Murshid Quli Khan
Encyclopedia
Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal
. In fact circumstances resulted in his being the first independent ruler of Bengal post the death of Emperor Aurangzeb. Though he continued to recognize the nominal overlordship of the Mughal Emperor, for all practical purposes he was the Nawab
of Bengal.
began in right earnest after the reign of Aurangzeb
. The Peacock Throne
in Delhi became a "musical chair" for the successors of Aurangzeb
and fueled by court intrigues of numerous nobles the tenure between 1707 and 1719 saw no less than eight Mughal Emperors (more than the sum of the last 180 years) namely Bahadur Shah I
, Jahandar Shah
, Farrukh Siyar, Rafi ud-Darajat, Rafi ud-Daulah, Neku Siyar, Muhammad Ibrahim
and finally some stability came in the form of Muhammad Shah
in 1719.
Such instability saw the rise of three notable nobles; Saadat Ali Khan
the Subahdar of Oudh, Murshid Quli Khan the Subahdar of Orissa
and Nazim of Bengal
and Qamar ud-din Khan (also known as Asaf Jah I) the Subahdar of Deccan.
The distinguishing factor in these three nobles were that all were decorated generals of Aurangazeb and were old timers and unlike the "newer" nobles in the Red Fort; never got actively involved in court intrigues and were always on the "right" side of the Mughal Emperor, however weak the emperor might be. In stead these three nobles concentrated in entrenching themselves in their respective territories. Gradually while Delhi became weaker Oudh, Hyderabad / Deccan and Bengal became strong and prosperous. This was the direct outcome of the resources in Delhi getting strained due to the frequent changes of Emperors in Delhi.
Every Mughal Emperor henceforth became more and more dependent on the three nobles and the nobles cleverly and tactfully extracted more and more for their "loyalty" till the time they became de-facto and then the de-jure rulers or Nawabs of the territories. The final blow came in 1724, when Nizam ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I declared himself the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Meanwhile Murshid Quli Khan was gradually consolidating his position. In 1717, he renamed his capital city from Makhsusabad to Murshidabad
(after himself). The then Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar granted formal approval to this (symbolic) change of name, paving the way for Murshid Quli Khan to become the de-facto Nawab of Bengal
. He however continued to "act and function" as the viceroy of the ever weakening Mughal Emperor.
general Mohammed Quli Khan (formerly Netaji Palkar
) by his Iranian wife Nusrat Banu, daughter of Mughal
Vazir
Asad Khan.
The second and most reliable version is that he was born a poor Oriya
Brahmin
in the Deccan, brought up by Haji Shafi Isfahani, a merchant from Isfahan, who converted and renamed him Muhammad Hadi / Mirza Hadi. He entered the service of Haji Abdullah, Diwan of Berar
, later transferring to Royal service under Emperor Aurangzeb
.
. In several Mahals pertaining to Orissa
he had effected retrenchments in expenditure, and had thus become prominent amongst the Imperial officials. He was held matchless in probity and rectitude of purpose. Rendering eminent services in taxation, in periods of siege
and war, he had got into the good graces of Emperor Aurangzeb
.
In the year 1703 the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
, invited Murshid Quli Khan and presented him the Kaftan
of honor, a kettledrum band, a crescent
standard and appointed him with the rank of Mansabdar
of 2000 Matchlock
s and 1000 Sowar
s. Mughal
Faujdar
s such as Kartalab Khan and Azim-ud-din were placed under his authority.
At that period, the reins of the administration of Financial and Revenue affairs, the power over the assessment and collection of revenue, and payments into and disbursements from the Imperial Treasury lay in the hands of the Diwan of the Subah.
The Nazim had jurisdiction over the Procedure and Administration of Political affairs, such as the repression and chastisement of the refractory and the disobedient, and the extirpation of rebels and tyrants. Except with regard to the Jagirs attached to the Nizamat and personal Mansabs and presents, the Nazim had no power to meddle with the Imperial revenue.
