SHER SHAH SURI, Emperor of India. BY
ZU LF IQ AR AL I K H A N . KT., C. S. L,
of Maler Kotla,
Chair Chairman, man, Coun Counci cill of State, State, India, Fellow, Pa Panj njab ab University, University, Vice-President, Panjab Historical Society, Author of " The The Life of Maha Mahara raja ja Ranjit Si Singh ngh " and '' A Voice from the the East," East," etc.
LAHORE : PRINTED PRINTED AT THE THE '' CI VIL VI L AND MILITARY GAZETT GAZETTE E '' PRESS.
BY R. A. SMEDLEY, MANAGER.
1925.
Dedicated by permission to His Excellency The Earl of Reading, Viceroy and an d Governo Governorr- General General of I n d ia ia..
FOREWORD. In asking me to contrib con tribute ute a Foreword Forew ord to the present present work wo rk,, the Honourable Honourab le Nawab Nawa b Sir Zulfiqar Zulfiqar A l i K h a n ha has paid me a compliment of w hich hi ch I am deeply deeply sensi sensibl ble. e. It is an honour for any man to associate his name with that of Sher Sher Shah, in m any an y ways t he most capable capable figure that ever occupied the imperial throne of D e lhi. lh i. I personal personally ly have have always resent resented ed LaneL anePoole Poole's 's asserti assertion on t h a t the bloody and an d unscru pulous Balban Balb an " perfectly perfe ctly understood the th e con ditions of kingship kingship in I n d i a . " BloodBlo od-thirs thirsty ty ty r a n n y does not indicate understanding, whether in I n d i a or else elsewh wher ere. e. She Sher Shah Shah's 's adm ad m inis in istr tra a tion of his brief empire, on the other hand, does reveal a most phenome phenomenal nal understanding, understa nding, no nott only of the conditi conditions ons of kingship kingship in I n d ia , bu but also of the hearts of the people—if, indeed, the two are not merely different aspects of one and the same t h i n g . The fact t h a t the peasantry for whom Sher Shah was so consistently and sustainedly conc concern erned, ed, and an d whom wh om he so gr grea eatly tly benefitted by his regulations, were were in the m ain ai n
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H i n d u s , immeasurably, immeasu rably, enha enhanc nces es his claims to hono ho nour ur,, in an age age before any an y large fusion fus ion of th e race racess , h ad ta k e n place, an d before before the th e br oa d minded tolerance of Akbar had been exhibited. The latter, indeed, appears from all the available evidence to owe his reputation for wisdom almost as m u ch to th e example an d precept p recept of the th e A fg h an Sher Sher Shah as to his o w n sagacity s agacity ; an d for th is reason reason alone, every ad di ti on al w o rk w h i c h tends, li k e th e present one, one, to make ma ke the th e meri me rits ts of Sher Sher Shah more wi de ly k n o w n an d appreciated , is most co rd rdia iall llyy to be welcomed. Less Less specta spectacul cular ar t h a n Mu ha mm ad i b n Tu gh lak , less picturesque pictures que t h a n Ba bu r, less show y t h a n Shah Jeha Je han, n, Sher Sher Shah Sha h has has ob viou vi ou sly sl y been been t h r o w n to o muc m uc h i n t o th e shade shade by thes thesee more daz zlin g personalities, a fate the more read re ad ily comprehended compre hended,, when the th e shortne shortness ss of his h is reig re ignn is remembered. remem bered. Ju s t as th e mausoleum of the th e Af gh an , tu ck ed away in th e ob obsc scur uree bac kgr oun d of a remo te pr prov ovin ince ce,, is com pletely ple tely over shadowed by the th e more gorgeo gorgeous us an d more mor e con spicuously spicu ously placed tom bs of his Mog hal riva ri va ls , despite the th e fact t h a t , as arch itect ure, ure , it is con sidered sidered by ma ny comp etent aut hor itie s to surpas surpasss t h e m a l l , so is th e m a n who whose se rem ains ain s
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t h a t mausoleum mau soleum holds hold s overshadowed by les lesser ser personalities more favourably situated in regard to the li me -l ig ht of mode rn interest and and modern tr a ve l. Ma ny of the principles evolved by th is untutored Afghan are of immortal application, an d t he success of a l l rulers ruler s in I n d i a mu st always depend to a surprising extent upon how far they th ey succe ucceed ed in adapti ada pti ng t h e m to t o the th e con ditio di tio ns of the time s. This being so, it w ou ld seem diffi di ffi cult cu lt indeed indee d to overstate the m e ri t of h i m who evolved th e m unaided from no th in g but the innate sagacity of his wise and beneficent m i n d , and in helpin g, therefore therefore,, to br in g th e qualities of the rel at iv el y forgot ten empero emperorr more prominently before the public in the pre sent sent wo rk rk,, Sir Zulfiqar Zul fiqar A l i K h a n has has do done ne a service which will be widely appreciated.
SIMLA :
BRA BR AINER IN ERD D SP SPOONE OONER R.
The 19th November,1924.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
In 19 1914 14 I read a paper before before the th e Panjab Pan jab H isto is tori ricc a l Society Society on Sher Shah Shah whic wh ichh I now present to my readers in greatly expanded form fo rm . My origin ori ginal al idea idea was was to publish publi sh the pape paperr immediately imm ediately w i t h additions, b u t the worldwo rld-sha shakin kingg expe experi rien ence cess of the th e fatefu fat efull war prevented preve nted the execution of this th is design. design. Ten eventful years have elapsed since I first wrote it, and during this period Empires and Nations have been overwhelmed with disaster, and democracy has obsessed the minds of the nations nations in the old ol d w or orld ld.. B u t , the one thin th ingg which has remained unchanged, and which even the hideo hideous us suffer sufferin ingg of hum h um a nity ni ty has no nott altered alte red is the fact that right is still made to yield to force. force. The t i t a n i c war therefore therefore has has no nott ushere usheredd in a new world as was predicted, with different ideals of just ju stic icee and an d freedom. It is depressi depressing ng to realise t h a t after afte r such colossal colossal sacri sacrifi fices ces in behalf behalf of of lo f ty idea ideals ls the m enta en tali lity ty remain remainss the th e sa same as before before the th e war. In th t h is book recording the life story of Sher Shah, the reader years of consta con stant nt will discover that his five years
vi a c t iv it y in war and adm inis trati on transformed the chaotic wo r ld of I n d i a i n t o on onee in wh ic h the highest order and justice prevailed, and in w h ic h the strong cou ld no t prey up on the weak, and r i g h t was was m ig ht ie r t h a n force. Such priceless examples of lofty public deeds and of mag nan imo us me n m ay insp ire the present age. age. He ine said t h a t whe n he read P lu ta rc h , he felt a vehement impulse in s ta n tl y to tak e post ho horr ses ses for B e rl in , and t u r n a hero. B u t th e m at er ia li st ic ten den cy of the th e present age strives to repress the ideal forces of the human so ul and conseq con seq uen tly heroe heroes, s, such as fo form rmer er ages pr oduc ed, do n o t appear appear in th is s u l t r y atmosphere. Th e imp ress ion w h i c h the th e reader reader of Slier Shah's life invariably receives is that the secret of his power pow er l a y in th e love lo ve of his subjects, subjec ts, wh o felt con vinced t h a t his unw earied d ai ly labours were dedicated to their contentment and pr os pe rit y. Th ey fel t t h a t he was was on onee of the m selv es and t h a t th e y could approach h i m w i t h out ceremony for the redress of their grievances again st th e stronges t i n th e la n d . I t la y be be side sidess in t h a t se sense of justi ce w h i c h t h r i l l e d his
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sou l, in t h a t great i n t u i t i o n of benev benevol olenc encee which commands all sympathy, all courtesy to be its fr ui ts , b ri n gi ng together togethe r emperor emperor and peasant on the same level of human harmony a n d on onen enes ess. s. Th us hi g h a n d l o w became became one in th e great new energy energy t h a t en rap tur ed the n a t io n , m ak in g the humb lest peasan peasantt in th e country glory in the splendour of the period like a grandee of the highest rank. It is in ter est ing th a t thi s splendid per iod lik e all b r i l l i a n t periods peri ods in his tor y contains the com ple te self self dis pla y of those develop ments in the life of Indians which in the times of later rulers fructified this gr grea eatt co un tr y. H is da ily life which was the true expression of his justice, wisdom and benevolence would reach its full significance if those who control the destiny of any country in the world realised that the sword is no t the on ly power in the w o r l d wh ic h can pa cif y a l i v i n g people. W h a t others seek to a t t a i n by fear fear,, by sev eri ty, by majes ty, he accom plished by kindness. It is possibl possiblee t h a t th e pri nci ple s of Sher Sher Shah's Shah's p o li cy m a y be carried away fr om their na tu ra l envir onm ent and be understood and developed in some sense tr ue in itse lf even if it be co n tr ad ic to ry
viii of another stream strea m of o f t ho ug h t wh i c h at present present overflows th e m in ds of th e rulers in th is materialistic age. • It is pleasing to see t h a t th is P atha at ha n k i n g was actuated by those Islamic sentiments which Su lt an Sal ahuddi ahu ddinn impressed impressed on the th e m i n d of his heir. " M y son," said said th e great great Su lta n, " I commen d thee thee to the Most H i g h God, th e fountain of all goodness. Do Hi s w i l l , for that wa y l i e t h peace eace.. Ab st ai n f ro m the shedding shedding of blo od ; t ru s t no t to t ha t , for bloo d th at is s p i l t never slumbers. Seek to w i n the hearts of thy people, and watch over their prosperity, for it is to secu secure re th ei r happiness happiness t h a t t h o u a rt appoi ap poi nte d by God and by me. T r y to ga in th e hearts hearts o f t h y A m ir s an d ministers and nobles. nobles . I have ha ve become gr grea eatt as I am becaus becausee I have ha ve w o n men's men' s heart hea rtss by gentlen gentleness ess a n d kindness." I have dedicated this book by permission to H is Exce llenc y the E a r l of Read ing, the present Viceroy and Governor-General of India. M y readers w i l l discover a strange coincidence in the fact t h a t at th e ti me th is book is pre sented to th e pu bl ic the th e destiny desti ny of I n d i a is co nt ro ll ed by on onee wh o, l i k e Sher Sher Shah, has
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risen risen to this th is position of migh mi ghty ty rulers by the force of his hi s genius. geniu s. The Th e mess messag agee of Sher Sher Shah is thus delivered delivered into in to w or orth thyy hand hands. s. D r . Spoo Spoonner, the Deputy Director of Archaeology in India, has lai la i d me und under er a deep debt of gr grat atit itud udee by cont co ntri ribu buti ting ng an excellen excellentt foreword foreword to this thi s book. For this th is I desi desire re to offer h i m my cordi co rdial al thanks. LAHORE :
ZULFIQAR ALI KHAN. 10th December 1924..
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LIST OF CONTENTS. Page Moral conditions before his birth His birth and education His first experience of administration
1 14 18 21 26
Rising consciousness of great destiny Acquisition of the Fort of Chinar Occupation of the Fort of Rohtas Contact with Humayun and the Battle of Chausa 32 H i s coronati coro nation on and the Ba ttle tt le of Kanauj Kan auj .. 38 41 Pacification of Gakhars 45 A t ta c k on Raisin and its Cap itula tion 62 Conquest of Malwa 67 Conquest of Multan and Sindh 72 Conquest of Marwar H is Comparison w i t h Frederick the Great 79 of Prussia 87 Revenue Policy 92 Protection of trade, roads, posts and sarais 102 Apostle of Indian Unity 106 His Justice 111 Revenue Policy (ii)
" Half Ha lf of Hi H i s t o r y , " said said Doudan, " is mad made up of unexpected events that force the stream, i n t o a different different course, course,"" and like li ke 'one of Mrs. Mrs . Rudcliffe's novels, novels, " 'tis at a door door hidden in the wall, that the important personages in the drama drama make make their entri entries es and their the ir exit ex its. s."" When Babar extinguished the last hope of Pathan domination in India Ind ia on the historic field of Panipat, which had witnessed the wreck of mighty armies as well as the exultant march of the conquering hosts, the fate fatess obviously obvio usly made it sufficiently clear that a new order of thin th ings gs had bee beenn usher ushered ed in and the old ol d took to ok its departure in a chaos of blood and agony, Babar—that romantic figure of Indian His tory swept on to the wide plains of India and laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire. Ibrahim Lodhi redeemed his disgraceful past by an heroic heroic death. dea th. H i s body was was found under a heap of slain over whom marched the con quering army of Babar—the favourite of fortune who was oppressed by a genius which could not be satisfied except exce pt by the th e po poss sses essi sion on of an empire.
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It was the close o f the 15th century when everywhere o l d barriers were were br break eak ing in g do wn and new worlds opening out to the adventurers. The Portuguese ha d ro roun unde dedd the th e Cape of Storms, Stor ms, while Columbus seeking another way to India ha d fo foun undd instead a new Co Conti nti nen t. The Tu rk s ha d giv en the death blow to the Mo ri bu nd Empire of the East, while Ferdinand and Isa bella had driven the last Moorish King from Granada. The r e v i v a l of classical classical learn lea rning ing in Europe Euro pe in general and in Italy in particular was working upo n lite ratu re, upon art, upon religion . W h a t we call modern History was beginning in the West, when about the end of Ba hl ol Lo dh i's reign comparatively obscure parents gave birth to a son who as he grew into boyhood manifest ed unmistakable signs of early and remarkable prec pr ecoc ocit ity. y. Th is was was Sher Sher Shah, the subject of
this book. Before he reached manhood he developed a wonderfully comprehensive intellect. Men of eminence who came in contact with him felt stro st ro ng ly impressed impressed by the th e force force of his character and predicted that he was destined to play a
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prominent part on the disturbed stage of the I n d i a n Em pi re . Befo Before re I pr proce oceed ed w i t h the story of his life, I may be allowed to make a brief survey of the times which produced the extraordinary man—superior in many respects to the greatest personalities that have moved across the pages of Indian History—who was to knock at the hidden door of fortune and rule an empire. In the 15th century the number of European visitors to India was few and their evidence scanty , b o t h as regards regards value an d am ou nt and unfortunately none of these travellers ventured upwards into northern provinces and the information which they supply confined as it is to th e Deecan, can no nott be l a i d und under er con t r i b u t i o n for the pu purp rpos oses es of thi s book. The I n d i a n historians on the other ha nd never never treated History as an exact science and there fore one can only attempt a general survey. About this period there was no one kingdom in India overwhelmingly superior in power to the rest, and the capital from which India was governed became the centre of an insignificant sov erei gnt y. The Syed Syedss fr om 1414 to t o 1450 and
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the th e L o d h is f r o m 14 1450 50 to 15 1526 26 are are dismissed by Elph inst one in b u t five fi ve ou t of his six hu nd red re d pages which deal with Hindu and Mohamadan periods. periods. F r o m the days days of T i m u r to those those of his gre great at** descendant B abar ab ar,, I n d i a presented presen ted a congeries of small and often mutually anta gonist gon istic ic king dom s. W h il e In d ia remained in this dist di st ract ra ct ed con di tio n sh she had no hi st or y. The annals of these these king ki ngdo doms ms , says says La ne po ol , are either unwritten or unworthy of record. This was the uninspiring state of affairs in this country at the opening of the 15th century, and it remained unchanged in all but minor details t i l l the invasion of Babar profoundly modified the situation and paved the way for a drastic rearrangement of political power. " Clemency is a virtue which descends from G o d , " ob obse serv rves es Far is ht a, " b u t th e degen degener erat atee children of India of this age did not deserve i t . " Th is soun sounds ds li ke too severe an hist hi st or ic al verdict, but when we see that in other countries both in Asia and Europe the moral fibre of peo ple h ad beco become me strangely stran gely relaxed rela xed ab ou outt th e same time, we cease to wonder at the degrada tion of the people of this country in which the powers of destructive elements were more
5 active t h a n thos thosee of in te gr at io n. W hi le thi s was the pitiable state of India, as described by Mr. Lanepool and Farishta in such a graphic manner, that of the western world was not much diss imila r. Montague tells us t h a t when he finished a book, he committed his ideas about i t t o w r i t i n g . I n comment com ment ing o n Guicci Guicciard ardini ini.'s .'s History o f I t a l y he praises the historian's d i l i gence, his freedom from the bias of hatred, favour or vanity and then he proceeds to deeper cr it ic is m . " I have have al also rema rked th i s , " he says, says, " t h a t of so ma n y characters and results result s on w hi ch he pronounces pronounces ju dg m en t, of such diverse counsel and movements, he never refers a single one of them to virtue, to religion or to conscie conscience nce,, ju s t as if such th in g s were gon gonee clean cl ean ou t of thi s w o r l d . " Of al l the acts acts t h a t he describes, however fair they may look in themselves, thems elves, he alway alw ayss traces back th e caus causee to some vicious course or to some hope of selfish advantage. T h a t was was pr ob ab ly no more t h a n th e br an d of Guic ciard ini's ti m e an d school school in the 16th cen tur y. Ag ai n a celebrat celebrated ed wr ite of the same period expresses his disgust of the prevailing vice, " what " he cries, " can redeem an age fr om the th e e x tr e m it y of mis ery, shame, shame,
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reproach, where there is no regard to religion, to laws, to arms, where all is tainted and tar nished w i t h eve ry foulness foulness?? A n d thes thesee vices vices are all the more hateful, as they most abound in those who sit in the judgment seat, are men's masters maste rs a n d seek seek men's men 's rev erenc ere nce." e." Y e t it is a stra st range nge parado x th a t pr iv at e de pr av ity and political debasement went with one of the most brilliant intellectual awakenings in the history of the western world, and whatever the disad vantages of despotism, its power to foster the temperament that made the renaissance is un deniable. The courts of the petty tyrants expr expres esse sedd the th e highest note th e n at ta in ed in l u x u r y and splendour. Poets Poets,, wi ts and men of learning entertained the great man's leisure, and no matter how factions may rage without, the court of the Italian despot was a haven of rest for those wh o sought sou ght quie qu ie t to pursue purs ue intellectual life, and it is thus that the age of the despots coincides with the period of great est activity in the revival of intellectual life. Any survey of the Renaissance, however brief and incomplete must help to show the extra or di na ri ly st im ul at in g chara charact cter er of the move m en t. I t ur urge ge d th e most mo st diverse people to
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labour to one end, the freedom of the spirit of man. It was a dawn following follow ing the night nig ht t h a t fell when the vandals of the fifteenth century swept away all traces of culture, and burried so many records of past civilization beneath their trac tr ackk . In the larger larger sense it gave gave b i r t h to a spiri sp iritt of progress that th at is yet l i v i n g . It turned turn ed the th e rude strength stren gth of the th e middle mid dle age ages to swee sweet t ness ness.. It pro produ duced ced those men of genius genius in every sphere of life who worked as pioneers of modern modern civi ci vili liza zati tion on.. It projected projected currents currents of thought which ultimately achieved such momentus results as the Revolution in France, Unification in Italy, Unification in Germany, the disappearance of temporal power, the prin ciple ciple of nat n atio iona nali lity ty,, tthe he idea idea of an Armed Arme d Peo Peopl ple. e. This wonderful upheaval which the Renaissance brought about had an enormous creative force, which remained hidden through centuries dis figured by every every k i n d of violen violence, ce, and in no way distinguished distinguished fo forr m o rali ra lity ty.. An earlier earlier revela tion would not have served any useful purpose since it was necessary that the minds of men should be prepared through long years to wel come the rev re v ival iv al.. B u t du durin ringg the process which wh ich in other words is the period of transition since
