Later Mughals v1.c10.s5: Sec. 5.—Events at Agra.
Later Mughals v1.c10.s5
- Language
- English
Sec. 5.—Events at Agra.
v1.c10.s5.1
Nekusiyar's partisans, instead of coming out and taking advantage of Ghairat Khan's weakness, clung to the shelter of the fort walls. They lost in this way their only chance of striking a vigorous blow for their new master. In two or three days Ghairat Khan had recovered from his surprise, and his troops began to pour in to his succour. He was soon at the head of four or five thousand men, and able to take the offensive. His right-hand man at this difficult moment was Haidar Quli Khan.§
v1.c10.s5.2
∗ There is a copy of the report in Shiu Das, 28a; see also ibid 27a and Khafi Khan, ii. 828.
v1.c10.s5.3
§ In 1126 H. (1714-15) Haidar Quli Khan Isfaraini was made diwan of the Dakhin, and all appointments and removals were left to him. Nizam-ul-mulk, then nazim, did not get on with him, Burhan, 165a, Khafi Khan, ii.
v1.c10.s5.4
⁷⁴⁰ He reached Court on return from the Dakhin on the 6th Zul Qada
v1.c10.s5.5
This officer having fallen into disgrace for his oppressive measures, had not long before passed through Agra on his way from Ahmadabad to Dihli, where a very hostile reception awaited him. On arriving at Akbarabad he propitiated Ghairat Khan so effectively that through him he gained the good offices of Ratan Chand, the *Wazir’s* chief adviser. As soon as the disturbance broke out at Agra, he was sent off in great haste from Dihli to the assistance of Ghairat Khan. In a short time the activity he displayed in the operations at Agra so won for him the good opinion of Husain Ali Khan, that he made an intimate friend of him, and finally obtained his pardon from Qutb-ul-mulk, the *Wazir*. [K. K. 823-828.]
v1.c10.s5.6
Meanwhile the rebellion had made no progress : it had not spread outside the walls of the fort. Rajah Jai Singh had, indeed, come out several stages from Amber as far as Toda Tank, but before declaring himself further, he awaited news from Nizam-ul-mulk and Chabela Ram. From a letter which fell afterwards into Husain Ali Khan’s hands, it would appear that Nizam-ul-mulk gave no encouragement ; while Chabela Ram was detained in his province by the revolt of Jasan Singh, a zamindar of Kalpi, who was encouraged to resist by messages from the *Wazir* conveyed through Muhammad Khan Bangash. Meanwhile, although unable to make any impression on the fort, Ghairat Khan held his own. Churaman Jat had managed to collect men of his own tribe, the chief leaders being Govind Singh Jat, and the sons of Nanda Jat. Sayyid Hasan Khan from Gwaliyar and the Rajah of Bhadawar had also joined the besiegers. There was some fighting, but Safi Khan, owing to the arrest at Dihli of his children and brother, was dejected, and did not act with much vigour. Still, some sorties were attempted. One night the Jat and other peasant levies made an attack on the camp. Suddenly a store-house for the grain and grass which had been brought in from the surrounding country, was set on fire, but before the flames reached any height, heavy rain began to fall, and little damage was done. Deserters from the besieging force began to make their way into the fort. One day four of them were caught. Haidar Quli Khan condemned them to be blown away from guns in the presence of the whole army. [K. K. 834.] From that time Haidar Quli Khan in person took the roll-call of the army, and further desertions ceased. [Siwanih, Qasim 269.]
v1.c10.s5.7
¹ 1127 H. (2nd November, 1715), Kamwar Khan, 158. He was appointed to Bandar Surat on the 3rd Muharram 1128 H. (28th December, 1715), id., 161, and made *faujdar* of Sorath, 21st Shaban 1128 H. (9th August, 1716), id., 166; he was sent for to Court on the 22nd Rajab 1130 H. (20th June, 1718) id., 179.