DARA SHIKOH AND THE ZAMINDARS OF BIHAR DURING WAR OF SUCCESSION

InternationalJournalofHumanities andSocialSciences(IJHSS)

ISSN(P):2319

393X;ISSN(E):2319

3948

Vol.11,Issue2,Jul

Dec2022;159

166 ©IASET

DARASHIKOHANDTHEZAMINDARSOFBIHARDURINGWAROFSUCCESSION

Dr.TahirHussainAnsari

AssociateProfessorCAS,DepartmentofHistoryA.M.U.Aligarh,UttarPradesh,India

ABSTRACT

DaraShikohhadbeenveryinterestingpersonalityandoneoftheimportantscholarsofMughalIndia.Alothasbeen writtenabouthimbythemodernhistoriansofIndiaandtheworldbutwhateverstudieshavebeendoneitappearstobe macrolevelstudiesrelatedtohisroleintheWarofSuccessionandhowhewasclosertohisfatherShahJahan.The studiesarealsorelatedtotheassessmentofhispersonalityincomparetoAurangzebwhoprovedhimselfacapablePrince andcompetentrulerInthispaperIhavemadeanattempttoevaluateandassessDaraShikoh’srelationshipwiththe zamindarsofBiharandhiscapabilitytowinoverdifferentzamindarstohissideduringWarofSuccession.Aproper analysishasbeendoneinrespecttohissuccessingettingthesupportandassistanceoftheprominentzamindarsofBihar inhisstruggleforMughalthrone.

KEYWORDS:WarofSuccession,SupportandAssistanceoftheProminent

ArticleHistory

Received:13Oct2022|Revised:18Oct2022|Accepted:22Oct2022

INTRODUCTION

MuhammadDaraShikohwasbornon11thMarch1615inAjmerRajasthan.HewasthefirstsonandthirdchildofPrince Shahab-ud-dinMuhammadKhurram(futureShahJahan)andhissecondwife,MumtazMahal.DaraShikohhadthirteen siblingsofwhomsixsurvivedtoadulthood:JahanaraBegum,ShahShuja,RoshanaraBegum,Aurangzeb,MuradBakhsh, andGauhararaBegum.Hesharedacloserelationshipwithhisoldersister,Jahanara.Aspartofhisformaleducation,Dara studiedtheQuran,history,Persianpoetryandcalligraphy.Hewasaliberal-mindedunorthodoxMuslimunlikehisfather andhisyoungerbrotherAurangzeb.PersianwasDara'snativelanguage,buthealsolearnedHindi,Arabicandlater Sanskrit.InOctober1627,Dara'sgrandfatherEmperorJahangirdied,andhisfatherascendedthethroneinJanuary1628 takingtheregnalname‘ShahJahan'.In1633,DarawasappointedastheWali-ahad(heir-apparent)tohisfather.He,along withhisoldersisterJahanara,wasShahJahan'sfavouritechildren.

InthispaperIhavemadeanattempttoassesstheleadershipqualityofDaraShikohduringtheWarofSuccession ashetriedtowinoversomeoftheimportantchieftainsofBihartohissideagainstPrinceShahShuja,oneofhisyounger brotherswhowasquiteactiveinBiharashewasthegovernorofBengalwhentheWarofSuccessionbrokeoutin Hindustan.DaraalsostruggledintenselyforthroneagainsthisotherbrotherslikePrinceAurangzebandPrinceMurad. DaraShikohwasdifferentfromhisrealbrothersandsistersinthesensethathewaslearnedmanandhiswrittenworksare i.e.,Majma-ul-Bahrain,Sirr-i-Akbar,Safinat-ul-Awliya,Sakinat-ul-Awliya,Risaala-i-HaqNuma,etc.Hehad commissionedatranslationofYogaVasisthaandcompletedthetranslationoffiftyUpanishadsfromtheiroriginalSanskrit intoPersianin1657.DarahaddevelopedagoodrelationwithseventhSikhguru,GuruHarRai.Hemadeanefforttofind

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acommonmysticallanguagebetweenIslamandHinduism.HehaddevotedanddevelopedgoodinterestinSufisticand Vedanticphilosophies.TodevelopanunderstandingonthethemeIhaveconsultedcontemporaryPersianChronicles, farmans,sanads,localcontemporaryandnearcontemporarysourceslikeTawarih-i-Ujjainiasandthesecondarysources likebooks,journals,articles,etc.

