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Twilight of the Sultanate c9.s3: Pseudo-Sārang and Tughān Raīs

Twilight of the Sultanate c9.s3

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Pseudo-Sārang and Tughān Raīs

c9.s3.1

Interested groups were not slow to take advantage of such a state of affairs, and an impostor from Bajwara,⁶⁵ a dependency of Jalandhar, declared himself to be Sārang Khan.⁶⁶ It was well known that Sārang Khan had been killed during Tīmūr’s invasion,⁶⁷ but many people, some foolish and ignorant while others clever and interested, joined the Pretender. It was Sārang Khan who had expelled Khizr Khan from Multan a little before Tīmūr’s invasion, and his very name must have given the Sultan a creeping feeling as well as revived bitter memories in his mind. He therefore immediately directed Malik Sultan Shāh (subsequently entitled Islam Khan),⁶⁸ belonging to a family of the Lodī clan recently domiciled in India and holding the governorship of Sarhind, to march against the impostor. In July, 1419 (Rajjab, 822 H)⁶⁹ Sultan Shāh marched with his forces from Sarhind. On the way he was joined by Zīrak Khan of Samana and Tughān Raīs of Jalandhar.⁷⁰ The pseudo-Sārang together with the forces of Khwājā ’Alī Māzindrānī,⁷¹ the Amīr of Jath in Sindh⁷² who had joined him, advanced from Bajwara to Rupar to meet Sultan Shāh. The latter succeeded in inflicting a crushing defeat on the rebels, who retreated into the Simla hills. The royalists occupied Rupar, where they were joined by Malik Khairuddīn who had been sent from Delhi to help quell the rebellion.⁷³ They combed the mountains but the Pretender succeeded in eluding them. Finding the task hopeless, the royal commanders returned to their respective fiefs. Khizr Khan had failed against the Pretender, but the latter soon fell a victim to the perfidy of Tughān Raīs who inveigled him into his power, not so much from any sense of loyalty to the Sultanate as for possessing the great wealth which the impostor had amassed, and later put him to death in February, 1420 (Muharram, 823 H).⁷⁴ Howsoever his fall was brought about, the death of the Pretender was Khizr Khan’s gain.

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⁶⁵ Yahyā and all other chroniclers except Ferishta have Bajwara. Yahyā also adds that it was a dependency of Jalandhar (T.M.S., 189). Bajwara lies 1½ miles east of Hoshiarpur and 25 miles N.E. of Jalandhar. (Hunter, Imp. Gaz., II, 439). Only Ferishta makes it Machchīwara. Machchīwara lies 23 miles south of Ludhiana on the Sutlej and is said to be a very ancient city having been mentioned in the *Mahābharata*. Ferishta is mistaken and the place of the Pretender was certainly Bajwara. Also see Ranking's note in Badaonī, I, 380; T.A., De, note 297 and Rennel's map.

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⁶⁶ T.A., I, 269; Ferishta, I, 163.

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⁶⁷ Ferishta, I, 163. Also E and D, IV, 51 n.

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⁶⁸ T.M.S., 189; Ferishta, I, 163.

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⁶⁹ T.M.S., 189; T.A., I, 269.

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⁷⁰ T.M.S., 190.

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⁷¹ E and D, IV, 51, has Indarabi and Basu, translator of T.M.S., repeats the mistake. T.A., I, 269, also wrongly has اندرابی. It is clearly given in T.M.S., text, 190, as مازندرانی, i.e. Khwājā ’Alī belonging to Māzindarān.

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⁷² Jāth or Jhet may be Chāth or Chahat which was a Mahāl in the Sarkar of Sindh and lay on the Ghaggar. Āīn. Trs. II, 296.

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⁷³ T.M.S., 190; T.A., I, 269.

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⁷⁴ T.M.S., 190-91.

c9.s3.12

Simultaneously in the east Tājul Mulk was busy collecting the annual revenue. Marching through and sacking Baran (Bulandshahr), Kol (Aligarh) and Deoli, “which was a stronghold of the infidels,”⁷⁵ he arrived at Etawah. The inhabitants of the countryside were plundered and the fort invested, whereupon Rai Sumēr paid the usual revenue or tribute. Chandwār was plundered next and revenue was collected from Vīr Singh of Katēhar and Mahābat Khan of Badaon.

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⁷⁵ T.M.S., 191 has موضع دهلی. So has T.A., I, 269. This Dehili must be Deoli-Jakhan near Etawah. Deoli lies about 20 miles N.E. of Etawah. Even now Chouhans are found there in great strength. U.P. Gaz., X, Mainpuri, 94, 151, 204; Elliot, *Races*, II, 86.

c9.s3.14

Hardly had Tājul Mulk returned from his expedition when in August, 1420 (Rajjab, 823 H) Tughān Raīs, strengthened by the treasure he had seized and afraid of some action on the part of Khizr Khan, unfurled the standard of revolt. He pillaged the tract up to Mansūrpur and Pāil⁷⁶ in the northern Punjab and then laid siege to the fort of Sarhind. Malik Khairuddīn marched from Delhi via Samana, where he was joined by Zīrak Khan, to deal with the rebel. On their approach Tughān Raīs raised the siege and retreated, crossing the Sutlej near Ludhiana.⁷⁷ The royal commanders too crossed the river and inflicted on him a crushing defeat. The rebel fled to seek refuge with Jasrat Khokhar⁷⁸ and his fief of Jalandhar was bestowed upon Zīrak Khan.

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⁷⁶ T.M.S., 191.

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⁷⁷ T.M.S., 192. Ferishta wrongly has Lohānā.

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⁷⁸ T.M.S., 191-92.

c9.s3.18

Early in the year A. D. 1421 (824 H) Khizr Khan marched into Mewat, where trouble was brewing. The Kotla of its erstwhile ruler Bahādur Nāhar was taken in the first assault and thoroughly sacked. Some recalcitrant Mewatīs escaped into the mountains while the others made their submission. Khizr Khan then turned towards Gwalior. During the march the loyal and veteran general Malik Tājul Mulk passed away on 13 January, 1421 (8 Muharram, 824 H).⁷⁹ He had rendered invaluable service to the Sultanate in the most trying times, and had almost killed himself with exertion in the act of bringing the recalcitrants to book. It was, therefore, in the fitness of things that Khizr Khan should bestow upon his eldest son Malik Sikandar Tuhfā the office of Vazārat and the title of Malikul Sharq (Lord of the East) enjoyed by Tājul Mulk.

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⁷⁹ *Ibid.*, 192.

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From Gwalior Khizr Khan collected the stipulated tribute and then proceeded to Etawah. Rai Sumēr had died and his son Deva Rai purchased peace on the usual terms of payment of revenue or tribute. Here the monarch fell ill. In all haste he returned to Delhi, but only to breathe his last on Tuesday, 20 May, 1421 (17 Jamadiul Avval, 824 H).⁸⁰

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⁸⁰ T.M.S., 192; T.A., I, 270; Badaoni, Ranking, I, 381; Ferishta, I, 163. His tomb lies in Okhla to the S.E. of Khizerābād. Asār, chap. II, 25-6. Carr Stephen, 159; List, IV, No. 17. J.I.H., XXXI, 1953, 211.

Cites (2)