Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Later Mughals v1.c6.s23: Sec. 22.—Bahadur Shah Marches to Lahor. Death of Munim Khan, Wazir

Later Mughals v1.c6.s23

Language
English

Contents

Sec. 22.—Bahadur Shah Marches to Lahor. Death of Munim Khan, Wazir

v1.c6.s23.1

On the 13th December, 1710 the Emperor moved his camp to an opening leading to the pass through the hills, and then nine days later to the village of Puri. The weather continued to be very stormy, there was heavy rain, and the cold was intense. As soon as the tents could be moved, they recrossed the Som river, and encamped again near Sadhaurah. As soon as the rain had abated a little, a short march was made, and again in a few days they moved close to the villages of Sarwarpur and Rasulpur.

v1.c6.s23.2

On the 15th February, 1711 the camp was at Bhadoli, and here it was reported that Munim Khan, the chief minister, was suffering from some affection in the face, of the nature of gangrene, which had attacked his eye and ear. A halt was accordingly made, and after thirteen days, Munim Khan expired (28 Feb. 1711).* His age was a few months over sixty years. His body was sent to Dihli to be buried near the Qutb; and Bahadur Shah, who was in great sorrow at the loss of his chief adviser, conferred on his sons and family the whole of the deceased's property, which the official valuers reported to be worth three krors of Rupees (about 3 millions of pounds sterling). The Emperor's private physician, Mutamad-ul-mulk, was sent to the survivors with consolatory messages, followed by one hundred trays of food from the royal kitchen.

v1.c6.s23.3

∗ The place of his death is named Buriyah [in the Duab between the Satlaj and the Bias]. (Mirza Muhammad, *f.* 98*a*, and *T-i-Mdi*).

Munim Khan, His Career and Character.

v1.c6.s23.t1.1

Munim Khan,* born about 1062 H. (1651-2) was the son of Sultan Beg, of the Badakhshi tribe of Birlas, a man who had held office first as *kotwal* of Agra and then in some subordinate post in Kashmir. On his father's death, Munim Khan went to the Dakhin to push his fortunes, and his bravery attracted the notice of Ruhullah Khan then Mir Bakhshi, through whom he obtained an introduction to Alamgir. His first recorded office was that of *amin* to the *Haft Chauki* (a name for the establishment of pages or *khawas*) in place of Mir Abdul Karim, Multafat Khan. This was in the 34th year of Alamgir. Ten years afterwards we find him at the siege of Parnala and Pawangarh, two Mahratta strongholds, and in the succeeding year he received the gift of an Arab horse with gold trappings in acknowledgment of further services. In 1114 H. he became superintendent of the elephant stables with the rank of 1,000 *zat*, (300 horse). But owing to a charge made against him by Muhammad Amin Khan of not making sufficient haste to reinforce that noble, he was reduced in rank by 250 horse and the appointment in the elephant stable taken away. The Emperor's eldest son Muhammad Muazzam (afterwards Bahadur Shah) now became his patron. At his own request, Munim Khan was transferred from the Dakhin to Kabul. He replaced Aslam Khan as *diwan* or chief revenue officer to the Prince (1705), and shortly after succeeded the same noble as *diwan* of the *subah* of Kabul. In the next year he became the Prince's deputy in the Lahor *subah* and his rank was increased to 1,500 *zat*, (1,000 horse). From this point his fortunes, following those of his patron, Muhammad Muazzam, have been already sufficiently recorded in these pages.

v1.c6.s23.t1.2

∗ M. U. iii. 667-677; K. K. 502; M. A. 338, 437, 450-451, 459, 464, 482-497. Dil. 164a, 167a.

v1.c6.s23.t1.3

Although Munim Khan can hardly be called a great minister, he was at least a fairly good one, and considering the many difficulties which were crowded into the five years of his ministry, he may be held not altogether unsuccessful. Perhaps it may be laid to his charge and that of Bahadur Shah that there was too great a love of compromise, a habit of patching up any arrangement for the sake of obtaining temporary relief from an embarrassment without sufficient thought for the ultimate result of leaving the evil uneradicated.