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minds respond early to the impulses that are silently at work below the surface, the richer and more impatient spirits start forth, in sharp antagonism to their times, to realise, often with startling completeness, the ideals of a later age. In short it was the opening of a new world with different ideals of freedom and equality. The br eat h of spr ing wh ich came came to I t a l y and other countries of Europe with the Renais sanc sancee was fe lt in a v e ry sl ight ig ht man ner in the th e rem ote va ll ey of the Gang Ganges es.. Cu Curio rio usly us ly it d i d not so much influence the plebians as those who weilded the destinies of the people in their hands. han ds. It was perhaps more suitab su itab le to loca lo call co n di ti o n in I n d i a ; th e ig no rant ra nt ma masses being invert the movement must necessarily originate w i t h th e men in power. Fo r Ke en says says,, " let a ruler clothed and armed with the attributes of power say blankly to his subjects, ' Do this, for it is my will, 5 in the East there w i l l be an immediate disposition to obey." In 1490 when the Renaissance in the West was in full blaze, Northern India was ruled by Sikandar Lodhi, a poet and a great patron of lette rs. It was was t y p i c a l of the times t h a t when marching against one of his brothers, a Kalan-
9 dar addressed him with prayers for his success on which he said, " Pray for victory to him who w i l l best pr prom omot ot e the th e good of his subjects.'' subjects.'' A better illustration of the welfare of the people being be ing gi ve n prefer preferenc encee over self self intere int ere st cannot can not be easily im ag ined in ed . On another anoth er oocca ccasi sion on a holy man of his own religion remonstrated with him on his prohibition of Hindu pilgrimages, Sikandar drew his sword exc lai min g, " W r e t c h do you defend idolatory ?" He was appeased by the answ answer er :— " No b u t I m ai nt ai n t h a t kin gs ought not to persecute their subjects." Opposition in the interests of public justice co ul d no t pr prov ovok okee even absolute kings ki ngs in those days. Inci den ts of thi s nature wh ic h were were f u l l of thrilling significance announced revolutions in human thought, new conceptions of duty and responsibility were taking place, ancient land marks of oppression were visibly crumbling everywhe ever ywhere, re, at any a ny rate rat e for the t i m e being bein g '' Ah " said Marie An ti on et te , when the thund er b o l t fell fe ll aro a roun undd her, her, " the th e tim e for illusions is pa st ." It was was the great awa keni ng wh ic h had ha d helped the passage of the illusion in her time. " Everywhe re and a l w a y s " said said A rm on d Carr el, " it is th e wants of the th e times t ha t have
10 created the conventions called political princi ples, and the principles have always been pushed aside side by th e wa nt s. " So it is w i t h men wh o shape the destinies of nations and countries. It was surely such a need which produced a man like Sher Shah who was followed by the Great Akbar to rehabilitate political life and to realise the new ideals which were taking hold of the minds of men. The death of Ibrahim the last of the Lodhi d yn as ty on th e field fie ld of Pan ip at in 1526 1526 loosened loosened the bonds which restrained the disruptive forces always ready to operate in India and allowed them to produce their normal result, a medley of p e t t y stat states es,, w i t h ever -var ying boundarie boundaries, s, and engaged in unceasing internecine war, and it took Babar some time to establish his autho rity even in places which came into his posses sion immediately after the victory. " The many chiefs of Rajputana " says Mr. Lanep oole, " were were cowed b u t no t subdued an d in most of the outlying parts of the kingdom the Moghul power was but slightly recognised. Numerous Afghan officers still held powerful fiefs, and these men had not forgotten that the kings of Delhi had been Afghans but a few years
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before." before ." It was was at th is ju nc tu re t h a t Sher Sher K h a n in wh om the misfortunes of th e fallen Afghans had kindled a spark of national virtue appeared on the scene as a servant of the Mo-ghuls, their ally and finally as their master. This extraordinary man was the grandson of Ibrahim Khan, a native of Afghanistan who immigrated to India in the reign of Sultan Bahlol L o d h i . It was was a clever clever po li cy of the Su lt an to attract Afghans of good families by liberal gifts to establish a strong colony in his dominions to consolidate his newl ne wl y acquired acqui red power. Th is prudent step contributed materially to the restoration of the Afghan rule nearly half a century after Bahlol's death. The exact date of Sher Khan's birth is un known, but it must have taken place in the last ten or fifteen years of the fifteenth century. Hi s orig inal name name was F ar id K h a n . Hasan, his father held in jagir the parganas of Sehasram, Hajipur and Tanda in Bihar for the maintenance of 50 5000 horses. Hasa Ha sann ha d eigh ei ghtt sons sons f r o m several several wives, but Nizam Khan was the only brother of F a r i d K h a n by th e same mothe mo ther. r. In such such a household jealousies and dissensions were in evitable and the boy Farid Khan was driven
12 aw ay fr o m home by th e malice ma lice of his step mother who was the favourite of his father and th e moth er of Su lim an . Has an was ev id en tl y to o submissive subm issive to his w ife. if e. He do does es n o t seem seem to have done anything to protect the poor boy f ro m his cruel step step mot her. This Th is th re w the th e boy on himself and her haughtiness proved a blessi blessing ng in disgui disguise. se. F a r i d went we nt to Jaun Ja un pu purr to his father's patron Jamal Khan, the governor of the th e pr prov ovin ince ce . A seve severe re an d y e t benevole bene volent nt destiny sent the impetuous youth just at the right moment to gain the requisite knowledge and experience in the brilliant society of Jaun pur, so that when he returned home with the wealth of enlightenment produced by many years of residence and association with the learned w o r l d he was able able to fertilise his paro pa roch chial ial homeland with an abundance of new ideas. Hasan's paternal instincts appeared to have asserte assertedd themselves at last. las t. He wr ote ot e to J am al Khan requesting him to send back the boy to Sehasram where he wanted to instruct him in religious religious and polit e learning. Jam al K h a n fai led to pers persua uade de h i m (F arid ar id ) to re tu rn . " If my father wants me back to instruct me in learning," he said, " there are in this city many
13 learned men , I w i l l stu dy here." He ev id en tl y spent several years at Jaunpur in quiet and stu dio us l if e, reg ard ing self-knowl self-knowledge edge a nd sel selfcu lt u re as th e highest aims of existence. existence. F r o m th e p o i n t of view of exact knowledge his str en gth lay in his comprehensive acquaintance with history, but religious studies he also pursued w i t h great grea t delib erati on. He th us grew up under un der the spell of religious ideas ideas wh ic h sweetened sweetened his dis po siti on and made h i m susceptibl susceptiblee to th e sorrow s an d need needss of th e poo r. No stu de nt of his h is to ry can fai f ai l to se see t h a t it was was due to the t he influence of this period which enabled him to hold the torch of life for the rest of his days. A ft er some some years years Ha sa n we nt to Ja un pu r to v is it Ja m al K h a n . On th is occa occasi sion on so me of his kinsmen interceded with him on behalf of Farid Khan and represented that his son young as he was gave pro promis mis e of f u tu re greatness. greatness. H i s father was was persuad per suaded ed to tak e h i m in t o favo ur again a n d offer offered ed to F a r i d the m anag emen t of th e Parganas. The r e p ly he gave shows shows that even at that early age he was imbued with those lofty ideals which in later years contri buted to the wonderful prosperity of his king d o m . " I sh al l devo de vote te my sel f to increa increase se t h e
14 prosperity of the district, and that depends on a j us t ad mi ni st ra ti on ," he said. Hasan real realis ised ed the meaning underlying his son's remarks, and gave him a carte blanche in the management of th e estate. On assuming charge charge of his d i s t r i c t he summoned the headmen (Mukaddaman) and th e cu lt iv at or orss (Muzar (Mu zarian ian ), as also also the t he account ants (patwaris) to his presence and addressed t h e m w i t h an ear earnes nestnes tnesss wh ic h carrie car riedd con vi c t i on . He explained his pol ic y in a simple b u t firm language. language. He said t h a t he had ha d set set his heart on the prosperity of the estate and that in his success their own welfare was as much concerned concerned as his re pu puta ta ti on . He specially wa rn ed the officials against their corrupt and oppres sive treatment of the poor cultivators who he said were were the real rea l supporters of a l l admi ad mini nis s t r a t i o n . H i s greatest greatest achievement achievement even as a manager of his father's estate was to define and equalise l a n d reven rev enue. ue. He assessed th e revenue reve nue on the th e measured area area of th e l a n d w h i c h was based on a careful calculation of the produce. He fixed fixe d a commis com mission sion for the th e coll co llec ecti ting ng officials officials (Moharrirana) whom he again addressed and said, " If th e people people com plai pl ainn t h a t y o u take ta ke more mor e t h a n is so fixed," fixed ," he said to his offi officer cers, s,
15 " I sha s hall ll myself my self au a u d i t the accounts an d shall shal l de bit th e excess to y o u . " Th en t u r n i n g to the cultivators he said, " This day I give you your choice as to your mode of payment. Do accept whatever is most advantageous to your interests in every possi possibl blee w a y . " " It is r i g h t , " he said, " for a ruler ru ler to show show leniency to t he cu lt iv at or s at the period of measurement and assessment which should be fixed on the average of produce and making full allowances for the needs o f the producer, b u t when th e tim e of pa ym en t comes, he should collect the revenue with all strictness." He th en dismi dismiss ssed ed the cu lt iv at or s bestowing on them the dresses of honour and assu assure redd th e m " Wh atev at ev er ma tter tt er y o u have to represent bring it always yourselves to me. I w i l l suffer no one to oppress y o u . " Our esti es ti mate of his personal merit and purity of motive is enhanced when we consider his age and en vironment and the standards then obtained. In a condition of society in which the peasants were rack-rented and their life and property were without protection it showed sure insight and sense of justice to have an equitable system of la nd ta x. H is devout sentiment sentiments, s, the p u r i t y of his li fe, fe , the th e qu al it y of his ment me ntal al and emoemo-
16 t i o n a l cu ltu re, re , th e richn richness ess of his pastoral experience found ample scope in the work of am el io ra tin g the con di tio n of the peasantry who for,centuries had been the sport of an endless succ succes essi sion on of self-in sel f-indul dulgen gentt ru rule lers rs.. He said clearly to his father's officers, " The cultivators are th e source source of p ro sp er it y. I have encouraged t h e m and sent sent th em away and sha ll always watch over their condition that no man may oppress and injure them, for if a ruler cannot protect humble peasantry from the lawless, it is ty r a n n y to exact reven revenue ue fro m t h e m , " a t r u t h w h ic h cannot be denied. The languag languagee of sin cer ity and t r u t h has has seldom seldom faile d to impress and the people felt safe under him. In a very short time the Parganas became ex tr em el y prosperous prosperous and the soldie soldiers rs an d th e peas peasan ants ts were were alik e cont ente d. He in s t it u te d a quite peculiar tie between himself and these poor people people,, an e xtre mel y in ti m at e personal relati on s h ip such as we find relat re lat ed in ancient anci ent legends legends.. The fame fame of Fa ri d 's w is do m was noised noised abro ad over the th e k in gd o m of B ih ar . He gained a great re p ut at io n among th e people people an d satisfied satisfied an d pleas pleased ed a l l his friends. friends . B u t the intrigues of his step-mother again disturbed
17 his peac peacee an d wh en he saw saw t h a t Hasa Ha sann was contemplating a change in the management, he himself showed his willingness to resign. " The Parganas are are my father's, father's , let le t h i m give giv e their management to whomsoever he w i l l . " Strict as he was in enforcing discipline, he never hesi ta te d t o su bm it to i t himself. I t was was th en t h a t F ar i d left his father father and wen t to Ag ra which was then the capital of the Empire under I b r a h i m L o d h i . Here he attached himself himsel f to Daulat Khan who commanded 12,000 horses and rendered such good service to his patron, that he often ofte n said, " I am ashamed ashamed to look loo k F a r i d K h a n in the th e face face.. If he w i l l on ly say say wh at I can do for him, I will not fail to use my utmost endeavour to accompl acco mplish ish his desire desire,, o n l y let le t h i m say wh at he wan ts. " F ar i d K h a n remained at Agra t i l l his father died when through the good offices of his p a t r o n , the th e k i n g conferred th e ja j a g i r o n h i m . F o r t h e n e x t f ew y e a r s h e l i v e d on his estate in the forcing atmosphere of strife having to defend his pleasant heritage against the powerful sympathiser of his half brother Suliman, who in the end proved too powerful for h i m an d drove h i m fr om his estate estate.. Thu s again for the third time fortune got the better
18
of vir tu e. F ar id K h a n ho howe weve verr won J u n id Barlas as his ally and turned the tables on his bro the r. He occupied no t on ly his pa te rn al ja j a g i r b u t a d d e d t o i t sev se v era er a l C r o w n p a r g a n a s . Being now relieved of all apprehension regard ing his jagir, Farid Khan went to Sultan Junid Barlas Barl as at Agra Ag ra and an d accompanied h i m to the th e pres pr esen ence ce of th e Em pe ro rorr Baba Ba bar. r. He was pr pre e sent d u r in g the th e affair affair of Chanderi. Chan deri. Here He re he remained for some time among the Moghuls and made himself familiar with their military organisation, their mode of governing and the character of th ei r nobles. nobles. T a l k i n g to a fri end en d he said, " If luck and fortune favour me I will very shortly expel the Moghuls from Hind, for the Moghuls are not superior to the Afghans in battle or single combat, but the Afghans have let the th e E mp ir e of Hi n d o slip fr om their thei r hands on account acco unt of t h e ir in te rn a l diss dissens ensio ions. ns. Since Since I have been amongst the Moghals, and know their conduct in action, I see that they have no order or discipline and that their kings from pride of birth and station do not personally superintend the government and leave all the affair and business of the state to their nobles and ministers, in whose sayings and doings
19 t h e y p u t perfect per fect confidence. These These grandees grandees act on corrupt motives in every case whether it be of a soldier or a cultivator, or of a rebel lious liou s ze mi nd ndar ar." ." Co nt in ui ng to addr addres esss his frie nd he declared declared in a prop het ic st ra in , " Y o u shall soon see and hear how I w i l l bring the Afghans under my control and never permit th e m again to beco become me d i v i d e d . " Onl y a pr o found student of human nature with the spark of genius in him can have the courage to penetrate the future and say things in such a peremptory an d co mm andi an ding ng ton e. There is no stronger bo nd between hu m an bein beings gs t h a n inju stic e suff suffer ered ed in com mo n. By th ei r m al tr ea tm en t of th e Afghans the th e Moghuls Mog huls hop hopele elessl sslyy alie nated nat ed th ei r fri en dly dl y feeli feelings ngs from themselves. W h e n people heard Sher Khan's remark that he was determined to drive the Moghals away and to re-establish the Afghan domination they thought it was only an "empty boast; but they did not know that fate had already crowned h i m k i n g . Th ou gh She Sher Shah kne w his ow n mind and was prepared to attempt a life and death struggle with a seasoned warrior flushed with new triumph and commanding all the reso resour urces ces b o t h in me n an d money mo ney,, he put his
20
faith in a higher power that meets out to na ti on s w ha t th ey des deser erve ve.. N a t io n a l vice lead leadss to ruin and victory is the fruit of moral as well as m i l i t a r y vi rt ue . The prince and even even the people are held responsible for the crimes which they neglect to punish. Aft er some ti m e She Sher K h a n w ai te d upo n the Emperor and it was on this occasion that an amusing incident happened which showed his ready w i t . One One day when di ni ng w i t h the Emperor, they placed before him a dish which he did not know the customary mode of eating. So he cut it into small pieces with his dagger and putting them into his spoon easily disposed of th e m . Babar wondered at Sher Sher K ha n' s ingenuity and said to his minister Khalifa who was at his elbow, " Keep an eye on Sher Khan, he is a clever man and the marks of royalty are visi vi sibl bl e on his forehead. forehead . 1 have seen m a n y Afghan nobles, greater men than he, but they never made an impression on me, but as soon as I saw this man, it entered into my mind that he ought to be arrested for I find in him the qualities of greatness and the marks of mi ght ine ss." Sher Sher K h a n suspecting suspecting fo ul pl ay escap escaped ed to his o w n j a g i r in 1528 1528.. N o t feeling feelin g
21
secure even there, he determined to place him self under the protection of some powerful chie chief. f. He went to Sultan Mahmud in K h a r , whom he had ha d already served. served. He was was there received with open arms and was appointed guardian to the Sultan's Sultan's son Jala Ja lall K h a n , On the death death of Sultan Mahmud Mahmu d he he vi v i r t u a l l y became regent and administered the kingdom on behalf of Jala Ja lall K han. ha n. Jalal Jal al K h a n chaffed un under der his his cont co ntro roll and escaped to Bengal. This left le ft Sher K han ha n vir vi r t u a l l y the mast master er of the who whole le of Bihar. Biha r. Jalal Khan plotted against Sher Khan's life and was was discovered. Sher K h a n was was advised by his friends friends to take tak e reveng revenge. e. " My object objec t is my own safety," he replied, " out of regard for one's own life, it is not good to confirm the hostility of on one' e'ss enemies. enemies."" W i t h the posses sessio sion of B iha ih a r, the fort of Chunar also fell into his hands, but this was affected by peaceful and clever negoti ations with Lad Malika the widow of Taj Khan. Acquisition of the Fort of Chunar (1530.) (1530.)
On the death of Ibrahim Lodhi his Eastern provinces provinces whic wh ichh were were no nott subdue subduedd by the Moghals Moghals experience experiencedd great confusion. In most cases the governors appointed by the late
22
Empe Em peror ror remained in po possses session on,, bu b u t for a short sho rt period perio d they th ey owed owed alle allegi gian ance ce to no paramo para mount unt auth au thor ority ity.. The The F or ortt of Ch Chuunar nar and and the terr te rrit itor oryy attached to it was commanded by Taj Khan Sarang Sarang Kh K h a n i who wa was confi confirmed rmed in his command comm and by Babar in the beginning of his reign. He continued to preserve loyalty to the Central Government. Chuna Chu narr as the th e key to the pr pro o vince of Bihar was an important stronghold from fro m strategical strateg ical consi considera deratio tions. ns. Sher K h a n as a military genius knew the value of this fort for the consolidation of his power in Bihar, he was consequently hard pressed by necessity to o b tain ta in its pos posssess ession on.. L u c k p u t a rare oppor oppor tunity in his way and like a man of action he utilized it to the full and entered upon the pos session of his desideratum without much ado. The story of this transaction is romantic and may be cited here to show that war and romance are are somet sometim imes es strangely m ixed ix ed together. togeth er. Taj Ta j Khan the Governor of Chunar had an intelligent and fascinating wife wife who knew how to kind ki ndle le the v i t a l spark spark in h i m . The lovin lov ingg husban husbandd was was completely completely und under er her her sway sway and v i r t u a l l y ignored his sons by his former wife. wif e. On his deat de athh dis sensions naturally arose between the widow who
23
h a d no issue sue and an d her step sons sons.. The unfor tunate lady who was called Lad Malika or the favourite queen excited the cupidity of these young men by her immense wealth which she had ha d ama amassed du duri ring ng her her husband' husband'ss ' life li feti tim m e. Finding that there was no escape from the rapa city of these men for want of a protector she listened to the sage advice of her late husband's three servants who were devoted to her interests and consented to give her hand in marriage to Sher Khan, who enjoyed a great reputation in the count co untry ry fo forr wisdom and and valour. Negoti Ne goti ations were secretly opened with Sher Khan who happ happen ened ed to be in the vic vi c in i ty of the Fort Fo rt.. He appears to have greeted the proposal with alac r i t y and was clandestinely clandestinely convey conveyed ed into in to the fo fort rt where where the n u p tia ti a l cer ceremo emony ny wa was dul d ulyy celebr celebrated. ated. All this was done with despatch and secrecy so that the sons of Taj Khan might be kept in the dark concerning what was happening in the forr t. It was fo was thus tha th a t the impregn impregnabl ablee fo fort rt of Chu Chunar nar fel f elll into in to his hands. H is able able and beautiful wife Lad Malika made a munificent gift gi ft to hi h i m consistin consistingg of 150 of the most valuable jewels jew els,, seven seven maund ma undss of pearls pear ls and an d 15 1500 maunds ma unds
of gold.
