Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c13.s2: § 3. Jāvid Khan, eunuch, all-powerful
Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c13.s2
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§ 3. Jāvid Khan, eunuch, all-powerful
v1.c13.s2.1
Jāvid Khan had been assistant controller of the harem servants and manager of the Begams' estates during the late reign. He had established complete sway over the mind and body of Udham Bāi even before her husband's death. And now at the accession of her son, Jāvid's advance was rapid and boundless. He was at once created a 6-hazāri, and to save appearances the same high rank was conferred upon his chief, Roz-āfzun Khān, the nāzir or superintendent of the harem, a survivor of the age of Aurangzib, who was now well-stricken in years and unable to use his feet for weakness and rheumatism. But all real power passed into Jāvid's hands, who was appointed (on 19th June 1748) superintendent of the Privy Council (Diwān-i-khās), above the heads of the hereditary peers. By virtue of this office, audience with the Emperor rested entirely in his hands, and he could perpetuate his sway over his master by shutting out honest counsellors. Pluralities continued to be showered upon him : he was given the charge of the intelligence department, the imperial elephants, the confirmation of grants and appointments (arz-i-mukarrar), the estates of the Begams and the Emperor's privy purse. [TAh. 14b, D.C., Shākir 63.]
v1.c13.s2.2
By reason of his being constantly with the Emperor in the harem, Jāvid Khan impressed that simpleton with a great idea of his wisdom, knowledge of administration and devotion to his person. All power passed into this eunuch’s hands as the Emperor sank deeper and deeper into vice and indolence. After a time the youthful Emperor publicly referred all State questions to Jāvid Khan for decision, while he himself took refuge in the harem. The favourite was now promoted to a 7-hazāri mansab, given the title of Nawāb Bahādur (the Emperor’s Vicar), and rewarded with the highest possible insignia of honour, namely the māhi marātib, standard, banner, kettledrums and a fringed palki. "No eunuch had ever been so exalted before, and no noble had been given the title of Nawāb [at Court.]" Well might a Delhi historian of the time reflect with sadness, "Never since Timur’s time had a eunuch exercised such power in the State; hence the Government became unsettled. The hereditary peers felt humiliated by having to make their petitions through a slave and to pay court to him before any affair of State could be transacted." [Ch. Gulz. 399b; TAh. 15a, 14b, 25a.]
v1.c13.s2.3
Jāvid Khan, though now fifty years old, was absolutely illiterate. He had never held any administrative charge, nor seen a battle in all his life, and yet he now began to decide all questions of war and peace, revenue and organisation as the supreme authority.* Abyssinian and Turkish slaves had displayed the highest military and administrative capacity in the long roll of Muslim history in India. But Jāvid Khan was not of that breed. His vulgar ambition was to acquire supreme influence by pandering to the Emperor’s vices and humouring the Queen-mother, and to use that influence to enrich himself. He assigned to himself the most lucrative jagirs and also appropriated the revenue collection that ought to have gone to feed the Emperor’s household and army. His good word in the Emperor’s ears was purchased by suitors for *lakhs* of Rupees.
v1.c13.s2.4
The nobles of the realm revolted at the idea of paying their court to a slave and eunuch; the royal ministers felt insulted when the Emperor referred them to this man for orders on their official business. They stood aloof from him in aristocratic contempt. Jāvid Khan returned their hate by heaping neglect and scorn on them, gathering the poor middle-grade nobles round himself, and promoting his own base creatures to dignity and office. The result was a complete breach between the young and inexperienced Emperor and the hereditary supporters of the throne. [TAh. 20b, 15b.]
v1.c13.s2.5
∗ As the author of *TAh*. exclaims, "O God! where Emperors personally fought and wazirs had day and night attended to State business, this eunuch, ignorant of everything, who had never seen a battle in all his life nor even heard [its sound] in his ears, now became sole ruler!" [28b.]