Indian Antiquary Vol 36

SR No.: 032528
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 50

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[FEBRUARY, 1907.
postponed for one year, and I was married to the daughter of 'Ali Qali.Kbān.? After a year the Begam Şahibah was sent for by the Shāh; and repeatedly his letters arrived summoning her. The answer she wrote was : "I came to Shahjahānābād to see about the marriage of my “ daughter. Two years have elapsed while I have been sitting and waiting here and Gbiyāz-ud"din Khan (s. e., the person speaking, ris, Imád-ul-mulk] has never carried oat the ceremony. "Nay, he is on the point of making his first marriage with the daughter of Ali Quli Khan, "the Six-fingered, the Daghistāni; and her mother was a singing woman."
In reply to this letter the Sbāh sent me an angry letter, and over and over again forwarded preremptory orders for the Begam to return to his Court. While this was going on, I had married 'Ali Quli Khan's daughter, and on this account the Begam şāḥibah was to some extent ill-disposed towards me. More than once she wrote to the Shāh that she had been involved in all these complications, yet up to that date her daughter had never been married, but was still "seated solitary at home."
The Shāh, upon the representations of the Begam Şahibah, was greatly incensed against me in his heart. When the Shāh drew near to Dihli and was encamped at Shāhdarrah,18 I sent for Nawāb Najib Khān, and said: “We must deliver one battle against the Shāh." His answer was: "Pay me this day two krors of rupees, cash down, and I will fight." I replied : "Nothing is due to you by the State for your arrears and pay, seeing that in liquidation of your " claims I have handed over to you more than one half of the territories. At a day's notice " whence can I produce such a sum of money? This claim that you have announced is inconsistent with your loyalty as a subject."
Najib Khan and his followers raised a tumult and for a whole day barred exit from and ingress to my house, and pressed for payment of the above sum. Then, keeping the fact a secret from me, Najib Khan appointed one Rasul Khan, Afghān, as his agent, and sent him to the Shah's camp, where he was to act under the auspices of Jabān Khan, the Shāh's general-in-chief. That very same day a letter in the most cordial terms came from the Shāh, inviting Najib Khan to his camp.
At midnight Najib Khan came out of Dihli and marched off with his troops to the Shäh's camp, where he was presented through Jahan Khan and obtained a regal kchila't (set of robes). I saw that in the realm of Hind there was no defender, I was left alone, "driven off from " that side, and on this side, left forlorn,"29 exposed to dishonour and to death. Thus it seemed best to let come what come might, and go off in person to the Shāh. When it was one watch (three hours) before dawn, without informing any of my people, but taking my life in my band, I got on to my borse, and, followed by four attendants, an hour and a half after sunrise I reached the tent of the chief minister, where I dismounted. The chief minister was most kind and took me to his arms. Then he called for breakfast for me. In every way he tried to comfort and reassure me. One of the family of the chief minister was related to my mother, and this lady, who was then travelling with him, heard of my arrival, and, following custom, sent out some one to ask how I was.
This conversation ended, the chief minister went away to see the Shih and reported that 'Imád-ul-mulk Ghiyaz-ud-din Khan, the Wazir of Hindustan, had left the capital and had reached his (the chief minister's) tent all alone, and was stopping there. He was waiting for permission to kiss the threshold of the Heaven-exalted Court.
11 Her name was Ganda Begam and her mother was a dancing-girl. A translation of one of her poems is to be found in Vol. I. of Sir William Jones' works. Her tomb is at Nüräbäd, sixty-three milee south of Agrah, and it barre the short ineoription, äh, gham-i-Ganna Begam' (1189 , 1775-6). "Alas! weep for Ganni Begam." H On the left bank of the Jamoah, just opposite to Dihli.
As an tū rāndah, waarin zü mandah.