Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s3.1

v2.c28.s3.1

He had barely recovered health and strength, when in December he was suddenly recalled to Delhi by Suraj Mal's attack on the Baluch zamindars and threatened invasion of Delhi. Najib tried hard to pacify the Jat king, but without success. The campaign ended in Suraj Mal's being shot dead (25 December 1763) during a night attack and all his troops dispersing, as we shall learn in detail in Chapter 23. The disappearance of the greatest of the Jat kings, the immature character of his youthful successor, and the internal dissensions that ravaged the Bharatpur State, all combined to give Najib a respite from that enemy till November next, when Jawahir Singh, after assembling a vast force of his own tribesmen and hired Sikh Maratha and Gosain troops, attacked Najib to avenge his father's death. This life and death struggle kept Najib busy in Delhi till the middle of February 1765, when he succeeded in defeating the attack, and stood triumphant as the undisputed lord of Delhi. This repulse of the Jat king, even though supported by Imad, Malhar Holkar and the myriads of Sikhs, marks the climax of Najib's greatness. The holy month of Ramzān began on the next Friday, 22 February 1765, and Imad begged leave to enter Delhi and offer his Friday prayers in the Jāmi Masjid of the capital. For six years he had ruled over the city as an wazir mightier than the sovereign and Najib had then ranked among his humble retainers. And today as Imad rode through the Broad Street of Delhi to the Grand Mosque, the citizens saw with wonder that Najib was seated side by side with him on the same elephant. Such was his present exaltation. [Nur. 91.]