Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s5.8

v2.c28.s5.8

Realizing, that his end could not be far off, he took counsel with his household and with his usual foresight provided carefully for the future. While on his usual cold weather march in the Hisar district with his army, he one day assembled all his sardars and in their presence declared Zabita Khan his successor and deputy, tied his own turban to his son’s head as a symbol of his chieftainship, and transferred all authority over his army and territory to him during his lifetime. He advised his heir to confirm his own authority immediately by crushing those of his generals (i.e., the partisans of Zabita’s step-brother Kalu Khan) who were reported to be ill-disposed towards their new master and were sure to cause trouble after Najib’s death. Najib now retired to Najibabad to lead a life of relief from public cares. Zabita, to whom unfettered discretion in foreign policy had been given, came to terms with the Sikhs, evidently by a money payment, near Jalalabad-Nahari, north of Delhi. Two of his father’s high officers,—Ali Muhammad Kur and Sayyid Mian Asrar-ud-din (popularly called Lambi Miān),—who defied Zabita’s orders, were suppressed by force. “By these means the entire army was brought under discipline and made to recognize Zabita Khan as their supreme master.” [Nur. 114a-115a. Miskin, 270.]