Later Mughals v1.c9.s23: Sec. 25.—Sarbuland Khan Recalled to Court.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s23
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Sec. 25.—Sarbuland Khan Recalled to Court.
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About this time (April 1718) the settlement with Churaman Jat had been forced through by Qutb-ul-mulk, quite against the wishes of Farrukh-siyar himself. From this cause the smouldering quarrel again broke into activity. More especially was this noticeable after the arrival of Rajah Jai Singh, who asserted that in another month Churaman, who was very hard-pressed, would have been utterly defeated; that Qutb-ul-mulk had been so strenuous in pressing the Jat's application, only owing to his desire to prevent the Rajah's success. As Farrukh-siyar fully believed that the two Sayyids were working for his destruction, this complaint added fuel to the flames. Contemporaries concur in asserting that, although Muhammad Murad had liberality (sakhawat) and kindliness (maruvvat), he had not the talent (hausla) required in a Wazir, or even in a great noble. Nor was he valorous. He was even less so than Mir Jumla; though, all the while, Farrukh-siyar believed that in him he had won a splendid piece to play in his game against Qutb-ul-mulk.* But Muhammad Murad himself felt that he was not the man to enter upon an open contest with the Sayyids. He therefore cast about for somebody more fitted to undertake the enterprize with some hope of success. His first selection was Sarbuland Khan, who had a reputation for wisdom and courage, and though just removed from the governorship of Bihar, was still at the head of a large army. On the favourite's advice, Sarbuland Khan was summoned to Court, where he arrived on the 10th Shaban 1130 H. (8th July, 1718), Muhammad Murad going out to meet him. His troops were paraded before the Emperor on the 21st of that month.†
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† For the secret letter sent to Sarbuland Khan by Amin-ud-din Khan with a shuqqa from the Emperor, see Dastur-ul-insha, p. 29. Mirza Muhammad, 379, copy of farman in Shiu Das 19a, Kamwar Khan 179-180.
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Sarbuland Khan had come to Court with the anticipation that when the Sayyids had been successfully dealt with, he would receive as his reward the exalted office of Wazir. Full of zeal, he had started with seven to eight thousand well-armed horsemen and some artillery. As this force approached, it was the common belief that at last the Sayyids were to be effectually crushed, that at last the Emperor had come to a firm determination, having set up in Sarbuland Khan a sagacious and energetic rival fit to cope with them; that when Qutb-ul-mulk had been got rid of at Court, to dispose of Husain Ali Khan would be a comparatively easy matter. Sarbuland Khan was promoted to 7,000 (6,000 horse), with the titles of Mubariz-ul-mulk, Sarbuland Khan, Namwar Jang,‡ and by promises of further reward he was induced to undertake the business.
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‡ Tarikh-i-Muhammadi (1154 H.) has Dilawar Jang instead of Namwar.
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Qutb-ul-mulk had long been on his guard; he now redoubled his precautions. He never moved to darbar without being escorted by three or four thousand horsemen. It was not long before, by chance, it came to Sarbuland Khan's knowledge that, even if he carried the attempt to a successful issue, he might be rewarded liberally, but the office of Wazir was intended for another. He resolved to obtain confirmation of this from the Emperor's own lips, although to do so demanded great care in the way the question was put. Accordingly he framed it in the following way: "As Your Majesty has decided on the disgrace of these two brothers, you must have in your mind someone capable of bearing the burden of chief minister, an office of supreme importance." The simple-minded Emperor replied: "For this post I have Itiqad Khan (i.e., Muhammad Murad) in my mind; and to speak the truth, there is no one better than him for it." Sarbuland Khan, who in his hope of the wazirship had been hitherto hot as flame, now grew cold as ice. The position suggests to the author of the *Masir-ul-umara* the verse, "I am in love, and the loved one desires another; Like the first of Shawwal called the Feast of Ramzan." Qutb-ul-mulk had already warned Sarbuland Khan that he and his brother meant the contest to be one for death or life, that they meant to stake their heads on the cast of the dice. From that day Sarbuland Khan drew back. Although in appearance he continued to act and talk as before, in his heart he resolved to do nothing further. Finally he was appointed to Agra on the 19th Shawwal (14th September, 1718), but on the 1st Muharram 1131 H. (23rd November, 1718) he resigned office and returned from Faridabad, having gone no further than that place on his way to his new Government.*
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∗ Yahya Khan 124b, Ahwal-ul-khawaqin 126b.