24
Mr. K. Qanungo the author of the excellent life of Sher Shah gives no credence to this account sup plied by Abba s Sarw ani. In a rare mo od of rhaps rh aps od odyy he says says : " The whole sto ry is u n skilfully got up with the object of convincing us that Sher Khan obtained Chunar by legiti mate means, from its virtual mistress Lad M a l i k a . " It is a seri seriou ouss m at te r to t h r o w aspe asper r sion on a chronicler without citing any reliable au th or it y to prove prov e the contrary. Im ag ina tio n performs no f unc tion in his to ry and a p r i o r i reasoning is a deadly sin against historical ac curacy. M r. Qanu Qanung ngo' o'ss ar bi tr ar y d ic tu m con stitutes no f r esh esh tr ib u ta r y of l i v in g water flowing into the stream of Sher Khan's biography from th e m a in curr ents of rese resear arch ch w o r k . We p ic k precious tr u t h s and knowledge ou t of th e his tories written by Abbas Sarwani and others and although a later historian enjoys great preroga tives in criticising and sifting evidence before him on such subjects, he cannot altogether repu re pudi diat atee w h a t several eye witnesse witnessess agre agreee o n ; as otherwi otherwise se there wo ul d be no mate ria l left w i t h whic wh ic h to b u i l d our o wn tho t ho ug ht edifi edifice. ce. I t cannot be denied that Sher Khan's matrimonial alliance w i t h L a d M al ik a was was a marriage of con-
25 venien venience. ce. It suit ed h i m a s i t br ou gh t h i m th e mu ch -co ve tte d fo r t an d an immense treasure. To her it br ou gh t relief f r o m the malice an d persecution of her step sons who were daily ga in in g st re ng th against a help helple less ss an d bereav bereav ed wi do w. It is easy to imag ine her her dire p l i g h t if she she d i d n o t wise wi sely ly seek eek the th e co-op co -opera era tio n of a man who could effectively save her from utter r u i n . M r . Qanungo Qanungo na iv el y rejects rejects a self-evi de nt fact w h ic h served served the c om mo n interests interests of the contracting parties and unjustly surmises that in order to take the fort he reported to foul pl ay . The question question of leg iti ma cy w hi ch troub les M r . Qanungo do does es n o t arise in t h i s case case.. The Th e worthless step son sons of L a d M a l i k a were never expect exp ected ed to succ succee eedd t h e i r father wh o was n o t an independent potentate and held the com missio n f ro m th e M og ha l Sovereign Sovereign whos whosee authority was essential for the sons to step into th e ir father's po si ti on . She Sher K h a n was was enga engage gedd in ho stil st ilit itie iess against th e Moghals Moghal s an d was consequently en ti tl ed by the laws of war to flo ut the Im pe ri al au th or it y and to drive the officer cers ho ld in g ap po in tm en ts by it s san ctio n fr om th ei r plac places es.. Taj K h a n ha vi ng died th e fo r t remain ed in the custody of his wi do w
26
wage war out againstt whom She agains Sher K h a n d i d no t wage ou t of cons iderations, tions, b u t t o o k po poss sses essi sion on chivalrous considera of the fo rt by ca pt ur in g the hear t of it s mistress. mistress. Occupation of the Fort of Rohtas.
There are are co nfli ctin g versio versions ns w i t h reg ard to th e occ upa tion of the fo rt of Ro hta s by the th e soldi soldier erss o f She Sher K h a n . N iz am ud di n and Ferishta say that Sher Khan captured the fort by a strate gam . Ac co rdi ng to these hese wr it er s Sher Khan came to an arrangement with the Raja whereby he allowed the families of the Afghans to tak e refu refuge ge in the fo r t d u ri n g th e ti m e of ins ecu rity . Sher her K h a n instead of thes thesee families concealed soldiers in the covered litters, and sent them to the fort, and as soon as these desperadoes got access to the fort they jumped out of their conveyances and overpowered the th e garr ga rris ison on.. The Raj R ajaa esca escape pedd by a po poste ste rn rn.. Whereas Abbas Khan Sarwani maintains that this cock and bull story of the soldiers being concealed concealed in palan pal anqu quins ins was " altoget alto gether her erro e rro neous a n d false." fals e." " Sher Sher K h a n " he says " h a d given orders to his men that none should go out w ho once went i n . After Sher K h a n himself went in, examined the fort a n d thanked God
27
for g i v i n g th is fortress fortress i n t o his po poss sses essi sion on.. A n d he said to the guards of th e f o r t " Y o u better bet ter go to the Raja Ra ja an d say say t h a t y o u canno t rema re ma in in the same place w i t h the Afghans or it will be th e worse worse for y o u . A n d he ordered his ow n men if the guards did not obey the order to leave the fo rt , to ejec ejectt th em by force." ( E l l i o t , p. 360). Before I throw the light of criticism on the plausibility of these accounts of a much disputed p o i n t , I m a y for th e easy easy comprehension compreh ension of o f the situation by the reader explain the dire position of Sher Sher Shah at th is fatefu fat efull mo me nt. nt . The Moghuls having established their rule in Uppen India as far as Benares were anxious to pacify th e Eas ter n provinces of Bi ha r and an d Beng al which were still held by some disunited Afghan chieftains. Sher Sher K h a n the most ente rpr rprisin isin g and able of them all held Bihar and threatened th e Mo gh ul Em pi re in I nd ia when it was s t i l l in the process of consolidati on. Humayun, suspicious of Sher Khan's hostile designs moved his army towards the East in order to crush him. He reached Chunar in due course and after a coun c i l of war he decided decided to invest th is f or t an d oblige
28
it to surrender surre nder before before ru sh in g o n to Gau r. Sher Sher Shah left the fort in charge of some of his officers and himself hu rr ie d off w i t h the families famili es of his Afghans to find some place of shelter for them. W h il e he was was thu s to rm en te d by an xi et y for the safety of the Afghan women, news reached him of the capture of Chunar by the Imperial A r m y . This w as an overwhelm ing ca la mi ty wh ic h upset upse t a ll his plans. pla ns. W i t h the fo rt of Gaur still holding out against his army and the loss of Chunar he became practically a fugitive whose capture and destruction by the Emperor's forc fo rces es was o n ly a ques tion of t i m e . He kn ew t h a t as long as he was encumbered with these helpless wom en he co ul d n o t devise an y scheme scheme to retr ieve th e si tu at io n. In th is desp desper erat atee con di t i o n he implo red the Raja of Rohtas, Rohta s, w i t h wh om he was on friendly terms, to allow the women to remain in safety in the fort as they had done once before ; and had quitted it when the storm ha d pass passed ed over. ove r. Th is request was was accomp acco mpanied anied by a douceur in the form of valuable gifts which tempted the Raja who gave his consent to the temporary use of the fort by the families of his offi of fice cers rs a n d follow ers. Sher Sher K h a n r e l y i n g on this promise brought his convoy of families to
29 Rohtas, but the capricious Raja retracted his promise. Sher Sher K ha n' s p l i g h t was was now most pitiable, in utter despair he wrote to the Raja " On the faith of your promise, I have brought m y fa mi ly from Bah rkun da. If the Emperor H u m a y u n hears this news he w i l l send his army and an d al l the families families of the Afghan Afghanss w i l l be tak en an d enslaved. enslaved. Thi s mis fortu ne w i l l rest o n yo ur head ." Here the stream of the nar rat ive pa rts rt s i n t o t w o different channels. channels. One, of the th e soldiers being smuggled into the fort in litters in th e disguise disguise of wome wo me n, an d th e othe o ther, r, of Sher Sher Khan ordering the Hindu guard of the fort to evacuate evacuate i t in th ei r o wn interests. E ve n if we accept the former, the charge of treachery is cer tain ly m it ig at ed by t he inconstant behaviour of the Raja, whose refusal to permit Sher Khan's party to enter the fort after giving a solemn promise of as yl um lef t Sher Sher K h a n in the lurch, and although the Raja was persuaded by means of heavy bribes to admit the women, he inspired Sher Khan with great distrust of his his goo goodd fa i th . Af te r this ex hi bi ti on of deplorable vaccilation Sher Khan could not possibly repose implicit confidence in the Raja who might have betrayed his trust by accepting
30
a bigg bigger er bribe from Emperor H u m a y u n . Sher Khan's previous honourable conduct in leaving the for fortt w i t h ever everyy demonst demonstrati ration on of gratitude gratit ude would have been repeated on this occasion if the Raja Raja had no nott po pollu lluted ted the spring of his his confi confi dence by behaving so meanly towards a friend and neighbou neighbourr of such such high hi gh principles. princi ples. W hat ha t ever blame may attach to Sher Khan his conduct was was no nott more indefe indefensi nsible ble t h a n t h a t of the Germans and allies in occupying Belgium and Pers Persia ia respectively respectively du durin ringg the Great Great W ar. ar . T hat ha t there were extenuating circumstances for this drastic actio ac tionn no one one w i l l deny ; his neces necessi sity ty was great, he was encumbered with the families of his Afghan officers who were fighting the Moghuls. Mog huls. He had ha d a h igh ig h sense of honour and was anxious th t h a t the families fam ilies of his off offic icer erss should shou ld be placed in a safe place before resuming active operat operatio ions ns agai agains nstt H um ayun ay un.. If we apply r i g id cannons of morality to his behaviour on this occasion than I doubt if many commanders of renown befo before re or afte afterr hi h i m in any coun co untry try would wo uld show show a perfe pe rfectl ctlyy clea cleann record rec ord.. B u t un unle less ss the Raja's misconduct was unpardonable, fairness demanded that Sher Khan made amends to him for the lo losses whi w hich ch he i n c u r r e d on account
31
of his ejection from Rohtas when he sat on the Imperial throne of India. It would not be devoid of interest if I quote here the description given by Mr. Martin of thi s celebr celebrat ated ed fo rt . " R o h t a s g a r h " he says says ' occupi occupies es a p a r t of th e ta bl e l a n d ab ou outt fo four ur miles f r o m east east to west an d fiv e miles miles fr o m n o r t h to sou th ; b u t amon g the nat ives it is us ually ua lly reckoned 28 miles ro u nd , and following the windings of the hills, it may be so. so. The area area is ve ry h i l l y and m u c h of th e sur sur f ace ace c on onsi sist stss of bare ba re rocks rocks . . . . A d eep and wide recess, called Kariyari Kho, sepa rates rates it fr om th e tab le la nd to the n o r t h and a branch of the recess, called Guluruja Kho, separa separate tess it f ro m th e tabl ta bl e la n d on th e west, leaving only between its south end and the rock t h a t overhangs overhangs th e Son Son (w hi ch flo ws by the eastern side of the fort) a rocky neck of about t w o hu nd re d yards wid e. The tw o sides of th is neck are perpendicular and the sides of the whole circumference circumference are are n o t on ly every wher e exceedingly steep, but in most places have in some part of their height a perpendicular rock fr om 50 to 15 1500 feet feet h ig h Ra jag ha t to w ar ds th e so ut h, wh i c h is th e easi easies estt ascent ascent
32
is a very steep and long h i l l , and even there i t has been necessary for a very considerable way to ascend ascend a perp pe rpen endic dicul ular ar ro rock ck by means of a stai st ai r. The works even there are numerous and strong ; and being scarcely visible from below, in all pro b a b i l i t y cou ld have been li t t l e affe affect cted ed by can non." It was in the early part of Humayun's reign that Sher Khan was consolidating his power but about this time he was threatened with a form fo rm ida ble bl e co mb in at io n of some ome Af gh an nob noble less headed by Su lt an M ah m u d , a son son of Su ltan lt an Sikandar L o d h i . Sher Sher K h a n co ul d no t cope cope with the enemy, so made peace with him and was compelled to accompany him to Lucknow to t r y conc conclu lusi sion onss w i t h Hu m ay un . H am ay un met them near Lucknow and in the battle that ensu ensued ed Su lta n M ah m ud was was defeat defeated. ed. D u r i n g the progress of the fight Sher Khan drew off his contingent and the loss of the battle was due to his defectio n. H i s acti ac tion on is indefensib indefensible le though there certainly are some extenuating circumstances. He jo in ed his enemy Su lt an Mahmud under compulsion. He was apprehensive that in the event of the Sultan's victory his own possessions would
33
be di vi de d up among amon g the Af gh an nob nobles les.. In a letter to a friend with Humayun he had written, " Thes Thesee people have b ro u g h t me by force, b u t in the day of ba ttle tt le I w i l l not fight. fig ht. Te ll the Emperor Humayun the true state of my case, and that I w i l l serve him in the day of battle a n d w i l l cause t h e defeat of this ar m y. " Hu ma y u n at once wr ote ot e in r ep ly , " A c t a s yo you have written, if you do so it will be for yo ur advance adv ance men t." It is strange strange t h a t Sher Sher Khan should have ignored his own opinion of the character of the Mughals, but it was per haps a choice of ev ils. il s. In a n y case his day da y of retribution was not far, as Humayun immediately after after th is v i c t o r y l a i d seige to Chunar. Fo r tunately for Sher Khan an insurrection broke ou t in Guj rat and H u m a y u n was was constrained constrained to abandon the seige and to hurry back to Agra. Sher Khan humbled himself by surrendering his you younger nger son as a hostage. Reli Re liev eved ed of th e presence of Humayun, the ever active Sher Khan annexed a good portion of Bengal to his domi nions and l a i d seige to Gaur. Meanw hile H u m a yun having suppressed the revolt in Gujrat repaired with all haste to Bihar and invested Chunar a second time against his understanding
34
with Sher Khan who dauntless as ever ordered t h a t the th e seige of Gaur sho uld be vig oro usl y prosecuted. H u m a y u n , however, soon soon cap ture d Chun Ch unar ar an d adv anced anc ed to relieve Gau r. Sher Sher Khan was much depressed with the loss of Chun Ch unar. ar. He h a d l a i d seige to Gaur w h i c h was was holding out with the imminent prospect of being reliev ed by the Em pe ro r. Sher Sher K h a n was re duced to great strains . He beca became me p ra ct ic al ly a wan derer der er b u t he soon ro rose se above his misfo mi sfo r tunes and opened negotiations with Humayun an d off offere eredd to surrender B ih ar if th e Em pe ro r wo ul d l eave eave hi m Bengal. Bengal . H u m a y u n approved of the arrangement and Sher Khan was informed acco rdin gly. The capricious capricious Em per or however however soon infringed the treaty. Sultan Mahmud w h o m Sher K h a n had desert deserted ed in the ba tt le near near L u c k n o w div ert ed h i m from his pur purpos pose. e. Fo rt un e meanwhile smiled on Sher K h a n . Gaur fell into his hands with an enormous treasure, the fort of Rohtas also came into his possession abo ut the sam e ti m e. H um ay u n' s mar ch on Gau r was was reta re tard rded ed by the th e seas seasona onall rain ra ins. s. He was caught in a trap between Patna and M o n g h y r . There he lost lo st his bagg baggag age, e, carriage, te nt s an d m en who were in charge of these. these.
35 Eventually he took Gaur but it was no more t h a n a barren t r i u m p h . Sher K h a n ha d already already remo re mo ve d th e treasure. He re he spent some some months, as the state of the country could not all ow h i m to mov e. Sher K h a n in the th e mean ti m e va st ly im pr ov ed his pos ition . Issuing fro m his hi s re trea tr ea t he to o k po poss sses essi sion on of B i h a r an d Benares, recovere reco veredd Ch Chun unar ar an d l a i d sei seige to Ja un pu r and pushed his detachments up th e Gang Ganges es as far as K a n a u j . The Em pe ro r's r' s lin e of co m m un ic at io n was cu t off off.. To ad d to his misfortune he received intelligence at the end of 15 1538 38 of a serious t r o u b le at A g r a where wher e his presen presence ce was u r g e n t l y needed. He ha d eithe eit herr to p at c h up peac peacee or to figh fi ghtt w i t h his demo ralised tro op ops. s. He cho hose se the for former mer.. Terms Ter ms th is t im e were offered by the Emperor and accepted by his alert adversary. Sher her K h a n , however, however, entered entere d in to a tr e at y w i t h H u m a y u n only to break bre ak i t . He knew the sad plight of the Imperial army and was deter mi ne d no t to miss miss his op po rt un it y. Khaw as Khan hurried down from Jaunpur with his reinforcement reinforce ment and joi ned h i m . The ju nc ti on of the two armies having been completed, Sher K h a n suddenly fell on Hu m ay un 's ar m y at a
36
place place called Ch Chaausa usa and u t t e r l y ro ut ed i t . The Em per or escaped w i t h great great di ffi cu lty . He would have perished or made prisoner but for the timely and providential help rendered by a water-carrier. The Im p e ri al ar m y was was either destroy ed or scattered. The H a r e m of th e Emperor with thousands of Mughal women fell into the hands of Afghans, but they were treat ed with scrupulous delicacy and attention by Sher Sher K h a n . It is rel ated ate d t h a t as soon soon as Sher Sher Khan saw Humayun's Queen, with other noble ladies, coming out from behind the pardah, he alighted from his horse and showed them every respect respect an d consoled t h e m . Th ey were a l l sent sho rtly after af terward wardss wi t h every eve ry c a r e to j o i n H u m ay u n at Ag ra . Th is in cide ci de nt alone is sufficient sufficient to show wh at a tender an d chi valro va lro us heart hea rt Sher Sher K h a n posse ossess sseed. Sher Sher K h a n has has been blam bl am ed for vi ol at in g the tr ea ty by destroying the ar my of his unsuspecting enemy at Chausa, but no better ex pl an at ion io n is possi possibl blee t h a n wh at is con tain ed in his hi s o w n address to his officer officers. s. He said sa id,, " I have promised peace to the Emperor Humayun, but have considered that all the good service I have rendered has produced no good fruit, and after all my loyalty to him in producing the
37
defeat of Sultan Mahmud, he demanded from me th e fo rt of Chunar. W h en I refu refuse sedd to y ie l d i t , he sent a force to take it, and when that failed he came himself to seize the fort by force, but abandoned his intentions when he heard that Zuman had escaped from prison, and had raised sedit ion in the co un tr y. Moreover Moreover Sul tan Baha du r k i n g of Gujerat Gujer at was was com ing to invade inva de the th e country of Delhi, and so he was compelled to re tu rn . I sent sent my son son Qatab K h a n w i t h h i m th ro ug ho ut the Gujerat campaign. Tho ugh I coul co uldd have ta ke n po poss sses essi sion on of the th e co un tr y of Jaunpur, etc., yet I did not commit any act of ho st il it y, for for the Emperor wa was m ig ht y, and th ou gh I had the power I would not do any disloyal and evil act that the Emperor might perceive I was was his fa it h fu l servant, and desist desisted ed fr om seek seekin ingg to inj ure h i m . W he n he ret urn ed fr om Gujerat he got his army in readiness and without regarding my loyalty, did his best to expel me, but as my fortune was great he did not achieve his desire. desire. I made every ever y submission subm ission b u t it i t was a l l fruitless. W he n in vi o la ti o n of his promises promises,, he at ta ck ed Bengal Beng al I lost a l l hope of his goodness, and apprehending evil from him was compelled comp elled to decl declare are hos tiliti til ities es against against h i m , an d
38
I expelled expel led his governors an d spoiled his c o u n t r y as far as Sambhal and have not left a single Mo gha l in thes thesee part s. N o w w i t h wh at ho hope pe can I conclude th i s pea peace w i t h h i m ? He makes peace and manifests a friendly disposition to wards me, because his army is in want of horses and cattle and of every equipment and because his bro broth thers ers have rebelled rebel led against h i m . He is but playing with me, and eventually will not abide by this peace, but having appeased the rebellion of his brothers on his arrival at Agra and refurnished his ar my he w i l l not no t fa il to up ro ot and destroy m e. " W h o can say say Slier Slier K h a n was wrong ? After this signal victory he seated himself on the throne in 1539 and unfolded the umbrella over his head and assumed assumed th e t i t l e of She Sherr Shah, Su lt an A d i l (just K i n g ) . Never befo before re or since have title and character been in greater harmony either in the lustre of their combina tion or the beauty of their setting than in his cas case. Th e choice choice of the th e t i t l e was was ha pp y an d the sound pleasing especially when it expressed the yearnings of his noble soul to be known as just. A little incident on this occasion showed how instead of being an object of jealousy he became
39 universally beloved for the frankness frankness and generosity of his dis pos itio n. The great noble men who belonged to former reigns assembled round him and urged him to write letters des cri bin g his v ic t o r y in the style of Fir ma ns. The ideal prince knew how to acquire the personal d ev ot io n an d affection of his nobles nobles by t h a t speech of the heart which never fails to subdue even th e harshe harshest st natu re. " Y o u who fo rm er ly were were nobles nobles of S ul ta n Ba hl ol and Si ka nd ar ," he r ep li ed , " have, have , for th e caus causee of t h e Afghan Afg hans, s, donee me th e honor don hono r of j o i n i n g yourselves to me. It do does es n o t become become m e to send send F i r m a n s to you and to seat myself on the throne while you stand ro un d me ." To thi s the y al l replied w i t h one vo voice ice , " The Moghal Mo ghalss have been king ki ngss for two descents, they despise the Afghans and con sider sider t h e m as no t th e ir ow n equa equals ls in the d ay of battle, yet by the excellence of your wisdom and y ou r conq uerin g for tun e the Afghans have ov er thr ow n th em ." S her K h a n was was mu ch d e lighted to see what an unbounded confidence the Afghans had in his leadership and said, " The king's name is a very exalted thing, and is not devoid of trouble but since the noble minds of my friends have decided to make me king, I
40
agree." Sher Sher K h a n ev id en tl y was was more resign resign ed to his elevation than the unwilling Maximus the Roman Emperor, who envied his predeces sor sor wh en he excl aime d :—" O fo fort rtun un at e De mocles! thy reign began and ended with the same dinner." On his return to Agra Humayun pacified his brother Prince Hindal and collected a large force w i t h w hi ch he once more tu rn ed tow ard s the East. Sher Shah having settled his affairs advanced to meet the Emperor near Kanauj. Both armies were encamped on the opposite banks of the Gan Ganges app ar en tly u n w i l l i n g to come come to grips im me di at el y. B u t th e early rains pre cipi tate d the acti on. H u m a y u n fe a r ing desertions determined to bring the contest to an issue. H e crossed ov over er to th e othe ot he r side with his army and forthwith engaged the forces of his r i v a l . The di sp ar it y of numbers was was grea t. Sher Sher Shah com mande ma ndedd o nl y 15 15,0 ,000 00 wh ile Humayun had 40,000 with abundant artillery. The affair was was a very ve ry brief bri ef one. one. Ha id er Mi rz a, an of offi fice cerr in the th e M og ogha hall a r m y, says says,, " T w e n t y seven chiefs entitled to tugh or horse tail, who led le d the left of the Imperial line, concealed those insig nia fr om fear of at tr ac ti ng the enemy.
