Later Mughals v1.c9.s22: Sec. 24.—Sudden Rise of Muhammad Murad Kashmiri.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s22
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Sec. 24.—Sudden Rise of Muhammad Murad Kashmiri.
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With his usual changeableness, Farrukh-siyar now chose a new favourite, on whose exertions he founded great expectations. This man's rise is usually accounted for in the following way. The Emperor had lately planned to send Muhammad Amin Khan to take the place of Rajah Jai Singh Sawai, as governor of Malwa, with the object of barring, if necessary, Husain Ali Khan's return from the Dakhin to Dihli. Azim-ullah Khan, Nasir-ullah Khan, and other nobles were placed under his orders. As was usually the case, the new governor spent a great deal of time in preparation, and showed no great readiness to start. Farrukh-siyar betrayed his impatience at this delay, and Muhammad Murad Khan, then the third Mir Tuzak or chamberlain, offered to induce Muhammad Amin Khan to begin his march. The man was loud-voiced and foul-mouthed, as most Kashmiris are reputed to be; but at first his violent language failed in effect. He returned to the Emperor with bitter complaints, and on his advice, Farrukh-siyar ventured to dismiss Muhammad Amin Khan from his office of second Bakhshi, and appointed instead Islam Khan (son of the late Asaf Khan, son of Mir Abdus-salam Islam Khan, Wazir to Shah Jahan), Fidai Khan (son of Salabat Khan deceased), being promoted to Islam Khan’s office of first Mir Tuzak. Muhammad Murad himself replaced Fidai Khan as second Mir Tuzak, with a rise of 500 in rank, making him 3,000 zat.* The result of these measures was that Muhammad Amin Khan began his march for Malwa. Farrukh-siyar, himself the most cowardly of men, looked on this feat as heroic, and Muhammad Murad became at once in his eyes the right man for a desperate undertaking. Possibly there is some truth in the above story, as accounting for Muhammad Murad’s exaltation, for the time of his rise and of Muhammad Amin Khan’s departure coincide almost exactly.†
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∗ For a full account of the jaziya, see Sarkar's *Aurangzib*, iii. ch. 34.
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† Khafi Khan, 787; Kamwar Khan, 174, 25th Zul Hijja, 1129 H. (29th November, 1717); Mirza Muhammad, 337-8; M. U. i. 339.
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This Muhammad Murad, already a man of about sixty-two years of age, was a native of Kashmir, of the tribe called Audard.‡ For a time he was in the employment of Mir Malik Husain, Khan Jahan, Kokaltash, the foster brother of Alamgir, and was agent at Court for that noble’s son, Sipahdar Khan. Next, he entered the imperial service with a mansab of 300, but in a year or two was dismissed. On this he came to Lahor, where Mutamad Khan (Mirza Rustam)* was deputy governor for Prince Muhammad Muazzam (afterwards Bahadur Shah), and obtained an introduction through Lala Shiu Das Khatri, the governor's chief man of business. The rank of 500 was obtained for him. Khwaja Muhammad Amin Kashmiri, who had once been also in Khan Jahan Kokaltash's service, having replaced Mutamad Khan at Lahor, Muhammad Murad's fortunes improved, for he was of the same place and race as the new deputy. This happy state of things lasted only for a year or two, until Khwaja Muhammad Amin fell into disgrace, when Muhammad Murad retired to Dihli, where he lived in obscurity. On Munim Khan's appointment, first as diwan to Prince Muazzam, Shah Alam, and then as his deputy at Lahor, Muhamad Murad, being an old friend of his, was restored to the service and returned to Lahor, until the two men quarrelled, when he came back to Dihli.†
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∗ Mirza Muhammad, 338. Kamwar Khan, 174, has these changes on the 30th Muharram 1130 H. (31st December, 1717). For Islam Khan, Wazir, d. 1057 H. M. U. i. 162, and for his son, Asaf (or Safi) Khan, d. 1105 H., ibid, ii. 470. For Fidai Khan, ii. 745.
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‡ Ibbetson, para. 557, gives the names of ten Kashmiri tribes; the only one approaching Audard is the ninth, viz. Warde.
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† Mirza Muhammad, 331; Ahwal-ul-khawaqin, 126a; M. U. i. 337; Kamraj, Ibratnama, 63b.
