The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.300

v4.c20.300

Muhammad Shāh, contemptible as was his attitude to public affairs, demanded that deference which a stronger character would have commanded. ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk, who had at one time been so high in his esteem that he had proposed to make him his minister and to employ him to break the power of the Turanian party, now acquired great influence at court. When Qamar-ud-dīn Khān incapacitated himself for appearance at court for a period of seven or eight months by a fall while intoxicated, he entrusted his official business with the emperor to ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk rather than to any of his own worthless sons. ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk, who was outspoken and unceremonious, was accustomed to use in his intercourse greater freedom than Muhammad Shāh considered becoming and on one occasion he indiscreetly visited the princes of the imperial family imprisoned in Salīmgarh. On another occasion he was discussing some tedious business with the emperor, who impatiently told him to postpone it. ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk persisted and began to repeat the whole of his discourse from the beginning. The chief eunuch, who was present, said in a low but audible tone that the matter was as endless as the chatter of two old women. ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk lost his temper and Muhammad Shāh was obliged to appease him by promising to dismiss the chief eunuch, but after he had left complained bitterly of the manner in which he was treated by ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk. The eunuch replied that the matter could be arranged and, with his master’s sanction, found a ruffian who had been dismissed from ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk’s service. On 6 January, 1747, ‘Umdat-ul-Mulk was stabbed as he entered the hall of audience, and died on the spot.