Later Mughals v2.c14.s41: Sec. 68.—Last Years of Sarbuland Khan.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s41
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Sec. 68.—Last Years of Sarbuland Khan.
v2.c14.s41.1
With his removal from Gujarat Sarbuland Khan's public career ended, except for a short time when he was governor of Allahabad and his brief appearance in 1738 as one of Nadir Shah's collectors of the fine imposed upon the capital. Compared with many of his contemporaries he was an active and energetic officer. But in none of his Governments, Agra, Patna, Kabul or Gujarat, did he succeed in fully establishing his authority. In Patna he defeated the Bhojpur zamindar Sidisht Narayan son of Dhir, and in Kabul he met with one or two successes. In Ahmadabad Gujarat he seems to have made continuous efforts to restore some sort of order. But he was wanting in prudence and foresight, and above all he was too lavish and careless about expenditure. During his five years in Gujarat he showed himself an active soldier and the extent of his success in that province can be best gauged from the increasing weakness of his successors. Compared with theirs his hold upon his province was thorough and effective. When at last after a long stay at Agra Sarbuland Khan was able to return to Dihli he was forced to entrench himself in his house to keep off his creditors, and whenever he was called to Court the Emperor sent an imperial letter with several imperial attendants to protect him from an attack. Mubariz-ul-mulk Sarbuland Khan Bahadur, Dilawar Jang (original name Muhammad Rafi) died on the 13th Zul Qada 1154 H. (19th January 1742) at the age of sixty-nine (lunar) years. [T-i-M.]
v2.c14.s41.2
Having carried on the story of the Mahratta advance in Ahmadabad-Gujarat up to the year 1730 we now turn to another part of the country, Bundelkhand, in the province of Allahabad, where we shall find the same disorganization on the imperial side and the same promptitude on the part of the Mahrattas in taking advantage of the slightest weakness of their opponents.