41
F r o m t hi s cond co nduc uctt of the th e ofl&cers may ma y be for forme medd some some n o t i o n of th e courage courage of th e men. me n. Before Before the enemy discharged an arrow we were virtually defeated, no t a m a n being bein g woun w ounded ded either e ither fri end en d or fo foe. e. N o t a gun was was fired." fired. " A n y further resistance on the part of Humayun was hopeless, he fled towards Sindh and reached Persia in th e course course of his wand wa nderi ering ngs. s. Sher Sher Shah with his usual energy set about consoli d a t i n g his new po poss sses essi sion ons. s. He cleared the th e Punj Pu njab ab of his enemies and built the fort of Rohtas as a check for any an y hostile host ile design fr from om the th e n o r t h . After this he returned to Agra, but had soon to rush ru sh of offf to Bengal to qu quel elll the th e insu in surr rrec ecti tion on raised by his ow n governor. governor. B u t says ays E l p h i n stone, stone, " He made such a di vi si on of t h a t prov pr ovin ince ce for the th e fu futu ture re as to gu guar ardd against a repitition of disturbances." Pacification of Gakhars. When Humayun was chased out of the Punjab Sher Shah while organising the administration of th is buff buffer er pr prov ovin ince ce felt fe lt the th e great need need of securing his Empire by the construction of a strong fort commanding the routes from Kabul and Kashmir where the remnants of the Moghal army were still hoping to win back a lost domi-
42
ni on . Ins pir ed w i t h statesmanl statesmanlike ike pru pruden dence ce he saw the urgency of reducing to subjection the turbulent and recalcitrant tribe of Gakhars who inhabited the country now consisting of Rawal p i n d i an d Jh el um dist di stri rict cts. s. The These people people ha d always p ro ve d themse themselves lves ob no xi ou s to th e former rulers of I n d i a . On th is occas occasio ionn the menace to the peace of India appeared immi nent, for Prince Kamran in Kabul and Hyder Mirza in Kashmir were ready to take immediate advantage of any error which Sher Shah might commit by neglecting to block their way into th e plains plai ns of the th e Pu njab nj ab.. Sher Sher Shall Sha ll as usual usua l desired to avoid bloodshed and sent a summons to the chief of the Gakhar tribe to come and pa y ho homa mage ge to h i m as the ove rlo rd of I nd ia , b u t th e luckless luckless chief forg fo rg et ti ng t h a t he was was one one of those rare leaders in war and administrators in pea peace who , f ro m t im e to t i m e , have appeared on the stag stagee of the I n d i a n wor w or ld to rem r em ou ld its destinies, sent an insolent reply which greatly incensed Sher Sher Shah. The im p u d e n t chief is said sa id to have sent sent several several quivers quiv ers f u l l of arrows arr ows an d t w o tige ti ge r cubs cubs as a repl re plyy to h i m . This Th is symb olic language used by this chief of the Indo-Scythian t r i b e is strangely simi lar to t h a t use usedd by by
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his compeer in Europe more than two thousand years earlier. earlie r. It shows shows ho w th e charact cha racteris eristics tics of a race endure t h r o u g h o u t th t h e ages, in spite spi te o f t o ta l ly differ different ent env iron men t. It w ou ld n ot be devoid of interest if I quote the delightful description given by Herodotus of the campaign of Dariu s against against the Scyt hia n K i n g in th e region of the Dan ube in 514 514 B. C. Da riu s after v a i n l y pursuing the elusive King for several months sent h i m th is mes message : " Th o u strange m a n w h y dost thou keep on flying before me, when there are are t w o thin th in gs t h o u mi gh tes t do so easily ? If thou deemest thyself able to resist my arms, cease thy wanderings and come, let us engage in a ba tt le . Or if t h o u ar t cons consci ciou ouss t h a t my strength is greater than thine, even so shouldst t h o u cease to ru n away : t h o u hast hast b u t to br in g thy lord earth and water, and to come at once to a confere con ference nce." ." To t h i s mess messaage th e Scy thian King replied : '' This is my way, Persian, I never fear fear me n or flee fr o m t h e m Earth and water I do not send ; but th6u shalt soon receive more mo re su itable ita ble g i f t s . " These These were sent by a herald, and proved to be a bird, a mouse, a fro g, an d five arrow s. The hera he rald, ld, ques tioned as to th ei r sig nifi cati on , rep lied t h a t the PerPer-
44
sians, sians, if wise, wise, w o u l d fi nd o u t themselves. themselves . A t a council, Darius expressed the opinion that th e, Scythians in ten ded t o surrender surrender,, and t h a t the mouse and frog symbolised earth and water respectiv ely. H is fath er-i n-la w Gobryas, how ever, explained that the real meaning was as fo ll o w s : " Unle Unless ss,, Persi Persians ans,, ye can t u r n in t o bird bi rd s and a nd fly fl y in t o the t he sky, sk y, or become become mice an d burrow underground, or make yourselves frogs and take refuge in the fens, ye will never make y o u r es escape fr om th is la nd , bu t die pierced b y our arrows." He warned the agent in these strong words : " Be at your your ease. B y the th e grace grace of God, Go d, I will thrust such a wedge in the hearts of you all that t i l l the day of Resurrection no man shall be able able to p u l l it o u t . " Th at thi s wa was no t an em pt y threat is proved by the stern measures he adopt ed against against the tr ib e . He marched th ro u gh their th eir co un tr y and la i d it wast wastee and carried m an y Gakhars as captives. captive s. W h il e ma rchi rc hi ng in fo forc rcee through the adjacent hills he selected a strate gic place place where where he b u i l t a stron str ongg fo r t called Rohtas, Roh tas, perhaps in memo me mo ry of another fo rt of the same name at the other end of his Em pire.
45 The T a r i k h i D a u d i says says t h a t it cost cost 8 cror crores es,, 5 lak hs, hs , 5 t ho us an d an d 2 an d a ha lf dams, dams, which means Bahlolis, all which is written over the gate of the fort. To keep th e Gak hars in peaceful peaceful ord order er an d to meet any emergency arising out of the move ments me nts of th e Mogh als he l eft ef t 50, 50,000 000 tro op s in th e Pu njab nj ab an d himse lf dashed dashed of f in the direction of Bengal to chastise his Governor who was supposed to have shown signs of trea son. In th e cour course se of th e ne xt t w o years he con con quered quere d M al wa and Ra isi n. Attack on Raisin and its Capitulation. Capitula tion.
The chequered story of Raisin invests it with a glam our of me die val val our an d his tori c importance which claim the close attention of the stud ent of I n d i a n hi st or y. Bahad ur Shah Shah of Gujerat after shattering the resistance of both Moslem and Hindu rulers of Malwa annexed it to his hi s K i n g d o m an d advanced on Ra is in in 1532 1532.. Rumi Khan, a well kn ow n-a rtil ler y officer trained in the military academy of the Grand Signeur of Constantinople, used his guns against the walls of the f o r t w i t h deadly deadl y effe effect. ct. The
46
breeches made by the cannon balls so discon certed the Rajputs that they resorted to their ancient cus tom of Jo hr ( p u t t i n g the fema female less to the sword) an d hu rle d themsel themselves ves w i t h mad fury against the Moslems, their desperate valour however proved unavailing. Bahadur Shah sacked Raisin as a reprisal for the outrages committed by the Rajputs on Moslem women. Actuated by the same feeling of vengeance he punished Chitor in the same manner in 1535. Af ter the death of Bahad ur Shah Sh ah Pu ra n M a l l at the connivance of Mulla Khan recovered the territory which had been conquered by the King of Gujerat, showing great malignaty to ward wa rdss th e Moslems. It was alleged alleged t h a t he did not spare even the honour of their women. This Th is was an act of inconceivab inconc eivable le f o l l y, as th e survivors of Puran Mall's frightfulness cherished th e mo st deadly hatr ed against h i m . A large number of these unhappy people realising that such wild excesses were less dishonouring than the stillness and moral degradation of servitude, migrated to the neighbouring Moslem states. The sudden exaltation intoxicated Puran Mall's und erstan ding, an d he ex hi bi ted failings faili ngs ent ire ly incom patib le w i t h his hi s elevat ele vated ed co nd itio n. In
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a stage stage of empire emp ire so l i t t l e consoli con solidate datedd as t h a t of Sher Sher Shah, an d und under er circumstances of such incessant pe ri l, the fortunes of a n at io n chiefly depended upon the wisdom and valour of i t s sovereign. sover eign. Sher Sher Shah therefore there fore was n o t th e man who would entrust the safety of his empire to blind chance, and would permit the undis ciplined spirit of presumption which was begin ning to derange and undermine Puran Mall's descretion, descretion, to pr ev ai l against stro ng pu bli c expediency. When Sher Shah heard the tragical stories of the sorrowful Moslems he said, " I did wrong wh en I said I wo ul d go tow ard s Ben gal. If Almighty God would vouchsafe me a recovery from this fever I w i l l return w i t h a l l speed, and Puran Mall who has enslaved the families of the Musalmans in Chanderi and has made dan cing girls of t he ir daughters and d i d no t accompany my son Qutab Khan—him will I so pu ni sh t h a t he may be a wa rn in g to oth ers ." Before resorting to the arbitrament of the sword Sher Shah offered Benares to Puran if he wo ul d giv givee Rai sin to h im , b u t Pur an Ma ll refused to listen to any proposal of compro mise. mis e. Sher Sher Shah Sha h was therefore theref ore com pelled pe lled to
48
enter upon the campaign on grounds of expe diency and the inner necessity of his nascent empi em pire. re. H i s sense of ju st ic e insist ins isted ed on the th e redress of the grievances which the helpless Mussalmans Mussalmans pit eous eo usly ly repeated before before h i m . A n d th e publ ic securi ty demanded demanded t ha t an insolent adversary adversary who was cons tan tly i n t r i g u in g against th is ri si ng power sho uld no t be allowed to remain in close proximity to the Im pe ri al Metr opoli s. Sher Sher Shah at thi s ti m e was confronted with yet another defiant Raj p u t state. Ma rw ar wh whose ose rule r Ma lde v ha d invited Humayun to Jodhpur in order to use that simple monarch as a cats' paw for the furtherance of his own ambitious designs was a compact state inhabited by the flower of Ra jp ut ch iv al ry . In ad di ti on to the valour of th e Ra tho rs, the s k i l l and prudence prudence of M al dev had so studded it with strong fortifications that an invasion of its territory was considered a most mos t hazardous enterprise ente rprise.. An allian all iance ce of Ma ld ev an d Pu ra n M a l l against Sher Sher Shah w o u l d a t any mo me nt have rendered re ndered his hi s posi p osi tion extremely perilous; but the elemental energy of his will combined with his resourceful di pl om ac y made it impossible for his riva ri va ls to
49 make a co mm on cause against against h i m . P o li t ic a l nece necess ssit ityy as w el l as m or al res po nsi bil ity fo un d the prevailing oppressive atmosphere intoler able of endurance a ny longer a nd th e st o r m bur st fir st on Ra is in in 15 1543 43.. Ja la l K h a n led the vanguard of the army of invasion and reach ed Bhilsa w i t h o u t any dif fi cul ty . She Sher Shah jo j o i n e d h i m a t t h i s stag st agee w h enc en c e t h e y s w e p t along w i t h great rapidity t i l l they reached the vicinity of Raisin. Sher Shah besieged the fort and by his ceaseless activity gave no rest to the garrison. An inter estin g incid ent wh ich occurred during the siege operations is related in "Tarikh Sher Shah" (translated by Elliot). It shows how the Rajputs and Afghans felt inspired by their war like traditions and fought w i t h tr ue heroism . " One One day cert ain followers and retainers of the Afghans were sitting to gether, gether, when the c onversat ion tur n ed o n the gallantry and valour of Bhaia Puran Mall's soldiers. Most Mo st of those present said t h a t no one in those days was a match for Puran Mall's soldiers in these qualities, who daily came out of th e fo r t and said, sai d, " There is no one in the th e army of Sher Shah who can fight with us," and that it was from fear that none of the Afghans
50 approached th em . W h e n the th e Afghans amongst these retainers pondered on these remarks, the reproach thus thrown upon Afghan honour overcame overcame the m , and th ey said, " Th ou gh Sher Sher Shah should cut our throats or banish us from his kingdom, yet we will for once encounter the soldi soldier erss of Pu ran ra n M a l l, t h a t we may test th ei r ga lla nt ry and va lo ur ." The ne xt day befo beforre sunrise sun rise,, 1, 1,50 5000 horsem h orsemen en assembled assem bled at an a n ap a p pointed place, and drawing up in order of battle, sent to Puran Mall saying, " Your men every day da y boast boa st of th e ir va lo ur . W e, 1,500 hor horses ses,, against Sher Shah's command, have come and are drawn up in order of battle, do you also collect your men and come out of the fort, that we may fight, and the valour of either side may be made made man ifes t." Bh aia Pu ran ra n M a l l ha d great reliance on the valour and gallantry of his men, and did not think the Afghans were at a ll equal to th e m in br brav aver ery. y. H e sent ou t to answer the challenge the most famous of his soldiers, veterans in battle, and he himself took his hi s seat seat above the th e gatewa gat eway. y. The Th e Afghans Afgha ns an d Rajputs joined battle, and the fight continued t i l l t h e first wa tc h of the day, up to which time neither party had succeeded in driving the other
51
fr om their from the ir ground. grou nd. At length leng th the Afgh Afghan anss got the advantage, and began to make the Rajputs give ground, when such bravery was displayed on b o t h sides des as surpasses ses a l l desc de scrip riptio tion. n. In the end, end, A l l Mig M ight htyy God gave the vict vi ctor oryy to the Afghans, and they drove the Rajputs from their positio pos itionn to ne near the gate gate of the fort fo rt.. The Rajputs again made a stand near the gate of the fort, but the Afghans made a headlong charge upon them which they were unable to resist and fled within the gate, and the Afghans returned trium phant phan t to their their camp." (E lli ot). ot ). For Fo r six months mon ths the th e siege operations were pushed on with great vigour, and at last when his heavy guns battered the defences beyond repairs P ur uran an M a l l sued sued for pea peace. ce. Slier Shah magnanimously magnanim ously acce accept pted ed a ll the conditions cond itions prop pr opos osed ed by h i m . The The terms terms of capit ca pitula ulatio tionn consis consiste tedd of of:— (1) Free passage to himself and his family with their belongings. (2)) The retire (2 ret ireme ment nt of She Sher Shah Shah to a distance of two marches from the fort. (3) Adil Khan and Qutab Khan to bind themselves by solemn oaths that
52 Pura n Ma ll and his fam ily w i l l not be molested in any way. it is very ver y strange t h a t P u r an M a l l asked Sher Sher Shah to give pledges for the safety only of him self an d his f a m i l y . It is nowhere me nt ione io ne d that a similar treatment will be meted out to his soldier soldierss and th ei r families. fami lies. H i s exac t words are these : " I dare not again face your presence, but do you first go away two marches fr om the th e fo rt . I w i l l come come ou t and give up the fort to your soldiers, and go myself to other countries. countries. A n d if you r elde eldest st son A d i l K h a n and Qutab Khan Banet will bind themselves by promise and an d oaths t h a t I shall shal l suff suffer er no i n j u r y in prop pr oper er ty and a nd person person I w i l l com comee w i t h my women and fam ily out of the f o r t . " A l l this does do es n o t give the read reader er the th e idea t h a t the th e gar gar rison of Raisin was also to march out with all th e honours hono urs of war . The spec specif ific ic s ti p u la ti o n for safety insisted upon by Puran Mall was confined only to himself and his women and family.
It appe appear arss t h a t Pu ra n M a ll when he saw saw that Sher Shah and his army had withdrawn two marches from the fort issued with the whole army in full panoply of war and marched off without any harassment from the Afghans.
