almost entirely upon Hīmū, thus alienating most of the Afghān nobles, many of whom withdrew from court to their districts where each behaved as an independent prince. Junaid Khān, governor of Bayāna, and his son, governor of Ajmer, rebelled, and defeated and plundered Jamāl Khān, governor of Gwalior, who was sent against them. Their success alarmed ‘Ādil Shāh, but Hīmū offered to crush the rebels. The king was at first ill-disposed to trust the command of troops to a Hindu but finally allowed him to take the field with three or four thousand horse. Junaid Khān, not unnaturally, despised such an enemy, and sent against him one of his officers, whom Hīmū defeated. This was the Dhūnsar’s first military success. Junaid Khān now took the field with his whole force, which far outnumbered Hīmū’s, but Hīmū chose the perilous venture of a night attack. He fell on Junaid Khān’s camp from two sides in the third watch of the night, throwing his troops into confusion so that many of them were slaughtering one another; the flying rebels were pursued and slain in great numbers, and Junaid Khān was fortunate to escape with his life. The plunder was great, and this victory, and Hīmū’s modesty when he returned to his master at Gwalior, established his reputation.