Mukarram Khan Chisti | |
|---|---|
| Thanadar ofBhawal | |
| In office 1612–1616 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Governor ofKoch Hajo | |
| In office 1616 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Sardar ofSylhet | |
| In office 1617 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Preceded by | Mubariz Khan |
| Succeeded by | Mirak Bahadur Jalair andSulayman Banarsi |
| Subahdar ofOrissa | |
| In office 1617–1621 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Preceded by | Kalyan Mal |
| Succeeded by | Mirza Ahmad Beg |
| Subahdar ofDelhi | |
| In office 1621–1626 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| 17thSubahdar ofBengal | |
| In office 1626–1627 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Preceded by | Khan Jahan II |
| Succeeded by | Fidai Khan I |
| Personal details | |
| Died | c. 1627 Jahangirnagar,Bengal,Mughal Empire |
| Parent |
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| Relatives |
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Mukarram Khān Chishtī was theSubahdar ofBengal during the reign ofMughal emperorJahangir from 1626 to 1627.[1] Prior to this, he had served as the Thanadar of Bhawal, governor ofKoch Hajo,Sardar ofSylhet and Subahdar ofOrissa.[2]: 901
Mukarram was the son of Shaykh Badi Bayazid, who was later known as Mu'azzam Khan. The Shaykh was a grandson ofSalim Chishti ofFatehpur Sikri. Mukarram's paternal grandmother milk-nursedJahangir on his birth.[3]: 32 In 1596, Shaykh Bayazid became amansabdar of 400 and later of 2,000 soldiers. At the ascension ofEmperor Jahangir, the Shaykh became amansabdar of 3,000 and given the title of Mu'azzam Khan on the 1st ofJumada al-Thani.[3]: 79 He then became theSubahdar ofDelhi Subah and in 1608, a mansabdar of 4,000 soldiers and 200 horses. He is buried inFatehpur Sikri. Mukarram's brothers were Abd as-Salam and Muhi ad-Din Shaykh.[2] Due to this noble background, Emperor Jahangir referred to Mukarram as aKhana-zad (a houseborn individual).[3]: 433
In 1612, during the Mughal battle againstKhwaja Usman at Daulambapur, Mukarram Khan was made thethanadar of Bhawal.
Later that year, Mukarram Khan was appointed by his father-in-law, SubahdarIslam Khan I, as the chief commander for the expedition ofKoch Hajo against Raja Parikshit Narayan.[4] Mukarram marched from Bhawal toToke where he awaited for Abd as-Salam, Mirza Nathan and the other soldiers. The forces reached Mukarram in three marches and he hosted them in his camp with great veneration. Mukarram was given a horse and a number of imperial gifts. Mukarram kissed his brother's hand and the hands of the other soldiers.
Three days later, Mukarram and his forces marched on from Toke and were joined by the forces of Shaykh Kamal and Raja Raghunath. During the fourth march from Toke on the last day ofRamadan, a row took place between Mukarram and Mirza Nathan. Mukarram had announced that the march shall take place afterIftar, however Nathan's colleague, Shaykh Ashraf ofHansi, disagreed and suggested that they should start marching as there is no enemy behind them. Mirza's force started to march which angered Shaykh Kamal (who was with Mukarram's force). Kamal sent his messenger, Nizam, to Mirza reminding them that Mukarram is their commander and that it is only Mukarram's responsibility to sound the march-drums. TheBaharistan-i-Ghaibi details the back-and-forth arguments which took place between the two forces during the Hajo expedition. Mukarram decided to leave Nathan alone and instead report the matter to the Subahdar, Islam Khan I. As the quarrels continued, Mukarram patiently awaited the Subahdar's response which finally came, ordering Mukarram to maintain peace with Nathan and continue the expedition.
