August 31st, 2001
Itihaas : In Mughal times, 1526-1857, being a person of note, [this applied to, both men and women], meant sporting the identity given to the individual by the reigning Emperor as specified in the title bestowed. The name given at birth became a matter of no consequence.
Who remembers now that the name of the Empress Nur Jahan (Noor Jahaan or “Light of the World”) was Mehrunnissa or “the one who is amongst women as the Sun is amongst astral bodies”?
Or for that matter that the Lady of the Taj, the Empress Mumtaaz Mahal (The pre-eminent or chosen one of the Palace) had the birth name Arjumand Bano Begum.
Arjumand, a word from old Persian, Zend, means ‘the one endowed with honour, dignity and who is excellent illustrious worthy honourable wise beloved learned dear precious unequalled rare blessed and happy.
This family of Persian origin supplied premier nobles as well as empresses to the Mughal dynasty. Individuals were known, almost entirely, by the titles bestowed.
The first to gain prominence and distinction was Nur Jahan’s father Mirza Ghiyas. His own father had been governor of Yezd in Iran. The family fell from power after the father’s death as Ghiyas could not cope with the intrigues and conspiracies of Iran. The family fortunes were soon exhausted and their very lives and honour at risk.
Ghiyas migrated to what was then the land of opportunity, Akbar’s India. Here was scope for merit to make its mark. The newcomer rose steadily in the hierarchy because of his excellent education, equable temperament and exemplary urbanity.
In the reign of Jahangir 1605-1627 Mirza Ghiyas became Prime Minister with the title Etemaaduddowlah “The Trusted of the Realm”.
Mehrunnissa, daughter of Mirza Ghiyas was initially married to Ali Quli Istanjulu, Sher Afkan, another expatriate from the Shah of Iran’s court. Sher Afkan was killed in 1607 for rebellion rioting and murder of the governor of Bengal. His widow sent back to court to become a lady-in-waiting to one of the dowager empresses. She was 35 years old and had a teen-age daughter from Ali Quli Sher Afkan
Mehrunnissa won the heart of the Emperor Jahangir despite her age and the fact of his having many wives. She became Empress with the title Nur Mahal ‘Light of the Palace’ in 1611 and was next elevated to the title Nur Jahan ‘Light of the World’.
Mirza Ghiyas’s son, Abul Hassan became Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary with the title Yaaminuddowlah [Right hand of the Realm] Aasaf Khan in the reign of Shah Jahan. His daughter Arjumand Bano , the Empress Mumtaz Mahal had the monument of Love, the Taj raised over her mortal remains when she died at thirtyeight leaving her husband, the Emperor Shah Jahan disconsolate.
Our subject for today, the ‘noble amongst nobles’ [Amir-ul Umara] Shaista (Shaaistaa) Khan was born to Abul Hassan Asaf Khan Yaminuddowlah and named Abu Taleb
Such distinction at birth is not all roses. When the recalcitrant general Mahabat Khan captured the person of the Emperor Jahangir in order to exercise power Abul Hasan was held hostage along with the young Abu Taleb.
Mahabat Khan soon found that the Emperor was not easy to manipulate although he was a prisoner. Regicide was far from the general’s mind and he decided to make amends and try to return to the position before the capture.
Abul Hassan was freed in order to plead Mahabat Khan’s petition for pardon before the emperor and the son, Abu Taleb held back as hostage to make sure there would be no treachery.
On his release from confinement Abu Taleb presented himself before Jahangir and was given the title “Shaista Khan”.
Shaista [Shaaistaa] means well ordered, controlled, disciplined, worthy honorable, affable, well bred, polite, gentle, meek, quiet. urbane.
In the celebrations of the accession to the throne of Shah Jahan Abu Taleb was raised to the rank of a Panch Hazaari Mansabdaar with a personal zaat rating of five thousand and the command of four thousand cavalry.
In the eighteenth year of Shahjahan’s reign Shaista Khan was at the rank of five thousand(personal or zaat) and five thousand cavalry. In addition he was given rupees five lakhs a year to maintain three thousand cavalry in the province of Gujarat which he was looking after on behalf of Awrungzeyb.
Shaista Khan’s performance was not found up to the mark and he was transferred to Malwa.
Shaista Khan’s worst experience was in the next reign. He became victim of a Maratha night attack (shubkhoon) when he occupied the mansion [haveli] of Shivaji in Pune (Poona}. In this encounter a youthful son of Shaista Khan, Abul Fath was killed and the noble himself lost the finger near the thumb when he stretched out a hand to divert a blow from a sword to his head.
As the incident showed lack of abundant caution and the care due Shaista Khan was punished. The story marks one of the first and most significant Mughal vs Maratha encounters and we hope to devote a future column to narrate it in the detail it deserves.