The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.98

v4.c19.98

Despair and defection now reigned in the camp of Akbar. As he came nearer, increasing numbers of Mughul officers began to escape from his army to the imperial camp: only the 30,000 Rājputs remained true to him. Arrived within three miles of Dorāhā (25 January), he halted for the night, after fixing the next morning for the decisive battle. But during that night, Aurangzīb’s cunning diplomacy secured the completest victory for him without any resort to arms. Tahavvur Khān was the *vazīr* and life and soul of Akbar’s government, that prince being a vain sluggard. Tahavvur’s father-in-law ‘Ināyat Khān, then in the imperial camp, was made by Aurangzīb to write him a letter, urging him to come to the emperor, with a promise of pardon for the past, otherwise his wives and sons, held by Aurangzīb as hostages, would be ruined. In the darkness Tahavvur stole away alone from his tent without informing either Akbar or Durgā Dās, arrived at the imperial camp about midnight, and was killed by the emperor’s attendants in a wrangle when he wanted to enter the presence without being disarmed.