ShahJahanfellillinSeptember1657andhisconditionbecamecriticalwithinafewdays.ShahJahanhad nominatedDaraShikohashissuccessorandhewaspresentatthecourt.Henotonlynursedhisailingfatherbutalso helpedhimindischargingtheimportantaffairsoftheempire.Dara’sbrotherswhowereextremelyjealousofhiscloseness totheemperorbecamesuspiciousofthesedevelopments.TheybelievedthatShahJahanhadactuallydiedandthatDara Shikohhadusurpedhisthrone.ThereforeShahShuja,AurangzebandMurad,afterreachinganunderstandingamong them,proceededtowardsDelhitofightforthethroneofHindustan.ThesituationbecamesogravethattheMughalnobility toowasdividedontheissue.Almosteveryimportantnoblewasalliedwithoneortheotherprince.Theprincesthemselves approachedthelocalchiefsforsupportwiththepromiseofhighermansabsandimportantoffices.ThezamindarsofBihar, especiallyRajaBahroz,theRajaofGidhaurandtheUjjainiachief,actuallyparticipatedinthisconflictintheregionof Bihar.Allofthemwerenotinonecamp,althoughShujawhowasthefirsttodeclarehimselfkingandproceededtowards DelhitocontestDaraShikoh,contactedsomeofthesezamindarssoonafterreachingPatna.Hewasabletogetthesupport ofRajaBahrozofKharagpurandthroughhishelp;theUjjainiachiefalsojoinedhiscamp.Tofirmupthealliance,Shah Shujaalsoissuedfarmansandnishanswithlotsofassurances.1InoneofthenishansissuedonbehalfofShahShuja,itwas clearlymentionedthatRajaBahrozhadmanagedtobringAmarSingh,anUjjainiachief,tothesideofShahShujaandthis facthadbeenacknowledgedbytheprince.

TheNishanRunsAsFollows

Thebestofthepeersandcontemporaries,worthyofreviewingfavoursandprivileges,AmarSingh,beingdulyhonoured withroyalgiftsmayknowthatinthepresenttimethefactofhavinguprightfaithandtrueintentionsoftheone(Amar Singh)accustomedtobravery,deservingoffavours,privileges,gifts,andkindness,hasbeenbroughttothenoticeof enlightenedandtheholiest(Shuja)byRajaBahrozwhoisnotedforhisbraveryandvalour.Therefore,thisorderofhigh magnitudeandconspicuousgreatnessreviewedthehonourofbeingissuedanddispatchedtotheeffectthatimmediatelyon receiptofthishigh,auspiciousandprosperousNishanyou(AmarSingh),beingcontentedineveryway,shouldcometo theserviceofthewhollyfortunatewithormanymeansyoucanaffordtocollectsothatafterkissingthethresholdyou shallberewardedwithroyalbountiesandespecialfavours.Takethisasurgent.Itwaswrittenin1068A.H.(1658).

DaraShikoh,ontheotherhand,wasalsomakingactiveeffortstogetthesupportofimportantchiefsoftheregion andevenissuedafarmanonbehalfofShahJahantotheRajaofGidhaurwiththepromiseofnotonlyahighmansabbut eventhechieftaincyofKharagpurRaj,ifhesodesired.Thefarmanrunsasfollows:

Thebestamongthegrandeesandthelikebeings,thegreatamongtheequalsandthecontemporaries,worthyof receivingfavorsandprivileges,RajaDalSingh,thezamindarofGidhaur,beingdulyhonoredwithroyalgifts,mayknow thatinthepresenttimethemessageofSulaimanShukohBahadur,theableandbraveson,thefortunateandthewell

1MunshiVinayakPrasad,Tawarikh-i-Ujjainia,Lucknow,NewalKishorePress,1898,vol.II,p.57.(AnUrdutext).Thisis anaccountofthefamilyofUjjainiaandisavailableinfourvolumesinKhudaBakshLibrary.AlsoB.P.Ambashthya, ‘SomeHistoricalPapersofDumraonRajintheShahabadDistrictinBihar,’PIHC,22ndSession,Guwahati,1959,pp.2712.

