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History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s2: Malwa

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s2

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Malwa

§ 10. Malwa : races forming its population ; its importance in Mughal times.

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The Mughal province of Malwa extended from Garha-Mandla to Banswara and from Chanderi to Nandurbar, or roughly speaking north to south between the Jamuna and the Narmada rivers. West of it, across the Chambal, lies Rajputana, and east of it Bundelkhand, from which the river Betwa separates it. The most notable element of its population are the Rajputs, divided into an immense number of petty clans or minor branches of famous clans, and not organised in compact tribal States as in Rajputana proper. But their number and importance were not so preponderant as to throw into insignificance other races of inhabitants, such as the Jats who were spread over the northern side, and the Gonds concentrated in full strength in the south and the south-east,—besides a strong infusion of Muhammadan immigrants (mostly Afghans) settled in definite centres. The undeveloped primitive races which had taken refuge in out of the way corners and among the hills and jungles, were too uncivilised and too much divided to count for anything, though in mere number they formed the largest substratum of the population.

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Uniformity of administration, the regular advance of civilisation, and the effective and easy maintenance of order were impossible in a province with such a diversified population. But Malwa was rich in agricultural wealth,—producing large quantities of the higher crops, such as opium, sugar-cane, grapes, musk-melons and betel-leaf, besides sheltering large herds of elephants in its forest tracts. In industries it occupied the first rank among the Mughal subahs after Gujrat. "Cloth of the best texture was woven here," notably the chintz and white muslin of Sironj, which commanded a ready market throughout India and even beyond seas in the 17th century. [Ain ii. 195-202 ; Tavernier, ii. 5.]

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Malwa had been the foremost centre of Indian culture from before the age of Christ. In Mughal times its importance was enhanced by the fact that all the great military roads from the northern capitals, Agra and Delhi, to the Deccan passed through this province. Mughal armies had to cross some part of Malwa in order to be able to strike at Rajputana or the Gond country, Berar or Gujrat. Any disturbance in Berar or Gondwana, Bundelkhand or the Eastern Rajput States would immediately spread by contagion to Malwa. While Aurangzib's attention and forces were occupied in holding the Maratha land in the closing years of his reign, Berar and Khandesh became the happy hunting ground of roving Maratha bands, and these penetrated into Malwa almost as a matter of course, in concert with the rebel Bundela and Gond chieftains of the neighbourhood.

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A preponderantly Hindu province with a sturdy Rajput population, was not likely to take Aurangzib's policy of temple destruction and poll-tax on the Hindus with tame submissiveness. They often fought the agents of Islam in defence of the seats of their religion, as we have seen in vol. iii. ch. 34, (p. 283 of the 2nd ed.) Again, in January 1703, when a Muslim tax-collector visited the zamindari of Devi Singh (son of Brahma-dev Siodia) to demand the jaziya, the men of the zamindar turned him back after plucking out his beard and moustaches. [Akhbarat, 28 Jan.]

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But, on the whole, the disturbances in Malwa during the first half of this reign were all on a small scale and confined to a few localities, (see Ch. 26 § 7.) The raids of Chhatra Sal Bundela, Bakht Buland Gond and others touched only the north-eastern and south-eastern fringes of the province.

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With these few exceptions, Malwa continued to enjoy peace and uneventful administration till near the end of the 17th century. But after Rajaram's return home from Jinji began a movement which was destined in less than fifty years to completely change the political history of the province.

§ 11. First Maratha incursion into Malwa, 1699.

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In November 1699, a Maratha band crossed the Narmada and raided Malwa up to the environment of Dhamuni. It was led by Krishna Savant, of whom we have no other mention in the Persian or Marathi sources.* Bhimsen alone mentions the event, and he describes it thus: "When Aurangzib set out to conquer Satara, Krishna Savant, a Maratha general, at the head of 15,000 cavalry, crossed the Narmada and ravaged some places near Dhamuni and returned. Since the time of the early Sultans the Marathas had never crossed the Narmada till now. He plundered and returned to his home unmolested." [Dil. ii. 129a, 142a.]

