REMEMBERING MURSHID KULI KHAN AND AZIM-US-SHAN

(c) Copyright of Prabuddha Biswas

REMEMBERING MURSHID KULI KHAN AND AZIM-US-SHAN

1. THE TWO KEY PLAYERS WHO PLAYED SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE 18TH CENTURY ECONOMIC REVIVAL OF PATNA-BIHAR

2. MURSHID KULI KHAN PLAYED THE MAIN ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC REVIVAL, ENSURED LAW AND ORDER AND ATTRACTED THE FOREIGN CAPITAL IN THE REGION 

3. AZIM-US-SHAN EMERGED AS CITY PLANNER OF PATNA, REVIVED DARBARI CULTURE

4. DARBARI CULTURE FIND ITS PLACE IN MORE IN PATNA THAN OTHER PART OF EASTERN PROVINCES

5. TIL THAT TIME, THE TOWNS OF LUCKNOW AND KOLKATA WERE IN OBLIVION 

6. AZIM-US-SHAN IS REMENBERED BY EVERYBODY

7. BUT MURSHID KULI KHAN BECAME A FORGOTTEN HERO

THE 18-CENTURY REVIVAL OF ‘PATNA-BIHAR’ AND ITS TWO KEY PLAYERS

1. From 17th Century, the city of Patna had started emerging as important entrepot of the country. 
2. Patna emerged as the busy entrepot and important commercial town from the last two decades of the 17th Century and 
3. Its steady rise to fame from second decades of 18th Century, after the death of Emperor Aurangzeb.
4. The rise in the fortune of Patna and Bihar took place due to the mixture of several factors which include economic, political and other factors but 
5. Two personalities gave the significant contribution in enhancing its fortune and they were

(i) AZIM-US-SHAN – whose name is flashed everywhere but

(ii) MURSHID KULI KHAN – who played the main role in the economic revival of the region, ensured the law and order of the region and attracted the foreign capital in Bengal province is now the FORGOTTEN HERO.

WHY DELHI WAS LANGUISHING IN THE LAST TWO DECADE OF 17TH CENTURY?

1. In that period, Delhi had lost its sheen as Emperor Aurangzeb was camping in the Deccan for the last 15 years, with all leading men of his Durbar. 

2. As a result, many nobles had shifted from Delhi and started living in Patna and other regional centres.

CONSOLIDATION OF THE ECONOMY OF BENGAL PROVINCE UNDER ITS DIWAN, MURSHID QULI KHAN

1. During first decade of 18th Century, the provinces of the Mughal Empire were under a dual system of administration, there being two officers in charge of each, who were known as the Nazim (or Nawab-Nazim) and the Diwan. 

i. The Nazim was the Governor or Viceroy of the Province, administered criminal justice, and was in fact the executive and military chief.

ii. The Diwan, who was directly subordinate to the Emperor and independent of the Nazim, was the Finance Minister; he was responsible for the revenue administration (Nizamat), while he also occasionally administered civil justice.

2. During the despotic reign of Aurangzeb, the offices of Nazim (military Governor) and Diwan were kept perfectly distinct.

3. These regulations were embodied in the Dastur-ul-Amal, a Procedure Code containing rules on all revenue and administrative matters, which was issued to each province after being approved by the Emperor. Every year additions or modifications were made in it with the Emperor’s sanction, and no Nazim or Diwan had authority to deviate from it.

APPOINTMENT OF ‘PRINCE MUHAMMAD AZIM-UD-DIN AS NAZIM AND MURSHID KULI KHAN AS DIWAN’ BY AURANGZEB AND TURNING AROUND OF BENGAL ECONOMY

1. Prince Azim-ud-Din was appointed Nazim of Bihar, Bengal and Orissa in 1697, with headquarters at Dacca

2. In 1701 Murshid Kuli Khan was appointed Diwan of Bengal, the Nazim being Prince Azim-ud-Din, whose headquarters were at Dacca.

3. Murshid Kuli Khan soon brought about a reorganization of the finances of the province, which, in spite of its richness and fertility, brought comparatively little into the Imperial exchequer.

4. Owing to the evil reputation of Bengal, the higher officers were averse to service in the province, “as they fancied it not only fatal to human life, but actual haunt of demons,” according to the book ‘Riyazu-s-Salatin’ (translation by Abdus Salam, 1904), page 248.