behaved,theall-conqueringandever-fortunatebyLord’sgrace,thesonoftherulingroyalhouse,andofhighestdescent, havingtheblessingsofGod,thepearlofroyalcrownandofsublimeMajesty,thestarofsparklingwisdomandprudence, thecloudofshoweringgenerosity,privilegeandpower,ever-wateringthefloweroffortune,theall-embracingandall powerfulprinceexpansiveassky,thegoodnatured,reached(Dara)thathe(DalSingh)thebestamongthepeersand contemporaries,undertheguidanceofthefortune,thefaithfulservantandthewell-wisheroftheempire,istreadingthe pathofloyaltyandwouldescorttheroyalforcethroughhislandagainstthecowardlyandthedisrespectfulShujawhodid notdiscriminatebetweenrightandwrong,andafterdulypunishinghim(Shuja),woulddrivehim(Shuja)outofMunghyr anditsquarterandwouldthusforcehimtoleadthelifeofadversity.Thisnewsprovedhighlyagreeabletome(Dara),and he(DalSingh)wasassuredthatinreturnforthisserviceofhis(DalSingh’s)he(DalSingh)wouldhaveaccesstothe presenceoftheemperorandwouldreviewroyalfavorsandrewardsandagoodmansabandagoodtitle;ifhe(DalSingh) wouldwanttogetholdofthezamindariofKharakpurfromthehandsoftheunfortunateBahroz,I(Dara)wouldagreetoit andthathe(DalSingh)mightuproothim(Bahroz)andoccupyhis(Bahroz’s)territory.He(DalSingh)wasdirectedto communicatehiswishsothattheemperormightactuallyannouncethefavorregardinghim(DalSingh)andmy(Dara’s)gifts wouldalsocontinueinhisfavorinfuture.Writtenonthedate21stofthemonthofRajab,1068H.(inApril,1968A.D.).

InthisfarmanitappearsthatDaraShikohwasdesperatetowinovertohissideoneoftheprominentzamindars ofBihar.Inthisway,anumberofzamindarsofBiharjoinedtherebelliousprincesandparticipatedintheirwarof succession.RajaBahroz,asmentionedearlier,wasonthesideofShujaalongwiththeUjjainiachief;however,inthe battlefoughtatBahadurpuron14February1658,thereishardlyanyreferencetotheiractiveparticipation.2

ShahShujaafterbeingdefeatedatBahadurpur,fledfromthebattlefieldtowardsMungerandfortifiedthetown todefendhimselffromthepursuingarmy.Inthiseffort,hewasgreatlyhelpedbyRajaBahroz.Inthemeantime,Sulaiman Shikoh,theeldestsonofDaraShikohwhowaspursuingShahShuja,wasinformedofthedefeatofJaswantSinghan importantMughalnoble,atthehandsofAurangzebandMuradinthebattleofDharmat(foughton15April1658)andwas askedtoreachthecapital,alongwiththeforcesunderhiscommand,asearlyaspossible.Nowthesituationhadcompletely changed.SulaimanShikoh,whohadreachedMungeratjustaboutthistime,decidedtomakeasettlementwithShahShuja. Afterashortnegotiation,ShahShujawasofferedOrissa,BengalandtheterritoryofBihartotheeastofMunger,anda treatywassignedtothiseffecton7May1658.3SulaimanShikohimmediatelymarchedbacktowardsAgratohelphis fatheragainstAurangzeb.

BhojpuralsofiguredprominentlyinthewarofsuccessionbetweenthefoursonsofShahJahan.Thisregion wasdominatedbyShahShuja.TheprincealsostartedforAgrawithalargearmytotryhisluck.DaraShikohsent SulaimanShikohwith20,000Mughalforces,accompaniedbyRajaJaiSinghofAmber,tofacehisuncle,ShahShuja.The UjjainiaRajputsofBhojpurwerebravefightersandtheirsupportwasconsideredvaluableforgainingvictoryinthis easternzone.Hence,bothDaraShikohandShahShujatriedtowinoverthesupportofAmarSingh,thechiefofBhojpur.

