Mughal Rule Interrupted

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Author’s Comments �� xi Raiders from the North – The Mughals ��xv

Chapter 1: The Isfahan Connection ��1 Chapter 2: Mughals Enter in India ��7 Chapter 3: Mughal Rule Interrupted ��13 Chapter 4: Walking through the Suri Dynasty Rule ��17 Chapter 5: Re-establishment of Mughal Rule ��21 Chapter 6: Consolidation of Mughal Rule Begun ��27 Chapter 7: Mughal Governance in Place ��31 Chapter 8: Mughals Passage to the East ��35 Chapter 9: Bengal Governed by the Mughals ��43 Chapter 10: Mughal’s Stay in Bengal ��49 Chapter 11: Murshidabad – before the Arrival of Mughals ��67 Chapter 12: Mughals Arrived and Ruled Murshidabad ��77 Chapter 13: Mughals’ Murshidabad – Post Murshid Quli Khan ��95 x Contents

Chapter 14: Murshidabad Ruled by Afshar Nawabat ��99 Chapter 15: Murshidabad Glory Ended under Najafi Nawabat ��111

Annexure ��119 References & Acknowledgements ��133 Chapter 1 The Isfahan Connection

Year was 1690 AD and place was Isfahan. An Iranian merchant Haji Shafi Isfahani had just returned to his native place Isfahan, Capital city of Persia from Deccan India. Haji Safi was a merchant from Ispahan City in the district of Jabal, Persia, situated on the Zendarud. Isfahan was made the capital city by the fifth Safavid ruler Shah Abbas I. Safavids rulers were traditionally allied with the Mughals in India against the Uzbeks, who always coveted the province of Khorasan (Iran). Iranian formed a component of the early Mughal Nobility in India. It began when Humayun got Kandahar won for Safavid ruler and in return Humayun received help for re-establishing Mughal rule in India. It further strengthened after Humayun returned from Persia. Akbar patronized the Iranians so as to counter the influence of the Turanis. His son Jahangir used them to limit the influence of the old Safavid ruler Abbas Shah I nobility. Role of Iranian i.e. Persian-speaking people was considerable during the period of Emperor Aurangzeb. Iranian immigrants in the Mughal Empire composed of immigrants and their descendants were reinforced 2 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection continually by newcomers from Iran. Iranian immigration to India was not a temporary phenomenon belonging to a specific period. Starting from the foundation of the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century when many members of the Iranian elite were invited to the Mughal court till even at the zenith of the dynasty’s prosperity in the seventeenth century under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, the Mughals welcomed Iranian immigrants and gave them high positions. Iranian had been migrating from different regions of the Safavid Iran owing to various social and political reasons. They came from several strata of the society, having been military commanders, civil bureaucrats, merchants, scholars and professionals like physiciens and Architects. In India they were found employment both through Mansabs and lower offices. In doing so it appeared that a distinction was always made between those who came with some administrative experience and those without it. Sometimes as under Aurangzeb the family background was also given preference over experience. During this period a considerable number of Iranian moved between the Deccan and the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golkunda. Both under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb the Iranis held largest number of Mansabs as compared with other racial groups. They seemed to have enjoyed particular preference in appointments as central ministers. Historical data provided that as many as forty two immigrants came from central regions of Safavid empire such as Isfahan and Qazvin. Out of them 10 persons were reported to be from Isfahan. A few of them were Persian speaking Tajiks. The Tajiks, often called “men of the pen” The Isfahan Connection 3 were men of learning and mainly in charge of civil and religious matters. Persian being the language of court and administration, those Persian-speaking people with bureaucratic skills and a specialized knowledge of Persian culture were highly valued at the Mughal court. Some of the immigrants moved to India of their own free will. Unable to prosper in Safavid society, they moved to India without hesitation. In this case, the immigrants could return to Iran, or at least keep in touch with their friends and relatives there. When Haji Shafi Isfahani moved to India for the first time from Isfahan, Persia was under the eighth Safavid Shah King Suleiman I (early name Safi II) who ruled between 1666 and 1694 AD. That time India was ruled by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Emperor Aurangzeb was mostly occupied during that period with his South India campaign. Haji Shafi found engagement as a high ranking Mughal officer in Deccan region. During the discoures of his duty at that time he come accros a poor Hindu boy (possibly from a Brahmin family from Deccan region). Observing that the boy possessed a keen interest in mathematics he felt interested in him. He bought the boy and offered him all his paternal affections to bring him up. He made him muslim and gave him the name Muhammad Hadi and took him to Persia. Muhammad Hadi while in Persia grafted the refinement, discipline and wisdom of the Persians by his patron Haji Shafi. When Haji Shafi returned to India a few years later Hadi also accompanied him. Haji Shafi became Diwan-i-tan of the empire of Delhi in 1668 and again in 1689 before retiring in February 1690. In the interval 4 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection he had been Diwan of Bengal. All through these periods Mohammad Hadi learnt the work of Diwani department by practice under the best of masters. When Haji Shafi retired in 1690 he decided to return to Persia. Twenty year old young Hadi also accompanied him. Five years later Haji Shafi died in Persia. After the death of his patron Muhammad Hadi returned to India. On his return Muhammad Hadi got employed for some time under another Persian Haji Abdullah Khorasani, the Diwan of Berar. Hadi’s extraordinary talent and ability in revenue matters soon came to the knowledge of the Emperor Aurangzeb. He inducted him into his own service and appointed him Diwan of Hyderabad and faujdar of Yelkondal. His honesty and ability soon earned him the confidence of the emperor. Towards the last phase of 17th century Mughal Empire’s financial affluence was waning very fast. Contributions from three Subahs viz., Bengal, Hyderabad and Mandu were able to provide reliefs to the Empire through their strong financial supports. Great administrator Emperor Aurangzeb understood if he was to hold on the reign these three Subahs were to be managed with strong hands. Emperor remained in look out for honest hardworking Mughal financial officers around whom Mughal’s future assumed to be clinging. Suitable opportunity for Muhammad Hadi was to be opened soon. This was to assume a greater significance later in the matter of Mughals connection to Bengal and Murshidabad. Iranians played important roles in the Mughal Empire starting from the period of Babur, the founder Emperor. The Isfahan Connection 5