5. To induce them to settle in it, large tracts had been made over to them as Jagirs or military fief, and the revenue of the Khalsa or Crown lands was so small that it did not suffice to meet the pay of the Nazim and the salaries of the military and civil establishment.

6. Money had even to be remitted from other provinces to cover the Bengal deficit.

7. The growing poverty of the Imperial exchequer rendered it necessary that Bengal should pay its proper quota, and Murshid Kuli Khan set to work to increase the revenue in no half-hearted fashion.

8. Finding that the receipts were absorbed in improper channels, he appointed his own collectors in different districts, and soon ascertained that the revenue really amounted to crore of rupees.

9. His next steps was to resume the jagirs in Bengal with the sanction of the Emperor, the Jagirdars receiving but scant compensation in the shape of jagirs in Orissa, where the land was far less fertile and valuable.

10. At the same time, he effected large retrenchments in public expenditure and rigorously enforced the payment of revenue by the zamindars.

TUSSLE BETWEEN AZIM-UD-DIN AND MURSHID KULI KHAN

1. “The haughty spirit of the Prince Azim-ud-Dincould ill brooks the constant interference in all pecuniary transactions of the Diwan and his frequent opposition to His Royal Highness’s commands.

2. Besides these causes, the Prince was exceedingly jealous of the high favour in which Murshid Kuli Khan stood with the Emperor Aurangzeb; and the courtiers and favourites of the Prince, whose extravagance or assumed powers were constantly controlled by the Diwan Murshid Kuli Khan, fanned the flame and added fuel to his already exasperated temper.”

3. Azim-ud-Din determined to get rid of the troublesome Diwan, and sent a party of soldiers to kill him when he was on his way to the palace (at Dacca), but this attempt was foiled by the cool courage of Murshid Kuli Khan, who forced the assassins to flee.

TRANSFER OF BENGAL NIZAMAT (FINANCIAL CAPITAL) FROM DACCA TO MAKHSUSABAD

1. After acting in so spirited and independent a manner, Murshid Kuli Khan deemed it unadvisable to remain in the same place with the Prince, and, having consulted with his friends on the most advantageous situation, he resolved to fix his residence at Makhsusabad as being nearly in the centre of the province and equally convenient for collecting revenue from all parts.

2. Having decided on this measure, Murshid Kuli Khan left Dacca without taking leave of the Viceroy (Azim-ud-Din), and carrying with him all the public officers attached to the Diwani proceeded to Makhsusabad.

3. The headquarters of the Diwani were thus transferred to Makhsusabad, the date of transfer being apparently 1702-03.

EMPEROR AURANGZEB TOOK DRASTIC MEASURE

1. When Aurangzeb received Murshid-Kuli-Khan’s report of the attempt of his life, he ordered the Prince Azim-ud-Din to leave Bengal and take up his residence in Bihar.

2. Azim-ud-Din consequently left Dacca for Patna, appointing his son, Farrukhsiyar, as his representative in Bengal in the capacity of Deputy Nazim. Though, Azim-ud-Din did not have any authority to make such an appointment.

3. In 1703-04; Murshid-Kuli-Khan paid a visit to Aurangzeb in his camp in the Deccan and succeeded not only in getting himself confirmed in the post of Diwan in Bengal., Bihar and Orissa; 

4. But also in obtaining the appointment of Deputy Nazim of Bengal, Bhar and Orissa – much to the annoyance of the Prince Azim-ud-Din.

5. In the absence of Azim-ud-Din in Bengal, Murshid-Kuli-Khan enjoyed all the powers of the Nawab-Nazim and had thus full executive authority as well as the entire administration of the finances.

WHY AURANGZEB DIDN’T FAVOUR HIS FAVOURITE GRANDSON PRINCE AZIM-UD-DIN

1. Aurangzeb was in dire need of money for his war-machine by which he was waging a grim battle in the Deccan against Marathas and other Nizamshahi Kingdoms.

2. Murshid Quli Khan provided the money (collected as revenue) from Bengal and sent it to Aurangzeb in the Deccan.

3. Not only that, Murshid Kuli Khan transformed the revenue-deficit state of Bengal (Bengal, Bihar and Orissa) to revenue-rich state from the first financial year.

4. Murshid Kuli Khan remained loyal to the Mughal crown from its inception and never deviated during his professional career.

5. As a result, Prince Azim-ud-Din had to abide by the order of Emperor Aurangzeb and came to stay in Patna.

WHY DID MURSHID-KULI-KHAN OPT MAKSHUSABAD AS THE NEW NIZAMAT OF BENGAL?