InOneofhisNishans,ShahShujaDirectedAmarSinghtoJoinhisCamp.TheNishanRunsasFollows

Thebestofthepeersandcontemporaries,worthyofreceivingfavorsandprivileges,AmarSingh,beingdulyhonoredwith royalgiftsmayknowthatinthepresenttimethefactofhavinguprightfaithandtrueintentionsoftheone(AmarSingh)

3

2MuhammadKazim,Alamgirnama,ed.KhadimHusainandAbdalHai,Calcutta,BibliothecaIndica,1865-73,vol.I,p. 247.

Ibid.

accustomedtobravery,deservingoffavors,privileges,giftsandkindness,hasbeenbroughttothenoticeoftheenlightened andtheholiest(ShahShuja)byRajaBahrozwhoisnotedforhisbraveryandvalor.Therefore,thisorderofhigh magnitudeandconspicuousgreatnessreceivedthehonorofbeingissuedanddispatchedtotheeffectthatimmediatelyon receiptofthishighauspiciousandprosperousNishanyou(AmarSingh),beingcontendedineveryway,shouldcometo theserviceofthewhollyfortunatewithasmanymenasyoucanaffordtocollectsothatafterviewingthethresholdyou shallberewardedwithroyalbountiesandspecialfavors.Takethisasurgent.4

AsimilarNishanwassentbyDaraShikohtoAmarSinghinwhichthelatterwasaskedtorenderallassistancetoPrince SulaimanShikohinhisfightagainsthisuncle,ShahShuja.Itisdated26January1658andtheNishanrunsasfollows:

Thepropandpillaramonghislikesandcontemporariesworthyoffavors,AmarSinghUjjainia,beingduly rewardedwithroyalfavorsmayknowthatwhereasPrinceSulaimanShikoh,theprogenyoftherulersandvictors,thesum andsubstanceofthefamilygreatness,themandateoftheSultanat….Thereforethisorderofhighmagnitudereceivedthe honorbeingissuedtotheeffectthatthepillaramongtheequals(AmarSingh)shallimmediatelyonreceiptofthishigh Nishanproceedsuccessfullyalongwithhisbrothersandfollowerstotheserviceofthefortunateandnobleprince (SulaimanShikoh)andshallrenderexcessivelyloyalandfaithfulservicesandshallrestassuredthattheservicesrendered bythebestamongtheequals(AmarSingh)shallbeamplyrewardedbyimperialfavorsandgrace.Hisrankshallofcourse beraised.Takethisasurgentandknowthatthefavorsoftheemperorshallbewithyou.5

RajaAmarSingh’sattitudewasaforegoneconclusion.WhiletheBhojpurestatewasunderthepossessionof thegovernorofthesubaofBihar,AmarSinghhadgotthehelpofShahShujainsecuringthepossessionoftheBhojpur estate.Naturallyhewasunderadeepdebtofobligationtotheprince.Itwasnaturalthatwhenhisrequestforhelpcamethe BhojpurchiefralliedtohissupportinthepreferencetothatofDaraShikoh.

WhenPrinceSulaimanShikohfoundthatAmarSinghhadjoinedthesideofhisuncle,heturnedto KoklatUjjainia,6arivalofAmarSinghandaclaimanttothechieftaincyofBhojpur,whoimmediatelyagreedtosupport him.Sulaiman’sactionwasapprovedbyhisfather,DaraShikohandtheprinceissuedaNishantoKoklat,whichwas handedovertohimthroughMirzaRajaSingh.Itrunsasfollows:

MirzaRajaJaiSinghmayknowthathisMajesty,theholderofthecaliphateandtheSolomanofthetime,had accordingtomyrequest,raisedthemansabofKoklatUjjainiato1000Zatand800Sawarandbestoweduponhimthejagirs inParganaPiruandDanwarandinthisrespecttheNishaninfavorofKoklathasbeensenttopillarofthestate(Mirza RajaJaiSingh)sothathemayissueafarmanbyhisownhandstofurtherassurehim.7

TheforcesofShahShujaandthoseofSulaimanShikohhadtakenuptheirpositionsnearBahadurpur(near Varanasi).ShahShuja’sforceswerestationedinthemiddleofadenseforest.ItwasdifficultforthesoldiersofSulaiman

4B.P.Ambashthya,“SomeHistoricalPapersofDumraonRaj”,PIHC1959,BombaySession,p.272.