There was a significant influx of migrants from the Safavid Empire into Bengal particularly in the post-Akbar period. Persian administrators and military commanders were enlisted by the Mughal government in Bengal during Emperor Aurangzeb as well. Murshidabad has been grateful to this Safavid Iranian Haji Safi Isfahani and his adopted son Muhammad Hadi for the history written there by the later. The storyline that follow now will be based on our going down the history lane chronologically to track the Mughals passage through India till their arrival at Murshidabad. Chapter 2 Mughals Enter in India

It was 14 February 1483. Place was Andijan city in the Fergana Valley (present-day Uzbekistan) in Central Asia. A boy was born to Umar Sheikh Mirza, ruler of the Fergana Valley who was named Jahir-ud-din-Muhammad. Umar Sheikh was the son of Abu Said Mirza and the grandson of Miran Shah who was a Timur. Umar’s wife Qutlugh Nigar Khanum was the daughter of Yunus Khan who was the ruler of Moghulistan. Yunus Khan was the great-great grandson of Tughlugh Timur. Tughlugh was the son of Esen Buqa I, who was the great-great- great grandson of Chaghatai Khan, the second born son of Genghis Khan. Jahir-ud-din Muhammad (who later became Babur) was therefore a direct descendant from the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamurlane, the founder of the Timurid Empire) from the Barlas clan on his father’s side and from Chagatai, the second son of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his mother’s side. Umar Sheikh died in 1494 AD. After at only eleven years old Babur became the ruler of Fergana after the death of his father. He succeeded the throne amidst continuous threats of getting dislodged from this position. 8 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection

