Later Mughals v1.c9.s27: Sec. 29.—Mir Jumla's Second Return to Dihli.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s27
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Sec. 29.—Mir Jumla's Second Return to Dihli.
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We have already told how in 1128 H. (March, 1716) Mir Jumla was exiled first to Sarhind and then to Lahor. He had never abandoned hope of a return to Court, but Farrukh-siyar was too frightened of the Sayyids to accord his consent. At length, the Emperor, having screwed up his courage to the sticking place, recalled Mir Jumla. As soon as Qutb-ul-mulk learnt this, he sent to ask Farrukh-siyar why, if there was no quarrel left between them, he should have sent for Mir Jumla. Frightened at this remonstrance, Farrukh-siyar cancelled his first order. But Mir Jumla, directly he had received the farman, had started on his return, and paying no attention whatever to the second order, hurried on by forced marches. Knowing what anger would be aroused in Qutb-ul-mulk's breast by Mir Jumla's arrival, Farrukh-siyar despatched Shahbaz Khan Qul [slave] to turn him back wherever he might be found. Even this measure was powerless to arrest his course. However, as Mir Jumla perceived that, out of fear of the Wazir, Farrukh-siyar would decline to see him, he decided to give himself out as an adherent of the Sayyids. Accordingly he went straight to Qutb-ul-mulk's house, 5th Zul Qada (29th September, 1718). Farrukh-siyar, overpowered by anger, took away Mir Jumla's rank and gave orders to resume the mansion, known as Asad Khan's, which had been granted him, and conferred it upon Samsam-ud-daulah. Energetic men were sent with orders to remove him from the house of Qutb-ul-mulk to that of the late Fidai Khan. Qutb-ul mulk was much enraged at this action, and the ill-will which had been hidden under a pretended reconciliation, was now again shown openly. The Wazir wrote (5th Zul Qada, 29th September, 1718) to his brother, Husain Ali Khan, requesting him to leave the Dakhin at once and return to Dihli. In his letter, after referring to the enemies who had obtained the ear of His Majesty, he recounts the story of Jai Singh Sawai's campaign against Chura Jat, and the quarrel arising from its termination, his fear of assassination, and his measures to collect additional troops. There is no doubt that Qutb-ul-mulk's fears for his personal safety were not unfounded. For instance, on the 29th Shawwal (24th September, 1718), when he was seated in the office of the diwan engaged in signing documents, spies brought him word that an outbreak was planned, whereupon he called hurriedly for a palki, and was carried home.*
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One of the strange occurrences of this time, one remaining quite unexplained, was the sudden appearance in the imperial audience-hall, on the 11th Shawwal (6th September, 1718), of a man who took his seat on the marble platform, the place where the khawas or pages stand, and made three salams or reverences, with his sword. When told by the carpet-spreaders and guards to desist, he drew his sword and attacked them, whereupon one of the guards dispatched him with his dagger. No one knew who he was or what his object had been. His body was made over to the kotwal. [Kamwar 181.]
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When Farrukh-siyar heard that Husain Ali Khan had been written to, he sent off Samsam-ud-daulah to allay the Wazir's apprehensions. On the 6th Zul Qada (30th September, 1718) he went out hunting, and on his way home sent a message that he was about to honour Qutb-ul-mulk with a visit. It so happened that Rajah Ajit Singh had been told of a plot made by Farrukh-siyar to seize him, when he, as in duty bound, should come out to the door of his house, to make obeisance at the time of the Emperor's passing by. This may have had no other foundation than in the Rajah's evil conscience, for, as Khafi Khan says, it is a proverb that: "The faithless are full of fear." In any case the fact remains that Ajit Singh sought that day a refuge with Qutb-ul-mulk. As soon as the Emperor heard of the Rajah's presence, he countermanded his orders, and sent Sayyid Najm-ud-din Ali Khan to say, that if that base-born pig had not been at the Wazir's house, he would have paid him a visit. On the arrival of the boat (nawara)* opposite the Wazir's house, the Emperor directed the boatmen to increase their speed, in spite of the fact that the imperial equipage was drawn up, and the Wazir waiting on the river bank to receive him. Thus this occasion for untying the knot was lost, and the Emperor turned again to Samsam-ud-daulah for advice. That noble repaired to Qutb-ul-mulk's on the 9th Zul Qada (3rd October, 1718) and conferred with him. At this time, by reason of the rise of Itiqad Khan (Muhammad Murad), Samsam-ud-daulah had fallen out of favour with Farrukh-siyar, and was even suspected by him of treachery. Being aware of this change of feeling, he was now far from well-affected to the Emperor, had improved his relations with Qutb-ul-mulk, and had inspired that noble with full confidence in his friendship. Listening to his advice, Qutb-ul-mulk presented himself in darbar, made his obeisance, and, to all appearance, the quarrel was again made up, after the usual false speeches had been exchanged.†
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∗ Kamwar Khan, 182; Mirza Muhammad, 404, is a little different. Mirza Muhammad, 385; Shiu Das, 17b (copy of letter to Husain Ali Khan.)