5B.P.Ambasthya,op.cit.,pp.273-74.

6KoklatwasthesonofHardatShahandthegreat-grandsonofChilbarShah,ayoungersonofSangram.Hehadbeen recognizedasthechiefofBhojpurbyDara(RoyChaudhary,Shahabad,BiharDistrictGazetteers,p.75).

7TheNishanisdated21stRabi-us-Sani1068A.H.correspondingto16January,1958A.D.Hereissomeconfusion.The NishanaddressedtoAmarSinghfromDaraisdated26thJanuary,1658whereasNishantoJaiSinghisdated16thJanuary, 1958.TheNishantoAmarSinghfromShahShujawasissuedsometimeintheendof1657.ItappearsthatSulaimanwho hadalreadyproceededtoEasternProvinceshadcometoknowaboutAmarSinghjoiningthesideofShahShuja.Hence,he enteredintoalliancewithKokalatwhichwasapprovedbyDaraShikohinhisNishandated16thJan,1958.TheNishanto AmarSinghbyDaraShikohseemstobeadiplomaticmovetowearawayAmarSinghfromthesideofShahShuja.

Shikohtoenteritandattackhisforces.Hence,Sulaiman’sarmystoodhelpless.WhenDaraShikohcametoknowofthis, hedispatchedinstructionstoRajaJaiSinghatoncethroughaletterwrittenonbehalfofEmperorShahJahan.Itisdated February1658.TheletterwaswrittenontheverydaywhenthebattleofBahadurpurtookplace.TheNishancontainedthe followinginstructions:

Howlongwillitcontinuelikethis?Whatplanyouhavemadetodestroytheenemy?Ifyouhavenotdecided uponanything,makeitcleartomesothatfromthisplaceImaysuggestsomeplanandsendinstructionsastowhatshould bedone?AtpresentyoushouldrequestGokulChandUjjainia(KoklatUjjainia),thezamindarofthatplacetosendthe footmenandsoldiersinalldirectionsandclosetheroadsofgrainsuppliestotheenemy,andasimilarforceshouldbesent overtoBanarasside,forcarryingonanirregularfightandclosingtheenemy’sroadsforthesupplyoffoodstuffs.Itisvery likelythattheenemy,sickoftrenches,maycomeoutanddecidetofightorfly.8

On14February1658,thearmiesofShahShujaandSulaimanShikohclashedwitheachother.ShahShujawas helpedbyAmarSinghUjjainiaandSulaimanShikohwasbackedbyKoklatUjjainia(GokulChandUjjainia).Thebattle tookplaceatBahadurpur.SulaimanShikohinflictedacrushingdefeatonShahShuja.ThelatterfledtowardsBengaland washotlypursuedbyhisvictoriousnephew.InaNishanissuedbyDaraShikoh,SulaimanShikohwasorderedtopursue theenemy(ShahShuja)andtobesiegethefortofMungerifhehadtakenshelterthere.Hewasfurthertoldthatiftherebel (ShahShuja)fledtoRajmahal,thesiegeofMungerwastobecontinuedbutsomeforcesweretobedispatchedinhis pursuit.9

However,SulaimanShikohhadtogiveuphiscampaignagainstShahShujabecauseDaraShikohurgently summonedhimtoAgratohelphiminhiswaragainstthecombinedforcesofAurangzebandMurad.Compelledby circumstances,heconcludedpeacewithShahShujaandproceededtowardsAgra.Therefore,forsometime,ShahShuja wasleftwithnorivalandbecametheundisputedmasteroftheEasternProvinces.ItisquiteimportanttonotethatasAmar SinghtheUjjainiachiefhadjoinedShahShujaandDaraShikohalsoneededsupportatthetimeofWarofSuccessionand hefoundapowerfulchiefKoklatUjjainiatherivalofAmarSinghandbroughthimtohisside.However,afterthedefeatof DaraShikoh,KoklatUjjainiawasalsodefeatedandexpelledbyShahShujafromthe Bhojpurregion.

ItseemsthatthechiefofGidhaurchiefaincyalsoplayedanactiveroleduringtheWarofSuccession.The EmperorShahJahan,DaraShikohandShahShujatriedtowinovertheGidhaurChiefaswefindthereferenceof farmans,addressedtoRajaDulanSinghofGidhaur,askingthelaterforhelp.