v1.c6.s23.t1.4

Personally he was hospitable and pleasant mannered, absolutely free from haughtiness and vain glory, firmly attached to his friends, and courteous to all. Even a man of low rank was honoured by him if the man had been known to him in his own humbler days. His conduct as minister was free from avarice and self-aggrandizement, and even the details of business were most scrupulously attended to. [Iradat Khan, K.K. 675.]* He also instituted a reform in the mode of charging officers for the feed of Government-cattle, which is gratefully referred to by Khafi Khan. He was skilled in various arts and also wrote verses. In religion he was inclined to the Sufi heresy, and wrote a book on the subject called Ilhamat-i-munami or the ‘Beneficent Revelation.’ The rationalistic views of this work are condemned by the author of the Masir-ul-umara. (iii. 675).†

v1.c6.s23.t1.5

† Anand Ram [Mirat-ul-istilah, fol. 152b] says that Iradat Khan Wazih was the real author, and that he was one of those who encouraged Munim Khan in his Sufi opinions. The work was headed by a verse instead of the usual "In the name of God."

v1.c6.s23.t1.6

With the idea of perpetuating his name and fame, he formed the project of building in every important town a mansion, a traveller’s hostel (sarai), and an enclosed market (katra). Unfortunately the local officials in their over-zeal were guilty of many harsh acts in acquiring the land required for these buildings. Thus, what was begun out of a benevolent intention was productive of more harm than good. At the time of his death many of the houses were still incomplete, and from that time they fell into decay without ever having been of the least use to anybody. Much of the land thus used was vacant town land which was purchased by the Wazir. In connection with these alienations, Mukhlis Khan (Mughal Beg) one day out of ill-will and a desire to make mischief, said to Bahadur Shah that if the rulers of Iran or Rum heard that His Majesty was selling land to one of his subjects, they would think it a disgrace to him. Although he was reputed to be so heedless, Bahadur Shah gave a very good answer: "Mukhlis Khan! What harm have I done? I give him unused land with nothing on it, and he spends a large amount in bringing it into order. He is an old man; tomorrow he may die, and it will all come back to the State." [K. K. 675; M.U. iii. 676.]

v1.c6.s23.t1.7

∗ Khafi Khan (964), in recounting the facts of Ahmadabad-Gujarat, charges Munim Kh. with re-imposing 30 to 40 lakhs of Rupees reduced by Akbar besides adding to the jama kamil.

Dispute Over the Appointment of a New Wazir.

