New History of the Marathas v1.c6.44

v1.c6.44

3. Battle of Roshangaon.—Malik Ambar possessed a keen perception and a rare capacity for organization. He made friends with the ruler of Bijapur, the wise Ibrahim Adil Shah, who celebrated in his capital, under his own personal direction and at his own expense, the marriage ceremony of Malik Ambar’s son Fath Khan in 1609, that is, just about the time that Jahangir’s forces marched from Agra against Ahmadnagar. Malik Ambar improved the Nizam-Shahi state in various ways. His genius perhaps appears pre-eminent in so administering the Nizamshahi territories as to make the peasantry his best support. Ambar’s land revenue assessment scheme earned for him a unique reputation and became a model for succeeding rulers to copy. Agriculture and industry were so fostered by him in the state that the country became prosperous and brought in a regular income. Although he was a Muslim, his rule came to be much appreciated and respected by the Hindus; it was so entirely free from any religious persecution, that the Hindus became his best friends.