Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c6.s4.3

v1.c6.s4.3

Muhammad Ishaq Khān I, surnamed Mutaman-ud-daulah, was still dearer than Amir Khan to the Emperor. His father, who had emigrated from Shustar is Persia to seek his fortune in India, did not rise very high. Ishaq himself was for long a petty subaltern in the imperial artillery on a cash salary of Rs. 200 a month. He was an accomplished speaker and ready versifier in Persian, which was his mother tongue, and his elegance of taste, perfect manners and innate discretion made him easily take the foremost place in society far above his official rank. He attached himself as a private companion (*musāhib*) to Amir Khan II, both being Persians by race and Shias by faith, and soon won his heart. Amir Khan could not help praising this jewel of a companion to the Emperor, who asked to see him. Muhammad Ishaq was presented; the Emperor was charmed with his accomplished manners and smooth tongue and immediately enlisted him among his personal attendants (*khawās.*) Ishaq was day and night present with Muhammad Shāh during the terrible period of Nādir's invasion. While the Emperor was staying in the Persian conqueror's tents at Karnāl, Ishaq's speech and judgment, in a man occupying such a low position, so favourably impressed Nādir that he asked Muhammad Shāh, "When you had Muhammad Ishaq, what need was there for you to appoint Qamr-ud-din as wazir?"