Later Mughals v1.c6.s23.t2: Dispute Over the Appointment of a New Wazir.
Later Mughals v1.c6.s23.t2
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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.