The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.237

v4.c20.237

A rising at this time in the Allahābād province illustrates both the decay of respect for the imperial government and the ineptitude of the imperial officials. A landholder named Bhagwant Rāi (son of Arārū Singh) in the Korā district slew the commandant, who was a brother-in-law of Qamar-ud-dīn Khān, I'timād-ud-Daula, plundered all his property and took his wife to himself. Qamar-ud-dīn Khān sent a relation to punish the murderer and recover the widow and property. On his approach Bhagwant Rāi withdrew for a time into a remote part of the district but returned to Korā, slew the new commandant and established himself with impunity in Korā. Qamar-ud-dīn Khān, lacking the courage to avenge in person his outraged honour, begged Burhān-ul-Mulk, the governor of Oudh, to undertake the punishment of the rebel. Burhān-ul-Mulk, passing through the Korā district early in November, 1735, on his way to Delhi, called Bhagwant Rāi to account for his misdeeds and Bhagwant Rāi, when he found that Burhān-ul-Mulk declined to be put off with fair words, unexpectedly attacked him. Mistaking another man for Burhān-ul-Mulk he drove his spear through his breast and slew him. Burhān-ul-Mulk and Rājā Durjan Singh, who was related to the rebel, attacked him, and Bhagwant Rāi fell, cut down by the raja’s sword and pierced by an arrow from Burhān-ul-Mulk’s bow. His head was sent to the emperor, and his skin, stuffed with straw, to Qamar-ud-dīn Khān.