History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s13: § 17. Prince Kam Bakhsh arrested.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s13
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§ 17. Prince Kam Bakhsh arrested.
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Here the prince had been exulting as danger thickened round Zulfiqar and Asad. He had even plotted with his silly courtiers to arrest these two generals at their next visit to him and then grasp the supreme power. But this plot, like all others, had leaked out. Zulfiqar Khan, worn out with his daylong fighting and anxieties, reached his father's side at night, learnt of the new plot, and then the two leaders quickly decided that the safety of the entire army and the preservation of the Emperor's prestige alike demanded that the prince should be deprived of the power of creating mischief. They immediately rode to Kam Bakhsh's quarters, unceremoniously entered within the outer canvas-wall (jali) seated on their elephants and knocked down the screens of his audience hall. The other nobles stood by as idle spectators, leaving the odium of arresting their master's son to rest solely on these two leaders. The servants of the prince foolishly discharged some bullets and arrows and raised a vain uproar and tumult. But Asad Khan's force was overwhelming and his movements quick. Kam Bakhsh lost heart, and in utter distraction came out of his harem by the main gate. He had advanced only a few steps when the Khan's musketeers (bahelias) seized both his arms and dragged him bare-footed to Asad. Rao Dalpat, seeing it, promptly drove his elephant forward, and with great agility lifted the prince up on his hawda, sat behind him as his keeper, and brought him to Asad Khan.*
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The wazir was in a towering rage. He severely rebuked the prince, calling him a dancing-girl's son, unworthy to rule over men or to command in war. Then he continued, "The rumours you have heard, are false. The Emperor is alive. What is this that you have done? You have disgraced yourself, and covered my grey hairs with disgrace." The prisoner was taken to Asad Khan's own tent and treated with every courtesy consistent with his safe custody. The grand wazir saluted him and served his dishes with his own hands. [Dil. 108a.]
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When day broke, Zulfiqar called together all the officers of the army, great and small, explained his late action, reassured them, and bound them to his side by a lavish distribution of money and presents. Thus the Mughal army was saved by establishing unity of control. The Marathas, hoping to profit by the internal difficulties of the besiegers, created "an astonishing amount of tumult and disturbance near the camp from dawn to sunset." But Zulfiqar defended himself successfully, as he had no longer to fear any enemy within his own camp nor divided counsels. [M. A. 359.]
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∗ *Dil.* 108a. *M. A.* 358. *Storia*, ii. 316. *K. K.* ii. 420 (useless). *Ahkam* § 25.
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But Santaji Ghorpare, flushed with his signal victory over Ali Mardan Khan and the unresisted plunder of the Conjeveram district, now arrived at Jinji and turned his great talents and energy against Zulfiqar. Fighting took place daily, in warding off the Maratha attacks on the imperial camp and foraging parties. As the eye-witness Bhimsen writes, —"The enemy exceeded 20,000 men, while the imperialists were a small force and many of them were engaged in guarding the prince and the camp. Kam Bakhsh's contingent was unfriendly and never left their tents to co-operate in the defence. Man Singh Rathor (a *two-hazari*) and several other imperial officers hid in their tents on the plea of illness. The whole brunt of the fighting fell on Zulfiqar Khan and Rao Dalpat, Sarafraz Khan Deccani, Fathullah Khan Turani, Kanhoji Maratha and a few other *mansabdars* with only 2,000 horsemen." [Dil. 108 *b*, also M. A. 358.] They, however, fought like heroes and were victorious in every encounter in the open.
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§ 18. Zulfiqar brings food from Wandiwash.
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But such victories were of no avail. The Mughal army was now in a state of siege and famine was its worst enemy. In a few days scarcity deepened into an absolute want of food. "Zulfiqar then marched out with his own division to bring in grain from Wandiwash, 24 miles north-east of Jinji. He arrived there at night. His Turani soldiers, under cover of the darkness, fell on the helpless grain-dealers (banjaras) and carried off whatever they could seize. All discipline was lost. In the morning the Khan collected the grain left unplundered by his men, and set out on his return" (5 Jan. 1693). Santa with 20,000 men, barred his path at Desur, 10 miles southwards, and then enveloped his army. The Mughals, after a hard fight, reached the shelter of the fort of Desur at night and encamped at its foot. Here a halt was made for a day or two.