Since childhood Babur had a keen ambition to rule Samarkand. At fifteen years old in 1497, he besieged Samarkand for seven months before eventually gaining control over it. This campaign was a huge achievement for a young man of his age. But this excitement was short lived. A rebellion amongst nobles who favoured his brother, robbed him of Fergana. As he was marching to recover it, he lost his hold on Samarkand to a rival prince. Thus he was left with neither Fergana nor Samarkand. Babur later tried to recapture Samarkand in 1501. But he was defeated by his most formidable rival, Muhammad Shaybani Khan of the Uzbeks. Babur escaped with a small group of followers and wandered through the mountains of central Asia for sometimes. He then took refuge with hill tribes. Thus during the ten years since becoming the ruler of Fergana, Babur suffered many short-lived victories. He was without shelter and in exile, aided by friends and peasants. He finally landed in Tashkent, which was then ruled by his maternal uncle. Babur wrote in his autobiography “Baburnama,” the English transcription of which read as, “During my stay in Tashkent, I endured much poverty and humiliation. No country or hope of one!” For next three years Babur concentrated on building up a strong army by recruiting most of his army men from amongst the Tajiks of Badakhshan. Babur then involved in expansionism and set out with his army and crossed the snowy Hindu Kush Mountains. On the other side of the mountain was situated Kabul. He captured Kabul by defeating Mukim Begh who represented Ulugh Begh Mirza of the Arghun Dynasty. He gained a new Mughals Enter in India 9 kingdom, re-established his fortunes. He remained its ruler until 1526. But the new kingdom was not generating enough revenue. Babur had the knowledge of Hindustan from his father and forefathers. In 1505 Babur began his first expedition to India. In his memoirs, he wrote, “My desire for Hindustan had been constant. It was in the month of Shaban, the Sun being in Aquarius, that we rode out of Kabul for Hindustan.” But this was a brief raid across the Khyber Pass only. Up till that time Babur remained the only reigning ruler of the Timurid dynasty. Many princes sought refuge from him at Kabul because of Shaybani’s invasion in the west. This allowed him to assume the title of Badshah (Emperor) among the Timurids. In the meantime Shaybani was defeated and killed by Shah Ismail I, founder of the Shia Safavid Persia in 1510 AD. Babur and the remaining Timurids used this opportunity to reconquer their respective ancestral territories. Then Babur and Shah Ismail formed a partnership in an attempt to take over parts of Central Asia. The partnership lasted for several years. In return for Ismail’s assistance, Babur permitted the Safavids to act as a suzerain over him and his followers. This marked the gradual build up of a healthy relationship between Mughals and Safavid dynasty of Persia. In 1513 Babur campaigned for recapturing Samarkand for the third time but remained unsuccessful. He returned to Kabul and remained there for next couple of years. He utilised the period for modernising and training his army. Babur then put his entire attention on conquest of India. He launched a campaign in 1519 and reached Chenab, now 10 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection in Pakistan. He was aiming to expand his rule to Punjab first, mainly to fulfil his ancestor Timur’s legacy. In his childhood he learnt that Timur Lenk invaded India and sacked Delhi in 1398. Before leaving India, Timur Lenk left Khizr Khan as in charge of his vassal there. Khizr Khan became the Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate and founded the Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451). During the reign of Sayyid ruler Muhammad Shah, the then Governor Malik Sultan Shah Lodi of Sirhind (Punjab) promoted one Bahlul Khan Lodi, a Ghilzai Pashtun. Bahlul Khan Lodi was his nephew and son-in-law. He later succeeded him as the governor of Sirhind. Muhammad Shah raised Bahlul Khan to the status of an Emir. He was the most powerful of the Punjab chiefs and a strong leader. He held together a loose confederacy of the Pathans and Turkish chiefs, by making the turbulent provinces to submission. The last Sayyid ruler of Delhi, Ala-ud-Din Aalm Shah voluntarily abdicated in favour of Bahlul Khan Lodhi and made him to ascend the throne of the Delhi sultanate on April 19, 1451 AD. Lodi Dynasty was founded in Delhi. Since all these events happened as a consequence of Babur’s ancestor Timur Lenk’s legacy, Babur believed himself the rightful heir to the throne of Timur and therefore under the circumstances he claimed to be the true and rightful Monarch of the lands which by now came to be known as of the Lodi dynasty. Babur adopted multi prong strategy. While he was actively building up the troop numbers for an invasion of India, he also sent a Memo to Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, the then ruler of the Lodi dynasty. Therein he claimed himself as the rightful heir of the lands of the Delhi Sultanate. Ibrahim Lodi was then in control from Punjab to the Gangetic plain (up to Bihar) and was dominating the northern India with capital at Agra. He Mughals Enter in India 11 ignored Babur’s message and imprisoned his messenger. News reached Babur but he was disappointed with Ibrahim Lodi. He could set contacts with a few rebellions and defectors within Lodi Sultanate who came forward to invite Babur. They were Daulat Khan Lodi, Governor of Punjab and Ala-ud-Din, uncle of Ibrahim. They asked Babur to dethrone Ibrahim. With this background Babur started for Lahore, Punjab in 1524 AD. Meanwhile getting to know about Daulat Khan’s mischievous activities Ibrahim Lodi drove out Daulat Khan Lodi from Punjab. When Babur’s army reached there they faced severe challenge from Lodi army. In response, Babur burned Lahore for two days and then marched to Dipalpur, placing Alam Khan, another rebel uncle of Lodi’s, as governor. But Ibrahim Lodi quickly overthrew Alam Khan who fled to Kabul. Babur realized Lodi would not allow him to occupy the Punjab. Babur again marched to Lahore in November 1525 after getting news at Peshawar that Daulat Khan Lodi had switched sides and drove out Ala-ud-Din. Daulat’s army surrendered to Babur without fight and was pardoned by Babur. Thus within three weeks of crossing the Indus River Babur captured Punjab. He started his campaign for Delhi via Sirhind. He reached Panipat on 20 April 1526. There he met Ibrahim Lodi’s numerically superior army of about 100,000 soldiers and 1000 elephants. In the battle that began on the following day, Babur utilised the tactic of Tulugma, encircling Ibrahim Lodi’s army and forcing it to face his artillery fire directly. These guns were gathered by Babur in the form of war assistance from Ottoman Sultan Selim I as 12 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection

