A gentleman in a time of intrigue - IV

In the previous three parts of this story, I depicted the socio-political environment in 1724 that led to a break between Nizam-ul-Mulk, the Chief Minister of the Mughal Empire, and the Mughal court under the pleasure-seeking Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila. This, as we saw, eventually led to the creation of the independent Hyderabad State comprising the six Mughal Deccan provinces south of Narmada River.

After the battle of Shakar Khera between the Nizam and the Court-appointed subedar of the Deccan, where the Mughal force was defeated, Nizam-ul-Mulk marched first to Aurangabad and then to Hyderabad 279 miles away. There, he began the process of establishing a sound basis for administration and revenue of his acquired domains.

When the Emperor realised that Nizam had become effectively independent in the Deccan and was beyond his control, he publically pardoned Nizam in June 1725 for his treasonous acts. The Nizam’s jagirs (landholdings), that had been confiscated a few months earlier, were restored too. He was also confirmed in his now de facto position of subedar of the Deccan.

To his credit, Nizam-ul-Mulk never openly claimed severance of the Deccan from the Mughal court. He did nothing to betray the Mughals or to plot against them

To his credit, Nizam-ul-Mulk never openly claimed severance of the Deccan from the Mughal court. He did nothing to betray the Mughals or to plot against them. He took control of the Deccan only when he realised that the Emperor and his close aides wanted to eliminate him. As independent ruler of the area since 1724, he carried on with the Government of the six subahs of the Deccan without any reference to Delhi; unhampered in the exercise of all the sovereign attributes of a State. He conducted wars, concluded treaties and conferred titles without asking permission from the imperial government. His loyalty to the Emperor, though, remained unshaken. Coins continued to be struck in the name of the Emperor and his name in the Khutba (Friday sermon) continued to be read throughout the Deccan. Even in his testament, Nizam-ul-Mulk advised his successors to keep the traditional relations of loyalty with the imperial government.

According to the Nizam himself, “When the powerful king of Persia (Nader Shah) was in Delhi, he offered me the Empire of Hindustan. On this, I at once said that I and my ancestors had, from ancient times, been in the service of the ruler of Delhi and that such impropriety of conduct on my part would make me notorious as one untrue to salt and the Emperor would call me false and treacherous. Since his (Nader Shah’s) elevated mind could appreciate the significance of my words, he liked my reply and praised me.”

Historian William Irvine has written about the Nizam that when an astrologer suggested that he would one day become a monarch, he repudiated the suggestion saying, “May throne and umbrella bring good fortune to him who holds them! My business is to preserve my honour, and if this be mine, what need have I of an Imperial throne?”

Coming back to the Nizam’s efficient manner of government, he made new appointments of reliable and capable persons to all important posts of the Government. He then established law and order in the countryside. Nizam-ul-Mulk sent some of his best men to the districts to undertake administrative responsibilities.

When an astrologer suggested that he would one day become a monarch, he repudiated the suggestion saying, "May throne and umbrella bring good fortune to him who holds them! My business is to preserve my honour, and if this be mine, what need have I of an Imperial throne?"

After making these administrative arrangements, Nizam-ul-Mulk went to Karnataka, which had still not been brought under control. He confirmed all the officials that he had appointed before going to Delhi, and even those appointed by his defeated enemy Mubariz Khan.

During his administrative tour of Karnataka, all the main landlords came to pay their respects and offer homage to Nizam-ul-Mulk. The deputy governor of Arcot came to express his sentiments of loyalty to the new regime and to get confirmation of his post. He also exerted his authority where the French and the British were engaged in a colonial feud. Both the European trading companies presented him with expensive gifts.

The Marathas were initially amiable to the Nizam. Raja Shahu, who had spent twenty years of his life as a hostage of Aurangzeb, had helped the Nizam in his battle against the Mughal forces. The raja wanted to have peace in the Deccan but the ruthless ambitions of his Peshwa Baji Rao prevented this.

The conflict between the Nizam and the Marathas was inevitable because both these forces were operating in the same region and, more importantly, collecting taxes from the same population. At the heart of the feud were the taxes, Chauth and Sardeshmukh, that the Nizam wanted to abolish and that the Marathas thought was their right.

Baji Rao, the Maratha Peshwa of King Shahuji, forced two battles on the Nizam on his own terms. Fearful of the Nizam’s artillery, he avoided a pitched battle, engaging isolated troops, disrupting supply lines and adopting debilitating guerrilla tactics.