1. The choice of Makhsusabad as the headquarters is sometimes ascribed to the difficulties which Murshid Kuli Khan experienced in carrying on the administration at Dacca owing to the friction with Azim-ud-Din and his fears of assassination.

2. In the Riyazu-s-Salatin, it is attributed to the central position of the town -“an excellent site, where news of all four quarters of the Subah could be easily procurable, and which, like the pupil of the eye, was situated in the centre of the important places of the Subah:” – a lengthy account of its advantages, from a strategic and commercial point of view, then follows.

3. According to Sir William Hunter, it “seems probable that Murshid Kuli Khan was induced to take this step by political consideration.

4. Dacca had lost its importance, for the Maghs and the Portuguese were no longer dangerous; and the banks of the Bhagirathi afforded a more central position for the management of the three provinces of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

5. The new city of Makhsusabad was also situated on the line of trade, along which the treasures of India were now beginning to find their way to the European settlements on the Hooghly; and it commanded the town of Cossimbazar, where all the foreigners had important factories. Moreover, the situation in those days was regarded as very healthy.

CHANGING THE NAME FROM MAKHSUSABAD TO MURSHIDABAD AND MAKING IT THE CAPITAL OF BENGAL

1. After his returning from the Deccan in 1703-04, Murshid Kuli Khan changed the name of Makhsusabad to Murshidabad, and, by building a palace and erecting public offices, to make it the capital of the province.

2. The change of the name appears to have taken effect from 1705, for the name Makhsusabad appears last on a rupee coined in 1704, and

3. Murshidabad for the first time on a rupee struck at the local mint next year, i.e. 1705.

AFTER THE POSTING OF AZIM-UD-DIN AT PATNA IN 1703

1. The walled city of Patna got a great boost-up after the appointment of Azim-ud-Din, a favourite grandson of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb as the Governor of the province in 1697 and specially after his posting in Patna in 1703
2. He changed the name of Patna to ‘AZIMABAD’.
3. He got busy in making Patna second Delhi by inviting poets, scholars, and artists from far and near, specially, Delhi.
4. He started the planned-experimentation and he divided the whole city of Patna into several quarters giving them the names of MUGHALPURA, LODI-KATRA, DIWAN MAHALLA, DHAWALPURA etc. according to the type of people living there.
5. The Hindu Diwans and Muslims lived in Nauzar Katra on the edge of the Holy Ganges the ceremonial daily bathing there.
6. Azim-ud-Din also asked Mullah Nasir, a professor of Saif Khan Mosque, to prepare a list of Khanqahs and their existing conditions.
7. Prince Azim had allotted various quarters for nobles, as per the rank, in the Patna town. 
8. Many of the nobles used to keep ‘alternative garden houses’ in the west of the then ‘Patna city’ (along with the residence in the ‘Patna city-proper’) in the midst of scattered villages, here and there. 
9. The DARBARI CULTURE, initiated by Azim-ud-Din came to stay in Patna from the 18th Century.

WHY DARBARI CULTURE FIND ITS PLACE IN MORE IN PATNA THAN OTHER PART OF EASTERN PROVINCES?

1. Though, Murshidabad was the Capital of Bengal province but Murshid Kuli Khan was more or less followed the austere and puritan life-style of his master ‘Emperor Aurangzeb’; where Darbari cultures did not find the ‘Imperial favour’.

2. Dacca was the declining city as it economic prospects had shifted from Dacca-Chittagong route to Patna-Murshidabad-Hooghly route along Ganga-Bhagirathi channel.

3. Patna got continuous flow of economic capital from North India because Patna emerged as the busy commercial hub where everyone flocked; which include merchant and traders, various category of nobles and their families, explorers and travellers, scholars and religious preachers, military adventurers, artists, dancers, painters among others. 

4. Mughal Prince Azim-ud-Din unlike his ‘Diwan’, was prone to lavish life style and invited ‘Darbari Culture’. With the decline of Delhi; Patna emerged as the rich source of entertainment and showed some glimpse of the imperial life style of Mughal hey days.

5. Till that time, the town of Lucknow and Kolkata were in the oblivion.

DEPARTURE OF AZIM-UD-DIN FROM PATNA

1. But before the highly ambitious programmes for the greater Patna and Bihar could be completed, he was called away in 1706 by the news of the illness and later death of Aurangzeb in 1907.