the basis for Ottoman-Mughal relation to conquest future wars. Lodi army had no idea of tackling gun fire weapons, which were already frightening the war elephants. Sultan Ibrahim Lodi met tragic death on the battle field. Babur declared himself Emperor over Sultan Ibrahim’s territory. Sultan Ibrahim Lodi’s death caused the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India. Babur wrote in his memoirs about his victory: “By the grace of the Almighty God, this difficult task was made easy to me and that mighty army, in the space of a half a day was laid in dust.” Babur occupied Delhi and Agra, ascended the Mughal throne at Agra and laid the foundation for the eventual rise of Mughal Rule in India. The remaining of Ibrahim Lodi’s empire was absorbed into the new Mughal Empire. However Ibrahim Lodi’s brother, Mahmud Lodi in the company of Rajput ruler Rana Sanga having similar objective to oust the outsider attacked Babur at Khanwa (presently in UP). Babur won the battle of Khanwa on 17th March 1527 by his “superior generalship” and modern tactics using cannons for the first time. After the defeat, Mahmud Lodi fled eastwards and posed a challenge to Babur two years later at the Battle of Ghaghra where he was defeated. Mughals arrival in India completed. Babur established Mughal Empire from Kabul to Bihar. Babur ruled for 3 more years but most of his time remained preoccupied with wars and military campaigns. As a result he could not consolidate the gains he had made in India and could not expand his empire beyond Bihar in the east. He died on 26 December 1530 AD at the age of 47. He was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun. Chapter 3 Mughal Rule Interrupted

It was December 1530 and place was Agra. Humayun, the eldest son of late Mughal Emperor Babur ascended the Throne at the age of 23. Late Emperor Babur earlier divided the territories of his empire between two of his sons Humayun and Kamran Mirza. Humayun was an inexperienced ruler when he came to power. His territories were also the least secured. He had two major rivals in Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat to the south west and in Sher Shah Suri (Sher Khan) settled along the river Ganges in Bihar to the east. His half-brother Kamran Mirza inherited Kabul and Lahore, the northernmost parts of their father’s empire. When Humayun ascended to the Mughal throne sibling rivalry became a continuous threat to him. Humayun started his first campaign to confront Sher Shah Suri, who was then aggressively establishing himself as the main Ruler in the Eastern India. But Humayun had to abandon halfway through this offensive and turned to Gujarat. A threat had originated from Ahmed Shah of Gujarat which he thought to be met on priority. Gujarat in the north-west was important for Mughals for its ports. Through these ports foreign fire arms and ammunitions 14 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection were making inroad to India. Sultan Bahadur had allowed the Portuguese to establish a strategic foothold in north western India in exchange of receiving firearms. Humayun got the news that the Sultan of Gujarat was planning an assault on the Mughal territories with Portuguese aid. He gathered his army and marched on Sultan Bahadur. Within a month he captured the forts of Mandu and Champaner. However Humayun ceased the campaign and instead engaged in consolidating his newly conquered territory. Clever Sultan Bahadur meanwhile escaped and took up refuge with the Portuguese. In the mean time Sher Shah Suri, the Afgan Warrior of the East had conquered Bihar from the Mughal governor rule and the Bengal from its independent Muslim ruler. He had firmly established Suri Dynasty from far eastern part up to central part of India with Capital at Sasaram in Bihar. Shortly after Humayun had marched on Gujarat, he saw an opportunity to wrest control of Agra from the Mughals. He began to gather his army together hoping for a rapid and decisive siege of the Mughal capital. Upon hearing this alarming news, Humayun quickly marched his troops back to Agra. Ousted Sultan Bahadur of Gujarat took this opportunity to easily regain control of the territories Mughal had recently captured. Humayun succeeded in protecting Agra from Sher Shah but he did not pursue his pressure on him anymore. Sher Shah Suri’s army meanwhile had sacked Gaur the then capital of Bengal. His son emptied the largest grain store of Mughal Empire at Gauri while protecting the Chunar fort. Suri army maintained their renewed presence overlooking Agra of the Mughal Empire. Mughal Rule Interrupted 15

