Khwaja Kamal

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Iwaz Khan, the maternal uncle of Nizamul Mulk, lent his support to his nephew when he rebelled against the Sayyid Brothers, marching from Malwa to Deccan. [3] Alongside his troops, Iwaz Khan sided with Nizamul Mulk, participating in both the Battle of Balapur and the Battle of Burhanpur, both of which resulted in victories for Nizamul Mulk and his allies against the Sayyid Brothers. [1] [4] Following this, Nizam honoured Iwaz Khan by the title 'Azad-u’d Daulah Bahadur' for his loyalty. [2] Before departing for Delhi in 1722, Nizamul Mulk appointed Iwaz Khan as the Deputy of Deccan. [5]

Position of Iwaz Khan in the Battle of Shakar Kheda Battle of Shakar Khera.jpg
Position of Iwaz Khan in the Battle of Shakar Kheda

During the Battle of Shakar Kheda between the Mughal Empire and the Nizam, Iwaz Khan played a pivotal role in the victory of the Nizam's forces. He repelled a larger contingent of Mughal cavalry, totaling 9,000, which had been ordered by Mubariz Khan. This successful defense contributed significantly to the defeat of the Mughal forces and led to the establishment of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, marking the independence of the Nizam. [6]

In 1724, Aiwaz Khan assumed the position of prime minister of the Nizam. [7] As part of efforts to consolidate power, the Nizam sent an army commanded by Iwaz Khan to the Carnatic region in 1725, with the aim of suppressing Maratha revenue collections. [8] Iwaz Khan led a successful campaign against Maratha tax collectors in the Carnatic region, effectively expelling them from the villages. In the ensuing clashes, the Marathas suffered significant losses and were compelled to withdraw. Expanding his operations, Iwaz Khan advanced into the Maratha-controlled Tanjavur Kingdom and seized Trichinopoly from Serfoji I. This action prompted a response from the Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu, who dispatched larger forces under the leadership of Fateh Singh Bhonsle. Bajirao accompanied him but didn't command. [9] [10] [5]

In August 1727, while Bajirao was pillaging Jalna, the Nizam urgently dispatched Iwaz Khan to take action. Despite Iwaz Khan's attempts to engage in a decisive battle, Bajirao swiftly moved through the countryside without staying at a single place. In response, Iwaz Khan deployed rapid response units to pursue Bajirao, who moved to Mahur and then towards Khandesh. Meanwhile, Nizamu’l-Mulk, foreseeing the threat to Burhanpur posed by Bajirao, outpaced him to intercept his advance. Faced with the pursuit from both armies, Bajirao marched towards Gujarat. [11] The Nizam was ultimately defeated by Bajirao at the Battle of Palkhed in 1728 and was forced to sign the Treaty of Mungi-Shevgaon. [12]

Ranks and legacy

Khwaja Kamal was titled as 'Iwaz Khan' by Emperor Aurangzeb and 'Azad-u’d Daulah Bahadur' by Nizamul Mulk, was granted a Mansabdar of 5000/5000, [2] [13] earning him the title 'Amir-al Kabir' (the Great Amir). [14] In recognition of his contributions, he was promoted to a rank of 7,000 zat and 7,000 horse, [1] which made him 'Amir-al Umara' (Amir of Amirs). [15] Known for his efficient administration and affinity for scholars and Sufis, he passed away in 1731 and was laid to rest at the Dargah of Sheikh Burhanu’d-Din in Khuldabad. [1]

Upon the passing of 'Iwaz Khan, Nizāmu'l-Mulk expressed,

"Now I feel that I have to perform all the duties of a Sübahdar of Deccan"

— Nizamul Mulk, Asaf Jah, Haqiqatul- Alam, [1]

Iwaz Khan served as his most trusted advisor, and Nizamu'l-Mulk relied heavily on his counsel, never embarking on any campaign or daily administrative task without seeking Iwaz Khan's advice. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Khan, Yusuf Husain (1963). The First Nizam: The Life and Times of Nizamu'l Mulk Asaf Jah I. Asia Publishing House. pp. 117, 187, 209.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Malik, Zahiruddin (1977). The Reign of Muhammad Shah, 1719-1748. Asia Publishing House. pp. 225–226. ISBN   978-0-210-40598-7.
  3. ↑ Eaton, Richard M.; Faruqui, Munis D.; Gilmartin, David; Kumar, Sunil (7 March 2013). Expanding Frontiers in South Asian and World History: Essays in Honour of John F. Richards. Cambridge University Press. p. 24. ISBN   978-1-107-03428-0.
  4. ↑ Cheema, G. S. (2002). The Forgotten Mughals: A History of the Later Emperors of the House of Babar, 1707-1857. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. p. 164. ISBN   978-81-7304-416-8.
  5. 1 2 A Comprehensive History of India: 1712-1772, edited by A. C. Banerjee and D. K. Ghase. People's Publishing House. 1978. pp. 206–208.
  6. ↑ Sandhu, Gurcharn Singh (2003). A Military History of Medieval India. Vision Books. p. 203. ISBN   978-81-7094-525-3.
  7. ↑ Bilgrami, Syed Ali Asgar (1992). Landmarks of the Deccan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Archaeological Remains of the City and Suburbs of Hyderabad. Asian Educational Services. p. 90. ISBN   978-81-206-0543-5.
  8. ↑ Gordon, Stewart (1 February 2007). The Marathas 1600-1818. Cambridge University Press. p. 120. ISBN   978-0-521-03316-9.
  9. ↑ Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818. The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 120. ISBN   978-0-521-26883-7. The Maratha response came within months. Fateh Singh Bhonsle led an expedition, reputed to be 50,000 horse, into the Karnatak. This leader was originally from Akalkot (in southern Maharashtra) and knew the terrain well. Bajirao accompanied him, but did not command.
  10. ↑ Khan, Yusuf Husain (1963). The First Nizām: The Life and Times of Nizāmu'l-Mulk Āsaf Jāh I. Asia Publishing House. p. 154. Fateh Singh Bhonsla was directed to march towards the Carnatic at the head of 50,000 troops. He had a special interest in and was also familiar with the country and its people. He held the Jagir of Akkalkot on the borders of the Carnatic. Baji Rao also accompanied him.
  11. ↑ Khan, Yusuf Husain (1963). The First Nizām: The Life and Times of Nizāmu'l-Mulk Āsaf Jāh I. Asia Publishing House. p. 157.
  12. ↑ Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818. The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 122. ISBN   978-0-521-26883-7. The implications, however, were much more important. First, in the military sphere, Bajirao had defeated the best-equipped Mughal army of the day under its best general.
  13. ↑ Nayeem, M. A. (1985). Mughal Administration of Deccan Under Nizamul Mulk Asaf Jah, 1720-48 A.D. Jaico Publishing House. p. 63. ISBN   978-81-7224-325-8.
  14. ↑ Adle, Chahryar; Habib, Irfan (1992). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: Development in contrast : from the sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. Unesco. p. 913. ISBN   978-92-3-103876-1.
  15. ↑ Rahim, Muhammad Abdur (1963). Social and Cultural History of Bengal: 1576-1757. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 167.
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Khwaja Kamal
خواجہ کمال
The last Subahdar of Berar Subah
Iwaz Khan
Azad-u’d Daulah Bahadur
Amir-al Umara
In office
?–1724