October 23rd, 2001

Up until the 18th Century India was the desired destination of those with talent skills ambition and courage. We talk of an immigrant from Samarqand who rose to high rank and made such a mark that he continued to command an army an administer a province although he became blind in an epidemic.

Mir Shahabuddin wanted to follow his father Khwaja Abid to India as he had made a mark and risen to the rank of a Khan. He was not getting the permission to migrate from the ruler of Samarqand.

One day two eminent men of the chief”s court interceded on Shahabuddin”s behalf. It must have been in the fullness of time as permission was granted along with blessings for a safe journey and all success in the venture. Little did the ruler of Samarqand realise that the young man he was blessing would rise to an eminence far beyond his own or that of the neighbouring chiefs of Balkh and Bokhara.

Mir Shahabuddin came to the notice of the Emperor during the Udaipur campaign. It was midnight. The Emperor had read each and every report sent by his agents from all over the empire and not found what he was looking for.

Hasan Ali Khan Bahadur Alamgiri was missing. He had been sent to confront the Rana and seek him out in the mountainous terrain. There was no news of him in the reports. Shahabuddin was present as an officer of the bodyguard and as they shared the same culture of speaking Turki at home and using Persian as the language of administration and commerce the Emperor shared his anxiety with the Mir.

Immediately responding, Shahabuddin set out in the strange and unknown territory with all its hidden dangers. He tracked down Hasan Ali and brought his report to the Emperor within two days. The title of “Khan” was bestowed upon him in recognition of his services.

The rebellion of Prince Muhammad Akbar and the Rathors led by Durga Das saw Shahabuddin use his good offices to act as a mediator and one occasion he covered sixty koas or a hundred miles in two days to carry a message. He was again promoted.

It was in the Deccan that Mir Shahabuddin rose to the pinnacle of eminence in Mughal service. In the 24th year of Awrungzeyb”s reign the Mir was appointed to the area of Junnair. The successful military actions he repeatedly took against the rebelling Marathas earned him the title “Ghaziuddin Khan Bahadur” or warrior of the faith in the 27th year of the reign. After he attacked Sambhaji”s fort Rahiri and set it afire and killed a number of captains and chiefs the title “Firoz Jung” was added to his name.

At the siege of Bijapur the Prince Muhammad Azam and his army were in dire straits as the area was suffering from drought and famine and the army could not be provisioned. It appeared that the siege would have to be raised and recourse taken to the ignominy of retreat.

The Khan was honoured with the emblems of Maahi-o-Maraatib or the high distinction of the Fish ensign and asked to set matters right. He found through his spies that six thousand infantry were on their way with a huge stock of provisions to provide relief to the besieged Bijapuris. In a sudden action the Khan”s army fell on the enemy and decimated their ranks. The captured provisions were reached to Prince Azam”s army and the situation saved.

When Bijapur was won the Emperor asked all those whose duty it was to report the victory to all quarters of the empire and to neighbouring states, the waaqiaanawees, to state that

“Bijapur was won by the help of Ghaziuddin Khan Bahadur Firoz Jung who is like a son to the Emperor”

The Khan showed great bravery at the siege of Hyderabad and suffered wounds. He was raised to the rank of seven thousand which was reserved for Imperial princes.

After this occurred the great epidemic in which large numbers died. Many who survived suffered the loss their senses. Some became deaf and dumb while others, including the Khan lost their eyesight.

Despite this handicap there was no loss of command or position in the administration.

In the forty second year of the reign a new feather was added to the Khan”s cap in the destruction of an old enemy of the Empire. A Maratha chief, Santa had been operating from the fort of Jinjee and wreaking havoc on the Mughal armies by ambushing and capturing chiefs and holding them to ransom. The Khan won the fort after a bitter siege. Santa escaped and headed for Satara. An old enemy Dhanna Jado obstructed his path and inflicted a heavy defeat on him. Santa became a fugitive and ran from pillar to post. A Maratha named Nagoba hoping to curry favour with Dhanna Jado trapped Santa under the guise of amity and alliance and cut off his head. While he was taking the head to Dhanna Jado the Khan”s agents intercepted him and the trophy was sent to the Emperor.

The importance of the event may be judged from the fact that the soldier who brought the head to Awrungzeyb was given the title “Khushkhabar Khan” “The Khan who brought the Great Good News”.

As can be seen the Khan”s success depended upon an outstanding scout brigade as it helped him surprise the army sent to provision the besieged Bijapur garrison as well as capture Nagoba with the head of Santa. The Emperor”s comments on this aspect will be retailed in another column.