Later Mughals v2.c14.s34: Sec. 61.—Rising of Bahoras Under Shaikh Abdullah.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s34
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Sec. 61.—Rising of Bahoras Under Shaikh Abdullah.
v2.c14.s34.1
As soon as the army had returned to its head-quarters, the soldiers broke out into mutiny and demanded their arrears which had now accumulated. To meet their demands it was resolved to make a levy from the city as had been done several times before. It was taken as usual in the proportion of three-fourths from the Hindus and one-fourth from the Bahora traders, who are Muhammadans of the Sunni sect. Collectors were appointed. News that Sarbuland Khan had been superseded emboldened the Bahoras to resist. Ostensibly they pleaded poverty, their idea being that Sarbuland Khan would be too much afraid of a riot to use force. Shaikh Abdullah, an old Bahora who had lived as a recluse for thirty years, headed the agitators. The malcontents assembled in the great mosque. The Shaikh began to tear his beard and proclaim that the heavenly hosts would fight for them. At his instigation word was sent to Sarbuland Khan that if he did not leave the city at once he would be put under arrest. The Shaikh's words acted on the crowd like naphtha thrown upon fire, and all accepted him as an envoy from on high.
v2.c14.s34.2
Sarbuland Khan summoned Abdul-ghani Khan the diwan of the subah and the other leading officials. Repeated messages of the mildest kind were forwarded to the Shaikh. He was told that the governor had graciously resolved to remit the share of the levy due from the Bahoras and they should now depart in peace to their houses. Instead of propitiating the Shaikh, these soft words only served to harden his heart; he believed that his hard words had produced an effect and that "the arrow of his desire had hit its aim". After using stronger language than before he answered that not only must Sarbuland Khan leave the city but the order to levy money from the Hindus must also be rescinded. He incited the Hindus to join and made ready for street fighting.
v2.c14.s34.3
His friendly overtures having been rejected, Sarbuland Khan ordered out his troops under Shaikh Allahyar with orders to close all the streets leading to the mosque. The governor then moved out of the Bhadar palace and passed through the three gates of the Maidan Bazar. The common people who had accepted the Shaikh's silly talk and boasts as words of wisdom, on seeing the approach of troops, mounted the shop roofs on each side of the road and began to throw bricks and tiles. Allahyar caused a few of them to be seized and bound; the rest, forgetting all about the Shaikh's miraculous power, took to their heels, without waiting for the arrival of the hosts of heaven.
v2.c14.s34.4
Allahyar seized the gates of the mosque and his men on entering found the Shaikh and a few men seated on the mihrab.* The Shaikh was quickly seized and some of his friends killed, the rest asked for mercy. The only result of the Shaikh's interference was that the Bahoras were made to pay double the original demand. This affair occurred on the 14th Muharram 1143 (29th July, 1730).
v2.c14.s34.5
∗ An elevated place in a mosque where the leader of the prayer stands.