Humayun did a mistake by not following Sher Shah Suri. He confined himself up for a considerable time in his Harem, and indulged himself in every kind of luxury. That was when his younger brother Hindal betrayed him. He abandoned his position from protecting the rear of the Mughal troops and came to Agra. There he decreed himself acting emperor. Knowing that Mughal troops had vacated their advance position Sher Shah’s troop quickly reclaimed these positions and surrounded Humayun. In his hour of need Humayun’s other brother Kamran Mirza did not come forward in aid to Humayun. Thus Humayun stood betrayed by both his brothers who put him in great danger. Sher Shah continued his march on Agra. He met Humayun in battle on the banks of the Ganges in Chausa near Buxar. This could have been an entrenched battle but for foolishness of Humayun. He engaged in some diplomacy in which there would follow a face-saving military drama whereby Sher Shah would retreat on charge by Humayun troops and in return he would get to rule over Bengal and Bihar as provinces of Mughal Emperor in return. As the Mughal Army had made its charge, Sher Shah’s troops made their agreed-upon retreat. Mughal troops relaxed their defensive preparations and returned to their entrenchments without posting a proper guard. Observing the Mughals’ vulnerability, Sher Shah reneged on his earlier agreement. That very night, his army approached the Mughal camp. Finding the Mughal troops unprepared with a majority asleep, they attacked and killed most of them. Emperor Humayun survived by swimming across the Ganges using an air filled “water skin,” and quietly returned to Agra. 16 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection

Humayun reached Agra where all his brothers were present then. But they did not reach any agreement on military strategy to be adapted to challenge the ensuing attack of Sher Shah. Meanwhile chasing aggressively Sher Shah reached very close to Agra in short duration. Mughal army met Afghans at Kannauj on 17 May 1540. Due to another tactical error of Humayun, his army was soundly defeated once again. He and his brothers quickly retreated back to Agra. But they chose not to stay in Agra, and retreated to Lahore, since Sher Shah was chasing them. Having defeated in the successive battles of Chausa and of Kannauj and ousted from Agra, Humayun’s period in exile began. Sher Shah Suri established the Suri Dynasty in the northern India with its capital at Delhi. Chapter 4 Walking through the Suri Dynasty Rule

It was May 1540 AD. Place was Agra. Sher Shah Suri after defeating the Mughals ascended the throne and established the Suri Empire in India. Sher Shah Suri was an ethnic Pashtun. He was the son of Hussain Khan Suri and grandson of Ibrahim Khan Suri. They are the direct descendants of Muhammad Khan Suri one of the princes of House of Ghorian of Afghanistan. ‘Suris’ came to India in the early part of Lodi rule. Sultan Bahlol Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty had given in Jagir the parganas of Haryana and Bahkala, etc to Muhabbat Khan Suri. Ibrahim Khan Suri and his son Hussain Khan Suri entered into the service of Muhabbat Khan Suri and were settled in the pargana of Bajwara. Ibrahim Khan himself a noble adventurer was a Jagirdar of Narnaul area and represented Delhi rulers of that period. He was recruited much earlier by Sultan Bahlul Lodi of Delhi during his long contest with the Jaunpur Sultanate. Ibrahim Khan Suri got his son Hussain Khan Suri married with the daughter of one of the Afgan Chiefs of Roh. Farid Khan was born to Hussain Khan. Very soon Mian Hussain Khan Suri became a prominent figure in the government of Bahlul Khan Lodi 18 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection