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The path thus opened was never again closed, till at last in the middle of the 18th century Malwa passed into regular Maratha possession. In January 1703, as soon as the Emperor became involved in the siege of Kondana, "the Marathas crossed the Narmada again, and caused disturbances up to the environs of Ujjain. Some Afghans of that district also engaged in lawlessness. Nusrat Jang was sent to punish them. Some months later another band, after plundering the environs of Burhanpur, looted the city of Khargon, 52 miles north-west of it and a part of the subah of Malwa lying south of the Narmada. [*Dil.* ii. 144b, *Akh.* 11 Feb. 1703.]

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∗ Except that Bakht Buland, the Rajah of Deogarh, captured him in April 1699 [Akhbarat.]

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§ 12. Nimaji Sindhia's raid into Malwa, 1703.

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When the campaigning season opened in October 1703, Nima Sindhia* burst into Berar, defeated and captured Rustam Khan the deputy governor of the province (on behalf of Firuz Jang); and then raiding the Hushangabad district and crossing the Narmada he advanced into Malwa at the invitation of Chhatra Sal. After plundering many villages and towns, he laid siege to Sironj, but the chaudhuri of the place gallantly held out. The Emperor had (on 31st October) sent orders to Bidar Bakht, then in Aurangabad, to go out against these raiders. The prince was too distant from the threatened place, and could not begin his march in time. Then Firuz Jang, who had entered Berar in pursuit of another Maratha force, was given this duty. Leaving the frontier of Berar on 12th Nov. and depositing his heavy baggage and camp at Burhanpur, he hastened with light equipment on the track of the raiders, overtook them near Sironj, and immediately delivered his attack. Scattering the Maratha vanguard, he forced his way to the elephant ridden by Nima, who leaped down and fled away on horseback. Many of the Marathas and their local Rajput and Afghan allies were slain or wounded; the flags, kettledrums, elephants, camel-swivels &c. plundered from Rustam Khan were seized by the imperialists. The followers and cattle of Rustam, whom Nima was dragging along with himself, were released. The broken enemy fled eastwards into Bundelkhand, wishing to reach home by way of the Gond principality of Garha. Firuz Jang kept up the pursuit. [Akh. 11 March 1704.]

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∗ "Who did not co-operate with Dhana and other Maratha generals, being prompted by self-will" &c. [*Dil.* ii. 148b.] Manucci says (iii. 426) that the Marathas plundered Sironj most fearfully, having crossed the Narmada in two bodies, totalling 50,000 horse. And again (iii. 501), "In January 1704, the Marathas crossed the Narmada, penetrated the forests of Mandu, plundering and ravaging several provinces, as well as the town of Sironj. They went further, and going through the hill-passes of Narwar, they entered the province of Calabad (? Kalpi), close to Gwalior, a three days' journey from Agra." The two accounts seem to refer to one and the same raid. The unhappy Rustam Khan,—this being his second capture by the Marathas—was suspected by the Emperor of cowardice and collusion with the enemy, and degraded by a hazar zat (7 Jan. 1704.) But on 7 Feb. the general's Court-agent submitted to the Emperor that in the fight with Nima in Berar, Rustam had 2000 men (including his son-in-law) slain on his side, and that the spy's report charging him with cowardice was false. The Emperor ordered an enquiry, after which Rustam was reinstated. [*Akh.*] Bhimsen also charges him with shirking battles. [*Dil.* ii. 146b.]

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The general's despatch of victory, following the spy's report by three days, reached the Emperor, then sitting down before Torna, on 13th March, 1704, and he rewarded Firuz Jang by an increase of 2,000 troopers in his *mansab* and the title of commander-in-chief (*sipah-salar*),—to the intense disgust of his rival Nusrat Jang.[*] All the officers of this army were highly favoured and promoted. The brave Chaudhuri of Sironj was also rewarded.