v1.c6.s23.t2.1

On the death of Munim Khan, his eldest son Mahabat Khan came with tears in his eyes to Prince Azim-ush-shan and asserted his claim to succeed his father as chief minister. Azim-ush-shan, who was then in high favour with his father, Bahadur Shah, wiped away Mahabat Khan's tears. The Khan recited the verse, "What avails it to wipe the tear from my cheek? Apply a remedy to my bleeding heart." The Prince promised to use his best endeavours to secure the appointment for Mahabat Khan.[*] At his interview on the next day with the Emperor, he represented that Munim Khan's son was one of his most faithful protégés and he recommended his appointment as Wazir. The Emperor answered that he had full confidence in Azim-ush-shan. If the candidate was fit for the post and would act according to the Prince's orders, there could be no objection. But Mahabat Khan's ways were so notorious as to need no discussion, and in the end the Prince's patience would be exhausted by his ill temper. Meanwhile it had become known that Zulfiqar Khan looked on the vacant wazirship as his father's right. Asad Khan had given way when he found that the new sovereign had promised to make the late Munim Khan his chief minister. But now that Munim Khan was dead Asad Khan was, in his son's opinion, the only person who could fill the vacancy. Zulfiqar Khan like other far-seeing men of that period, looked to the possibility of future independence in the Dakhin and was in no case willing to relinquish his hold on those provinces of which he was subahdar. [M.U. ii. 98]. Bahadur Shah held that the union of the offices of Wazir, Mir Bakhshi and governor of the Dakhin in one family was likely to be productive of danger to the dynasty. Often in private Bahadur Shah expressed the vexation and annoyance which this dispute caused him. [K. K. 678]. It was part of his character that he should wish to oblige everybody and refuse no one's demand. One project was to make a nominal Wazir of the Safawi Prince Muhammad Hashim (afterwards called Khalifa Sultan), a royal refugee from Iran, nominating one of the diwans to perform the actual duties. But the Irani Prince after his arrival at Court gave such offence by his haughty manners that no one could endure him, and the plan fell through. One compromise offered was that Mahabat Khan should replace Zulfiqar Khan in the six provinces of the Dakhin and that Zulfiqar Khan should then be the new Wazir. This arrangement in no way accorded with Zulfiqar Khan's views, and pleading filial respect as making it impossible for him to be chief minister in his father's lifetime, he refused the offer. At length, as a temporary measure, the real power being left in the hands of Prince Azim-ush-shan, Hidayatullah Khan (afterwards Sadullah Khan), eldest son of Inayatullah Khan, Khan-saman, and at that time diwan of the Khalsa and Tan, was appointed chief diwan (a part of the minister's duties) with instructions to sign and seal orders after the manner formerly employed by Kifayat Khan Jafar. His title was changed to that of Wazarat Khan. This appointment was made on the 5th March, 1711. After a short time Wazarat Khan asked for the title of Sadullah Khan, which was that formerly held by the most renowned of Shah Jahan's Wazirs. The Emperor said "It is not easy to be a Sadullah Khan; let him be called Saidullah Khan." But in spite of this, he generally passed by the name of Sadullah Khan. [Kamwar, Yahya 115b, M.U. ii. 504.]

v1.c6.s23.t2.2

∗ Dastur-ul-insha, 14.

The March to Lahor.

v1.c6.s23.t3.1

On the 7th March, 1711, the camp was moved from Bhadole to Abdullahpur. After some days spent in fishing in the Shah-nahr or royal canal and in elephant fighting, the march was resumed, the next stages being Budhawali, Sahaura, Rasur, Fathpur and Dheripur, and four other halts, reaching Rupar near the banks of the Satlaj on the 30th April. They moved nearer the river on the 2nd May, and the Emperor crossed the stream on the 17th May by a bridge of boats. A move to Minnatpur was made on the 23rd and to Naushara on the 25th. After halts at Akbarpur and Dharmpur, they reached Hushyarpur on the 9th June, and on the 23rd Bahadur Shah crossed the Bias by a bridge of boats to the village of Sahu. During the night heavy rain fell, the bridge was broken, and some of the boats carried away. Prince Azim-ush-shan's camp and the advance-tents were left on the other side, and could not cross till four days afterwards. After twenty-one days spent close to the Bias river, the camp was removed to Narayanpur in pargana Kanu-wahan, described as the imperial hunting-preserve of the Panjab. A halt was made at the town of Kanu-wahan on the 17th July, they were at Kalanaur on the 29th, Jamari on the 30th July, and Panj Karanwe on the 3rd August. The final march was to the neighbourhood of Lahor which was reached on the 11th August, 1711. [Kamwar].

v1.c6.s23.t3.2

The fortress and palace in Lahor city were not entered. The Emperor and his four sons remained outside the city in their encampment, as if they were still on the march. The only difference was that the draught cattle and beasts of burden were dismissed, much of the impedimenta sent into store, and many of the *karkhanas* or manufacturing establishments which accompanied the camp were sent elsewhere. The imperial encampment was pitched near the village of Anwala, not far from the bank of the river Ravi. Azim-ush-shan took up a position between the Emperor and the river, and surrounded himself by a sort of fortification made out of the carts in which he carried his treasure. Prince Muizz-ud-din's camp lay near the market-place of Parwezabad facing the city. Prince Rafi-ush-shan was close to the river bank near Dharmus Bagh, while Prince Jahan Shah went to some distance and encamped in the open plain near the tomb of the saint Shah Mir Khush (3 miles s.e. of the city). [Qasim 37, Iradat.]