of the Delhi Sultanate and was made a Jagirdar of Sasaram in Bihar shortly. During his early age, Farid Khan was given a village in Fargana (comprising present day districts of Bhojpur, Buxar, and Bhabhua of Bihar) by Omar Khan Sarwani, the counselor and courtier of Bahlul Khan Lodi. But Farid Khan and his father Hussain Khan did not get along for a while. So Farid fled to serve Jamal Khan, the governor of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. He started his service under Bahar Khan Lohani, the then Governor of Bihar. Because of his valour, Bahar Khan rewarded him the title Sher Khan (Tiger Lord). After the death of Bahar Khan, Sher Khan became the regent ruler of the minor Sultan Jalal Khan. Later sensing the growth in Sher Shah’s power in Bihar Jalal Khan sought assistance of Ghiyashuddin Mahmud Shah, the then independent Sultan of Bengal. But the army of Ghiyashuddin was defeated by Sher Shah Suri at the battle of Surajgarh in 1534 with the help of the Ujjainiya Rajputs. Sher Shah achieved complete control of Bihar. In 1538 AD Sher Khan attacked Bengal and defeated Ghiyashuddin Mahmud Shah. But before he could capture the Bengal Kingdom he had to retreat to oppose the sudden expedition of Mughal Emperor Humayun towards his territories. Some soldiers were left behind by Sher Shah Suri in Bengal avoiding the Humayun invasion. These people were later known as Shersabadia. They made a colony named Shershahabad. But this place was washed away due to a course change of the Ganges and did not exit further. Today some people of this community are found in parts of Malda, Murshidabad, Chapai Nawabganj and a few more parts of Bengal. Walking through the Suri Dynasty Rule 19

After ascending the Delhi throne Emperor Sher Shah conquered Malwa in 1542 AD and tactfully eliminated all revolting Sultans. Later in 1543, Sher Shah Suri showing his exceptional military tactics defeated Maldeo Rathore in the battle of Sammel and conquered Jodhpur. He brought the territory of Marwar from Ajmer to Mount Abu in 1544 AD under Suri dynasty. His empire stood expanded from Kabul in the west up to the farthest eastern Bengal in the east. Sher Shah was killed on 13 May 1545 during the siege of the Kalinjar fort of Rajputs. As a non-Mughal Emperor in a short period of five years he contributed so much to this country that made him great. His name is always taken in the same spirit as that of a Mughal ruler. He was succeeded by his son, Jalal Khan who took the title of Islam Shah Suri. Chapter 5 Re-establishment of Mughal Rule

It was 1540 AD. Ousted Mughal Emperor Humayun was on the run for quite sometimes then. The events that followed next 12 years were very intrigue in Humayun’s life. These helped in making Humayun an improved warrior and a leader. During the period he faced the continued unsupportive attitude of his brothers. He along with his pregnant wife Hamida Begum had to keep moving from place to place. They finally reached to Sindh after a long and exhaustive trip through the mountain terrains and deserts facing acute difficulties all along. Humayun later described this event as the lowest time of his life. Emir of Sindh was Hussein Umrani. He did welcome Humayun with great fanfare. Hussein Umrani was appointed earlier by Humayun and hence owed him his allegiance. He was loyal to Humayun just as he had been loyal to Babur. Humayun and his wife Hamida were put in the oasis garrison of Umerkot in Sindh. Herein Hamida gave birth to Humayun’s son Jalaluddin Muhammad on 15 October 1542, the heir-apparent to the 34-year-old Humayun. The date was said to be special because Humayun consulted his Astronomer to utilize the astrolabe and check the location of the planets. 22 Mughal’s Murshidabad Connection

While in Sindh, Humayun alongside Emir Hussein Umrani, gathered horses and weapons and formed new alliances that helped regain lost territories. Humayun had gathered hundreds of Sindhi and Baloch tribesmen alongside his Mughals. He then marched towards Kandahar and later to Kabul. Thousands more gathered by his side as Humayun continually proceeded declaring himself the rightful Timurid heir of the first Mughal Emperor Babur. On the way near Kandahar he got the news of approaching hostile army led by one of his brothers Aksari Mirza under the order of Kamran Mirza, another brother. But to avoid any bloodshed between brothers he diverted his route and took refugee elsewhere leaving 14 month old toddler Akbar in the camp to protect him from the severe cold of December in the Hindu-Kush Mountain. Jalaluddin was rescued by Aksari Mirza and was later brought up by him and his wife. Humayun fled with forty men and his wife through the mountains and valleys and took refuge to the Safavid Empire in Persia. Upon entering the city of Herath his army was given a Royal welcome by Safavid Emperor Shah Tahmasp. Shah treated Humayun as a royal visitor. Some six months after his arrival in Persia Humayun met the Shah in Qazvin in a large feast after a lengthy journey from Herat. The meeting of the two monarchs could be seen in a famous wall-painting in the Chehel palace in Esfahan. Safavid Emperor Shah Tahmasp urged to Humayun to get converted from Sunni to Shia Islam and in return he would get all assistance from him. Humayun eventually and reluctantly accepted this in order to keep him and several hundred followers alive. The attraction that made the Mughals to agree to their conversion was Enjoyed reading this sample?

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