InthefollowingfarmanShujahasaddressedtoRajaDalSinghofGidhaurduring19thMarch1658A.D.10

Thebestofthepeersandcontemporaries,thehighestamongtheequalsandthegrandees,DalSingh (DulanSingh)beinghopefulofreceivingtheroyalfavors,mayknowthatthefactofhisunfailingsincerityand correctfaithhascometothenoticeofthemostEnlightenedandtheHighestthroughtheattendants.Thishas renderednecessarytheconfermentofroyalfavorsuponhim(DalSingh)sincebythewayoffavorandforthe satisfactionofthebestofthecontemporaries,Iamsendingtheimpressionofthehand,heoughttoproceedtothe

8RajivNainPrasad,HistoryofBhojpur,Patna,KPJaiswalResearchInstitute,1987,p.65.

9Ibid.TheNishanisdated25March1658,availableatRajasthanStateArchives,Bikaner.

10B.P.Ambashthaya,“SomeFarmans,sanads,NishansandInscriptionsinBihar” ,JBRS,Vol.XLIII,Sept.-December 1957,PartsIII&IV,pp.224-225.

courtofhisexaltedmajestywithallhissawars(cavalry)andPayandah(infantry)whichhemayhaveathisdisposal, sothatheshallberaisedanddistinguishedwithroyalfavors.Heshouldtakeupthismatterwithallseriousnessand careandactinkeepingwithexaltedorder11

AccordingtofarmansofShujaitisclearthatheisindesperateneedofhelpfromallsides.Ashehad beendefeatedbySulaimanShikohatBahadurpurnearBenareson14thFebruary,1658.Hegaveallassuranceof favortoRajaDalSinghtogethissupportinhiswarofsuccession.

InanotherfarmanPrinceDaraShikohonbehalfofemperorShahjahanhadaddressedtoRajaDalSinghandsought hishelp.Thisfarmanwasissuedon14thApril1658.12

Thebestamongthegrandeesandthelikebeings,thegreatamongtheequalsandthecontemporaries, worthyofreceivingfavorsandprivileges,RajaDalSingh,thezamindarofGidhaur,beingdulyhonoredwithroyal gifts,mayknowthatinthepresenttimetomessageofSulaimanShikohBahadur,theableandthebraveson,the fortunateandthewellbehaved,theall-conqueringandever-fortunatebyLord’sgrace,thesonoftherulingroyal house,andofhighestdescent,havingtheblessingsofGod,thepearlofroyalcrownandofsublimeMajesty,thestar ofsparklingwisdomandprudence,thecloudofshoweringgenerosity,privilegesandpower,ever-wateringthe floweroffortune,theallembracingallpowerfulprinceexpansiveassky,thegoodnatured,reached(DaraShikoh) thathe(DalSingh),thebestamongpeersandcontemporaries,undertheguidanceofthefortune,thefaithfulservant andthewell-wisheroftheempire,istreadingthepathofloyaltyandwouldescorttheroyalforcethroughhisland againstthecowardlyandthedisrespectfulShahShujawhodidnotdistinguishedbetweenrightandwrong,andafter dulypunishinghim(ShahShuja),woulddrivehim(ShahShuja)outofMungeranditsquarterandwouldthusforce himtoleadthelifeofadversity.Thisnewsprovedhighlyagreeabletome(DaraShikoh),andhe(DalSingh)was assuredthatinreturnforthisserviceofhis(DalSingh’s)he(DalSingh)wouldhaveaccesstothepresenceofthe emperorandwouldreceiveroyalfavorsandrewardsandagoodmansabandagoodtitle;ifhe(DalSingh)would wanttogetheldofthezamindariofKharakpurfromthehandsoftheunfortunateBahroz,I(Dara)wouldagreetoit andthathe(DalSingh)mightuproothim(Bahroz)andoccupyhis(Bahroz’s)territory.He(DalSingh)wasdirected tocommunicatehiswishsothattheemperormightactuallyannouncethefavorregardinghim(DalSingh),andmy (Dara’s)giftswouldalsocontinueinhisfavorinfuture13

Accordingtothefarman,itappearsthatRajaDalSinghofGidhaursupportedDaraShikohinhisstruggle againstShahShuja.ItalsoappearsthatDaraShikohwasnothappywithRajaBahrozofKharakpurbecausehewas supportingShahShuja.AsDaraShikohassuredRajaDalSinghthatifhewishedhecouldgetthezamindariof KharakpurRaj.

