Later Mughals v1.c9.s30: Section 32.—Progress of Events at Dihli.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s30
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Section 32.—Progress of Events at Dihli.
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By the middle of Muharram 1131 H. (7th December, 1718) Qutb-ul-mulk had been absent from Court for two or three months. In that month the Emperor passed several times close to his house on the way to and from Firuz Shah's Lath, towards which he had gone to hunt, but on no occasion had Qutb-ul-mulk come out to the door to make his obeisance, as required by etiquette. Farrukh-siyar was now in a state of terror at the approach of Husain Ali Khan, whose well-known violence of temper and vigour of purpose he much dreaded. He and his advisers thought it prudent therefore to win over Qutb-ul-mulk, so that he might act as a peace-maker and not as an increaser of strife. Since, by this time Farrukh-siyar had abandoned all hope of destroying the Sayyids, success in this new project was looked on as far from impossible. But, as Yahya Khan says, he did not recollect the saying, "After you have lost your sight what is the use of treatment?" [Yahya 124a, Kamwar 185, M.M. 417.]
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Accordingly, on the 26th Muharram (18th December, 1718) Farrukh-siyar embarked in his boat on the Jamuna and was taken to the Wazir's door. Qutb-ul-mulk came out to meet him and bowed his head so as to touch the Emperor's feet. Rich offerings were brought and presented. In return Farrukh-siyar took off the turban he was wearing and placed it on the minister's head along with the costly jewels attached to it, adding a suit of clothes which he had himself worn.* Breakfast was eaten and a siesta taken in the house before his return to the palace. On his departure, after the exchange of many vows and promises, Ratan Chand and some others received robes of honour. Kamwar Khan here justly quotes a line to the effect that such promises were as much to be relied on as the winds of heaven.
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∗ A mark of high favour, according to the Mughal ceremonial.
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The next day, the 27th, about midday, Qutb-ul-mulk appeared at the audience, made the usual offerings, and was dismissed. That afternoon there was an outbreak among the troops, and it very nearly ended in an attack on Qutb-ul-mulk's mansion. On one side were the artillery headed by Bika, Hazari ;* on the other, the men of Rajah Ajit Singh and of Chura Jat. The fight lasted over three hours, many on both sides were killed, and only the coming-on of night separated the combatants. Ghazi-ud-din Khan Ghalib Jang, the commander of the artillery, Said Quli Khan Qul, and Sayyid Najm-ud-din Ali Khan intervened, and the quarrel was made up. Zafar Khan was sent by the Emperor to make excuses and apologize to Rajah Ajit Singh.†
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† Mirza Muhammad, 417, 478; Kamwar Khan, 185, 186; Khafi Khan, 800.
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At his own interview Qutb-ul-mulk had told the Emperor of Rajah Ajit Singh's discontent, which ought in his opinion to be removed. Acting on this opinion, Farrukh-siyar on the 1st Safar (23rd December, 1718) went with Qutb-ul-mulk to Rajah Ajit Singh's quarters, and presents were interchanged. He remained over an hour and then went on his way. On the following day the Wazir and Rajah Ajit Singh proceeded together to the Emperor's audience. To all appearance the breach was closed once more. The next man requiring to be conciliated was Sarbuland Khan, Mubariz-ul-mulk, Dilawar Jang. He had been appointed, as we have already said, to Agra, and after enlisting a large force marched as far as Faridabad. His expenses were heavy, and he was at all times a bad financier. Farrukh-siyar neither recalled him in order to strike a decisive blow, nor sent him any remittance from the treasury. Sarbuland Khan parted with everything he had, even down to his dwelling-house, and then came back from Faridabad without orders, and sought refuge in Old Dihli. His mansab had been taken from him in consequence. On the 6th Safar (28th December, 1718) Qutb-ul-mulk went to him and brought him to audience.*
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∗ Or Tika. A Hazari is equivalent to a captain of artillery.
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By this time Farrukh-siyar began to see that Qutb-ul-mulk and Husain Ali Khan had obtained the upper hand of him. All his efforts were now directed to propitiating his enemies. Qutb-ul-mulk was raised on the 6th Safar (28th December) from 7,000 (7,000 horse) to 8,000 (8,000 horse) of which 5,000 were duaspa (two horses each), and he received a gift of 5 krors and 80 lakhs of dam. Itiqad Khan (Muhammad Murad) and Zafar Khan, Turra-i-baz, having acted as negotiators between the Emperor and Qutb-ul-mulk, the supposed happy results were attributed to their exertions. The former was now styled Rukn-ud-daulah, Itiqad Khan, Bahadur, Farrukh-Shahi, with the rank of 7,000 (7,000 horse) of which 4,000 were duaspa. To Zafar Khan's titles were added the words Rustam Jang ; he was given the insignia of the fish dignity, and he was promoted to 6,000. On the following day, 7th Safar (29th December), Husain Ali Khan was promoted to 8,000, (8,000 horse), of which 5,000 were duaspa, and 4 krors and 80 lakhs of dam were granted to him. [M. M. 429.]
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Several appointments were made under the renewed influence of Qutb-ul-mulk. On the 16th Safar 1131 H. (7th January, 1719) Sarbuland Khan was appointed to Kabul, the former governor, Nasir Khan, having recently died at Peshawar. Maharajah Ajit Singh, on the same day, was gratified with the epithet of Rajeshwar, added to his other titles, and the Government of Ahmadabad-Gujarat was given to him, on the removal of Samsam-ud-daulah (Khan Dauran). At the same time the Emperor's own favourites were not forgotten. On the 16th Safar 1131 H. (7th January, 1719) the chakla of Muradabad (part of the subah of Dihli) was taken from Nizam-ul-mulk and erected into a subah with the name of Ruknabad, and conferred on Itiqad Khan,† his deputy being Fakhr-ullah Khan, his brother-in-law. Nizam-ul-mulk was thus entirely ousted from office, but Samsam-ud-daulah was consoled the next day for the loss of Ahmadabad by appointment to Agra, including the faujdarship of Mathura. [M. M. 414, 431 ; Kamwar 186.]
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∗ Kamwar Khan, 186; Mirza Muhammad, 427; Khafi Khan, 801. † Khafi Khan, ii. 792, asserts that the chakla was given in al-tamgha (literally "Red-seal") or perpetual grant.
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Farrukh-siyar's thoughts next turned to a reconciliation between Rajah Jai Singh Sawai, and Qutb-ul-mulk. Jai Singh was displeased at the part which Qutb-ul-mulk had played in the matter of Churaman Jat. As the Rajah had taken Farrukh-siyar's side throughout, the latter was very anxious to favour him, but Qutb-ul-mulk's position having proved so strong, he was afraid to do anything without a reconciliation. Therefore, on the 18th Safar (9th January, 1719), he sent Zafar Khan to the Rajah's house, and at this messenger's suggestion the Rajah accompanied him on a visit to Qutb-ul-mulk. The Nawab received him most affably, and gave him a dagger and other things by way of present. A return visit was paid on the 24th, followed on the 25th (15th and 16th January, 1719) by a visit to the Rajah from Farrukh-siyar himself, to whom valuable offerings were made both in cash and other things. The Rajah had also filled a reservoir (hauz) with rose-water and saffron, had adorned the trees with imported fruit, and in all ways strove to do honour to the occasion. His titles were increased to Raj-indar, Rajadhiraj. [Kamwar 187, M. M. 431.]