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Not long after this time Alamgir died, and Prince Muazzam, Shah Alam, with Munim Khan in his train, passed through Dihli on his way to Agra; and Muhammad Murad attached himself to their camp. After the victory of Jajau, Munim Khan obtained for his old friend the rank of 1,000, and the title of Wakalat Khan, with the office of wakil, or agent at Court, to Prince Muizz-ud-din Jahandar Shah. Muhammad Murad, being a chatty, talkative man, managed to strike up a great friendship with Ali Murad Kokaltash Khan, on whom all power in Jahandar Shah's household rested, "nay, he was the veritable Jahandar Shah," and by his aid rose to be a Duhazari (2,000), with the title of Bahadur. In Jahandar Shah's reign of ten months, he was promoted to 5,000, but obtained no further favours from Kokaltash Khan. On Farrukh-siyar's accession Muhammad Murad attended the Sayyid brothers, with whom he had been formerly acquainted, and through Husain Ali Khan was maintained in the rank that he held in Bahadur Shah's reign (i.e., 2,000 zat); but his former title having been given to someone else, he was created Muhammad Murad Khan and soon afterwards received the office of fourth Mir Tuzak. At this time he was high in the favour of Husain Ali Khan, who procured his promotion to 2,500.
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∗ Mutamad Khan (Rustam) was the father of Mirza Muhammad, the historian.
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After that noble's departure for the Dakhin, Muhammad Murad used all his endeavours to strengthen his position with the Emperor. As he was in constant attendance, he succeeded at last in joining in the Emperor's conversation, and owing to his chattiness and readiness of speech soon found a way to his heart. He also obtained favour as a compatriot of the Emperor's mother, Sahiba Niswan, who was a Kashmiri, and the first open sign of his new position was that Farrukh-siyar said one day to the great nobles in darbar, "You have heard, have you not, Itiqad Khan is related by marriage to my exalted mother?" The Emperor's feeling against the Sayyids was an open secret, but the brothers being on their guard, he had been foiled hitherto in all his attempts against them. As opportunity offered, Muhammad Murad Khan hinted to Farrukh-siyar, in guarded and metaphorical language, that Samsam-ud-daulah Khan Dauran, up to that time his very soul and the confidant of all his secrets, was in collusion with the Sayyids, and thus it was that all his plots against them were divulged. The Emperor's mind was turned against Samsam-ud-daulah, and he determined to bring forward Muhammad Murad Khan. [K. K. 791, Yahya 123b.]
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On the 19th Safar 1130 H. (19th January, 1718), Muhammad Murad became darogha of the harkaras or scouts, with the privilege of admission at all times to the privy audience-chamber, the chapel and secret audience room. Having now private access to the sovereign's ear, he repeated plainly, with details, what he had formerly suggested by hints and signs. He produced many projects for the overthrow of the two Sayyids and offered himself to carry them into execution. Since Farrukh-siyar looked with apprehension upon everything, Muhammad Murad boldly counselled him to take heart and not to be afraid. "Such fears," he said, "amount to a defect: you are Emperor: no one has the strength to oppose you: you should free your heart of dread, and issue whatever orders you may please." [Kamwar 175, M. M. 337.]
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Another hunting expedition was planned. The Emperor moved to the mansion at Khizrabad* on the 29th Zul Hijja (3rd Dec., 1717) and remained there for two or three weeks. It was the common talk of the town that Qutb-ul-mulk would be seized, a task which the Emperor's advisers had persuaded him could be easily accomplished. Qutb-ul-mulk, too, left his house with a large force of men, and camped outside the town near Kilukahri,† by this move allaying the rumours and causing the conspirators to stay their hand. At night the Emperor sent him trays of fruit and food. Next day (23rd Dec., 1717), advance-tents were moved towards Palam. Muhammad Murad increased in favour. The following march (27th Muharram, 1130, 30th Dec., 1717) was to Masjid-i-moth. Here the new appointments were made, by which Muhammad Murad was advanced to second Mir Tuzak. On the second Safar (4th Jan., 1718) they reached Palam, on the 17th they moved to Sadipur, and on the 29th back to Agharabad near the city. Nothing had been effected.‡
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∗ Khizrabad is on the Jamuna bank, about five miles south of the Dihli Gate of Shahjahanabad, see Carr Stephen, map, page 1. Asar-us-sanadid chap. III, p. 25, says it was a town built on the river bank by Khizr Khan in 816 H. (1413 A. D.). There is no trace now of any fort; possibly the site of it was that now known as Khizrabad village.
