Shaista Khan
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Mirza Abu Talib, better known by his title Shaista Khan, was a subahdar and general in the army of the Mughal Empire. He served as the Mughal governor of Bengal from 1664 to 1688 AD. Under his reign, the city of Dhaka and Mughal power in the province attained its greatest heights.
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[edit] Early life
Mirza Abu Talib's family was of Iranian descent and connected with the Mughal royal family. Mirza's father Asaf Khan and his grandfather Mirza Ghias Beg Itimaduddaula both served as wazirs (prime ministers) to the Mughal emperors Shah Jahan and Jahangir respectively. Emperor Shahjahan awarded the title of Shaista Khan to Mirza in recognition of his family's service and position in the Mughal court. Shaista Khan trained and served with the Mughal army and court, winning multiple promotions and appointed governor of various provinces. He also developed a reputation for being a successful military commander and grew close to the prince Aurangzeb when the duo fought against the kingdom of Golconda. After his accession to the throne, emperor Aurangzeb granted him a higher rank and conferred on him the prestigious title of Amir-ul-Umara (chief of the nobles) in recognition of his support in the campaign against Aurangzeb's brother and rival Dara Shikoh. Shaista Khan was appointed subedar of Bengal after the death of Mir Jumla in 1663 CE.
[edit] Confrontation with Shivaji
In 1660, Aurangzeb sent Shaista Khan with a large army to handle Shivaji in Deccan. Within three years in 1663, Shivaji had lost most of his conquests to a relentless attack by a well-trained Mughal army.
After driving Shivaji from Pune, Shaista Khan had taken residence in a house there, which was well guarded. No Maratha was allowed in the city of Pune. However, in a daring raid, Shivaji broke into his house and cut Shaista's two fingers. One day a wedding party had obtained special permission and it was the same day a group of Maratha prisoners were being brought to Pune. In the cover of the night, the bridegroom’s party and the prisoners met at a prearranged site and quietly entered the general’s house. After disposing of the guards they broke into the house by breaking a wall and Shivaji's men captured all the residents. Shivaji himself confronted Shaista Khan who fleed by jumping from the window but Shivaji's sword was swift and Shaista Khan lost his thumb, two fingers and consciousness but was taken to a safe place by the servant maids. Shivaji spared his life but his men not so overbearing, mistook another man as the general and killed him. There was no looting and they left as quietly as they had come in.
[edit] Campaign against Arakan
Upon his arrival in Bengal, Shaista Khan was immediately engrossed in putting down the rebellions of hill tribes. Shaista Khan foresaw a potent threat from the Arakan kingdom (in modern Myanmar), which had developed its military and naval strength. He immediately began developing the Mughal navy, increasing its fleet to as many as 300 ships within a year. He also made strenous diplomatic efforts to win the support of the Dutch East India Company as well as Portugal, which was supporting Arakan with resources and troops. With active Dutch military support, Shaista Khan led Mughal forces on an assault on the island of Sandwip, which lay in Arakanese control. Shaista Khan gained a considerable advantage when a conflict erupted between the Arakanese and the Portuguese. By promptly offering protection and support, Khan sequestered the aid of the Portuguese against the Arakanese and Mughal forces succeeded in capturing the island.
In December 1665 CE Shaista Khan launched a major military campaign against Chittagong, which was the mainstay of the Arakenese kingdom. There was a great naval battle in the sea and then in the river Karnafuli; the Mughals with the aid of the Portuguese came out successful. The Arakanese navy being defeated, their sailors fled and some of them took shelter in the fort. But the fort of Chittagong was besieged and captured on 26 January 1666. Khan also re-asserted Mughal control over Cooch Behar and Kamarupa.
[edit] Governor of Bengal
Upon his victory against the Arakanese, he ordered the release of thousands of Bengali peasants being held captive by the Arakanese forces. As governor, Shaista Khan encouraged trade with Europe, Southeast Asia and other parts of India. He consolidated his power by signing trade agreements with European powers. Despite his powerful position he remained loyal to Aurangzeb. Often mediating trade disputes and rivalries, Shaista Khan banned the British East India Company from Bengal after the British demanding greater trading rights and hostile military exchanges erupted between Mughal and British forces.
Shaista Khan encouraged the construction of modern townships, public works in the capital of Dhaka, leading to a massive urban and economic expansion. He was a great patron of the arts and encouraged the construction of majestic monuments across the province, including mosques, mausoleums and palaces that represented the finest in Indo-Sarcenic and Mughal architecture. Khan greatly expanded the Lalbagh Fort, the Chowk Bazaar Mosque, the Satgumbad Mosque and the Chhota Katra. He also supervised the construction of a majestic mausoleum for his daughter Bibi Pari, who had been bethrothed to the Mughal prince Muhammad Azam but died at a premature age. Shaista Khan spent lavishly on the construction of the tomb of his beloved daughter, by importing costly building materials from north India. The tomb is a very fine specimen of the architecture of Dhaka
[edit] Legacy
In his late years, Shaista Khan left Dhaka and returned to Delhi. His legacy was the expansion of Dhaka into a regional centre of trade, politics and culture; a thriving and prosperous city from a small township. The Shaista Khan Mosque is a massive standing monument to Shaista Khan, built on his palace grounds. Incorporating unique elements of Bengali and Mughal architecture, it is a major tourist attraction and a valued historical monument protected by the Government of Bangladesh today.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Sir Jadunath Sarkar, History of Bengal, II (Dhaka, 1948)
- Abdul Karim, History of Bengal, Mughal Period, I, (Rajshahi, 1992)
- Duff, Grant, History of the Marhattas Oxford University Press, (London)
