History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c68.s5: § 5. Aurangzib's distrust of Shias and other difficulties.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c68.s5
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§ 5. Aurangzib's distrust of Shias and other difficulties.
v4.c68.s5.1
But Shah Alam was not the only discordant element in the siege-camp. The many Shias in the imperial service heartily disliked the prospect of the extinction of the last Shia kingdom in India, and though a few notable exceptions among them served the Emperor loyally against their own religious sympathies, others secretly helped the besieged, especially during the dark days of rain and famine. Apart from the Shias, this war of extermination against Abul Hasan was condemned by many orthodox Sunnis even, as an unprovoked "war between Muslims" and therefore sinful. The upright and saintly Chief Justice, Shaikh-ul-Islam, had counselled the Emperor not to invade the two Decanni sultanates, and on his advice being rejected he had resigned his high post and retired to Mecca. His successor in office, Qazi Abdullah, tendered the same unpalatable advice and entreated the Emperor to accept submission and tribute from Qutb Shah and thus stop the effusion of Muslim blood. The Emperor's answer was to pack off this honest adviser to the Base camp.
v4.c68.s5.2
This natural distrust of Shias hindered the Emperor's business. At first the only high and distinguished officer at the siege was Firuz Jang. As for Khan-i-Jahan, he was fighting in Northern India. The only other great general, Ruhullah Khan (Paymaster-General), was a Persian Shia, and hence he was at first suspiciously kept in the rear at Bijapur, and called to Golkonda only after five and a half months had elapsed from the opening of the siege and the Mughals had been driven into the sorest straits. Persians, though undoubtedly the cleverest among the Islamic peoples, were now jealously kept out of the post of Chief of Artillery which was of the first importance in a siege.*
v4.c68.s5.3
Saf Shikan Khan, the Chief of Artillery, was a Persian and jealous of the superior position and favour enjoyed by Firuz Jang, a Turk. After working strenuously for some time in carrying the trenches towards the ditch and raising lofty batteries to command the towers of the fort, he resigned "in order to spite Firuz Jang." Salabat Khan succeeded him, but failed to do his work well, and resigned in a short time. The next Chief of Artillery was Ghairat Khan, who was surprised by the enemy in a state of gross carelessness and carried off as a prisoner. Then the post went abegging for some time, to the ruin of the siege operations. Salabat Khan, on being pressed to resume it, replied that he could not bear the roar of artillery and begged that he might be allowed to stay in the rear and discharge his duties by deputy! The whole camp laughed at him and refused to be his deputy. Then at last, Saf Shikan Khan was taken out of prison and restored to this office (22 June 1687.) But by that time the field-works constructed after five months of toil, had been demolished by the enemy, and the investment had to be begun anew. This internal history of the besieging army will supply the key to the actual course of its operations.
v4.c68.s5.4
∗ At the siege of Golkonda Aurangzib assembled 1900 barqandazes, 42725 ahsham, 106 pieces of artillery (of which 17 were large, carrying balls weighing 4 sr to 41 sr, and 89 were smaller pieces), 5809 maunds of powder, 1244 maunds of shot, and 3¼ lakhs of bags for filling the ditch (Zawabit, 137b)
v4.c68.s5.5
When, at the end of January, the Mughals sat down before Golkonda, an enemy force of 40,000 cavalry under Shaikh Nizam and other officers remained outside and tried to hinder the progress of the siege. Aurangzib detached Dalpat Rao Bundela and other officers of Firuz Jang's division to repel them. A severe battle was fought, in which many Rajputs were slain and Krishna Singh Hada was mortally wounded; but in the end the enemy fled, after receiving such a severe punishment that for some months afterwards they never again molested the Mughals. (Dil. 206; K. K. ii. 329, 335.)
v4.c68.s5.6
The circle of investment had been divided among the various generals and the first turf cut for the approaches on 7th February. But the fort had an inexhaustible supply of munitions and its walls bristled with guns of large calibre. Day and night the garrison kept up an incessant fire on the approaching Mughals. "The fort looked as if made of fire; the smoke turned the day into night." (M.A.
v4.c68.s5.7
290; K. K. ii. 336.) Every day some men were slain or wounded on the Mughal side. But the dauntless courage and tireless perseverance of the troops under Saf Shikan carried the sap to the edge of the ditch in about six weeks. Then they began to raise lofty platforms and mount guns on them to dominate the towers of the fort. The next step was to fill the ditch and make a path for the assaulting column. For this purpose, Aurangzib, after performing his ceremonial ablutions and uttering prayers, sewed with his own fingers the first bag of cotton to be filled with earth and thrown into the ditch.