(present-day Dhaka
). After waiting on the Prince Azim-us-Shan, the grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb
, he devoted himself to the administration of the fiscal affairs. All the transactions of the Treasury was in charge of Murshid Quli. The Prince's control over the income and expenditure were ceased. This led him to the path of direct conflict with Prince Azim-us-Shan wherein the Prince attempted to assassinate Murshid Quli Khan. Aurangzeb, detecting possible rebellions, acted quickly shifting Azim-us-Shan to Patna
(later renamed to Azimabad
) and Murshid Quli to Makhsusabad (which Murshid Quli Khan later renamed to Murshidabad
). This happened in 1703. This is sometimes erroneously referred to as the year of transfer of the capital of the Subah Bengal from Dhaka to Murshidabad. The whole process actually took fifteen years (1703–1717). Murshidabad
was the capital from 1717 to 1780.
His efficient revenue control and military administration and in proving his good and faithful services, Quli Khan became the recipient of further imperial favours. He became Deputy to the Prince in the Nizam of the Subah of Bengal
and Orissa
, in addition to the office of Diwan. He was also given the title of Murshid Quli Khan and further received a valuable Khilat with a standard and a kettle-drum.
During the reign of Aurangzeb
and after it, Murshid Quli's rise was meteoric. From the Diwan of Hyderabad, Bengal
(1700–1708 and 1710–1713), Bihar, Deccan (1708–1710), Naib Nazim of Bengal (1713–1717), Subahdar of Orissa
(1714), and Nazim of Bengal (1717). Removed his headqaurters from Dhaka
to Makhsusabad in 1703, and renamed it Murshidabad
in 1717. By then, his power was overwhelming and the Mughal influence on Bengal was wiped out. The then Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar
, granted formal approval to this symbolic change of name and from then on Murshid Quli Khan became the de-facto Nawab of Bengal
. He celebrated this by opening a mint
in Murshidabad
and issued in his name the Zurbe Murshedabad coin and other coins.
and continued to send annual tribute to Delhi
. Although he laid the foundation of a well-run and economically viable state, it was his successor who made the rupture with Delhi
.
Post 1717, Mushid Quli set about resolving matters of state, with an "iron fist", very aggressively most of the times and with an undue heavy hand on others. As an administrative decision, Midnapore
was separated from Orissa
and annexed to the Subah of Bengal
.
and his Amils (Collectors of Revenue). In aggressively collecting revenue, both current and arrears he put a complete stop to the authority of Zamindars over the collection and disbursement of the imperial revenue, he limited their source of income to profits of Nankar (tax-free lands give in consideration for services rendered) tenures. Accordingly a new revenue roll (some say a Perfect Roll before the permanent settlement
of Bengal) was drawn up.
He ensured that a part of the revenues were remitted to the imperial treasury in Delhi
. Till the time of Aurangzeb
the entirety was remitted to Delhi but post 1717 this remittance was limited to the annual tribute (Nazrana).
His administration was so vigorous and successful that there was neither foreign incursion nor internal disturbance, and consequently the military expenditure was nearly abolished.
s attended at state functions in their military uniforms. In his presence one could not salute another; and if anything opposed to etiquette occurred on the part of anyone, he was immediately censured. Every week he held court on two days to listen to complaints, and used to mete out justice to the complainants. Amongst his deeds of justice, it may be mentioned, that to avenge the wrong done to another, obeying the sacred Islamic law, he executed his own son. In administration of justice, in administration of the political affairs of the country, and in maintenance of the respect due to the Mughal Emperor, he spared no one. Murshid Quli Khan's uprightness in administration of justice (regardless of all family ties of attachment) is remarkable.
In brief Murshid Quli was no better or no worse than quite a few Muslim rulers who set up kingdoms in India but most certainly he enhanced the material prosperity of Bengal in terms of revenue.
Murshid Quli Khan died on 30th June 1727 (1139 A.H.) according to Riyaz-us-Salatin by Ghulam Husain Salim
. However Encyclopaedia Britannica suggests that the year was 1726.