53 Sher Shah evidently wished to adhere to the covenant he had made with Puran Mall but the rancou ran courr of th e h o t bloo b looded ded Afghans caus caused ed by the savage persecution of the Moslems by the Rajputs precipitated a disaster which must be regretted by all who deplore unnecessary blood shed. shed. The spark w hi ch k in dl ed the fire appeared appeared in th is way wa y : " Af te r som somee days the t he widows wid ows of of the chief men of Chanderi and others waited for Sher Sher Shah by the th e roadside, roadside , and an d crie c riedd out o ut t o h i m . Sher Sher Shah Sha h asked who wh o t h e y were, an d ordered orde red t h e m to be bro ugh t to h i m . The y said, ' we have suffer ed from th is in hu ma n and m al ig na nt inf ide l a ll kind s of t y r a n n y and opp oppres ressio sion. n. He has slain our husbands and our daughters he has enslaved, and made danc da ncin ingg gir g irls ls of t h e m , and has seized our lands, and all our worldly gooods for a long ti me past. . . . If yo u do no t go give us justice, hereafter, in the day of Resur rection when the first and the last of all men shall be collected together, we w i l l accuse y o u . " ' It is related that Sher Shah when he saw with his own eyes the ruined remnants of Moslem famili fam ilies es and an d heard hear d th e ir piteous piteo us cries cries for jus ju s t i c e , tears tear s dr drop oppe pe d f r o m his eyes eyes.. Sher Sher Shah's Shah's detestation of oppression was the most prominent
54 feature feature of his character character and from the th e very beginning of his career he was inspired by the holy hol y missio missionn of uuproo prooting ting this thi s evil ev il from the land l and.. These stories of oppression were frequently repeated repeated in the camp camp and had inflamed the passions of the ignorant soldiery but the ocular evidence of the miseries of their co-religionists caus caused ed an explosion expl osion.. The soldie soldiers rs support sup ported ed by the Ulema angrily demanded justice from Sher Shah. The situ si tuat atio ionn must mu st have have caus caused ed great embarrassment embarrassment to h i m . We can imagine what conflicting passions must have tormented his m i n d ! On the one hand his word wo rd of honour was given to Puran Mall for his and his family's safety ; and on th thee other o ther his stro st rong ng sen sense of just ju stic icee added to the th e Fatwa Fa twass whic wh ichh Shaik Sh aikhh R afiaf iud-din Safavi reputed for his sanctity had given for the forfeiture of his life, clamoured for the perfor performanc mancee of his moral mora l d u t y . There There was pr pro o bably yet another weighty consideration which could cou ld no nott be ignored. ignore d. In thos thosee days days the Musli Mu slim m population of India was sparse and scattered all over ov er a vast coun co untry try,, and if the cri crime mess comm co mmit itte tedd against against them th em went unpunishe unpunishedd the r igh ig h t of the minority to live would have been greatly jeo pardised. In our own times the manifestation
of any crim cr imin inal al ; re ot, pressed with exen Morocco and Mesopotamia present instances in which the ruling caste has maintained itself by methods w hich hi ch are are no nott above above reproach. In fact the most approved maxims of rule in these days teach us that there are no crimes in po poli liti tics cs,, only on ly blunders, and t h a t " reaso asons of state state " condo condone ne a m u ltit lt itud udee of sins. sins. S m a rtin rt ingg under a sense of ou outra traged ged feeli feelings ngs the refugee Moslem lords and the Afghan army exhibited such an ugly temper that Sher Shah's determination, already shaken by his ideas of jus ju s tic ti c e , collapse coll apsedd in the th e face face of t h i s m u t i n o u s s p i rit ri t of his army. arm y. " Sher Shah Shah could not refuse, refuse,"" says says M r . Qanungo, Qanungo, " to respect respect the Fatw Fa twaa of so eminent and holy a person without incurring the danger of a serious discontent, verging on rebelli reb ellion on among the Afghans. Afghans. In t h a t fr frame ame of m ind in d the Afgh Afghan anss aimed wi w i t h the sanctio sanctionn of religi rel igion on,, could not be restrained by any earth ea rthly ly terr te rror or.. It appe appear arss t h a t he was was constrained to break his f a i t h to avert ave rt a great danger." A division of the Afghan army under the comman of Isa K h a n H ajja aj jabb mad made a forced ced march and overtook the Rajputs at dawn the next day
56 The Rajp Ra jput utss fought foug ht w i t h desp desper erat atee courag courage, e, characteristic of their race, but as usual it did not pr prev evai aill agains againstt the solid valour of the th e Afghan Afghans. s.'' The Rajp Ra jputs uts perished to a man but bu t asked for no quarter. This occurrence has excited much adverse comment comment by some In Indd ian ia n historians. historians. Elph El phin in-stone says, " No motive can be discovered for this thi s act of treacher treacheryy and crue cr uelt lty. y."" Another Another w rite ri terr Prof Profes esso sorr Dowson stigmatizes this th is as " The cold-blo cold -bloode odedd mass massac acre re of the th e prisoners of Rais Ra isin in." ." If there there was want of motive mot ive then the n a man about whom Keen says " A devout Mos lem, he never oppressed his Hindu subjects," could no nott be g u i l t y of this th is so-c so-cal alle ledd wanton wan ton crue cr uelt lty. y. Prof Profes esso sorr Dowson's Dowson's stri st rict ctur uree is un un wort wo rthy hy of a well-informed well-informed historia hist orian. n. " The The Rajputs, " says Mr. Qanungo, " who evacuated Rais Ra isin in were were no nott ' prisoners.' prison ers.' They surrendered surrendered the fort but not their persons to Sher Shah. They carried their arms and no restraint was put upon their thei r lib li b erty er ty.. They were like lik e a hostile garrison in arms allowed to march out with all honour hon ourss of war. They d i d not die die in 'cold 'co ld bloo bl ood' d' and thei th eirr death dea th was was no nott a ' massa massacre cre.'.' They Th ey died in a hotly contested battle amidst heaps of
57 th e ir slaughtered slaug htered en em y. y."" Prof Profes esso sorr Dowson's Dow son's remark is similar to that of a speculative his torian who elicited a contemptuous remark from fr om Walpol Wal pole. e. " Accordin Acco rdingg to a wel l-kno l- known wn legend, Walpole begged him not to read history to h i m , ' Fo r t h a t I kn ow mu st be fals false. e. ' "* This is the sad fate of all those who study hist o r y superficially and fill themselves with wr on g an d em p ty notions , an d consequently b ri n g ob obloq loq uy on the science of hist hi st or y. I n d i a n h is to ry is ye t to be w r i t t e n and all wh at has been been attempted by European authors is based on insufficient research work and personal prejuices o W es ter n wr ite rs. rs . M r . Qanung Qan ungoo do doees n o t exe e xe mp t Sher Sher Shah fr o m a char charge ge " of perfidy and tr ea c h er y ." " But the act, " he says, " is less condemnable than the dangerous principle avowed, viz., N o faith need be kept with the infidels; which was advanced by the venerable theologian to remove th e m o r a l scruple scrupless of Sher Sher Sh ah ." W ha teve te ve r we ma y t h i n k of i t , no on onee can deny t h a t statesmen statesmen in every age " St ri ve w i t h v ar y in g gifts of vision to penetrate and guide the im mediate task of their own particular time and Lord Morley on Guicciardini.
58 co un tr y. '' It is therefore therefore diff icu lt to explore explore th e m ot iv es of those who wh o have hav e to choo choose se an d to act. Diffe Di fferen ren t histo his toria rians ns present th e diverse diverse aspect aspectss of a case accor acc ordin dingg to t h ei r me n ta l il lu m in a ti o n . Sh Sher Shah Shah''s conduct on th is occasion may appear at first glance reprehen sible to some, some, bu t those who feel the th e need need to see as clear cl ear ly as th ey can wha t men me n d i d an d why they did it, will not fail to pronounce that his breach of faith is by no means an outrage on modern standards of international morality. Is there an yt hi ng more disgusting t h a n the woeful prevarication shown by Dr. Wilson w i t h reg ard to his famous famous fourteen po ints in ts ? and is there an yt hi ng in modern hi sto ry com parable w i t h th e am bit ion s, the greed, greed, the un manliness and an d th e fr au d of th e b ig four after after the greatest war in history which swept away the flower of youth in every belligerent Empire. Th is war wa r was was moreover avow av ow edly ed ly waged for the th e v i n d ic a t io n of those idea ideals ls by w h ic h socie societi ties es subsist subsist and an d governments govern ments are are stro st rong ng , b u t th e result of the great sacrifices was an example of a l l the sham shamee and reproach in the w o r ld . A n other momentous pe rio d in hi st or y preceding our o w n is equall y disting uished for wa nt of m or al
59 scruple scruples. s. " Y o u are are always always t a l k i n g to me of principles," said Alexander I to Telleyrand, " as if your public publi c law wer were anyth any thin ingg to me. I do not know what it mean means. s. W h a t do yo youu suppose that all your parchments and your treaties signify to me?" Y et al a l l thes thesee men retained a plac placee in the lit l iter erat atur uree of modern p o l i t i c a l syst system emss and of Western morals. If Miss Miss Cavell's sad fate aroused aroused a stor st orm m of righteous indignation and anger in the entire B r i t i s h nation nat ion and young men in tens tens of thousands thousands came fo forw rwar ardd to fight the authors autho rs of the crime, could the proud Afghans remain apathetic when they heard that the wives and daughters of their compatriots had been sub ject je cted ed t o inhu in hum m a n atro at roci citi ties es ? I f the th e unspeak unspeak able H u n requi re quire redd the use use of fo forc rcee for his con version to the ways ways of civi ci vili lize zedd men men and to respect the claims of humanity, Puran Mall and an d his followers sorely need needed ed corr co rrec ecti tion on for the t heir ir misd misdee eeds ds.. " Man is what he i s , " says Machiaville, " and so he needs to be vitted and bridled with laws, and now and again to be trea tr eate tedd to a stiff stif f dose of medicine fort in the shape of fire bullet, axe, halter and dun geon." Machiavi Mac hiaville' lle'ss name name may curiously s t ink in k
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in the nostrils of hypocritical men who base thei th eirr po polic licyy precisely precisely on what wha t he pr prea each ches es.. It cannot be gainsaid that he takes full count of human nature in the above sage reflection. We should not condemn Sher Shah wholesale for extraordinary acts to which he was compel led to resort in order to save the country from intern int ernal al commotion commotion and revolution revolu tion.. The menacing temper of the army, the force of the fatwa and the exasperated public opinion on account of the miseries of the Moslem refugees placed placed him hi m in a position in which only tha th a t course was to be followed which might preserve to the nati na tion on its it s exis existe tenc ncee and i t s fr freed eedom. om. He had only lately reunited the dispersed forces of the Afgh Afghan anss and rekind rek indled led the expir ex piring ing flame of their pol p oliti itica call sup suprremac emacyy in Ind In d ia, ia , any any attempt attem pt to strangle a legitimate and seething discontent would have been fatal both for himself and the future hopes of his nation. Mr. Qanungo displays a strangely cramp ed and contracted knowledge of Moslem polity when when he compla complacen centl tlyy attributes the "p rin ri n cip ci p le" le " that th at " n o faith fai th ne need be kept w it h the infidels infidels"" to Islam. Isla m. In Indd ivid iv iduu a l rulers rulers may have have acted acted against the teachings of Islam, but Islam
61
inculcates the imperative necessity of abiding by the th e covenants made made between Mosl Moslem emss and an d the followe followers rs of other religions. When the first Moslem army marched out of Arabia to encou encount nter er the Romans Romans in Syria, Syr ia, Caliph A bu Bakr issued among others the following impera t ive iv e instru ins tructi ction. on. " Rememb Remember er," ," said said the successor of the Prophet, " that you are always in the presence of God, on the verge of death, in the assu assurrance ance of judgm jud gment ent,, and the ho hope pe of paradise. paradise. A v o i d injustice and op oppr press essio ion. n. Cons Co nsul ultt w i t h your brethren, brethr en, and study to to preserve the love and confidence of your troops When you make a covenant or article, artic le, stand stand to i t , and be as good as your word. wor d."* "* That Th at the Mo Moslems have have i m p l i c i t l y ob obey eyed ed thes thesee instructions is testified by histor his tory. y. No saint or sage can over overrid ridee these these commands, and She Sherr Shah Shah as a devout Moslem Moslem well we ll vers versed ed in the th e principles of his his religion could not have have con sidered them as inoperative in his solitary case. Shaikh Rafi-ud-din also could never be expected to put himself in opposition to the successor of the Prophet, what wha t he probably proba bly did d id was the issuing of a declaration forfeiting the life *Edward Gibbon.
62 of P u ra n M a l l as th e persecutor persecutor of th e Moslems. I t i s self-evident self-evid ent therefore t h a t th e so-called so-called principle that " No faith need be kept with the infi in fi de l " d i d not no t co n tr o l the th e act ion of Sher Sher Shah in th is ma tt er . Ne ith er he nor the Sh aik h could establish a contrary and contradictory principle in the face of precise injunctions of the first fir st Ca lip h. Those Those who k no w the th e Moslem polity know also that no such principle has ever exis ex iste tedd to influence the dealings of Moslems with other peoples. Conquest of Malwa.
In the general confusion which supervened the ex ti n ct io n for the ti m e being of th e M ug ha l domination in India, there were displayed almost everywhere those centrifugal tendencies w h ic h ha d long lo ng been been suppo suppose sedd defunc t. L i k e hydra's head they again rose after Humayun's flight to proclaim the chronic fate of India to be divided into petty kingdoms constantly at war w i t h one anothe r. Dif ferent fer ent governors set themselves up as independent rulers as soon as they saw that the restoration of the Moghals was was beyo be yond nd rep air . The mir acl e of creativ e energy however soon convinced the people that
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their weary and joyless life was of brief dura t i o n . A world-tra nsform ing destiny broke over Northern India and violently disturbed the dream life of weak heads which had become u t t e r l y immersed immerse d in foolish fantas fantasies ies.. The despondent children of India sprang to life and a c t i v i t y on once ce more. Sher Sher Shah lost no ti m e in moving in the airy regions of political roman ti ci s m ; b u t hhis is pra cti cal geni genius us urged hi m on to definite goals and made him reveal the true aims of his policy. Malwa which was a source of great anxiety to Sher Shah on account of the endless intrigues of its it s various rulers w i t h the Moghals against h i m was was his nex t objectiv e. The flicke ring hope of Humayun was not yet extinguished. He still entertained the design of establishing himself in Gujerat; and with the willing co oper op erat atio ionn of thes thesee potentate pote ntatess he inte in tend nded ed to threaten Sher Shah's empire by a strong push fr om the Sou th. The capture of De lh i wo ul d again have swung the balance in favour of the Mughals and with the revival of anti Afghan elements the position of Sher Shah would have beco become me exceedingly exceedin gly precarious. precar ious. B u t his ale rt ness and sagacity soon turned the tables on his
64 enemie enemies. s. In 15 1542 42 he in va de d M al w a in ord order er to uproot this nest of malignant adversaries. The celerity of his military movements soon frustrated their design of creating a coalition of a l l the neig hbo uri ng states states against against h i m w i t h perhaps Maldev as the head of the confederacy. The firs t blo w fell fe ll on the fo rt of Gwa Gwalior lior whi ch was reduced to submission by Shujaat Khan. This removed the danger of his being outflanked if he ras hly advanced i n t o Ma lw a. Aft er receiving the homage homage of A b u l Qasim Beg, t he Mu gh al Governor at Gwa lior he march ed w i t h his ar m y towa rds Sarangpur Sarangpur.. Mu ll a K h a n (Qadir K h a n ) off offere eredd no resista resistance. nce. L i k e a si nk in g ship he was deserted by his vassals and at last w h e n no hope of esca escape pe f r o m a d ir e fate re main ma ined ed he t h r e w himself himse lf on th e mercy of Slier Slier Shah who accorded him a magnanimous treat me nt . A l t h o u g h Sher Sher Shah nursed an ol d grudge against against M u l l a K h a n who ha d on once wounded h i s amour propre by sending sending h i m a co mm un i cation couched in language used for inferiors, he y et soothed soo thed his hi s distres distresss by presen pr esenting ting h i m with valuable gifts and ordering a red tent for his acco mm oda tio n. Ki nd -h ea rt ed as Sher Sher Shah Sh ah was he ap pl ie d to a fa llen ll en fo foee those
65 pr inc ipl es of gene princ genero rous us an d br oa d mi nd ed tolerance which invariably won for him the love of his people. peop le. He generously gener ously offered offered a fife* fif e* to M u ll a K h a n in Benga l in plac placee of his state state in Ma lw a w h ic h he co ul d no t safe safely ly leave leave in the possession of one whose fidelity he suspec suspected. ted. A n y error of ju dg m en t or senti mental weakness on this occasion would have greatly imperilled the tranquility of his Empire. We recognize in this chivalrous treatment of a bitter enemy the possession by Sher Shah of those qualities which are competent to raise the sp ir it s of those in mi sfor sf ortu tune ne.. Sher Sher Shah's Shah's li be ra l of offe ferr however was was dista steful to M u l l a Khan who evidently did not relish the idea of being tran tr an sp lant la nt ed fr om Ma lw a to Beng al. Sher Sher Shah di v i n e d his secr secret et musings musings and in st ru ct ed Shujaat Khan to keep a vigilant eye on him, but Mulla Khan eluded his watch and fled towards Gujerat . Shujaat Shujaat Kh an 's ho t pur sui t of h i m pr ov ed a fai lur e. Sher Sher Shah retu rn rned ed to Ag ra after having regulated the administration of the new territories which were added to his Empire. But before returning to Agra he made peaceful acquisition of the fort of Rantambor, which he gave into the custody of his eldest son Adil Khan,
GO
Shujaat Khan who was left in charge of Malwa had to bear the brunt of the fight with Mallu Khan and Nasir Khan who attempted to recover recover the th e ir lost po poss sses esssion ons. s. Shujaat Shu jaat K h a n w i t h greatly gre atly inferior for forces met and inflicte infl ictedd a crushing defe defeat at on them th em.. D u rin ri n g the pro gress of the th e sanguinary conflic con flictt he performed perform ed prodigies prodigies of valour val our.. Sinc Sincee by the v alia al iann t defe efence of the th e Empi Em pire re Shujaat S hujaat Kh a n had ha d given a rare rare exam exampl plee of m ilit il itaa r y virt vi rtue ue and loy lo y a lty lt y to the k ing in g , the latter lat ter spont spontane aneous ously ly determined determ ined to best bestow ow the great d i g n i t y of 12,000 horses on him and created him governor of these consolidated territories. The annexation of these territories contri bute bu tedd to the security securi ty of his empire empire and finally removed some of those elements which threaten ed the repo repose se of his c apit ap ital al.. The fron frontiers tiers of the th e empire wer weree now pushed pushed far i n t o the th e south so uth where any hostile demonstration would not affect the v i t a l cent centre res. s. His Hi s util ut ilis isat atio ionn of strategical points was so masterly that no apprehension of a foreign menace loomed large any where.
67 Conquest of Multan and Sindh. Af te r his vict orie s over over H u m a y u n Sher Sher Sha h v is it e d Panja b and an d annexed it to his Empire. He appointed Haibat Khan Niazi and Khawas Khan joint governors of this pro vince, b u t as usual dua l a ut ho ri ty prov ed a miserable fail ure . Sher Sher K h a n recalled Kh aw as K h a n wh o served served in the th e cam paig n against Puran Mall with conspicuous gallantry and a b i l i t y . H a i b a t K h a n was was lef t in sole charg chargee of th e Panj ab w i t h 330, 0,00 0000 ca va lr y. He was was st er n an d energetic, energetic, w ie ld in g great influence influence over the fro nti er trib es consi sting m os tl y of his o w n clansmen. Sher Sher K h a n was a great grea t discerner of men and his choice of this man fitted supremely with the prevailing conditions in th is dist ruc ted la nd . O ne Fa te h K h a n Jat a truculent robber fearlessly carried on his depradations between Lahore and Delhi.
Sher Shah received numerous complaints of his h ig h hhan ande dedn dnes esss w hi ch th re w th i s region reg ion i n t o a state ver ging on anarch y. The k i n g whose solicitude for the welfare of his subjects was great ordered Haibat Khan to eradicate th is e v i l f ro m th e Panjab . He accompli accomplished shed his mission w i t h such energy energy and s k i l l t h a t
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Fateh Fat eh K h a n was surrounded in a m ud fo fort rt near near Fate Fa tehp hpur ur.. The sava savage ge robber findi fin ding ng no way of escape surrendered to Haibat Khan, b u t the garrison und under er H inda in da Baluch Bal uch mad made a sorie and cut their way through the besieging army and and rega regain ined ed their thei r libe li be rty. rt y. B u t Hind Hi ndaa Baluc Ba luchh was was captured by Bakhshu Bakhsh u Langah Lang ah and hand handed ed ov over er to Haiba Ha ibatt K han. ha n. Haiba Ha ibatt K h an imme im medi diat ately ely sent sent dispatches dispatches to Sher K h a n describing describing the true tr ue state of the th e cou c ount ntry ry,, and a nd reporting the capture of Fateh Khan, Hindu Baluch Bal uch and Bakhshu Bakh shu Langah Lan gah.. " Sher Shah Shah was was exceedingly rejoiced, rejoice d, and an d made made h i m a M asna as nad' d' A l i and gave hi m the titl ti tl e of Azam H u m ayu ay u n . He also gave gave h im a red tent te nt,, and wrote wro te to h i m to repe repeop ople le M u ltan lt an and to observe the customs of the Langahs, and not to measure the land but take a share of the produce. He ordered him to put Fateh Khan and Hindu Baluc Ba luchh to death, to kee keepp Bakhshu Langah Lan gah or his son son always always w i t h h im , bu butt to confirm his districts distric ts to h im . As soo oonn as Azam Hum Hu m ayun ay un received this order at Multan, he left Fath Jang Khan in Multan and came to Lahore, and put Fa th K ha n and and H in d u Baluch Baluch to death. death. Fa th Jang Khan so repeopled Multan and showed
69 such benevo benevola lance nce to the people, people, t h a t M u l t a n flou fl ouri rish shed ed more t h a n it had h ad do done ne even under the Langahs, and in the country of Multan he founded foun ded a c i t y wh ic h he called ' Shergarh !"'* It is incomprehensible how quickly the waves of o b l i v i o n swept over over th e Afgh Af ghan an Conques Conquestt of Sindh , fo forr Abbas, Niz am- ud- din , Ba day un i and Abul Fazal have all studiously ommitted to make any mention of this important histori cal fact. H ai b at K h a n most pr prob obab ably ly was was the conqueror of thi s pro provin vince. ce. Afte r the capture and execution of Fath Khan and Hindu Baluch the Panjab was thoroughly pacified, and his veteran army was ready to add more laurels to it s great dee deeds. ds. H a i b a t K h a n was was no t the man who would seek repose after his labours. His soldier like qualities of bravery and activity evidently impelled him to find new fields of glory in Sindh, which being contiguous to his provin pro vince ce was was th e most v i t a l p oi n t for the securi securi ty of his his master's master's Em pi re . It wo ul d surely have served served as a p o i n t d 'a p pu i for any ar my of invasion which Humayun might have led through S iw i for th e reconquest of his o l d heritage. heritag e. " T w o coins coins of Sher Sher S ha h, " say sayss M r . K . Qanungo *Elliot, page 399.