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On 10th February 1704 Firuz Jang, following up his success, set out from Bhamgarh against Chhatra Sal, by way of Chanderi and Dhamuni, towards Garha. After marching 24 miles he halted in the jungle of Dhamuni. His vanguard under Khanjar Khan issued from the jungle and surprised Nima's army, which was off its guard, slaying many and recovering much booty. There were heavy losses on the Mughal side too. This victory removed famine from Firuz Jang's camp, where grain began again to sell at 20 seers a Rupee, against 1½ seers during the height of the raid. The victorious general reached Burhanpur on his return on 8th April.[†]

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[*] M. A. 481; *Akhbarat*, 14, 20, and 24 March 1704. It is amusing to read how Bhimsen, the literary champion of Firuz Jang's rival, tries to prove that this victory was mythical, [Dil. ii. 148b] :—"Reaching Sironj quickly, he reported to the Emperor details of his victory, without having fought any battle...When the Emperor learnt the truth, he ordered that the title and favours granted should be withheld."

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[†] *Akh.* 16 March. The date of his return is given as 14

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It was a great deliverance for the Mughals. The Maratha activities in Berar had held up the reports of news-writers, official letters and baskets of fruits sent for the Emperor by the governors of Kabul and Kashmir, for 3 or 4 months on the bank of the Narmada, as the couriers durst not proceed further south and the faujdars on the road could not supply them with sufficiently strong escorts. We read that early in March 1704, some 355 bags of letters and 55 baskets of fruits, liberated by Firuz Jang's victory, at last reached the Emperor. [Akh. 8 March.]

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Meantime, the discomfiture of Rustam Khan at the hands of Nima Sindhia had struck such terror among the imperialists that the governor of Malwa (Abu Nasar Khan, a son of Shaista Khan) lay sheltering himself in the fort of Ujjain, without venturing to take the field against the invaders. Similarly, Nawazish Khan, the faujdar of Mandu, a very important fort guarding the Deccan highway, had run away from that fort and taken refuge in Dhar. The result was that Firuz Jang in campaigning against Nima in Malwa received no support from the local officers. The Emperor issued stern reprimands* followed by orders of dismissal to the two officers.

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shahar-i-Shawwal, which I correct into shahar-i-hal (i.e., Zihijja) [Akh. 24 April 1704.]

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∗ A letter "by order" of the Emperor was sent to the subahdar of Malwa: "In spite of the going of Firuz Jang, rightly so named, in pursuit of the thieves [i.e., Marathas], why are you sitting down in your fort gazing at the show?

§ 13. Prince Bidar Bakht as governor of Malwa, 1704—1706.

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Nawazish Khan was at once dismissed from the faujdari of Mandu (Jan. 1704), and sent to Khandesh. A month later he was reinstated, but Dhar was taken away from his charge, and in August Mandu also. [Akh. 3 Feb., 28 Mar., 8 Aug. 1704.] Abu Nasar was judged too weak to hold a province like Malwa. The danger from which Malwa had just escaped, through Firuz Jang's courage and activity, brought home to Aurangzib's mind the gravity of the situation. He felt that a subahdar of the highest rank and armed strength must be posted in Central India if the Maratha peril was to be kept out of Northern

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If you wish to remain in my service, then, now that Firuz Jang, after defeating Nima near Sironj, is chasing him and the latter is fleeing towards Bundelkhand and Garha [Mandla], you should issue forth, take the militia, assemble the faujdars and the captains posted there, and attack expel slay and bind the scattered bands of the enemy roving without leaders and the rebel Afghans,—who, seeing the field empty [of imperial troops], are molesting the peasantry. Send Nawazish Khan to Burhanpur. Take Mandu as your own jagir and entrust Dhar to the [new] qiladar appointed."

