New History of the Marathas v1.c14.10

v1.c14.10

European travellers of the time have recorded their observations on the last days of Bijapur and Golkonda, in which Madan Pant has been represented as a versatile sweet-tempered person, while his elder brother Ākannā is described as whimsical and short-tempered. The latter was posted to the management of the Karnatak regions of the Kutb-Shahi State, but when Mādannā became the principal minister, he for a time appointed Ākannā as an ambassador to the Court of Bijapur and later made him the Chief Military Commandant. Both had a large family of cousins and nephews whom Mādannā employed in various offices in the State as he needed loyal subordinates for faithfully carrying out the reforms he introduced. The natural result of this policy was the preponderance of the Hindus in the Golkonda administration, which roused the jealousy of the Muslim section who obeyed no law and who started intrigue and foul play. This state of things gave Aurangzeb a useful handle to work its ruin.