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† Kilukahri is probably the site of the palace built on the Jamuna bank by Muizz-ud-din Kaikobad, (1286-1288), H. M. Elliot, Bibliographical Index, 284, and Ain ii.
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²⁷⁹ The Ain says that Humayun's tomb is on this site, but the village itself is about 1½ miles s. e. of the tomb.
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‡ Kamwar Khan, 179. Palam is in the Dihli district, 11 miles s. w. of the city : it lies about 10 miles w. of Mothki masjid. (Indian Atlas, sheet 49 n. e.) Masjid-i-moth, C. Stephen, plate opposite p. 1, is 5½ miles s. w. of the Dihli Gate of the city, ibid, 166, and was built in 894 H. (1488). The tradition is that a man picked up a grain of moth, sowed it, and in time built this mosque from the produce. Sadipur, not traced; there is a Madipur on sheet 49 n. e. of the Indian Atlas. This lies halfway between Palam and Badli (Agharabad). I can find no Sadipur in that direction; but there is a Sadipur near the Idgah, west of the city, see Constable's Hand Atlas, plate 47. Agharabad is n. of the city and the same as Shalimar close to Sarai Badli. Mirza Muhammad, 331, says the camp
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Instead of returning to the palace the Emperor moved out from Agharabad to Siuli,* on the 1st Rabi II. 1130 H. (3rd March, 1718); and a few days afterwards Muhammad Murad was created Itiqad Khan Bahadur Farrukh-Shahi, received a standard, kettle-drums, two elephants and several horses, with the rank of 5,000 (2,000 horse), and replaced Amir Khan as superintendent of the pages (khawas), with the right to come and go at all hours of the day or night. His influence increased in a marked degree every day. As one writer says, [Yahya 124a], he was promoted daily; on one day to 5,000, the next to 6,000, and the next to 7,000. On the 16th Rabi II. (18th March), they came back to Agharabad, and on the 22nd, Muhammad Murad was made darogha of the mace-bearers. Whole nights were spent by Farrukh-siyar in conclave with Muhammad Murad and other favourites; sometimes he did not retire to rest until break of day. As Muhammad Murad had a bad reputation and was pointed at for secret vices, this constant companionship gave rise to undesirable reports, defamatory of a descendant of Taimur and derogatory to the lustre of his rule. On the 21st Rabi II. a mansion in Dihli was given to Muhammad Murad. Finally, on the 12th Jamadi I. 1130 H. (12th April, 1718), the Emperor left Agharabad and re-entered the palace.
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Presents continued to be showered lavishly on Muhammad Murad. On the 9th Jamadi II. (9th May, 1718), he was raised to 6,000 (5,000 horse), various gifts were added, and he was appointed faujdar of Jammu, with power to appoint a deputy. His son and two of his officers were given mansabs of 1,000. Twenty days afterwards he was again promoted, becoming 7,000 (7,000 horse), received a valuable fringed litter (palki) and other gifts, with the office of nazir, or governor of the imperial harem. On the 2nd Rajab (21st May, 1718) a gold bedstead, covered with gold plates and studded with jewels, which had belonged to the Emperor Jahangir, was given to the favourite. In fact, not a night passed without his receiving silver and gold
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was for three months from Jan. 1718 at Sarai Badli, which was close to Agharabad and the Shalimar garden.
* Siuli, just s. or e. of Panipat.
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coin, valuable jewels or rich clothes. The best jagirs in the Gujarat, Dihli, and Agra provinces were also allotted to him. In the course of one year and some months he had become the owner of one hundred elephants, with everything else in proportion. He also realized much money by force, but most of it passed from him into the hands of young men of evil reputation in the city, who in a very short time had collected round him to the number of three or four thousand. As the saying is, "Soon got is soon spent." [Kamwar 176-179, Shiu Das 16b, Ahwal 126.]
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Farrukh-siyar's reckless mode of enriching Muhammad Murad is shown by one anecdote. One day he spoke to the Emperor about a ring. Orders were at once given to bring a valuable ring from the imperial jewel-house; and ten or twelve trays, full of rings, were brought. Farrukh-siyar said to Muhammad Murad: "Hold out your skirt." He did so. Then Farrukh-siyar several times took up double handfuls of rings, and emptied them into his skirt. Qutb-ul-mulk and others present remonstrated but without effect. [Shiu Das, 16.]