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" are ex ta nt (i n the I n d i a n Museum, Calc utta ), issued respe res pect ctive ive ly in 950 H , 951 H fr om t he m i n t tow n " Sherg Shergar arhh ur f Sakkar Sakkar B a k k a r " (see (see pages pages 84—109 Cata Ca talog logue ue of Coins in t h e In di a n Museum Mus eum b y H . N . W ri g ht ). The importance of this numismatic discovery cannot be exaggerated. The most m in ut e research research in old MSS, could have perhaps never given us this piece iece of in fo rm a ti o n. " M r. Qanungo Qanungo quot qu otes es fro m Mi rza K a l i c h Beg' Beg'ss " H i s t o ry of Sind h " th e fol lo wi ng account wh ic h possibly corroborates th e sto ry t o l d in the coins. " Two months after this (Humayun's departure for Qandahar) Bakh sho (u) La ng ngah ah collected colle cted people people of the tribe s of La ng ah , Ba loc h, and Nahir (Ahir?) in a fort near Multan on the bank ba nk opposite Ja un pu pur, r, to ma rch rc h against against th e fort of Bakhar as he was informed that Shah H us a in had go gone ne to Ta t t a and a l l his governors governors and chiefs had assembled there under him. W i t h t h a t object object in view he p u t his his troops in 50 boats and sent t h e m ahead to fa l l suddenly sudden ly on th e isla nd at n ig ht The assailants assailants were were at le ng th repulsed an d dr i ve n back to t he i r boats The ne xt day da y about ab out noon Bakhsh Bak hshoo (u) La ng ah came came on
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bea tin g dru ms ho pi ng to see th e fo rt already in t he posses possessio sionn of his hi s m e n. B u t as soon as he approached guns and muskets were fired at h i m fr om ra mp ar ts of the fo r t an d he was was obl ige d to go to L o h r i where where he spent ab ou t three days and then went back to Multan, after pl un de ri ng some some of th e villa ges in t he c o u n t r y . " This event is said to have ta ke n place on the Friday night of 14th Jamad II 950 A. H. (14th September 1543 A. D.); Humayun having started for Qandahar from Siwi on 8 Ra bi II (11t h J u l y 1543 ; Ak ba rn am a, I 389 389). ). Now it is impossible that a petty chief like Bakh shu Lang ah w it ho ut powerful su pport dared to prov oke a quarr el w i t h Shah Hu sa in A rg hu n, who had razed to th e gro und the fo rt of Uch, conquered Multan and taken the fort of Di la wa r in Bahaw alpur. This in a l l li ke ly hood was a reconnoitring party of Afghans who h a d go t access to th e f o r t of B a k k a r an d Bakhshu Langha wanted to dislodge them fr om t h a t posi tion. Bakhsho Bakhsh o Langha ev ide ntl y ha te d th e Afghans Afghans to w ho m he ha d made h i m self odious b y offering p e t t y annoyances. It is inconceivable that while Sher Shah was adopting drastic measures to protect his Empire
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from the South West, he should have neglected to take similar precautions with regard to the frontiers frontiers of his his Empire Em pire towards towards the N o r t h West which were exposed to great and immediate danger from Humayun's projected invasion th e sile silenc ncee of the th e historia hist orians ns via Qandahar. B u t the of the period on this event is most inexplicable. Perhaps Perhaps the th e great crisis crisis of the th e campaign in Malwa and Marwar engaged the undivided a tte tt e ntio nt ionn of thes thesee men and they th ey neglect neglected ed to record the movement of the minor figures on the Ind In d i a n ch chess bo boar ard. d. In the fa face of this th is dazzling light of great victories the votive candle burnt by Haibat Khan did not perhaps attr at trac actt much attenti atte ntion. on. The The omi omiss ssiion how ever is most deplorable as it has created a gap which can be filled only by drawing upon our imagination. Conquest of Marwar.
Maldev the ruler of Marwar who rose from a petty position to a height of great power and prosperity prospe rity by d int in t of his his s k i l l and enterp enterpris risee had rendered himself obnoxious to Sher Shah by his ceaseless machinatio mac hinations. ns. H i s op open en i n v i t a tion to Humayun to join his forces with his own
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in order orde r to des tro y Sher Sher Shah was was an un unpa par r donable don able of offfence nce to th e ru ruler ler of th e pa ra m ou nt E m p ir e . Sher Shah temporised w i t h h i m till he had successfully dealt separately with Puran M a l l and Mull Mu llaa K h a n . Meanwhile Maldev greatly enhanced his own power and by streng th en in g the th e def defences of his k in g d o m h a d rende red it alm ost unassailab unassailable. le. He con stru ct ed new forts at points which were most exposed to invasion. His army of Rathor Rajputs alone nu m be red re d 50 50,0 ,000 00 me n. Thes Thesee br brav av e soldiers inspired by their past traditions were we ll arme ar me d an d in u re d to wa r. Sher Shah knew from the reports of his intelligence department that all these formidable prepara tions were being rapidly completed for a final struggle w i t h h i m to wrestle th e begamony begamony of I n d i a n kingdo ms fro m his his hands. hand s. H o w cou ld peace and confidence thrive in this sultry atmosphere atmosphere ? The mut ter in gs of the thun der became louder and louder t i l l the thunderbolt fell on Marwar in January 1544. Sher Sher Shah advanced b y w ay o f Na r n o l an d occupied occup ied Nag or whence whence he march ma rch ed to wa rd s A jm er where where Mal dev lay entrenched. entrenche d. All alo ng th e road to A jm er he traversed an ar id
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and waterless country in which no provisions could be obtained, his commissariat was there fore replenished replen ished by regula reg ularr supplies fr o m D el hi . This na tu ra ll y meant a gigantic trans port work, but the inflexible force of his will su rm ou nt ed a l l difficulties. diffic ulties. I t appe appear arss however that the Rathor cavalry displayed no activity as the line of communication of the Afghan army with its base at Delhi remained undis tu rb ed . If the Ra jp ut s had shown any enter enter prise, the position of the army of invasion would have become become ex tr em el y insecure. Sher Sher Shah exhibited the greatest resourcefulness and de ter mi na tio n i n th is campaign . Hi s fine fine intelligence was never deceived regarding the dang danger erss of th e si tu at io n, bu t his sp ir it was was bo ld and he never lacked the energy of resolution. Ev ents en ts come come to m an in acco accord rdan ance ce w i t h his faith ; and the victorious power of genius which had spoken so convincingly on previous occasions enabled enabled h i m now to achi achiev evee a v i c t o r y wh ic h has made him admired in the great epochs of Indian history. Fo r a m o n t h b o t h armies armies confro con fronted nted one another without daring to snatch success from th e hands of fate. The Ra th or cav alr y n u m -
75 bered 50,000 seasoned warriors and therefore no surprise surp rise t a ct ic s were possible such as he employed when fightin g H u m a y u n and Sulta n Ma hm ud . B o t h the Afghan Afghanss and Rajputs knew that their very existence depended on the issue of this fateful contest—which would i n e v i t a b l y resul re sul t in fearful carnage. carnage. Sher Sher Shah's former campaigns campaigns had shown t h a t he w o n signal battles with the least expenditure of t h e live li vess of his hi s o w n soldiers. soldie rs. The Th e fr fres eshn hnes esss of his mind enabled him again to employ an ingenius strategem which made his implacable enemy fly awa y in u t t e r panic. pani c. Sher Sher Shah addressed fraudulent letters to some prominent chiefs of Maldev 's army and had them dropped close ose to th e te n t of Malde Ma lde v's represe rep resentat ntat ive, who thinking that they were inadvertently left behind forwarded them to Maldev as a trophy of his vig ilan ce. The conte nts of the lette rs scattered to the winds Maldev's resolution, for they disclosed the intended treachery of the men who were the most trusted leaders of his army. Maldev lost faith in himself and in his high command, and in his perplexity ordered a general an d pr ec ip it at e re tre at. Sher Sher Shah's Shah's ru ruse se pr ov ed em in en tl y succ succes esssfu full as w i t h o u t losing
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a single life he routed a great army eager to come to gr grip ipss w i t h t h e Afghans. Afgha ns. Some Some of offi fice cers rs how ever who wh o were appri ap prise sedd of t h e caus causee of t h i s debacle' debacle' gather gat hered ed tog eth er abo a bo ut 12 12,0 ,000 00 Ra th or s and hurled themselves on Sher Shah's army and sacrificed their lives in a vain attempt to rescue the Ra jp ut tra dit io ns from inf amy . Bad aun i gives a br brie ie f th ou gh graphic graphi c account accoun t of th i s gal lan t charge charge.. " B u t ow in g to th ei r oown wn stupidity or the superior good fortune of Islam, the infidels in a body dismounted from th e ir hors horses es and an d att ac ke d th e enemy enemy w i t h th ei r short spear pearss (w hi ch th ey calle d barcha) barcha ) and an d swords. Sher Sher Shah Sha h ha d gi ve n orders saying that if any man ventured to fight with the sword with this swinish horde his blood would be on his own head; he accordingly ordered orde red th e elephant elep hant troo tr oo ps to advance and an d t ra m p le t h e m do wn . In th e rear of the elephant elephantss th e ar ti ll e ry (thunde red), and the arch archer erss gave gave t h e m a taste of the bo ws tr ing " (Ra nki ng' s tr an sl at io n) . The whole fo forc rcee was was thu s wi pe d o ut . It was on t h i s occasion occasion t h a t Sher Sher Shah is said sai d to have ha ve gi ve n expression to his hi s fears fears as to th e res ult of th e bl oo oody dy fight. fig ht. " I ha d nea rly lost th e empire of In d i a for a mere ha nd fu l
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of m i l l e t . " ' (Ba rai ek musht i bajra bads ba dshai hai Hindustan ra barbad dadeh budem). Sher Shah gave no respite to Maldev to cool his heals anywhere, and he continued his ceaseless and vigorous pursuit t i l l he was manoeuvred out of Jo dh pu r. Aj m er an d A b u were were also also occupied by th e Afgha ns. Ma ld ev t o o k refu refuge ge in Siwana where he was le ft in peace peace by Sher Shah Sh ah.. A f t e r spending spen ding a few m on th s at A g ra Sher Sher Shah Sha h rejoined the army at Ajmer about the middle of Ju ne 1544. Mewa Me warr was no now w so cowed cow ed d o w n t h a t Ch it or was easily t a ke n. Sher Shah now vi si te d th e R a j p ut states states w i t h his ar m y. It was was a ve ri ta bl e promenade m i l i t a i re as non nonee of th e Rajput chiefs dared oppose his progress through Ra jp ut an a. It is obvi ous t h a t on th is occa occasi sion on he received the allegiance of these chiefs and established established th e un di sp ut ed suze raint y of the Delhi Empire. The possession of the four strong holds of Ajmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu and Chitor in Rajputana was calculated to overawe these princes and to prevent by force majeur any hostile combination against him. The B r i t i s h Governm ent in spite of it s over whelming m i l i t a r y superiority in men and armaments had to follow the same policy what
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Sher Sher Shah d i d in the th e si xt ee nt h ce ntur nt ur y. The Th e British also had to drive a wedge into the heart of Rajputana by establishing strong garrisons at Aj me r and A b u , and th is in spite of th e fact t h a t the people people are are th or ou g hl y disarm ed an d the mean meanss of co mm un ic at ion io n have so wo nd er fu ll y developed. developed . Sher Sher Shah abstained abst ained from interfering in these states beyond the acknowledgment by them of their subordinate position to the throne of Delhi and their accept ance ance of his I m p e r i a l sway. It do doees great cr ed it to his sagacity and political acumen to see at once that if these princes are contended and lo y al to the indu lgent rule r ulers rs of the D el hi Em pi re any fear of dangerous irruption from the south an d south-west south-w est w o u ld en tire ti re ly cease to ex ist. is t. He reali realised sed th en wh at the B r i t i s h Govern ment had to do after the disastrous policy of annexa tions inaugurated by Dalhousie and others that he should bind these Indian states for ever to the throne of Delhi by the bonds of justice, confidence, and gratitude. The defeat of Maldev was the drop scene in the drama of building up an Empire compris in g the whole whole of No rt he rn and Central I n d ia . Sher Shah had no serious rival left now to chal-
79 lenge lenge his supreme supreme a u t h o r i ty . We cannot how ever eve r for forget get th e desperat desperatee na tu re of th e campaign in Rajputana waged against him in an a tt e m p t to ov er th ro w the new order orde r of things . Few if any events in Indian history have pro duced a greater moral effect than the triumphant emergence of Sher Shah from a perilous position. Th e imp ress ion at the th e ti m e m us t have been ov er wh el mi ng , and the new newss mu st have resounded resounded li ke a thund erclap th rou gh ou t In d ia . The belie belieff in his hi s i n v i n c ib i l i ty wo uld have ha ve removed all obstacles from his way to the conquest of Southern India which now lay prostrate before h i m , b u t the fate fatess w il le d otherwise and th e formation of common national ideals in India was indefinitely postponed. It was thus that in 1544 he invaded Marwar where Maldev the Raja of the country was at th e he ight ig ht of his power. pow er. He conquered his po wer ful adversary more by ar t th a n bl oo d shed. In a year' ye ar'ss t i m e Sher Sher Shah Sh ah established establis hed a co nt ro l over the th e E m p ir e w h ic h was was never never known before. It was ignorance w h i c h le d Goethe Goethe th e Germ an Philosopher to r em ark t h a t " Ch Chin ines ese, e, Indian and Egyptian antiquities are never
80 more th a n curiosities." M r . M . C . Ai ye r in his life of Sri Sankarachary a j u s t l y says says t h a t . " I n d i a suff suffer erss t o day in th e es ti ma ti on of th e world more through that world's ignorance of th e achievements achievements of th e hero heroes es of I n d i a n History than through the absence or insigni fic an ce of such achievements." If the We ste rn world had been in touch with the Eastern, Sher Shah deserved a prominent place in Comte's Calendar of Great Gre at M en for his hi s benificence a n d ad mi ni st ra ti ve achieveme achievements. nts. B u t it is th e same same deliberate limitation of vision as shown by the German poet wh ic h excluded h i m fr om t h a t paradise paradise of br i l l i a n t intelle int elle cts. cts . " Few sel selec t i o n s " says says L o r d Mo rle y " aare re so h ar d to swallow as t h a t of Fred eric k the Great as pa tr on saint of mode mo dern rn statesmanship. Comte extols extol s Frederick as a practical genius who in capacity comes comes nearest neare st to Ca Caes esar ar an a n d Char Ch arla lama magn gne. e. " This Th is in its elf ," continues continues L o r d Mo rle y, " w i l l seem a gross exaggeration to anybody. The best modern opinion of Frederick on this side of his career is that, though a great soldier and an in tr ep id and ski lfu l dip lom ati st, he possessed little originality in the fields of ad m in is tr at io n and organ isation ," If we bala balanc ncee
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against this all the toil, wisdom, faith, illumi nation of intellect that were exhibited by Sher Shah in building up the fabric of an empire far greater both in extent and population than that of Frederick the Great, the comparison w i l l no nott be altogether altogether unfavourabl e. From a private station he rose by the force of his genius to the thr one of m i g h t y kings. A n d thes thesee dazzling successes had no unfavourable influ ence ence up on his charact cha racter. er. They Th ey d i d no t , as in th e case of Fr ed er ic k, in incre crease ase th e te n denc de ncyy to exc exces essi sive ve self-est self-esteem eem and an d c o n t e m p t for others. othe rs. E v e n in th e days of his greatest prosperity he continued to win the hearts of all by his inexhaustible amiability, by his refined understanding of everything that was human. Ba da on i says says t h a t wh en an ambas ambassa sado dorr fro m H u m a y u n reached Sher Sher Shah's camp cam p at Ch Chau ausa sa,, he fo foun un d t h a t Sher Sher Shah " w i t h his sleev eeves rolled up and with a spade in hand, in spite of the heat, hea t, was was busy prep arin ar in g th e f or t an d entrench entre nch m e nt . " He sat sat unceremoniously on the grou nd to receive t h e ambassador. T h is savours of ea rly Moslem Mos lem s i m p l i c i t y and earn earnes estn tnes ess. s. Early in his career he was confronted with the complicated problem of organising and reviti-
82 lising a corrupt, a divided, a distracted commun i t y . H o w was was he to do it ? T h a t he found a solution and achieved complete success, no one denies denies.. Clea Clearr intell int ellige igence nce bac ked by as pi ring ri ng w i l l , unflinching energy, remorseless vigour, the brain to plan and the hand to strike, these were the qualities needed for the salvation of India and these he possessed in a pre-eminent degree, and by these fit means he rebuilt the state in rui ns. " Th is far-sighted m a n , " say says M r . Ke en , " even eve n after his de at h, an d the sub version of his dynasty, remained the originator of all that was done by mediaeval Indian rulers for th e good of th e peo ple." ple ." At another place again, aga in, he says says,, " H i s ordinances touc to uche hedd on a l most al l the pr im ar y parts of adm inis trat ion, and evince a real care for the people's welfare." It is pleasing not to stint praise where it is due an d especially especially when wh en v er y few few rea ll y dese deserv rvee i t . Mr. Stanley Lanepoole certainly does not grudge it to h i m when he says ays, " H i s a b i l i t y and wis d o m are are unq ues tion ed an d in his fi sc al an d other reforms we see the true origin of many of A k b a r 's mos t famous measures," measures," an d these these indeed have endured endure d in one one form or another even up to the present day.