The expedition was successful and Mukarram was given the news ofIslam Khan I's death when he reached back. Parikshit was defeated and Mukarram presented him and his sons to the new Subahdar, his uncle,Qasim Khan Chishti.[2]: 289 Mukarram was later ordered by Qasim to hand over Parikshit to him. However, Mukarram politely refused to do so. Qasim then plotted a plan for the next morning in which when Mukarram enters the court, not to allow many of his men to join him and then forcibly seize Parikshit. The plan was successful and Mukarram became helpless and returned to his home, inYarasindur, leaving the Raja. The success of the expedition was also noticed by EmperorJahangir who promoted Mukarram's rank by 125 soldiers.[2]: 223–224 EmperorJahangir gave Mukarram a flag on 11 February 1614. In 1616, Mukarram gifted the Emperor jewels and offerings from Bengal.[3]
Following the death ofMubariz Khan, in 1617, the Subahdar of BengalQasim Khan Chishti intended to appointMirak Bahadur Jalair to govern the Sylhet Sarkar. However, after learning that Mirak had fled from his appointed territory, which had recently been conquered by Mubariz with a lot of difficulty, to Sylhet, Qasim was not impressed at what he viewed as "cowardice". Qasim changed his mind and sent his officer, Abdul Nabi, toYarasindur, where Mukarram and his brothers were staying. Mukarram was brought toJahangirnagar and Qasim Khan visited him in his own home to give him the honour of havingsardarship over the entireSylhet Sarkar as well as giving Mukarram's brothers lesser roles in Sylhet. Mukarram was later invited to join the army against theMaghs who had raided theBhulua Thana.
Only a few months after Sardarship, the Subahdar removed Mukarram from this post out of dissatisfaction and replaced him withMirak Bahadur Jalair, as Sylhet's chief sardar andSulayman Banarsi to governUhar andTaraf. Mukarram was very angered by Qasim's actions and marched with his brothers toJahangirnagar and then toYarasindur. Here, Mukarram told his younger brother, Abd as-Salam, to take a boat toPatna and then travel by land to the capital, atAgra, to seek redress from EmperorJahangir.[2][5]
Due to his experience in the military and in administration, Mukarram was able to attain the role as governor ofOrissa Subah. His rule in Orissa was said to have been very harsh. Raja Purushottama of Khurda rebelled against Mukarram and so Mukarram invaded Khurda and annexed it to theMughal Empire in 1617.[6] Purushottama fled toRajahmundry but later managed to regain his seat in Khurda.[7] Emperor Jahangir was informed of this and awarded him as amansabdar of 3,000 soldiers and 2,000 horses. Mukarram was honoured with drums, his own horse as well being gifted a robe of honour.[3]: 433
When Bahadur Khan Hijliwal, theBaro-Bhuiyan zamindar ofHijli, was summoned toJahangirnagar by the Subahdar of BengalIbrahim Khan Fath-i-Jang, Bahadur openly rebelled and was supported by Mukarram. Mirza Muhammad Beg Abakash, the thanadar ofBurdwan, was ordered to confront Bahadur, giving him a choice to peacefully go to the Subahdar's court or be beheaded. Abakash was given 200 ofMusa Khan and his brothers' war boats. Bahadur then asked Mukarram for assistance, to which Mukarram sent 1000 cavalry. As the Subahdar's army advanced towards Hijli and launched a heavy attack, Bahadur expected further aid from Mukarram. However, Mukarram retreated, leaving Bahadur to give up and make peace with the Empire.[8]
Mukarram later went to the imperial court ofJahangir where he was made the Subahdar ofDelhi Subah as well as theFaujdar ofMewat in 1621.[9]
Subahdar of BengalMuhabbat Khan, rebelled against emperorJahangir in 1626. But after failing the attempt, Muhabbat fled toDeccan.[10] Then Mukarram Khan was appointed the new governor ofBengal.
In Bengal, he would travel around on a boat. One day, he ordered for his boat to go back to land so that he could offer theAsr prayer.[9] Due to a heavy wind, Mukarram and his colleagues drowned died in 1627.[11] He and his colleagues are consideredshahid (martyrs) inIslam.[12]Fidai Khan was appointed the next subahdar.[11]