ImpactFactor(JCC):7.3299

NAASRating3.17

CONCLUSION

ItisquiteinterestingtonotethatDaraShikohtriedhislevelbesttoconvincethezamindarsofBihartogettheir supportbutitseemsthathefailedtowinoverevenfewpowerfulzamindarsofBihartohisside.Hehadnot developedgoodrelationwiththezamindarsofBiharandspeciallythechieftainsofRajputanasatthetimeofwarof succession,ashewasnotgivenorhehadnottakenanyimportantassignmentsawayfromDelhi.Hehadnotlearnt thestrategiesofwarfareashehadnotfacedhardshipinhislifeandmostly,heremainedinthecompanyofhis belovedfather,ShahJahan.Hehadnotgotopportunitytoprovehimselfacapablegeneralandbravecommander. Butontheotherside,hisotherbrothersspeciallyAurangzebandShujahadprovedthemselvesasbravecommanders anddiplomats.DarawastakingmoreinteresttowinoverthedifferentzamindarsofBiharagainstthePrinceShah ShujaandevenhemobilizedhisbestforcesunderthecommandofhissonSulaimanShikohagainstShuja.Nodoubt DarawasverypopularamongalargesectionofthesocietyashewasliberallikeAkbarbuthefailedintheraceof diplomacy,strategyandacapablegeneral

REFERENCES

1.MunshiVinayakPrasad,Tawarikh-i-Ujjainia,Lucknow,NewalKishorePress,1898,vol.II,p.57.(AnUrdu text).ThisisanaccountofthefamilyofUjjainiaandisavailableinfourvolumesinKhudaBakshLibrary. AlsoB.P.Ambashthya,‘SomeHistoricalPapersofDumraonRajintheShahabadDistrictinBihar,’PIHC, 22ndSession,Guwahati,1959,pp.271-2.

2.MuhammadKazim,Alamgirnama,ed.KhadimHusainandAbdalHai,Calcutta,BibliothecaIndica,1865-73, vol.I,p.247.

3.Ibid.

4.B.P.Ambashthya,“SomeHistoricalPapersofDumraonRaj”,PIHC1959,BombaySession,p.272.

5.B.P.Ambasthya,op.cit.,pp.273-74.

6.KoklatwasthesonofHardatShahandthegreat-grandsonofChilbarShah,ayoungersonofSangram.He hadbeenrecognizedasthechiefofBhojpurbyDara(RoyChaudhary,Shahabad,BiharDistrictGazetteers, p.75).

7.TheNishanisdated21stRabi-us-Sani1068A.H.correspondingto16January,1958A.D.Hereissome confusion.TheNishanaddressedtoAmarSinghfromDaraisdated26thJanuary,1658whereas NishantoJaiSinghisdated16thJanuary,1958.TheNishantoAmarSinghfromShahShujawasissued sometimeintheendof1657.ItappearsthatSulaimanwhohadalreadyproceededtoEasternProvinceshad cometoknowaboutAmarSinghjoiningthesideofShahShuja.Hence,heenteredintoalliancewithKokalat whichwasapprovedbyDaraShikohinhisNishandated16thJan,1958.TheNishantoAmarSinghbyDara ShikohseemstobeadiplomaticmovetowearawayAmarSinghfromthesideofShahShuja.

8.RajivNainPrasad,HistoryofBhojpur,Patna,KPJaiswalResearchInstitute,1987,p.65.

9.Ibid.TheNishanisdated25March1658,availableatRajasthanStateArchives,Bikaner.

10.B.P.Ambashthaya,“SomeFarmans,sanads,NishansandInscriptionsinBihar”,JBRS,Vol.XLIII,Sept.December1957,PartsIII&IV,pp.224-225.

11.Ibid.

12.SomeFarmans,Sanads,NishansandInscriptioninBihar,op.cit.pp.225-227.

13.SomeFarmans,Sanads,NishansandInscriptioninBihar,op.cit.pp.225-227.

ImpactFactor(JCC):7.3299

NAASRating3.17