In absence of a direct heir, he nominated his maternal grandson Sarfaraz Khan to succeed him. It is highly likely that Sarfaraz Khan ascended to the Masnad as Nawab Nazim before abdicating in favour of his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
. On hearing of Sarfaraz's accession to the Masnad, his father, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
, the Dewan Nazim of Orissa, marched at the head of a large army towards Murshidabad
. To avoid a conflict in the family, the dowager Begum
of Murshid Quli Khan intervened; and her son-in-law Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
ascended to the masnad of Bengal
.
By the end of 1727, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
was firmly established as the Nawab
of Bengal.
Murshid Quli Khan lies buried below the steps of Katra Masjid
, a mosque in Murshidabad
. He laid the foundation of the Nasiri dynasty which would last for another thirteen years.
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
. In fact circumstances resulted in his being the first independent ruler of Bengal post the death of Emperor Aurangzeb. Though he continued to recognize the nominal overlordship of the Mughal Emperor, for all practical purposes he was the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
of Bengal.
Evolution of the position of the Nawab of Bengal
The decay and downfall of the Mughal EmpireMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
began in right earnest after the reign of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
. The Peacock Throne
Peacock Throne
The Peacock Throne, called Takht-e Tâvus in Persian, is the name originally given to a Mughal throne of India, which was later adopted and used to describe the thrones of the Persian emperors from Nader Shah Afshari and erroneously to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi whose throne was a reconstruction of...
in Delhi became a "musical chair" for the successors of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
and fueled by court intrigues of numerous nobles the tenure between 1707 and 1719 saw no less than eight Mughal Emperors (more than the sum of the last 180 years) namely Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah I
Bahadur Shah was a Mughal Emperor, who ruled India from 1707 to 1712. His original name was Qutb ud-Din Muhammad Mu'azzam later titled as Shah Alam by his father. He took the throne name Bahadur Shah in 1707. His name Bahādur means "brave" & "hero" in Turko-Mongol languages...
, Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah
Jahandar Shah was a Mughal Emperor who ruled India for a brief period in 1712-1713. His title was Shahanshah-i-Ghazi Abu'l Fath Muiz-ud-Din Muhammad Jahandar Shah Sahib-i-Quran Padshah-i-Jahan .-Early life:...
, Farrukh Siyar, Rafi ud-Darajat, Rafi ud-Daulah, Neku Siyar, Muhammad Ibrahim
Muhammad Ibrahim
Mohammad Ibrahim was a physician from Bangladesh. He was the founder of the Diabetic Association in Dhaka and in Karachi and Lahore, West Pakistan...
and finally some stability came in the form of Muhammad Shah
Muhammad Shah
Muhammad Shah also known as Roshan Akhtar, was a Mughal emperor of India between 1719 and 1748. He was son of Khujista Akhtar Jahan Shah, the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. Ascending the throne at 17 with the help of the Sayyid Brothers, he later got rid of them with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk Chin...
in 1719.
Such instability saw the rise of three notable nobles; Saadat Ali Khan
Saadat Ali Khan
Saadat Ali Khan was the fifth nawab wazir of Oudh from 21 January 1798 to 11 July 1814, and the son of Muhammad Nasir.-Life:He was the second son of Nawab Shuja-ud-daula...
the Subahdar of Oudh, Murshid Quli Khan the Subahdar of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and Nazim of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Qamar ud-din Khan (also known as Asaf Jah I) the Subahdar of Deccan.
The distinguishing factor in these three nobles were that all were decorated generals of Aurangazeb and were old timers and unlike the "newer" nobles in the Red Fort; never got actively involved in court intrigues and were always on the "right" side of the Mughal Emperor, however weak the emperor might be. In stead these three nobles concentrated in entrenching themselves in their respective territories. Gradually while Delhi became weaker Oudh, Hyderabad / Deccan and Bengal became strong and prosperous. This was the direct outcome of the resources in Delhi getting strained due to the frequent changes of Emperors in Delhi.
Every Mughal Emperor henceforth became more and more dependent on the three nobles and the nobles cleverly and tactfully extracted more and more for their "loyalty" till the time they became de-facto and then the de-jure rulers or Nawabs of the territories. The final blow came in 1724, when Nizam ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I declared himself the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Meanwhile Murshid Quli Khan was gradually consolidating his position. In 1717, he renamed his capital city from Makhsusabad to Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
(after himself). The then Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar granted formal approval to this (symbolic) change of name, paving the way for Murshid Quli Khan to become the de-facto Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
. He however continued to "act and function" as the viceroy of the ever weakening Mughal Emperor.
