Later Mughals v1.c9.s25: Sec. 27.—Maharajah Ajit Singh Is Sent For.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s25
- Language
- English
Sec. 27.—Maharajah Ajit Singh Is Sent For.
v1.c9.s25.1
Sarbuland Khan’s defection did not trouble Farrukh-siyar very much; his hopes now centred in his father-in-law, Maharajah Ajit Singh, for whom he had sent through Nahar Khan, the only person believed to have sufficient influence over the Rajah to secure his adhesion. Nahar Khan is the man whose good offices the Rajah had employed to secure terms from Sayyid Husain Ali Khan four years before. But Nahar Khan was an intimate friend of the two Sayyids, and his first efforts were directed to bringing over Ajit Singh to their side, and detaching him from that of Farrukh-siyar. In this he was fully successful. The Rajah started from Jodhpur for Dihli, and the Emperor was overjoyed at the prospect of his arrival. These hopes were, however, doomed to disappointment, for Ajit Singh had not the least intention of taking that side; on the contrary, his mind was fully made up to espouse the cause of the Sayyids. [M. M. 383.]
v1.c9.s25.2
On the 4th Shawwal 1130 H. (30th August, 1718), when Rajah Ajit Singh’s arrival near Bagh Malhan Shah was reported, Itiqad Khan (Muhammad Murad) was sent with the present of a dagger, and Samsam-ud-daulah was deputed as an escort.
v1.c9.s25.3
∗ Mirza Muhammad, 384; Khafi Khan, ii. 792. Mirza Muhammad (385), who was there, says that even after the Emperor, with many nobles and a number of spectators had left, there were still so many of Qutb-ul-mulk’s men present, that you could not tell that any one had gone away. As a consequence of this attempt, Qutb-ul-mulk enlisted twenty thousand new men, and, contrary to his previous practice accepted the services of men who were not Barha Sayyids.
v1.c9.s25.4
These men were commissioned to impress on the Rajah the high favour in which he stood with His Majesty, and by persuasive talk induce him to present himself in audience without the intervention of Qutb-ul-mulk. Itiqad Khan, after delivering the gifts with which he had been entrusted, told the Rajah that he was too great a man to need another person to introduce him, he should present himself in audience the next day, and he would be received. He could then lay his own representations before the throne. In reply the Rajah, after using many similar flattering professions, announced his intention of obtaining audience through Qutb-ul-mulk. In vain Itiqad Khan displayed all his eloquence, he could not turn the Rajah from his purpose. It is said that this was the result of Qutb-ul-mulk’s advice, conveyed through Nahar Khan and others. They had frightened the Rajah into the belief that Farrukh-siyar’s word could not be relied upon. By what vows and oaths, they said, had he not bound himself in the case of Asad Khan and his son, only to lure them into the net! The Sayyids, they added, are the only men who can stand up against such a sovereign, or whose support is of any value. [M. M. 386, Kamwar 180.]
v1.c9.s25.5
When his emissaries returned and reported their ill-success, Farrukh-siyar flew into a passion. But unable to help himself, he sent a message to Qutb-ul-mulk that the next day was appointed for the reception of Rajah Ajit Singh, and that he, too, should present himself at darbar. The Rajah had written that unless the minister attended he would not come.
v1.c9.s25.6
The next day, the 5th Shawwal (31st August, 1718), Itiqad Khan and Samsam-ud-daulah set out once more, and brought the Rajah to the audience-hall. Qutb-ul-mulk was present. On reaching the outer gate, Rajah Ajit Singh declined to advance further until he was certain of the presence of the Wazir. It was only after repeated assurances that he consented to enter the palace. When he reached the door of the Diwan-i-am he halted, and said that until Qutb-ul-mulk came to him there, he would not advance another step. Samsam-ud-daulah convinced him that Qutb-ul-mulk would come, but the spot fixed for him to appear was further on. They moved on to the door of the Diwan-i-khas. Again the Rajah halted.
v1.c9.s25.7
Here Qutb-ul-mulk appeared and the two men greeted each other most effusively. The Nawab then took the Rajah by the hand and conducted him to the presence. Farrukh-siyar, though far from pleased with his conduct, appeared hypocritically gracious and conferred the usual khilat and other presents.
v1.c9.s25.8
For twenty days neither the Wazir nor the Rajah reappeared at darbar. In this interval the Rajah visited Qutb-ul-mulk only once or twice, and the Nawab went once to him. But secret agents were constantly passing to and fro between them, and these men used every effort to strengthen the alliance. As the differences between the Emperor and his minister had now become public, Farrukh-siyar, instigated by Itiqad Khan, took what measures he could to win the day. On his side, too, Qutb-ul-mulk drew aside the veil, and refused to appear in audience. As soon as he found that the Nawab and the Rajah were one, Farrukh-siyar returned to the idea of a reconciliation. For several days in succession Itiqad Khan (Muhammad Murad) visited them with proposals for peace and concord. It leaked out, however, that Qutb-ul-mulk placed no reliance on Itiqad Khan's word, holding him to be a stirrer-up of strife. The negotiations were therefore transferred to Afzal Khan, the Sadar-us-sadur, but with equal want of good result. Sarbuland Khan and Samsam-ud-daulah's services were next enlisted (22nd Shawwal, 17th September 1718), although they were suspected of infidelity to the Emperor. But the final destruction of Qutb-ul-mulk was as firmly resolved on as ever. The command of the artillery, of which the assistance would be absolutely necessary, was in the hands of Sayyid Salabat Khan, a man well affected to Samsam-ud-daulah, whose loyalty was now doubted. This command was taken away, and given on the 22nd Shawwal (17th September, 1718) to Ghazi-ud-din Khan Ghalib Jang, who could be relied on as having no sort of connection with the Sayyids or Samsam-ud-daulah; nay, he might be accounted their enemy, for owing to the scanty favour that they had shown him, he was living in poverty, in spite of his mansab of 7,000 zat. [M. M. 390, Kamwar 181.]
v1.c9.s25.9
After Sarbuland Khan and Samsam-ud-daulah had been entrusted with the task of assuaging the anger of Qutb-ul-mulk, they succeeded by smooth speeches and plausible arguments in bringing him, to some extent, into a more reasonable frame of mind. He agreed to appear once more in darbar. It was faithfully promised that there should never again be anything to disturb his mind, or arouse differences of opinion. Rajah Ajit Singh having also absented himself, the Wazir advised that he also should be conciliated, and that they should be brought to darbar together. This was accordingly done and the Rajah propitiated. On the 26th Shawwal, 1130 H. (21st September, 1718), Rajah Ajit Singh repaired to the Wazir's house. Sarbuland Khan and Samsam-ud-daulah came on behalf of His Majesty, and requested that the two nobles might mount and set out. The two envoys, mounted on one elephant, preceded them to the palace. Qutb-ul-mulk and Rajah Ajit Singh followed, riding upon one elephant. Speeches full of apparent peace and goodwill were interchanged, outwardly all cause of quarrel between the parties had been removed, and at the Wazir's request the country of Bikaner was conferred upon the Rajah. But acute observers likened the situation to the well-known description of an hour-glass:
v1.c9.s25.10
"They are joined together like an hour-glass,
Hearts full of dust and faces all clear." [Shiu Das 19a.]