83 Times have come and gone since Sher Shah issued issued his benev olent regu lation s, b u t in th e gre at cycles cycles of h u m a n change change th e deep deep th in k er s ay s giv e h i m a place amon am ongg those who wh o w i l l alw ays have eleva ted th e conc eptio n of the stat e, have humanised the methods and maxims of government and have preached and practised t h a t the p o li ti ca l order order mu st conform to the ethical ideal of what is just. M ira be an , the great Fren chm an, said said of Fr ed erick er ick t h a t " he was was a great character in a great p os it io n rat her he r t h a n a great genius genius raised by nat ure h ig h above above the com mo n le v el ." Sher Sher Shah on th e other ha nd d i d no t in h e ri t any position with his birth, in fact he had to stru ggle against v er y adverse adverse circumstances to keep w h a t came to h i m as a legacy f r o m his fathe r. B u t as Gi bb on say says, s, " He wh o is bo rn in the pur ple is seldom seldom w o r th y to reign , b u t th e elev atio n of a p ri va te ma n, of a peasan peasantt perhaps, or a slave affords a strong presump tion of his courage and capacity." " A r e we to test the tr ue c iv il iz a ti o n of a sta te," asks asks L o r d Mo rl ey , " by an y th in g else t h a n the predomine pred ominence nce of justice, ri g h t, eq ua lit y in it s laws, it s in st it ut io ns , it s relations to
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neighbours neighb ours ?" L e t us see if th e great grea t Fred Fr eder eric ick's k's cannon cannonss of ad mi ni st ra ti ve pol icy conf orm to any of the above cited essentials as laid down by one of the foremost thinkers of modern En gla nd . " Hi s rigo urs, " says L o r d Mo rle y himself, " m ay have been been ju st if ie d by th e exigen exigencie ciess of his k i n g d o m , b u t it is idle idl e to cover with fair words the harshness of a govern ment that was in the strictest sense military an d despotic. " A n d again the th e same eminent emin ent a u t h o r i ty says, ys, " Di ct at or s have have the ir place place in the universal scheme, no doubt, but one can only hold up one's hands in amazement when Frederick who wh o is more respon responsib sible le t h a n any other Eur o pean ruler rule r of the th e eighteenth eight eenth cent ce nt ur y for th e spread of those principles of violence, fraud and robbery which were only carried further by Nap ole an. " A n d to give a fina l to uc h to his ju j u d g m e n t o f t h e g r e a t e m p e r o r h e says sa ys,, " Fred Fr ederi eri ck ha d no t been been tw e n t y years years in his grave before the work of his life was in ruins." W h e n we revi re view ew th e w o r k of Sher Sher Shah we at once nce ob obse serv rvee t h a t the in st it ut io ns wh ic h he founded gave prosperity to many millions of mankind and produced effects which are never l i k e l y to pas pass away aw ay.. Discussing Sher Sher Shah's
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revenue p o li cy Kee n says says,, " A l l t h i s has has an importance extending beyond the immediate t i m e . " Ag ain he s a y s , " N o t content w i t h the administrative side of the social reform he went beyond most rulers and attempted a certain crude legislatio n. A l l t h a t S h er Shah Shah is k no w n to have hav e do ne ," he contin ues, " shows ref lec tio n and pr in ci p le ." The gr grea eatt h istori an of I n d ia M r . Elp hi ns to ne says says abo ut h i m , " Sher Sher Shah appears to have been a prince of consummate prudence and ability towards his subjects, his measures were as benevolent in their intention as wise wise in the ir conduct. N ot w it hs ta nd in g his short reign and constant activity in the field, he brought his territories into the highest order and introduced many improvements in his civil govern m e n t . " No person person wearing the diad em befo before re ha d so victoriously refuted the darling illusion of own days, day s, w h i c h seeks freedom freed om an d happiness in form s of gov ern me nt as Sher Sher Shah d i d . " Free d o m an d despotism " says says Sav ign y, " a r e pos sible sib le in every k i n d of co ns tit ut io n. Freedom is found everywhere where the state authority respects nature and history in the living energies of th e p eo p le : despotism is fo un d everywhere where whe re th e g ov ernm er nm en t pr proce oceeds eds in accorda accordance nce
86 w i t h the dictates of subjective subjecti ve arbit rarine ss." Consequently Consequently th e pr ou d doc trin e w h i c h is so easily accepted by t h i s age age of the th e " c on st it u ti on s, '' t he do doct ct rine ri ne of th e exclusive benef benefic icen ence ce of democr dem ocracy acy has has th e value val ue me rely re ly of an u n p ro ve d assertion. Fo r a ru le r of Sher Sher Shah's h i g h character it is possib possible le by v i r t u e of his unrestricted royal authority to endow his beloved peop people le w i t h more more tr ue fre freed edom om t h a n any w r i t t e n co ns ti tu ti on can br in g. Experience Experience proclaims the truth that freedom depends far more upon administration than upon constitution. When a ruler sees that his time is the pro pe rt y of his people, people, he mu st labour lab our da y and n i g h t as d i d Sher Sher Shah who wh o said, " It beho behoves ves th e great to be always ac ti ve ." In th e fi rs t ho ur of sunrise Sher Sher Shah Sha h perf pe rfor orme medd his devoti dev otions ons and the n t u r n e d to th e bu busi sine ness ss of the day, beginning with parade, after which he conversed w i t h his of offi fice cers rs an d me n. He t h e n w en t over his accounts acco unts a n d gave audiences. After two and a half hours of such work came breakfas brea kfastt in th e society of pious an d learned men. He pa rt ic ip at ed w i t h keen zest zest in the lively conversation of these brilliant men of learn le arn ing . The Th e repast th us refr refresh eshed ed his m i n d
87 which Was worn out by incessant devotion to d u t y . Af te r th e meal more bu busi sine ness ss came, came, but after the noonday prayer he took a little rest, on ri si ng he read a p o rt io n of the scrip scri p tures and then fell to work once more. It was Sher Shah's attitude towards life which helped him to recast the whole polity of the I nd i a n adm ini st ra tio n. Ea rl y in life he recognised a ruler's duty towards the subject races, and strove with all the strength of his w i l l to promote the happiness of the masses. Th e cr ed it is solely his, since since those genero generous us impulses were not suggested to his imitations by t h e customs custo ms of his age age or th e examp exa mp le of his pr pred edec eces esso sors rs.. H i s regu re gulat lat ion s ab ou t th e revenue policy are remarkable for an original cast of thought, and faithfully represent the characte cha racte r of a sovereign wh o lo ve d his people, peop le, who sympathised in their distress, and who diligently studied all the causes that afflicted th e m . In our ow n day the accept accepted ed th eo ry t h a t " Id ea l system syste m of t ax a ti o n is o n e th at expresses justice and that justice is to be attain ed by taxing individuals to their ability " was realised by Sher Sher Shah in th e 16 th ce ntur nt ur y. Un de r th e pr o te ct io n of these these wise wise laws an d the
88 personal supervision of Sher Shah himself his subje subject ctss who cou ld no t loo k back w i t h o u t despair might now labour with hope and grati tud e for himself and for th ei r co un tr y. In th e assessment and collection of taxes Sher Shah afforded afforded every advantage to th e cu lt iv at or s and suppressed all extraordinary commissions. He removed those collectors from office who were insolent and arbitrary in their behaviour and demand. To give an idea of the abuses which prevail ed about the same time in Southern India and which probably he himself inherited from former rulers, I quote Nunig who was in Vijyanagar betwee betweenn 1520 and 1545. " A l l the l a n d ," he says, " belongs to the king and from his hands th e Captains ho ld i t . The y make it over to husbandmen who pay nine-tenth to their lords, an d th ey have no land la nd of th ei r ow n, for for the th e ki ng do m b e l on ongs gs entirely to the k i n g . " F ro m this it is clear that the rural classes in southern I n d i a suff suffer ered ed almost almo st into lera ble economic economic slavery at the th e hands of th ei r rulers. Mann Ma nnucc ucc i also gives us an interesting side-light on the co nd it io n of the ry ot s in his ti m e . He says says,, V A l l l an d belo belong ngss to the crow n, no in di v id ua l
89 has as hi s o w n , field or estate estates, s, or any pro pr o p e r t y whatever that he can bequeath to his children. At th e beg inn ing of the year w hi c h is Jun e, the officers come from the Court to the villages, a n d comp co mpel el th e peasants peasants to ta ke up l a n d at a ce rt ai n rat e. Th is barg ain made, made, th ey mus t give notice at harvest time to the king's officers, forr w i t h o u t the ir permission fo permission th ey may no t harve ha rve st th e g ra i n . As soon soon as notice not ice is received the officers proceed to the spot and before allow ing the crop to be cut they ask the cultivators whe ther th ey are are w i l l i n g to give hal f or on oneethird more than they have contracted for at th e beginning of the year. year. Should the c u l t i va tor s agr agree ee to th is , wr it in gs are are dr a w n up an d security taken, but after having made the bargain th ey usua lly fin d t h a t wh at they gather gather i n , does no t suff suffic icee t o meet th e ki ng 's re nt . It thus th us happens happens more often t h a t th ey fi nd themselves themselves ru in ed by th i s revenue revenue pa ym en t. " Th is is indeed an unh app y and p i t i f u l pictur e, and it wa s thi s fa ta l l a n d system syst em w h ic h was was respons responsibl iblee for mo st of t he evil ev ilss w h i c h afflicte affl ictedd the th e masses in India in those days and brought ruin and down f a l l to Em pi re s. In suppre suppressi ssion on of t h i s op oppr pres es sive policy Sher Shah inaugurated his own
90 humane and equitable land revenue system for w h i c h he is so celeb cel ebrat rated. ed. " It was Sher Sher Shah,'' says says M r . K ee n, " wh o first am on g tho se rulers perceived the benefit that might be ex pected from leaving a definite margin between t h e state sta te demands deman ds a nd t h e expe expens nses es of th e cu lti va to r. The Th e determ inatio n of th is ma rgin and the recognition of the person who should be secured in its enjoyment formed the basis of that system which under the name of settle ment s t i l l prevails in most parts of I n d i a . " It is imposs imp ossible ible to g ive an adequate accoun acc oun t o f th e sys tem w or ke d ou t by the Shah b u t his thre th re efol ef oldd object was was (1 (1)) to o b ta in correct measurement of the land, (2) to ascertain the amount of produce of each half acre and the p ro po rt io n it should pay to government, and (3) to settle the equivalent if possible in cash. The share of Government he fixed at ¼th of the produce which the cultivator paid according to his own convenience either in cash or in kind. The ¾th which the cultivator received was absolutely free of all cesses and fees, if we add to th is the ve ry su bs tan tia l gain accorded accorded to him from non-payment of forensic expenses the proportions secured to the cultivator shoot
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u p to a n amazi am azing ng degr degree ee.. In order t h a t th e honesty, in du st ry and providence of the ten an t may be fully rewarded he exercised the greatest care in the selection and appointment of revenue officers who before his time were looked upon as som eth ing worse worse t h a n plague. H is ow n experien experience ce of the officials compelled him to regard them as a parasitic growth which was sucking the vital ju j u i c e o u t o f t h e v i g o r o u s r u r a l s t o c k . " I have examin ed m u c h , " he says says,, " an d accurat ely ascertained that there is no such income and advantage in other employment as in the Govern me nt of a d i s t r i c t . " He theref therefore ore when when appo int i n g such off offic icer erss strov str ovee to rem ove t h e mask w h ic h is usu all y w o r n in t he pr preesenc ence of au th or i t y . He wished to subst itute th e na tu ra l order order of tal en ts for th e acciden tal dis tin cti on s of b i r t h and fo rt un e. H e pro profe fess ssed ed in t h e cleare clearest st possible language his intention to prefer those w h o carrie car riedd th e poor in t h e i r bo boso soms ms and an d to banish corruption from the seat of justice. Some Some people erroneously believe t h a t th e revenue system in British India was bequeathed by A k ba r. M r . Kee n speaking of Tod ar Mal says, says, " o r i g i n a l l y in th e service service of Sher Sher Shah, he had become imbued with that ruler's princi-
92 ples of benevolent benevole nt assu as sudi di ty " at another anoth er place place t a l k i n g of Ak ba r the sam e author say s, " I n all this care for the people so unusual under despotic eastern governments, we cannot err in tracing the example of Sher Shah and the influence of ministers trained in his school." It cannot be denied that his noble policy laid the foundations of that revenue system which to-day brings prosperity to the agricultural clas classses a l l over I n d i a . He dese deserv rves es the th e th an k s a n d blessings blessings of i t s beneficiaries. beneficiaries. I can giv e quotations from other histories also to show that Sher Shah was the originator of this as well as many other valuable reforms and that he did a l l th is wonde rful wo rk in an extr eme ly short t i m e of 3 or 4 years in a sp i r i t of tr u e benevolenc benevolence. e. He certainly accomplished that great task in the sixt eent h cent ury wh ich M r. Dis rae li even before before th e I r i s h famine, expected fr om the th e statesmen statesmen of the th e 19 th c en tu ry when in a famous speech, he said sa id,, " It was t h e business of a statesman to effect ect by po li cy wh at r ev o lu ti on would effect by force." We thus see that in all departments of public life this benevolent dispenser of popular happiness effected a revolutionary transforma-
93 t i o n . Consid ering the vast vastne ness ss of his E m p i r e it was inde ed a colossa colossall tas k w h i c h o n ly th e eleme ntal energy energy of his w i l l co uld accomplish w i t h i n an amazingly short shor t period. Pataliputra, that beautiful capital of Asoka the Great, which fell into ruins in the seventh century, was rebuilt by Sher Shah and named Patn a. " The R o y a l pala palace ce of Asoka al th ou gh chiefly constructed of timber was considered to excel in splendour splen dour a n d magnificence magnificence th e palaces of Susa and Ekbatana, its glided pillars being adorned with golden wines and silver birds. Here the Im pe ri al Court was was ma int ain ed w i t h barbaric and lux urio us ostentations. ostenta tions. Basins Bas ins an d goblets of g o ld , some some measu me asurin ringg six feet in w i d t h , r i c h l y carved lattices and chairs of state, vessels of Indian copper set with precious stones, and georgeous embroidered robes were to be seen in profusion, and contributed to the brilliance of the public ceremonies." By restoring this old capital he forged a link between himself and that matchless figure of th e ancie nt H i n d u perio pe rio d. Sher Sher Shah asse assembl mbled ed round his person all that was great in Indian art and learning, his court was therefore distin guished for brilliancy and simplicity charac-
94 te ri st ic of a good Moslem Mos lem sovereign. He desired to be scrupulously just to all the fresh energies of his country's life : to commerce, to industry, to communications. In th e days of Sher Shah Sh ah The Th e Mukadams used to protect the limits of their o w n villages, villa ges, lest an y th ie f or robbe r, or enemy of their enemies, might injure a traveller, and so be the means of their destruction and death, and he directed his Governors and Amirs to compel com pel t he people people to tr e a t merchant merc hantss an d travellers well in every way, and not to injure them at all, and if a merchant should die by the wa y, n ot to st retc re tchh ou t th e ha nd of opp oppres res sion and violence on his goods as if they were un ow ne d; fo forr Shaik h N iz am i (may God be me rc iful if ul to him hi m ) has has said, " If a m erc han t ddie ie in your country, it is perfidy to lay hands on his property." Throughout his whole kingdom Sher Shah only levied customs on merchandise in two places. Viz., when it came from Bengal, customs were levied at Gharri (Sikri Gali); when it came came fr om th e di rec ti on of Kh ur as an , the customs were were le vi ed on th e borders of th e ki n g dom ; and again a second duty was levied at the place of sale. sale. No one da red re d to l ev y other oth er
95 customs, either on the road or at the ferries, in town or village. Sher Shah, moreover, forbade his off officia icials ls to purchase purchase a n y t h i n g in the bazaars except at the usual bazaar rates and prices. prices. (Ta rikh -i-S her Shah). For the convenience in travelling of poor travellers, on every road, at a distance of two Ko s, he made a s a r a i ; an d oone ne ro ad w i t h sara sarais is he made fr om th e fort wh ic h he b u i l t in the Punjab to the city of Sunargaon, which is situat ed in the kingdom of Bengal, on the shore of the ocea ocean. n. An oth er ro ad he made fr om the c i t y of Ag ra to Bu rh an pu r, wh ic h is on th e bor border derss of the kingdom of Dekhin, and he made one fr om th e c i t y of Ag ra to Jo dh pu r and Chi tor ; and one road with sarais from the city of Lahore to M u l t a n . Al tog eth er he b u i l t 1,700 sara sarais is on var ious io us roads ; a nd in every sarai he b u i l t separate lodgings, both for Hindus and Mussalmans, mans , an d at t h e gate of every sarai he ha d placed place d pots pot s fu l l of water, t h a t anyone anyone m ig ht drink; and in every sarai he settled Brahmins forr th e ente rtain men t of Hi nd us , to provide fo hot and cold water, and beds and food, and grain for their horses ; and it was a rule in these sara sarais is t h a t whoever entered t h e m received
96 pr ov is io n suitable to his ra n k and food an d li t te r for his cat tle fr om Gov ernm ent. Villag es were established a l l r o u n d th e sarais. sarais. In th e middle of every sarai was a well and a Masjid of bu r n t br ic k ; an d he placed placed an I m a m and a Muazzin in every Masjid together with a custo di an (shhn (shhna), a), and seve severa rall w a t c h m e n ; an d a l l these hese were m ai nt ai ne d fr om th e la nd near near t h e sarai. In ever y sarai t w o hor horse sess were k e p t t h a t the y m ig ht qu ic kl y carr y news news On b o t h sides of th e hi gh wa y Sher Sher Shah pl an te d fr frui ui t-be t- be arin ar in g tree treess such as also gave much shade that in the hot wind travellers might go along under the trees, and if they should stop by the way might rest and ta ke repo repose se.. (Ta rik h-i -Sh er Shah). Food was freely supplied and Mannucci says that even clean linen figured among the articles of com for t furnished to the trave llers. T u r n in g to his other reforms we notice that it was Sher Shah who first established established th e p ub lic wo rk s de pa rtm en t. A system of po popu pular lar po posta sta l servi service ce was arrange arra ngedd and an d 3, 3,40 4000 ho hors rses es were m ai n ta in ed to ensu ensure re spe speed an d re gu la ri ty . Besi Beside dess b u il d in g roads, sara sarais is,, hospitals and othe r in s ti tu ti o n s of pu bli c u t i l i t y an d bene benevo vole lenc ncee he adopted th e
97 admi ad mira rable ble . Isla Is lami mi c meas measur uree for the th e firs f irs t t im e in India of granting old age pensions to such as the th e bl i n d an d ol d, i n f i r m and the sick. These stipends were p a i d f ro m the treasu tre asury ry of of* th e t o w n in w h i c h t h e y were were resident. resident . This meas measur uree of relief benefitted al l wi th ou t di st in ct io n of caste or creed. E l l i o t in his H i s t o r y of Sher Sher Shah says says,, '' Sher Sher Sha h made cer tai n laws, b o t h fr om his ow n idea ideas, s, an d by extr ac ti ng t h e m fr om th e works of the learned, for securing relief from t y r a n n y , an d for th e repres repressi sion on of crime and vi ll an y ; for for m ai nt ai ni ng the prosp erity of his his realms, the safety of the highways, and the com fo fort rt of merchants and troo ps. He acted upon these laws, and it was proved by experience that they became the means of procuring tran q u i l l i t y for th e classes above above menti me nti one d. Sher Sher Shah often said, " It behoves kings to inscribe the page of their history with the character of rel ig ion , t h a t th ei r servant servantss and subjec subjects ts may love religion; for kings are partakers in every act of devotion and worship which proceeds fr om t h e priests priest s an d th e people. Crime an d violence prevent the development of prosperity. It behoves kings to be grateful for the favour
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t h a t th e L o r d has has made his people people su bj ec t to them, and therefore not to disobey the command ments of God." " Sher Sher Shah Sh ah at te nd e d to every ev ery busin business ess concerning the administration of the kingdom and the revenues, whether great or small, in his own person. person. No r d i d he pe rm it his te m po ra l affa affair irss to be u nm ix ed w i t h de vo ti on ; day and night he was employed in both works. He had his dependents in waiting to awake h i m when tw o - t h i r d s of th e ni gh t was was pas passsed ; and bathing himself every night he employed himself in prayer and supplication until the forth wa tc h. Af ter t h a t he heard th e accounts accounts of the various officers, and the ministers made their reports of the work to be done in their respective departments, and the orders which Sher Shah gave they recorded for their future guidance, that there might be no necessity for enquiry in the future. When the morning had well broken, he again performed his ablu tions, and with a great assembly went through his obligatory devotions, and afterwards read t h e Musta'abMust a'ab-i'ashr i'ashr , an d other prayers. Af ter te r that his chiefs and soldiers came to pay their respects respects,, an d th e heralds (naqibs) called call ed
99 o u t each each m an by name, and said sa id : — " Such and such a one, the son of such a one, pays his respects." One One f u l l hour after after sunrise, sunrise, t h a t is to say about the first hour of the day, he per formed the Namaz -i-ishrak." Sher Shah's prosperity had now attained th at height height which in the un pi ty in g fli gh t of ti m e is never never of long lo ng d ur at io n . In 15 1544 he conquered conquered Marwa Ma rwa r and subsequently la id seige to K a l i n j a r . * " On 22nd May 15 1544 44 t h is marvell ous ma m a n ," says ays Keen, K een, " met t he p e t t y for fortre tress ss and dubious hand fro m w h ic h no hero hero can can count on i m m u n i t y . Wh il e the seige operations were in progress he was hit by the splinter of a t u m b r i l and received received a dange dangerou rouss wo un und. d. He was was take ta ke n to his te nt . He la y for t w o days cons consci ciou ouss and t h i n k i n g of his his d u t y * The su mm it of the rock (upo n w hi ch Ka li nj ar stands) is ins tru ctu re a ki nd of a tab le lan d sl ig ht ly undu lated and betwee betweenn fo ur and fiv e miles miles i n cir cu it. Th ro ug ho ut its whole extent it is fo rt ifi ed by a ra mp ar t risin g fr om the very edge edge in con tin uat ion of th e scrap of the r o c k ; an d a t places places where th e diffic ulties of the ascent in its natural state might be overcome, access has been gua rde d against by a fac ing of masonry . The f ortif icatio ns are mas siv ely constructed of large blocks blocks o f stone stone laid gen erally w it ho ut cem ent and ab ou t 25 feet th ic k Acce Access ss to the vas t cir cu mv ala ti o n of this h i l l is by a p at hw ay slopin g up the face face of the rock in an ob liq ue ma nn er at the south-eastern side. It is a rou gh and na rro w tr ac k th ro ug h br us hw oo d; an d in some some pla places ces almost perpendicular perpendicular up to the fir st or lowest gateway, wh ic h lea leads ds in to the for tifi ed pa rt and is situated at about a fourth of the ascent. (B an de lkh an d Gazetteer, p. 459.)