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When the Mughals resumed their march in the morning, the Marathas brought a large force into the field and made a most determined attack. "They fired so many muskets that the soldiers and banjaras of our force were overpowered. Bullets were specially aimed at the elephants ridden by the imperial commanders. Many of these animals were hit. Regardless of the enemy fire, Rao Dalpat and his Bundelas boldly charged to clear a way ahead... The transport animals and guns stuck in the mud of the rice-fields, artillery munition ran short, no powder or shot was left with any musketeer." But Dalpat, fighting with desperate bravery and assisted by the opportune arrival of the vanguard under Sarafraz Khan (who took on himself one enemy division), succeeded in driving the enemy back half a mile, then halting extricated the baggage and guns out of the mud, sent the column on, and brought up the rear. The Marathas abated their shower of bullets and finally withdrew. The Bundelas had saved Zulfiqar's division and thereby saved also the camp before Jinji. [Dil. 109 b.]
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§ 19. The imperialists retreat to Wandiwash.
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But the food brought by Zulfiqar at such a heavy cost was all too little for that huge multitude of soldiers and camp-followers. The condition of the starving imperialists became so bad that many common men daily walked over to the Maratha camp at the foot of Jinji, where provisions were plentiful, bought, cooked and ate the grain there and returned to their own quarters, without being allowed to carry away either raw or cooked food to their army.* "Every day from dawn to sunset the Marathas assembled round our camp and made demonstrations.
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∗ Dil. 110a. Also, Keshava Ramana, the newly appointed Maratha subahdar of Haidarabadi Karnatak, wrote to the English Chief of Madras, on 8 Jan. 1693: "The Mughal army being before Jinji, Dhana Jadav and several other great persons surrounded that army, whereby they cut them off from all manner of provisions coming to the prince and Asad Khan......where-
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No aid came from any source except the Gracious to the Lowly; neither money nor food-stuff arrived. All the army, high and low alike, were distracted and depressed."
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Asad Khan now made secret overtures of peace to Rajaram, offering a heavy bribe if he was allowed to retreat to Wandiwash unmolested. The Maratha generals and ministers pressed their king to continue the war, crush the Mughal army which was half dead from starvation and thus establish his rule over that country before a new army could be sent by the Emperor. But Asad Khan "had cast a spell over Rajaram," so that the latter rejected the advice of his followers and agreed to an armistice to let the Mughals withdraw if the wazir would recommend it to the Emperor to make peace with the Maratha king. On the other side, too, Dalpat Rao urged Zulfiqar not to withdraw, as it would only bring disgrace in the end, and he offered his own gold and silver worth Rs. 40,000 for the Khan's army expenses. But while Zulfiqar was hesitating, his hands were forced by his soldiers.
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One day his artillerymen loaded their effects, left the camp and sent word to their general that, as they were dying of hunger there, they were
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upon many of the Mughal's merchants and shopkeepers came to us upon our granting them our qaul (safe conduct), and we doubt not in 4 or 5 days to have all our enemies in Jinji fort.'" [Madras Diary.]
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going away to Wandiwash. It was impossible to fight without the artillery, and hence, at the departure of the gunners every man in the camp turned to packing his baggage for removal.
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Asad and Zulfiqar had no help but to start with the prince at noon. "Owing to long continued starvation, most of the horses, camels and other transport animals of the army had perished. Those who had a few left, loaded just enough goods for these. Most men set fire to their belongings. Many in perplexity and helplessness at the terrible confusion and danger then raging,...took their own way forgetful of their friends and relatives. Many stores of the Emperor and nobles were left behind there... ...When the army marched out of the camp, about a thousand Maratha horse came after them like a rear-guard, and plundered the men of the army of their property. The imperialists reached Wandiwash in three days." [Dil. 110b.]
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This retreat was effected on 22nd or 23rd January 1693. Ten days later, Qasim Khan, the newly appointed faujdar of Conjeveram (vice Ali Mardan Khan), was reported to be coming from Kadapa with abundant supplies and a strong force. Santa Ghorpare tried to intercept him; he attacked Qasim between Kaveripak and Conjeveram and pressed him so hard that he had to shut himself up in the great temple enclosure of Conjeveram. Next day Zulfiqar arrived to his aid, drove away the Marathas and escorted Qasim Khan to Wandiwash (7th February). Food again became abundant in the Mughal camp and the troops were further reassured by getting the latest news and letters from the imperial Court telling them that the Emperor was alive and well. A dark cloud was lifted up from the hearts of all the imperialists; "life came back to our bodies," as Bhimsen says. There was much rejoicing, playing the band of victory (kettledrums), dance parties and distribution of alms by the officers in celebration of the Emperor's safety. [Dil., 111 a.]
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Zulfiqar made his camp at Wandiwash for four months (February—May, 1693), abandoning the attack on Jinji for the present. He had to wait for the Emperor's orders about Kam Bakhsh and also to replenish his army and military chest, which had been sadly depleted.