The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.81

v4.c18.81

In September, 1657, Shāh Jahān fell ill, and for nearly a week his life was despaired of. His absence from the daily public receptions led to the belief that he was dying, or even dead. Believing his end was near Shāh Jahān had himself carried as soon as he was able to move to Āgra. News from their agents at court was carried to the three sons in their distant posts and was followed by wild rumours. Each of them was determined not to be supplanted by Dārā, but their actions were dictated by their varying characters and circumstances. Impetuous and daring, Murād Bakhsh, who was governor of Gujarāt, murdered his capable minister ‘Alī Naqī and attacked and plundered Surat. He then proclaimed himself emperor and struck coin in his own name at Ahmadābād, Surat and Cambay. Shāh Shujā‘, a more capable person who had for many years administered Bengal with skill in both civil and military affairs, took the field and advanced with his forces to seize the crown. Both of them were in correspondence with Aurangzīb, whose object was to use them to further his own advantage. He wrote frequently to restrain Murād Bakhsh till his own plans were complete, devising a cipher to avoid discovery if his letters were captured, and he organised a relay of messengers through the wild country that lay between the Deccan and Bengal. Nor did he omit to set on foot intrigues with officers at the court. His own movements were hampered by uncertainty about the position at court and the exhaustion of his resources. At the first rumours of Shāh Jahān’s precarious state the Bījāpur officers had completely suspended the fulfilment of the treaty and Aurangzīb was being pressed to enforce it.