In 1727-28, Baji Rao led his forces on a six-month-long brilliant campaign against the Nizam, pillaging food and fodder, before cornering his forces in the waterless tract near Palkhed. Thirsty and hungry, the Nizam sued for peace. He had to recognise Shahu as the sole Maratha ruler and granted him the right of two contentious taxes in the six subahs of the Deccan. Marathas were also given the authority to appoint their own tax officials. This was a landmark treaty that reduced the Nizam’s domain and prestige. However, the Nizam displayed his dignity under these adverse conditions as well. When Baji Rao demanded the surrender of the rival king Sambhaji, who had sided with the Hyderabad forces, the Nizam refused – considering it beneath his chivalry. Field Marshal Montgomery has called the Battle of Palkhed “A masterpiece of strategic mobility” by Baji Rao.

In 1737/38, the Nizam-ul-Mulk, now at the court in Delhi, again marched out with a large army to eliminate the Maratha threat to the Mughal domains. Baji Rao gathered a force of 80,000 and once again engaged in hit and run raids, depriving the Nizam of supplies. The Nizam was finally besieged in Bhopal, short of food and fodder, and was forced to sign a peace treaty. In the treaty, he agreed to hand over the rich province of Malwa and 25 lakh (2,500,000) rupees.

This was, however, the last triumph of the famed Baji Rao. In December 1739, nine months after Nader Shah had ravaged Delhi, Baji Rao made an attempt to subdue the Nizam’s domains. The Nizam’s son, Nasir Jang, forced him to a battle on the banks of the River Godavari – something that Baji Rao had always avoided – and inflicted a crushing defeat on him. This was the end of Baji Rao. He promised Nasir Jang never to enter the Nizam’s domains again and died soon thereafter in April 1740.

The Nizam was revered by the people of Delhi. In early 1737, he appointed his son Nasir Jang as the acting subedar and proceeded to Delhi. He was received by his elder son Firuz Jang, who was married to the daughter of the Chief Minister. An eyewitness writes that when Nizam-ul-Mulk entered the capital “crowds thronged the road and impeded progress. Within the city the roofs of the shops and houses were covered with sightseers; while mendicants thicker than flies at a sweetmeat shop gathered round his elephant, paying no heed to sticks and bamboos with which the attendants tried to drive them off. His elephant could no more than creep along and it was not till after mid-day that they reached the Delhi gate of the fort. Here Nizam-ul-Mulk entered his litter. The Chief Minister allowed Nizam-ul-Mulk to be two paces in advance of him to show his respect to him. At the drum-house they alighted and hand in hand entered the privy audience-hall. On coming before the Emperor he made his offerings and was honoured in return with a robe from the Emperor’s own wardrobe and a jacket called ‘Charqab’ worn only by the members.”

In 1739, Nader Shah sacked Delhi. The Nizam was helpless in the battle due to superior tactics of the Persians. During the massacre, when Nader Shah was in a ferocious mood and no one from the Mughal side dared to appear before him, it was again the Nizam who went to him and beseeched him to stop the killings, putting an end to the bloody events.

The State that the Nizam founded lasted till India became independent. It was one of the more progressive and justly ruled States in Hindustan. It had railways, hospitals, a university and a road network. The Nizam himself, like his successors, was pluralist in his outlook. A Hindu, Pooran Chand, was his chief Diwan.

The Nizam died in 1748 in Burhanpur at the age of 76. With his death approaching, he dictated a 17-point document of instructions for his descendents. The dynasty founded by him existed up to the last days of the British Raj. He was buried in Khuldabad, close to where Aurangzeb and Malik Ambar are buried.

His biographer Yousuf Hussain states that Nizam-ul-Mulk was brought up in the traditions of Aurangzeb; both living a hard, restless and simple life. The Nizam believed in the welfare of the State. He had a tenacity of purpose, that is an essential quality of a great leader. He tempered his fearlessness with prudence. He never shrank from any challenge but his soundness of judgment and common sense prevented him from being reckless.

Nizam-ul-Mulk was, thus, a most rare leader and a decent man in a time of great misfortune for the Mughal Empire and Hindustan.

Parvez Mahmood retired as a Group Captain from PAF and is now a software engineer. He lives in Islamabad and writes on social and historical issues. He can be reached at parvezmahmood53@gmail.com