Later Mughals v2.c14.s36: Sec. 63.—Maharajah Abhai Singh Rathor Sent from Dihli to Gujarat.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s36
- Language
- English
Sec. 63.—Maharajah Abhai Singh Rathor Sent from Dihli to Gujarat.
v2.c14.s36.1
At the Dihli Court Sarbuland Khan's favour had by this time waned and disappeared. Muhammad Shah's hope that through Sarbuland Khan vengeance would be wreaked upon Nizam-ul-mulk had vanished. Meanwhile complaints of the governor's conduct began to accumulate, the taking of illegal fines, the resumption of jagirs, and other aggressive acts. More fatal still, Khan Dauran, in whose hands then rested supreme power, for some unknown reason had become estranged. In consequence Khan Dauran caused the stoppage of the monthly subvention promised when the appointment to Gujarat was accepted. The loss of this allowance threw all of Sarbuland Khan's plans into confusion; he was essentially careless and profuse in his expenditure and the pay of the large number of troops required, owing to the disturbed condition of the province, more than exhausted such revenues as he could collect, more often than not at the point of the sword. As soon as the monthly cash allowance was withdrawn, he began to threaten that he would resign if it were not restored, hoping that the difficulty of finding any one to replace him would secure compliance. But Khan Dauran, who nourished exaggerated notions of his own wisdom and statesmanship, was of opinion that the great Hindu Rajahs were the only men who could effectually confront the Mahratta onrush. Abhai Singh Rathor, ruler of Jodhpur, appeared to be the very man for Khan Dauran's purposes, and an additional point in the game would be scored by this appointment, for Abhai Singh would be detached from the rival party of the chief minister Itimad-ud-daulah and the Turanis.
v2.c14.s36.2
Abhai Singh along with the usual honours and gifts received eighteen lakhs of Rupees from the treasury in aid of his expenses together with fifty cannon of various sizes and their complete equipment. The Maharajah then proceeded from Dihli to Jodhpur, where he collected twenty thousand well trained Rathor horsemen from Marwar and Nagor. He was joined by his brother, Rajah Bakht Singh, and their combined forces started for Ahmadabad. When they reached the neighbourhood of Palanpur they were met by the faujdar, Karim Dad Khan.
v2.c14.s36.3
Hearing that Sarbuland Khan meant to oppose his entry, Abhai Singh sent secretly to Sardar Muhammad Khan Ghorni a banker's bill for twenty thousand Rupees with a warrant of appointment as deputy governor. He was instructed to occupy the town if he could. Sardar Muhammad Khan enlisted a number of Gujaratis and awaited his opportunity. Meanwhile Shah Nawaz Khan, M. Amin Beg and Shaikh Allahyar bricked up the gateways, placed men to watch on all the bastions, and made ready supplies for a siege. Night and day their vigilance never relaxed, and Sardar Muhammad Khan found no opening for action.
v2.c14.s36.4
When the Maharajah was close to Sidhpur, 64 miles north of Ahmadabad, Jawan-mard Khan and Safdar Khan (Babis), nephews of the late Salabat Muhammad Khan, appeared from their jagir of Radhanpur. They forgot the benefits received from Sarbuland Khan, and impelled by self-interest submitted to the new ruler. Many professional soldiers, and those known as qasbati, flocked to the Maharajah's standard in the hope of employment. So also without informing his uncle Abdul-ghani Khan, the diwan, Muhammad Baqir son of the late Mumin Khan departed secretly with three or four men to the Rajah's camp and there joined his brother, Mumin Khan (II.)