Indian Antiquary Vol 49

SR No.: 032541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

Page 182

178
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
OCTOBER, 1920
prosecuted with the utmost vigour and caution, there appeared to be no prospect of the reduction of the fortress, for Manjan Khån, son of Khairat Khan, who was at that time the kotud! of the fort, was a valiant and energetic soldier, and devoted all his energies to the defence.
At this time Malik Barid, ruler of the country of Bidar, who was noted among the amirs of the Dakan for his bravery and valour, wrote to 'Imad Shah, with whom he was connected, saying that although there might be some cause for the quarrel between him and Nizam Shah, he had shown little wisdom in undermining the foundations of his own house and of his own sovereignty, for it was evident to anybody with any sense, that if Sultan Bahadur oonquered the Nizam Shah kingdom, 'Imad Shahi would not reign long in Berar. He advised Ald-ud-din 'Imad Shah to settle his quarrel with Burhân Nizam Shah peaceably, 80 that by this means the enemy might be induced to abandon his design of conquering the Dakan.
Ald-ud-din 'Imad Shah, on thinking over the matter, realized that his alliance with Sultân Bahadur was not likely to bring him anything in the end but ruin and repentanoe, and he therefore began to play Sultan Bahadur false. He withdrew his camp to a short distance from that of the Gujaratis and secretly sent a message to Manjan Khân, saying that although he had cause of quarrel with Burhan Nigam Shah, he would not leave him defenceless, and would never permit the conquest of his dominions by the ruler of Gujarat. He encouraged Manjan Khan to resist the besiegers boldly, promising him that when the time came, the army of Berar would fight for him and not for the Gujaratis.
Manjan Khan was much cheered and encouraged by the receipt of this news and opposed the Gujaratis more stoutly than before, making daily sorties from the fort and killing many of them. At last the Gujaratis grew heartily weary of the siege, and all of them clearly showed that they were disheartened, for they had realized that the attempt to capture that fort could bring them nothing but shame. Sultan Bahadur then summoner 'Imadal-Mulk and all his amirs to his presence, and after they had made their obeisance; he consulted them as to the best method of capturing the fort. 'Imád-ul-Mulk, who was now most anxious that Sultân Bahadur should retire, said that he had been opposed to the siege from the first, but that as the Sultan had ordered it, he did not like to say anything against it, lest he should be suspected of having some purpose of his own to serve. Now, however, that he was consulted, he made bold to offer his opinion as to what was the best course. He said that nothing was to be gained by allowing the army to waste its strength in attempts to capture the rock-fortress; that the best thing was to abandon the field and bring Burhan Nizam Shah to battle, for it was certain that he could not withstand Sultan Bahadur's army in the field, and his defeat would be sufficient to cause the surrender of all the forts in the Dekan.
As all were sick of the siege, 'Imád-ul-Mulk's advice was generally approved, and Sultán Bahadur, by the advice of his amira and officers, abandoned the siege and turned his attention to the conquest of the district of Bir.TO
70 Seyyid 'All has placed the campaign in the Bur district after the siege of Daulat Abad. This is pot corroot. Thoamers of Burhan and Amir Alf Barid descended from the hills on one occasion and attacked tho army of Gujarat. They gained an initial advantage, but on the arrival of reinforcemente sent by Bahadur were defeated and driven back into the hills. They now opened secret negotiations with AIA-ud-din 'Imad Shah of Berar and Muhammad Shah of Khandesh. With the former, who already bitterly regrotted having brought Bahadur to the Dakan, they had not much difficulty, and he readily agreed to change sides. He first sont large quantities of ripplies into DaulatAbid and then, leaving his camp standing, rotired mddenly into Berar.