The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.68

v3.c20.68

Mas‘ūd would have visited the Punjab in person had his presence not been more urgently required in the north, where the Saljūqs threatened Balkh, and in the west, where the governor of ‘Irāq needed support and where the daily expected death of the Caliph, al-Qādir Billāh, might breed fresh disorders. The news of his death actually reached Balkh on November 9. Ahmad Niyāltigīn, on arriving in India, at once quarrelled with Abu-’l-Hasan, ‘the Shīrāzī *Qāzī*,’ one of the officials who had been sent to collect the revenue and inquire into Ariyāruq’s administration. Abu-’l-Hasan was inclined to resent what he regarded as his supersession by Ahmad and the latter’s success in collecting revenue which he himself had been unable to collect, but his opposition was based chiefly on the newcomer’s treasonable designs. Ahmad’s appointment had turned his head, and he encouraged the circulation of a rumour that his mother had been guilty of an intrigue with Mahmūd, of which he was the offspring, and planned an expedition to distant Benares, the wealth of which might enable him to establish himself as an independent sovereign in India. Abu-’l-Hasan advised him to devote his attention to the civil administration and to delegate the actual command of the troops to a military officer, but was curtly told to mind his own business. Each party then reported the other to Mas‘ūd, Ahmad complained that Abu-’l-Hasan was attempting to undermine his authority and Abu-’l-Hasan warned his master of Ahmad’s designs. In this contest Abu-’l-Hasan was worsted. He was ordered to confine his attention to the collection of the revenue, which was his affair, and to leave the general civil and military administration to the governor.