Short notes on the early & Political life of Muhammad Shah

Short notes on the early & Political life of Muhammad Shah

When Mubarak Shah died, he left no son. Consequently, the nobles put on the throne Muhammad Shah who was the son of his brother, Farid. It is true that the complicity of Sarwar -ul-Mulk in the murder of the Mubarak Shah was well-known, but it was not possible to take any action against him as he was too powerful to be touched. Although he was suspected of designs on the throne, it was found necessary to confirm him in his office. He received the title of Khan Jahan. His accomplices also were rewarded.

Sarwar-ul-Mulk, with a view to intimidating his rivals, executed on officer of high rank and imprisoned others. He captured all the vacant fiefs in the kingdom and distributed them among his creatures. Bayana, Amroha, Narnaul Guhram and some districts in the Doab were granted to Sindharan, Siddu Pal and their relatives who were personally concerned in the murder of the late king. The nobles who still held their fiefs made preparations to overthrow Sarwar-ul-Mulk and the latter assembled an army to crush them.

The rebels defeated the troops of Sarwar-ul-Mulk in a battle before the city of Delhi and besieged him for three months in Siri. Sarwar-ul-Mulk discovered in the course of the siege that the king was in sympathy with the besiegers and attempted to kill him. However, Muhammad Shah was on his guard and his armed attendants slew Sarwar-ul-Mulk. They also killed the sons of Miran Sadr. Sidhu Pal burnt himself and his family. Sidharan and the other Khatris were captured alive and put to death. The result of the overthrow of Sarwar-ul-Mulk was that Kamal-ul-Mulk became minister and received the title of Kamal Khan. The other rebels were also suitably rewarded.

Up to the fall of Sarwar-ul-Mulk, Muhammad Shah had been the victim of factions and the sport of circumstances. However, when he got an opportunity of proving his fitness to rule, the abused it so much that he lost the affection and confidence of those who had freed him from his enemies. News of revolts came from various parts of the country but instead of taking any action against the rebels, Muhammad Shah remained in his capital sunk in indolence and pleasure. It was during this period that the commanding qualities of Bahloi Lodi, Governor of Sarhind, first attracted attention.

He gradually extended his influence over the whole of Punjab and began to withhold the revenue due to the royal treasury. The authority of Muhammad Shah did not extent beyond Panipat. The tribesmen of Mewat plundered the country too within a short distance of the walls of the city. In 1440-41, Mahmud Shah Khalji of Malwa marched towards Delhi and Muhammad Shah asked Bahlol Lodi to help him. Bahlol Lodi demanded as his price for help the death of Hisam Khan, Governor of Delhi, in whom Bahlol Lodi recongnised either a dangerous rival or a powerful champion of hereditary right. The condition was fulfilled and Bahlol Lodi sent his forces to the help of Muhammad Shah.

The two armies confronted one another between Tughluqabad and the city of Delhi. The battle began at noon and lasted without any decisive advantage to either side until nightfall when each army returned to its own camp. Negotiations for peace started and the same was concluded. When the army of Mahmud Shah was retreating, Bahlo Lodi attacked its rear-guard and got some plunder. This peltry triumph of Bahlol was magnified into a victory over the army of Malwa and Muhammad Shah honoured him by styling him as his son and conferred on him the title of Khan Khanan.

Bahlol Lodi professed loyalty to Muhammad Shah and the latter bestowed upon him Dipalpur and Lahore. Bahlol decided to attack Jasrath Khokhar but later on made peace with him when he found that the Khokhar chief was not opposed to his designs on the throne of Dehli. Bahlol enlisted a large number of Afghans of his own tribe in the army. On trivial grounds, he picked up a quarrel with Muhammad Shah and marched on Delhi and besieged it. As he failed to capture it, he went back to his dominions and styled himself as Sultan Bahlol.