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Nawazish Khan was addressed thus, "At the request of Nusrat Jang (the imperial Paymaster), you have been retained in service, but you have not been your own self. What do you mean by vacating Mandu and hiding your self in Dhar? Come to Burhanpur and serve under Bidar Bakht. I shall give you jagirs in the Deccan or an annual stipend of Rs. 20,000." [Kalimat T. f. 44a—45a.]

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India. Prince Bidar Bakht, a brave and skilful general, then acting as governor of Aurangabad and Khandesh, was appointed viceroy of Malwa in addition to Khandesh, on 3rd August, 1704. A year later his task was lightened by withdrawing Khandesh from his charge. He continued to govern Malwa till March 1706, when he received urgent orders to go to Gujrat and take charge of its defence, as that province had been exposed to Maratha attack by reason of his father's journey from it to the Emperor's side and the delay in the arrival of his successor. Khan-i-Alam was appointed subahdar of Malwa vice the prince, in April 1706. [M.A. 483, 496, 498, 512; Akhbarat, 3 Aug. 1704.]

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A large number of letters written by Aurangzib to Bidar Bakht during his nineteen months' government of Malwa have been preserved. They cover folios 27 to 116 in Inayetullah's *Ahkam* (Rampur MS.) The prince's favourite lieutenant was the young gallant Jai Singh,* the new Rajah of Jaipur, who had gained his good opinion by his conspicuous services when both of them were posted together outside the Konkani gate of Khelna in April 1702, and also later as his subordinate in Khandesh (1703-4.) When the prince was about to march from Malwa to Khandesh he proposed to leave Jai Singh there as his deputy governor; but Aurangzib vetoed the proposal, as he had made a rule that no Rajput should be appointed subahdar or even faujdar. [Inayet, 68a, 72b.]* Khan-i-Alam was appointed deputy governor and became full subahdar in 1706, when the prince was transferred to Gujrat. [M.A. 512.]

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∗ In 1704 Bidar Bakht recommended Jai Singh for the grant of kettledrums and the parganahs of Chatsu, Deosa, Muizzabad and Rewari, on condition of his keeping a strong contingent. But the Emperor demurred to it on the ground of the Rajah being too young and dependent on others.

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§ 14. Effect of disturbances on the condition of the country.

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In October 1704, Nima Sindhia was reported to be again advancing towards Malwa, and Bidar Bakht was warned to be ready for the danger. [Akh. 20 Oct.] In February 1700 Nasiri Afghan was out with 2000 followers. In this year and the next Gopal Singh Chandawat's rebellion disturbed some parts of the province. [Akhbarat.] Another rebel was Gopal Chaudhuri of Sironj. [Ch. 59 § 6.] Nawazish Khan, faujdar of Mandu from about 1700 to 1704, had to wage many small campaigns against local rebels and Maratha bands from beyond the Narmada, as we learn from his letter-book.† Abbas Afghan was reported as raiding the highways and stopping the mails. Umar (another Pathan) broke out of his prison in Sholapur and reached Kotri Paraya to take to plundering again. [*Akh.* 5 July 1699.]

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∗ Jai Singh was further ordered to hold office sitting on a cloth (suzani) spread on the ground and not on an elevated pillow (gadi.)

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† A MS. of this work was purchased by me in Lahor in 1914. No other copy of it is known to exist.

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In fact, the local disturbers of peace in Malwa in the closing years of the reign were too many to be counted. An official report states, "Marathas, Bundelas, and Afghans out of employment are creating disturbances in the province" (1704.) And, again, "It has been repeatedly reported to the Emperor that from Burhanpur to Sironj by way of Handia and up to Ujjain by the Akbarpur route, the infidels have desolated the villages and very little habitation is now left." The result is summed up in Aurangzib's own words: "The province of Khandesh has been totally desolated......Malwa too is ruined." [*Inayet*, 15a, 61a.]

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