2. Then Aurangzeb’s son Bahadur Shah (father of Azim-ud-Din) ascended the throne, who conferred Azim-ud-Din with the title of AZIM-US-SHAN.

3. After the death of his father Bahadur Shah in 1712 AD; Azim-us-Shan was embroiled in the contest with his brothers for the imperial throne. 

4. He ultimately met death in 1712 AD; when his elephant ran in the water of the river which swallowed him.

AFTER THE DEATH OF AZIM-US-SHAN

1. In 1713, when Farrukhsiyar became the Emperor of India, Murshid Kuli Khan with the help of the banker Jagath Seth, purchased the Nizamat for himself.

2. In 1718; the Government of Bihar was conferred upon him and he became the Viceroy (Nazim) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

ADMINISTRATION OF MURSHID KULI KHAN

1. Murshid Kuli Khan ruled at Murshidabad from 1704 to 1725 – a rare continuity of tenure of office in those days, when Emperor followed Emperor in quick succession, from each of whom the Nawab had to obtain confirmation of his rank and office.

2. Nor was he unworthy of his high position, for his administration, though stern and often harsh, was generally just and efficient, and the land had a much needed peace.

3. An able financier, he rigorously cut down the public expenditure, and reduced the strength of the Bengal army to 2,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry. 

4. With this small force, which was raised primarily for maintaining order and prevented rebellion?

5. Dacoits and robbers were mercilessly hunted down; when robbery occurred, the Faujdar or Zamindar within whose territory it took place was compelled to arrest the robber or recover the property.

6. The journey of travellers under his regime was safe and every man slept securely in his own house.

7. However, his greatest financial reform was the preparation of a new revenue roll based on a survey of the land and reassessment according to the actual area and produce.

8. The procedure of his revenue collection and the stern measure for culprits who steal the government exchequer had transformed the revenue-deficit state into revenue-surplus state.

9. His measure created great positive impact for the 18th Century Economy of the Bengal province i.e. Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

10. As a result, Imperial Mansabdars of other region, eagerly sought for offices under him.

11. As a result, Patna had to be the first halting place for all those who used to come from the West.

AFTER THE DEATH OF AURANGZEB, IN 1707 – FURTHER INFLUX OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND CONTINUITY OF THE DARBARI CULTURE IN PATNA

1. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Delhi started languishing as its links with Gujarati port towns became tenuous on account of uprisings on the Surat-Delhi route. 

2. Delhi’s loss was Patna’s gain. Traders from north-west India had earlier frequented Delhi to secure European goods. 

3. As this became difficult, North Indian traders travelled to Patna, as it maintained a steady link with the port of Calcutta, which had gradually replaced Surat as a centre of European trade. 

4. European goods are being brought from Calcutta ports to Patna (through River Ganges) for ‘upcountry traders’; which further boosted the stature of Patna as the most important ‘entrepot’, in the country, till the advent of Railways during 1860s. 

5. Patna’s importance in Eastern India was next to Calcutta as it surpassed, even Murshidabad and Dacca at one point of time.

6. The increased economic activity had resulted in the great influx of diverse gentry in Patna and that included merchants and traders, various category of nobles and their families, explorers and travellers, scholars and religious preachers, military adventurers, artists and painters among others. 

7. By 1741, the city had already extended beyond the walls, towards the west and localities of Alamganj, Sultanganj, Mahendru, and Bhiknapahari were getting populated in between Patna city and Bankipur.

EUROPEAN FACTORIES IN PATNA

1. As we know, most of the European Companies, having business at Patna, had their procurement, processing, packing and supply centres of various commodities in Patna City’s western, central or eastern sectors or suburbs. 

2. The English built their centre at Gulzarbagh, the Dutch a little east of Diwan Mahalla and the Danes a little east of the ‘Purab Darwaza’. 

EXPANSION OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IN BANKIPUR AREA

1. But the expansion of their activities forced the European companies to have additional premises away from the crowded sector of the city zone. Bankipur, with large tracts of vacant lands and orchards, induced the English and the Dutch to have new sets of buildings and godowns in this area. 

2. Despite mutual jealousies and rivalries, often coming out in the open, they tolerated each other because of the presence of their common foe, namely, French, who also came up to Patna to open their own commercial branch.

3. Slowly, Patna city area started expanding towards the west.

PICTURES

1. Murshid Kuli Khan
2. Azim-us-Shan

(c) Copyright of Prabuddha Biswas