100 t o th e last. W he n intellige nce was bro ugh t t o h i m that the place was taken, he exclaimed, " Tha nks be to to God A l m i g h t y " and neve neverr spok spokee ag ain. ai n."" T h a t disastrous disastrous desti ny wh ic h invariably arrested Indian state construction at a stage stage of half ha lf co m pl et io n exerci exercised sed it s sinister influence influence again on th is occasio occasion. n. I n d i a lost an ag age lon g op p o r t u n i t y to bec become a na ti on under such a commanding genius as Sher Shah. " Sher Sher Shah was b u r i e d at Sasiram where where his stat st atel elyy mausou ma usou leum leu m is s t i l l to be seen standing in the centure of an artificial piece of water wa ter,, a mi le in circumference, circumferenc e, w hi ch is faced faced by walls of cut stone, with flights of steps descend in g to the wa te r." (Elphi nstone .) So hopelessly were the Afghans divided among themselves by their jealousies and dis sensions, for which they have acquired an unenvi able notriety, and the strength of these lavishly endowed endow ed people was was so aimlessly aimles sly dissip dis sipate atedd i n the arid struggles of faction that to weld th em in to a stron g na ti on w i t h an enthusiast enthusiastic ic confid iden ence ce b o t h in th ei r ow n and th ei r self conf leaders' leaders ' resourcefu resourcefulness lness is t h e w o rk of those whom wh om natu na ture re sometimes sometimes sele select ctss to reconst rec onstitut itutee society society.. Unde Un derr his leadership leadership a strong natio na tiona nall
SHAHABAD SASSARAM, SHER SHAH'S TOMB FROM NORTH-WEST.
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life soon became manifest, which led the nation th ro ug h fr freed eedom om back back to the at ta in me nt of it s ancient anci ent power. He realised in goo goodd ti m e t h a t a rule r wh eth er here dit ary or a usurper usurper can have no safety unless he secures himself in popu lar favour and good w i l l . " Be tte r far than any number of fortresses is not to be hated by your people." In spite of constant active operations which required his personal direction we see that he himself attends to the complaints of his humblest subjects and dispenses justice and gives free audience to people, which won for him the devo t i o n of a l l classes. H is o w n experience experience t a u g h t h i m t h a t if society suffer suffered ed fr o m state's neglect, still more must the state suffer by losing the chief mean meanss of conn ectin g itse lf w i t h the thoughts and affections of the people. Well may the soul of India apply to Sher Shah w ha t Goet Goethe he o r ig in al ly composed composed for Hardenberg. " T h o ug ughh t transcends the t he power of spee speech ch,, When we contemplate your life, Spirit free, spite bonds of earth, In action firm and confident."
102 Sher Shah as an apostle of Indian unity. In I n contemplating the career of this man of exce ex cept ptio iona nall gifts, whose whose ho rizo ri zo n was was far wider than that of most of the rulers before or after him, the student is profoundly impressed w i t h the th e idea t h a t he ha has never never come come acro across ss th e account of any other ruler who has occupied a mighty throne with so admirable a combination of heart and intelligence, nor one so uncontaminat ed by fal false p o l it i c a l do doctr ctrine ine , nor on onee so honest and so joyful in his laborious mission. H a d he li v ed longe longerr the fo foun undat dat ion w ou ld have been been f i r m l y established established up upon on wh ic h the th e struc tur e of a com mon na ti on al it y in In di a w o u l d have been been erected. This Th is has has no t come come to pass pass.. This Th is hidde hid de n trag tr aged edyy is due to some some mal ig ig na n t influence influence w h ic h broods over t he des tiny of th is distr di str act ed la nd . B u t his effort effortss to reach the lum ino us goal of na tio na l u n i t y deser deserve ve the th e highest praise. praise. '' To th e ext rao rdi nar y m a n " says Mr . W. Cr Croo ooke ke,, " who ha d dr ive n H u m a y u n from the throne , it can ha rd ly be said t h a t the or di na ry histories histories
do sufficie suf ficient nt just ju stice ice He was was the th e first firs t Mussalman ruler who studied the good of his people. peop le. He ha d th e genius to se see t h a t the th e
103 Government must be popularised, that the •K in g m us t go gove vern rn for the benefit of his subjects, t h a t t he Hi nd us mu st be conciliated by a policy of justice and toleration, that the land revenue must be settled on an equitable baste, t h a t ma ter ial development of the co un try mu st be encoura encouraged. ged. A l l th is and more Ak ba r str ov ovee to do late r on He relaxed rela xed th e oppressive Mohammedan law code and provided for the administration of justice. That he introduced such extensive reforms in his short reign of five years is a wonderful proof of his execu tive a b i l i t y . ' No Govern ment not even even the British has shown so much wisdom as this p a th a n ' as Ke en says." (Memoirs (Mem oirs of th e Race Racess of N.-W. Provinces II 97). All this was the result of his consummate statesmanship, and it is in this respect that we distinguish him from the normal type of ruler. He stands among civilising conquerors such as have come into intimate contact with the great forc fo rces es of dest de stin iny. y. H i s in te ll ec tu al supp supple lene ness ss was the result of his Islamic education which had produced dazzling personalities at Bagh dad da d and Cor Cordov dova. a. Pl at o an d Socr Socrat ates es indeed claimed to put right conduct on a basis of know-
104 ledge ledge and an d therefore therefor e of educ ed ucati ation on.. He tran tr ans s la te d noble thou th ou gh ts in t o noble noble actions actions and att ai ned ne d his splendid power of br in ging gi ng con solation to heavy laden hearts because he had himself hims elf suff suffer ered ed so gr grea eatly tly . H i s con cep tion tio n of E m p ir e embraced th e gospel gospel of higher justice justi ce and an d wider wide r tolerance, toleran ce, and an d he realised t h is idea id eall in act ual practice. The in tric tr ic at e pro ble m of India which baffles the astute statesmen of the present era he attempted to solve by giving the th e Moslems, Moslems, th e Ra jp ut s th e Bengalis an Indian mind, thus giving strong impetus to the evo lut ion ary process of I n d ia n na ti on al it y. E v e n his detra de tracto ctors rs canno can nott supp suppre ress ss the th e fact that he was the enunciator of this ideal which later on Akbar endeavoured to realise. In dealing w i t h th is problem h e ex hib ite d reverence and boldness which characterised Alexander Alexan der the Great. The inci in cide de nt wh ic h illu stra tes Alexander's laudable conduc t is thu s rela ted in Greek Greek hi st or y. On th e n ig h t befo before re Alexander of Macedon started for the East on that career of conquest in which like Achilles, his hi s great exemplar, exem plar, he was was to find his gl o ry and an early death, deat h, he ha d a farewell in te rv ie w with the man who had been his tutor, now the
105 master of a rising school of thought in the shades of the L y c eu m . A n d tow ard s th e close of the interview Aristotle said to the Macedonian: " Y o u are are ab ou t to s ta rt u p on a n "enterp "enterpris risee wh ic h w i l l br in g y o u in to man y lands la nds and amon amongs gstt m an y nation nat ions, s, some some already celebrated in ar ts an d arms, arms , some some sava savage ge an d u n k n o w n . B u t th is last coun counse sell I give y o u . Wh itherso ever your victories lead you, never forget that y o u are are a Greek, and an d everywhere d ra w h a r d and fast the line that separates the Greek from the Ba rbar ian." ' ' N o " a n s w e r e d t he you thf u l l conqueror, conqueror,—he —he was barely t w o and t w e n t y " I w i l l pur pursue sue another polic pol icy. y. I w i l l make all m en Hellenes. T h a t shall be the purpose of my victories.'' The wisd wi sdom om of a soldier for once once w en t deeper than the wisdom of the great architect of th ou gh t th a t Tim e has k no w n. (J . A. Cramb) " Sher Sher Shah " says says M r . Qanu Q anung ngo, o, " was b o r n to reconcile religion and politics, and create a bracing atmosphere in which the Indian nation ality might thrive like an organic growth Sher Shah's attitude towards Hinduism was n o t cont co ntem em ptuo pt uous us suff suffer eran ance ce b u t respectful deferenc deference, e, it received receiv ed due reco re co gn gniti ition on in the th e
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st ate. at e."" H o w we ll Dan te's noble verse verse was was most stra nge ly, most gr ea tl y realised realised by She Sher Shah. Shah . " Se tu t u segai t u a stella ste lla N o n p uo i fallire a glorios gloriosoo p o r t o . " (If thou follow but thy star Thou shalt not fail of a glorious haven). JUSTICE.
Slier Shah's Institutions. Sher Shah when he ascended the Imperial th ro ne of In d ia assu assume medd the t i tl e of " Su lt an al A d i l , " i. e., the ju st mona rch. In his tor y we find ma ny hig h sounding tit le s appro pr ia te d by great rulers which wh ich expr expres esss the th e gl or y or m i g h t of these these exal ex alted ted per person sonag ages es.. B u t when we study their lives we see t h e s o rr y spectacle that in numerous cases the glittering significance of these t i t l e s do does es no nott corres corres pond w i t h their practice in life. B u t i n the the case of Sher Sher Shah we see his d a i l y labour lab ourss f u l f i l l i n g t h e promise conta ined in his t i t l e . It is rare that the divine attribute of justice finds mani festation in the rulers of the world whether ancient or m o d e r n ; in t r u t h the recent recent expe expe rience rience of distr distress essed ed h u m a n i ty tells us t h a t mo dern rulers pay attention to considerations of policy or convenience where claims cla ims of just ju stic icee are
107 in vo lv e d. ' Ev er yt hi ng th at policy requ requir ires es,, ju j u s t i c e s a n c t i o n s . Success i s t h e t e s t . E v e n as Goethe says " The man of action is essential ly cons consci cien encel celes ess. s."" The mo de rn Im pe ri al is t enjoys the full benefit of what is called the ev ol ut io na ry beat itude . He bo ldl y says, blessed are the strong for they shall prey on the weak. B u t the supr supreme eme hum an t r a i t in the policy of Sher Shah was that he enforced the authority of moral law equally against high and low . He ma y we ll have have cried w i t h Vinc ke " As high as heaven is placed above the earth, so high does right stand above expediency." " He always ascertained ascertained the exact t r u t h regarding the oppressed, and the suitors for ju j u s t i c e ; a n d h e n e v e r f a v o u r e d t h e o pp ppre ress ssoo rs, rs , although they might be his near relations, his dear sons, sons, his reno re nown wned ed nobles, or of his o w n tribe ; and he never showed any delay or lenity in pu ni sh in g opp oppres ressor sors. s. " ( E l l i o t iv, p. 411). 411). The K hu la sa t- ul- Ta wa rik h rela relate tess the fol low ing interesting s t o r y : Prince Prince A d i l Kh an made some some amo rous advances advances (t h ro w i ng a bira of pan) to the wife of a townsman of Agra, wh ile she was was t a k i n g her her ba t h. The wom an resented it, and her husband complained of it
108 to Sher Shah, wh o at on once ce sum mon ed t h e prince and pronounced ju dg me nt t h a t the la w of re t al i at i on was was to be enfo enforced rced,, i. e., the citizen mast throw a bira of pan to the prince's wife when undressed and preparing for the bath. Everyone was staggered to hear it and va in ly solicited h i m to relent. He rem ain ed ob obdu dura rate te sayi sa ying ng he kn knew ew no difference difference be be tween a prince and a peasant; and it should not be said that a man, because he was the King's son, son, co ul d in ju re a subject wh om he was was bo un d to protect." What would those who forget moral scruples in pursuit of political aims say to thi th i s unex un exam am pled pl ed se sense of just ju stic icee ? It is generally the fashionable tendency of the men of this new era to plume themselves upon moral superiority to all who have lived in earlier centuries, b u t those those who cherish t h i s ha pp y illusion appear in comparison with Sher Shah as no th in g more more t h a n d ilet tan te in the ar t of statec raft who have have deba debase sedd th e et hi co -p ol it ical idea id eall of th e state. The y f a i l to see t h a t an attack on the sanctuary of justice would dissolve the bonds of human society. One instance out of so many would be enough to show how Sher Shah rectified the
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arrogance an d arb itra rin ess of his officials. officials. " Sher Sher Shah ha d orde red Shujaat Shuja at K h a n to dis t r i b u t e some ome lands in his prov ince (Malwa) to th e c o m m o n soldie soldiers rs serving under h i m . But he was induced by his corrupt officials to app rop ria te t h e m to himself, himself, thereup on t w o thousand men determined to represent the case to the Shah, marched away in body from Shujaat Khan's army, and halted one stage off from it. They took counsel together and resolved: It is n o t pro prope perr to go ourselves ourselves to Sher Sher Shah. Sha h. He has has posted us w i t h Shujaat K h a n in th is co u nt ry of D ak ha n, and it is n ot r ig h t fo forr us to move o u t of these hese par ts, w i t h o u t his order. L e t us send send a V a k i l to Sher Sher Shah wha tever he orders orders le t us act up to i t . A n d if any busin busines esss of the K i n g should in t h e mean w h il e occu o ccur, r, it behoves us to ex ert er t ourselves ourselves in its settleme nt more t h a n a l l others. " B u t before th e V a k i l of the soldiers soldiers reached reached the Imperial presence, Sher Shah's spies reported everything to him. Shujaat Khan was re p r i m a n d e d i n seve severe re te rm s an d ord ordere eredd to appease the remonstrants, on pain of the for feiture of his jagir and imprisonment. Shujaat K h a n felt the th e ea eart rth h fast sliding sliding off beneath his his
110 feet. He himself him self we nt to the th e encampme encam pment nt of the seceders and, appeasing them with promises and oaths that he would do no harm and encourag ing them with gifts and presents, brought them back bac k to his own ow n camp. cam p. For Fo r h av in g esca escape pedd the King's wrath Shujaat Khan offered sweet meats (shukrana) in Dargahs Darga hs (of Pirs) and an d mosq mosque uess and an d d is tr ib u te d alms to th e poor. poor . ( E l l i o t i v , 425 425-4 -427 27). ). This Th is explo explodes des the doctrin e of trusting the men on the spot which is incom prehensible prehensible to an or ie ntal nt al . An of offi fice cerr appo ap poin int t ed by th e C ro w n deserves deserves confidence confidence b u t he has his faults like other men, and if some one aggrieved against h i m takes a co mp lain la intt to the headquarters he is mystified beyond des cription when without any enquiry being held i n to his comp laint he is bl an kl y t o ld th at no interference is possible in the conduct of the offendi off ending ng di gn it ar y or rule r. This T his moder mo dernn conception of justice is essentially sullen and frigid whereas that of Slier Shah was benign, fir m, and of tender mercy. H o w t r u l y it mi gh t be said of hi h i m " to be fo forg rgot otte tenn is the tru e annihilation; man's future life lies in being remem remembe bere redd w i t h hono ur." He w i l l be remem bered t i l l the end of time not only w i t h honour
All
b u t also also w i t h gr at it ud e. H i s nob noble le enthusias enthusiasm m for just ju stic ic e an d his keen solicitu soli citude de for the th e poor was no d o u b t due to an inner inn er grace grace of natu na ture re and to an instinct of the Soul which was per meated by the chastening influence of religion. His training in the school of adversity filled him with that sympathy for the suffering humanity which the rulers born in the purple so sadly lack. Revenue Policy. The revenue revenue po li cy w hi ch the previous rulers of India bequeathed to Sher Shah was notorious fo forr rap aci ty, so mu ch so th at ex to rt ionate ion ate demands sometimes sometimes dro ve th e miserable pea santry san try to th e jungles. jungl es. The syste m of assi assign gn i n g l a n d to soldiers soldiers in li eu of o f pa y was in most mo st cases responsible for this deplorable condition of the cultivators who where mercilessly treated by thes thesee hu n gr y wolves. Peculiar con dit ion s created by the existence of almost chronic civil wars in which the soldier was considered a highly valuable commodity prevented these poor men from getting redress. '' The license of th e Moslem s o l d i e r y " says M r . Qanungo Qanungo " an d th e exactions of the H i n d u Muqqadam s were th e bane bane o f the th e peas peasan ants ts l i f e . " B u t th e distre distressed ssed w o r l d of I n d i a now witnes witnessed sed th e
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dawning daw ning of a glorious glorious day, in whic wh ichh the bon bondd of affection and confidence between a noble prince and a suffering people would be establish ed more firmly t h a n ever ever before. before. After Af ter ascending ascending the throne Sher Shah's first care was for the welfare welfare of his afflicted afflicte d subjects. He applie ap pliedd to the whole of the Empire the same beneficent meas measur ures es w hich hi ch had ha d ensured ensured the th e conte co ntentm ntmen entt and pr pros ospe peri rity ty of his pargana parganass at Sasaram. Sasaram. Lands were measured according to an uniform standard. One jarib or bigha consisted of 3,600 square gaz (yard). Every cultivator had his ho holdi lding ng correctl corr ectlyy measu measure redd and the Government demand fixed at the rate of ¼ of the th e gr grooss produce. " The work wo rk of survey and assessment of every village within a pargana was was don donee under the th e dire di rect ct supervision of the A m i n . A K abal ab aliy iyat at (agr (agree eeme ment nt)) which con con tain ta ined ed a short account account of the rayats holding, and the amount he agreed to pay to the Govern ment, was taken by him from every individual rayats, d u l y signed signed and attested atte sted ; and he in return, gave a patta ( t i t l e deed) eed) to the rayats stating the demand of the state.'' (Qanungo, p. 347). The Th e rayats were given the option to pay the Government dues either in cash or in
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kind, but so far as possible the former method was encouraged. encouraged. W i t h incisive bol boldn dnes esss he eliminated the agency of the Muqqadams for the collection of state demands and required the payments to be made at the treasury of the pargana, he thus established direct relations with his subjects and saved them from the peculation pecula tion of the middleman. His Hi s standing standing order to his revenue officers was, '' Be lenient at the th e t i m e of asse assess ssme ment nt,, b u t show show no mercy at the tim e of coll co llec ectio tion. n."" This was a soun soundd principle as the arrears of revenue paralyse the i n d u s t ry ooff the cultiv cul tivato ator. r. He was familiar familiar with every detail in the conditions of life in the provinces, and the peasants knew very well that they had not a better friend in the world tha th a n h i m . " One One of the regulations Sher Shah Shah made made was was this th is : t h a t his victorious victorio us standard should cause no injury to the cultivation, and stationed horsemen round it to prevent people froo m trespassing on any on fr one' e'ss field he used to look out right and left, and if he saw any man injuring a field, he would cut off his ears w i t h his own hand handss and hanging the corn (which he had plucked off) sound his neck, would wo uld have have hi h i m to be paraded paraded through throug h the camp. camp.
114 And An d if fr from om the narro narrowne wness ss of the road any c ulti ul tivv atio at ionn was unavoidably unavoid ably destroye destroyed, d, he w ou ould ld send end A m irs, ir s, wi w i t h a surveyor to meas measur uree the cultivation so destroyed, and give compen sation in money money to the cultiva cul tivator tors. s. If un avoidably the tents of his soldiery were pitched near near c u l t i v a tio ti o n , the soldi soldiers ers thems themsel elve vess watched i t , lest any one else should injure inj ure it; and they should be blamed and be punished by Sher Shah." Shah ." ( E l l i o t i v , 42 422) 2).. The moral grandeur grandeur of his powerful powe rful personal pers onality ity raised raised the tone of the th e whole hier h ierarc archy hy of off offici icials als who under und er hi h i m were were jus ju s t, conscien conscienti tious, ous, and laborious. He thus restored to his afflicted subjects the blessings of a careful Government such as they had ha d seldom experienced before. H i s eye eyes were everywhere, like a physician at a sick bed he supervised the th e moods moods of the th e official officials, s, thei th eirr malice, thei th eirr egotism. He punished punished them th em most severely if they dared to act against his regulations. H is reve revenu nuee policy pol icy rehab reh abilit ilitate atedd the harassed rayats and brought great pros perity to his Hindu subjects both in the rural and an d ur urba bann area areas, s, In those those early ear ly days days the th e cultivators were entirely Hindus as the Moslems were mostly professional soldiers.
