Later Mughals v1.c9.s8: Sec. 8.—Samsam-Ud-Daulah, Khan Dauran, Bahadur, Mansur Jang.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s8
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Sec. 8.—Samsam-Ud-Daulah, Khan Dauran, Bahadur, Mansur Jang.
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Khwaja Asim's ancestors, emigrating from a village in Badakhshan, took up their residence in Agra. Some followed the profession of soldiering, others gained reputation as men of learning and holiness, living secluded from the world. They were of the Naqshbandi sect. His father's name was Khwaja Qasim : and as his birth took place about 1083 H., 1672-3, he was now about forty-two (lunar) years of age. He began life as a trooper of Prince Azim-ush-shan's regiment, and when that Prince, at the time of Alamgir's death, left Bengal for Agra, Khwaja Asim remained with Farrukh-siyar in the former province. One author asserts that he had been a play-fellow of Farrukh-siyar's, but as he was at least eleven years older, this can hardly be correct. His intimacy with the Prince was founded, however, on his joining him in wrestling, archery, riding, polo playing and other war-like exercises, of which Farrukh-siyar was passionately fond. He soon obtained such great influence with the young Prince that the other courtiers complained to Azim-ush-shan. The Khwaja was accordingly sent for to head-quarters at Lahor. Soon after this, Bahadur Shah died and Khwaja Asim (now become Ashraf Khan) upon the death of his master, Azim-ush-shan, fled to Agra. Here Khwaja Jafar, his elder brother, tried to make him renounce the world and thus save his soul. For a time he stopped at home and occupied himself with Shirazi pigeon-fancying and archery. When Farrukh-siyar became next heir to the throne, Khwaja Asim "felt like a falcon newly moulted." He began to collect some men, but his doings were reported to the governor. Being warned by a disciple of a resolve to seize him, he fled at midnight in the disguise of a faqir. On reaching Patna, he was introduced by the two Sayyids to the Prince, his former intimacy with whom he is said to have concealed. From this point the part he took has already appeared in our history.*
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Khan Dauran was the perfect type of the Indian courtier, and from this time until his death in 1151 H. 1738, he retained his position at Court, whoever was in power. He is described as a man of smooth plausible speech, with no learning and little knowledge of Persian, prefixing to every sentence the catch word *mera sahib*! (my good sir). To conceal his limited acquaintance with Persian, he used to begin by speaking in elegant Urdu, so that he might charm his hearers at the outset and prevent their noticing his defective scholarship. He used to say that for a man born in India to attempt to speak Persian was to make himself ridiculous by his own act. But he could quote occasionally with good effect Persian couplets or proverbs. An elder brother had been formerly in the service of Azim-ush-shan and was killed in the campaign in Bengal against Rahim Khan Afghan. Much of Khan Dauran’s prestige may have been derived from his commanding presence. A contemporary tells us that when he walked up the audience-hall with a group of followers, his head would be seen towering far above the others. From all accounts he and his brother, Muzaffar Khan, were boasters of a most extravagant order, while their courage was more than doubtful. At any rate, they rarely put it to the test. Khan Dauran might, indeed, have qualified as a member of the Peace Society, for whenever the subject was broached, he would ask, “What is to be gained by going to war?” He was one of those men, never absent from Eastern Courts, who do absolutely nothing, either in war or in peace, as a return for the rank and wealth which have been showered upon them. His hand was in every intrigue, and never without profit to himself. Throughout his career, he was the favourer of the Hindustani party in the State, the person through whom Jat or Rajput chiefs put forward any claim they might wish to advance. Especially was this the case with Rajah Jai Singh, for whom as we shall see, Khan Dauran obtained many favours. [M. U. i. 819, Yahya 119b, Ashob 73.]
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∗ M. U. i. 817, Ahwal-ul-khawaqin 49b, Tarikh-i-Muhammadi (year 1151 H.)
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SEC. 9.—GHAZI-UD-DIN KHAN GHALIB JANG, (AHMAD BEG).
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When Farrukh-siyar first reached Azimabad Patna, Shariyatullah Khan (Mir Jumla) and Khwaja Asim (Khan Dauran) not being present, Ahmad Beg became for a time his most active assistant and principal confidant. He was one of the foster brothers of Jahandar Shah,[*] but having quarrelled with that Prince on account of the preference shown for Ali Murad Kokaltash Khan, he sought a refuge in Bengal. When Farrukh-siyar's more particular favourites returned, they supplanted Ahmad Beg in the Prince's good graces, and from that time he seems to have fallen a good deal into the back ground. Ahmad Beg, a man of Turani race, was born about 1076 H. 1665-6. From the scantiness of his beard, he bore the nickname of Kosa, or Goatbeard.[*] His further part in history is confined to two occasions, the day of Farrukh-siyar's deposition, when he fought in the streets on his master's behalf, and again at the time when he took the side of Qutb-ul-mulk, after the murder of Husain Ali Khan. When Muhammad Shah pardoned him, it was proposed to take away his title of Ghalib Jang, as it had been granted to a brother of Lutfullah Khan Sadiq. Ghazi-ud-din Khan made loud objection, and claimed that, as both he and the new "Conqueror in War" were present, they should fight it out in single combat, the victor becoming in both senses Ghalib-i-jang. The Emperor smiled and left him in undisturbed possession. He died on the 12th Safar, 1139 H., (8th October, 1726), at the age of sixty-three (lunar) years. [M. U. ii. 879, T. M. year 1139.]
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∗ Yahya Khan, 119a, says he was the nawasah (daughter's son) of Qaim Beg Shahjahani.