Early life
There are two versions of his early life. One version is that he was grandson of the MarathaMaratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
general Mohammed Quli Khan (formerly Netaji Palkar
Netaji Palkar
Netaji Palkar was the second Sarnaubat in the army of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha empire in western India.-Family history:...
) by his Iranian wife Nusrat Banu, daughter of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Vazir
Vazir
Vazir may refer to:*Vazir Agha, Pakistani writer*Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli, Azerbaijani writer*Vazir, Afghanistan*Vizier...
Asad Khan.
The second and most reliable version is that he was born a poor Oriya
Oriya people
The Oriya, known classically by various names , are an ethnic group of eastern India and of eastern Indo-Aryan stock...
Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
in the Deccan, brought up by Haji Shafi Isfahani, a merchant from Isfahan, who converted and renamed him Muhammad Hadi / Mirza Hadi. He entered the service of Haji Abdullah, Diwan of Berar
Berar Subah
-Origin of name:According to the Ain-i-Akbari, the original name of Berar was Waradatat .-History:Before the Mughal occupation, Berar was part of the Nizam Shahi sultanate of Ahmadnagar. It was ceded to the emperor Akbar by Chand Bibi in 1596, unable to stand against the imperial forces led by...
, later transferring to Royal service under Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
.
Rise to power
He was strictly Muslim, and an officer of honesty and integrity. He had already held the office of Diwan of the Subah of OrissaOrissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. In several Mahals pertaining to Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
he had effected retrenchments in expenditure, and had thus become prominent amongst the Imperial officials. He was held matchless in probity and rectitude of purpose. Rendering eminent services in taxation, in periods of siege
Siege of Golconda
In January 1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda Fort and was home to the Kollur Mine. The ruler of Golconda was the well entrenched Abul Hasan Qutb Shah. Aurangzeb and the Mughal army had successfully conquered two Muslim kingdoms: Nizams...
and war, he had got into the good graces of Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
.
In the year 1703 the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, invited Murshid Quli Khan and presented him the Kaftan
Kaftan
A kaftan is a man's coat usually reaching to the ankles with long sleeves, and which buttons down the front. It can be made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton. It is often worn with a sash....
of honor, a kettledrum band, a crescent
Crescent
In art and symbolism, a crescent is generally the shape produced when a circular disk has a segment of another circle removed from its edge, so that what remains is a shape enclosed by two circular arcs of different diameters which intersect at two points .In astronomy, a crescent...
standard and appointed him with the rank of Mansabdar
Mansabdar
Mansabdar was the generic term for the military -type grading of all imperial officials of the Mughal Empire. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor's name...
of 2000 Matchlock
Matchlock
The matchlock was the first mechanism, or "lock" invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. This design removed the need to lower by hand a lit match into the weapon's flash pan and made it possible to have both hands free to keep a firm grip on the weapon at the moment of firing,...
s and 1000 Sowar
Sowar
Sowar , meaning 'The one who rides' in Persian, was originally a rank during the Mughal period. Later during the British Raj it was the name in Anglo-Indian usage for a horse-soldier belonging to the cavalry troops of the native armies of British India and the feudal states...
s. Mughal
Mughal
Mughal, a word related to the Mongols, may refer to the:* Mughal Empire of South Asia* Mughal emperors* Mughal , the central Asian tribe from which the rulers of the Mughal Empire hailed* Mughal architecture* Mughal painting* Mughlai cuisine...
Faujdar
Faujdar
Faujdar/Fouzder/Fouzdar/Foujdar was a title awarded by Muslim rulers to people who had responsibility of protecting some territory.In pre-Mughal times, the term referred to a military officer but did not refer to a specific rank. With the administrative reforms performed by Mughal emperor Akbar,...
s such as Kartalab Khan and Azim-ud-din were placed under his authority.
