Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 46

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ FEBRUARY, 1923
consummation of the marriage, and selected an auspicious night. The marriago was consummated on that night, the key to his desires being placed in the hand of the prince. The amirs and chief officers of the ariny and the vazirs and courtiers attended, offered their congratulations, and scattered largesse.
Affer the conclusion of the festivities the king issued a farmán summoning the prince to court. Qasim Beg sent on the prince to court, and he remained there, without being allowed to depart, for three days. On the fourth night, at the time when all men take rest, a fire broke out in the bedchamber of the guiltlees prince, but since his hour had not yet come he escaped from this calamity by the help of the dancing girls. Some attributed this fire to the king's majesty, but God knows the truth of all things.286
When the prince escaped from the heart of the flames of that fire, Qasim Beg undertook to protect his person and managed to persuade him, perturbed as he was, that he need have no fear of fire. The king now ordered that the prince should be sent back to Daulatâbâd, and Qasim Beg sent him back thither under the charge of some of his own trusted servants, taking every possible precaution for his personal safety.
After this a royal farman was issued removing Muhib Khân from the post of commandant of Daulatâbâd and appointing Ahmad Khan in his place, and a secret order was issued to Ahmad Khân directing him to put the prince to death. But the prince was beloved by all, both great and small, and Qasim Beg also was opposed to any violence against him. Ahmad Khân therefore put to death another who resembled the prince, and sent his head to the king. The people, when they saw, as they thought, the head of their favourite. were naturally convinced that the prince had been put to death, but a few days later the commandant's artifice and the fact that the prinde was still alive became known, and the king, who attributed this disobedience and deceit to Qasim Beg, issued an order removing him from the office of pishvd, and Habib Khan, who had formerly been known as Musharraful-Mamalik, acquired the office of pishvd by the efforts of Futab;286 but his tenure of the office lasted no longer than one night, for, at the end of the night on which he put on the robe of honour which had been conferred on him as vakil, Habib Khân, one of the immediate atten. dants of the king, gave Futůh a jewelled necklace and by his help became vakil and pishua, and the king removed Habib Khân from the office of pishvá almost at the moment in which he conferred it on him.
Qasim Beg was vakil for nine months, and was followed by Habib Khan who held office for one night.287 After that, in accordance with the royal command, the song of some of the old officers of the court who had been concerned in public affairs gained access to the king's
385 There is no doubt of Murtaza Nizam Shah's guilt. Firishta, who was in close attendance on him at this time and belonged to his party, not the prince's, says that he caused the prince's bedding to be set on fire and then had the door of his bedroom secured, so that he could not escape. Fathi Shah, the king's favourite dancing girl, heard the prince's cries and taking pity on him, had him released, and Qasim Beg and Mirza Muhammad Taqi Nagiri sent him secretly back to Daulatabad. Two or three days lator the king went to the bodroom to search for his son's remains, but finding not even a bono questioned Fathi Shah. She suggested that the prince's bones had been entirely calcined, but the king refused to believe this, and pressed her more closely, whereupon she admitted that she had saved the prince and handed him over to Qasim Beg and Mirza Muhammad Taqf, but they, on being examined, denied any knowledge of the affair, whereupon the king dismissed them and appointed Mirza Sadiq Khân Urdubadi vakil.-F. ii, 285.
286 I take this most unusual name to be Sayyid 'Ali's version of Fathi Shah, the title conferred by Murtaza Nizam Shah on Tulji, the dancing girl.
387 According to Firishta, MirzA Muhammad Sadiq Urdabadi succeeded Qasim Beg as valil and, on refusing to aid the king in his designs against his son's life, was superseded by Sultan Husein Sabzavari, who received the title of Mirza Khân-F. ii, 285.