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† Khafi Khan, 803, 804; Kamwar Khan, 182; Mirza Muhammad, 405.
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The story goes that Samsam-ud-daulah had planned with Farrukh-siyar the arrest of Qutb-ul-mulk. The Emperor was to take his seat in the tasbih-khana, or chapel, round which the armed attendants were to be secretly collected. When the moment came, the signal was to be given by the cry of "Qul!"
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∗ Nawara, these boats were fashioned into fanciful shapes such as wild animals, etc. They were roofed in at one end, which was covered with broad cloth; they were better finished and lighter than a common boat (kishti). The boatmen were mostly from Kashmir and used Kashmiri calls to each other when working. Anand Ram, (Mukhlis) Mirat-ul-istilah, fol. 166b, B. M. Oriental, No. 1813 (Elliot MSS.). Anand Ram quotes Babar as to the convenience of boat travelling.
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and, rushing in, the slaves were to seize the Wazir and hurry him off to prison. Qutb-ul-mulk having entered with a small following, Farrukh-siyar, when the time came, called out as agreed on, "Qul!" From some motive, either of prudence or friendship, Samsam-ud-daulah, instead of repeating the signal, changed the word, and shouted "Qur!" (armed retinue), the word used to signify that all those waiting for audience should be admitted. This slight change of one letter disarranged the whole plan. The slaves never stirred. But a large number of Qutb-ul-mulk's armed retinue at once appeared in the audience-chamber, and Farrukh-siyar was much disturbed at seeing this crowd. As soon as the minister had left, he vented his rage on Samsam-ud-daulah. In his access of passion he threw at his favourite the seal, the box for holding the ink used with it, and, as some add, a metal spittoon. After this catastrophe Samsam-ud-daulah absented himself for several days, nor did he return until Farrukh-siyar had written him a friendly note in his own hand, asking him to attend Court as usual. [Khush-hal.]
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After a few days the Emperor went out again on a hunting expedition, accompanied by many officers and State officials: and, as usual, the rumour spread that on this occasion, when Qutb-ul-mulk appeared to make his obeisance, hands would be laid upon him. Qutb-ul-mulk, receiving a hint from Samsam-ud-daulah, came surrounded by men; when he dismounted at the entrance, five hundred fully-armed soldiers dismounted with him. In spite of all that the chamberlain (Mir Tuzak) and attendants (yasawal) could say, the whole of these men followed into the audience tent. Farrukh-siyar was greatly perturbed at the sight, and it was with much constraint that he was able to utter a few words of compliment before he dismissed the visitor.* Further attempts to heal the breach were made. On the 20th Zul Qada (14th October, 1718) Zafar Khan, the fourth Bakhshi, took Itiqad Khan to Qutb-ul-mulk's house, when the favourite and the Wazir interchanged presents, and three days afterwards, Samsam-ud-daulah visited Itiqad Khan. About this time Farrukh-siyar, always of a suspicious nature, came to the conclusion that his foster-mother, who held an honoured position in the harem, and Itimad Khan, a eunuch, had betrayed his secret projects to the Sayyids. [Kamwar 183.]
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∗ Mirza Muhammad, 405; Khush-hal Chand, 411a; Shiu Das 17a; Yahya Khan 123b; Kamraj, Ibratnama, 56a; Kamwar Khan, 183.