Later Mughals v2.c14.s30: Sec. 56.—Sarbuland Khan's Administration of Gujarat.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s30
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Sec. 56.—Sarbuland Khan's Administration of Gujarat.
v2.c14.s30.1
Shortly after the recall of the troops, Sarbuland Khan quarrelled with Najm-ud-din Ali Khan. Men said that without the Sayyid's aid the governor would have fared badly. These remarks came to Sarbuland Khan's ears, and on their next meeting he behaved rudely to the Sayyid and they were near coming to blows. Najm-ud-din Ali Khan took no further notice but awaited orders from Court. But one day Sarbuland Khan ranged his cannon in front of the Sayyid's camp and sent him word that there was only one thing for him to do—to march back to his own province. Najm-ud-din Ali Khan took the hint and returned to Ajmer, whence he was soon transferred to Gwalior and there died. [Warid 111, Khush-hal 1055b.]
v2.c14.s30.2
Sarbuland Khan seems to have had a faculty of quarrelling with those under him. In this first year in Gujarat, Khanazad Khan left his father and returned to Dihli. Sardar Muhammad Khan Ghorni was also dismissed. He had asked to be put in possession of the city revenues as security for the pay of the local militia (sibandi). A sharp dispute took place and the Sardar fell into disgrace; and with him his friend Ali Muhammad Khan who was replaced in the office of diwan by Said Beg, and he in turn by Muhammad Sulaiman. Khush-hal Chand, a rich merchant known as the nagar-seth (chief merchant) was removed in favour of Ganga Din, a silk seller; and a heavy fine was exacted from him under the threat of public degradation.* But the soldiers were already importunate for their pay and Sarbuland Khan thinking it wiser not to proceed to extremities, threw out a hint that Ali Muhammad Khan's intervention would be acceptable. By his good offices the Seth paid sixty thousand Rupees; but proceeded at once to Dihli in the company of one Muhammad Latif, a dismissed officer.
v2.c14.s30.3
In 1139 H. (1726) Sarbuland Khan took the field in pargana Kari and Bijapur,† collecting tribute (peshkash) and reducing the country to order. When the season arrived for the return of the Mahrattas (October 1726), Kanthaji appeared again on the Mahi. The Mahratta sought to come to terms and Sarbuland Khan, although some think his means of resistance would have given him the upper hand, was equally indisposed to continue the indefinite contest. One Surat Singh came from Kanthaji, and an agreement was arrived at. A grant was made of the chauth or one-fourth of the collections from all the lands on the west or Ahmadabad side of the Mahi river, with the exception of the Haveli or home pargana and the heads of revenue (mahals) collected from the city. The excepted items were those held by the governor in the lump (bil muqta) in lieu of an assignment for his pay and expenses. Deeds were drawn up, and letters to all the faujdars and amils were made over to the envoy. These letters directed the officials to give entry to the Mahratta collectors (mukasadars).
v2.c14.s30.4
Sarbuland Khan now devoted himself without fear of interruption to the affairs of his province. Having settled the portion lying near the Sabarmati river he turned towards Jhalawar and the region of Sorath. The village of Wadhwan in pargana Viramgaon, held by Arjun Singh, showed an intention to resist. Negotiations were opened but failed: and the village was fired upon. On the second day the water in their well (baoli) gave out, and on the third day the zamindar asked for terms. He came out and took shelter with Rajah Chattar Singh of Narwar who was on duty in the governor's army. A fine of three lakhs of Rupees was imposed in addition to the fixed revenue and a present (peshkash); and the zamindar’s sureties were detained until he paid.
v2.c14.s30.5
∗ Tashhir, parading through a town with ignominy. † Bijapur, 36 m. n. of Ahmadabad.
v2.c14.s30.6
Other zamindars took warning of the fate of Wadhwan. The agent of the Jam of Islamnagar otherwise known as Nawanagar agreed through Salabat Muhammad Khan Babi to pay three lakhs of Rupees. Altogether the collections made this year in that part of the country were large. Sarbuland Khan then returned to Ahmadabad and moved thence to the Koli villages near the Watrak. Having forced these men to execute bonds for their good behaviour he again returned to the city. There the faujdar of Duraha, Muhammad Iraj, attended with the village and pargana headmen, to render accounts and arrange for the revenue of the next year. As the faujdar in question was loudly complained of Ali Muhammad Khan was appointed in his place. Numerous other changes of officials were made; while Muhammad Amin Beg and Shaikh Allahyar Bakhshi were sent with troops to assess and collect tribute (peshkash) from the Kolis in the country near the Mahi river.
v2.c14.s30.7
When it was reported at the imperial Court that the chauth had been agreed to and terms negotiated with Kanthaji, the monthly payments of three lakhs of Rupees, of which three had been made, were discontinued. As Sarbuland Khan kept up a large army and employed many highly paid officials, the revenue from the parganas and the money brought in as offerings (peshkash) did not suffice to meet his expenses. He endeavoured to fill up the deficiency by imposing fines and resorting to violence of many kinds, and listening to caluminators and other short-sighted self-sighted counsellors.