At that period, the reins of the administration of Financial and Revenue affairs, the power over the assessment and collection of revenue, and payments into and disbursements from the Imperial Treasury lay in the hands of the Diwan of the Subah.
The Nazim had jurisdiction over the Procedure and Administration of Political affairs, such as the repression and chastisement of the refractory and the disobedient, and the extirpation of rebels and tyrants. Except with regard to the Jagirs attached to the Nizamat and personal Mansabs and presents, the Nazim had no power to meddle with the Imperial revenue.
Conflict with Prince Azim-us-Shan
Murshid Quli, being appointed by Emperor to be Diwan of the Subah of Bengal, arrived at Jahangir NagarJahangir Nagar
Jahangir Nagar is the former name of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was named after Mughal Emperor Jahangir.To show respect to this name, a fully residential public university was established in Dhaka in 1970 as Jahangirnagar University....
(present-day Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
). After waiting on the Prince Azim-us-Shan, the grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
, he devoted himself to the administration of the fiscal affairs. All the transactions of the Treasury was in charge of Murshid Quli. The Prince's control over the income and expenditure were ceased. This led him to the path of direct conflict with Prince Azim-us-Shan wherein the Prince attempted to assassinate Murshid Quli Khan. Aurangzeb, detecting possible rebellions, acted quickly shifting Azim-us-Shan to Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
(later renamed to Azimabad
Azimabad
Azimabad was an old name of Modern-day Patna., India. Patliputra was sacked by foreign attackers like Bakhtiyar Khilji and other Muslim raiders . This event is arguably seen by modern historians/ scholars as a milestone in the decline of Buddhism in India...
) and Murshid Quli to Makhsusabad (which Murshid Quli Khan later renamed to Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
). This happened in 1703. This is sometimes erroneously referred to as the year of transfer of the capital of the Subah Bengal from Dhaka to Murshidabad. The whole process actually took fifteen years (1703–1717). Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
was the capital from 1717 to 1780.
His efficient revenue control and military administration and in proving his good and faithful services, Quli Khan became the recipient of further imperial favours. He became Deputy to the Prince in the Nizam of the Subah of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, in addition to the office of Diwan. He was also given the title of Murshid Quli Khan and further received a valuable Khilat with a standard and a kettle-drum.
During the reign of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
and after it, Murshid Quli's rise was meteoric. From the Diwan of Hyderabad, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
(1700–1708 and 1710–1713), Bihar, Deccan (1708–1710), Naib Nazim of Bengal (1713–1717), Subahdar of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
(1714), and Nazim of Bengal (1717). Removed his headqaurters from Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
to Makhsusabad in 1703, and renamed it Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
in 1717. By then, his power was overwhelming and the Mughal influence on Bengal was wiped out. The then Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar
Farrukhsiyar
Abu'l Muzaffar Muin ud-din Muhammad Shah Farrukh-siyar Alim Akbar Sani Wala Shan Padshah-i-bahr-u-bar [Shahid-i-Mazlum] was the Mughal emperor between 1713 and 1719. Noted as a handsome but weak ruler, easily swayed by his advisers, Farukhsiyar lacked the ability and character to rule independently...
, granted formal approval to this symbolic change of name and from then on Murshid Quli Khan became the de-facto Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
. He celebrated this by opening a mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
in Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
and issued in his name the Zurbe Murshedabad coin and other coins.
Reign
Murshid Quli never formally severed his links to the MughalsMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
and continued to send annual tribute to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. Although he laid the foundation of a well-run and economically viable state, it was his successor who made the rupture with Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.
Post 1717, Mushid Quli set about resolving matters of state, with an "iron fist", very aggressively most of the times and with an undue heavy hand on others. As an administrative decision, Midnapore
Midnapore
Midnapore is the district headquarters of Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River . This area had taken a pioneering role in India's freedom struggle...
was separated from Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and annexed to the Subah of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.
Revenue collection
On matters of revenue collection Murshid Quli was absolutely non-compromising to the extent of being ruthless. Hindu Zamindars especially suffered under his rule and were terrorized by the NawabNawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
and his Amils (Collectors of Revenue). In aggressively collecting revenue, both current and arrears he put a complete stop to the authority of Zamindars over the collection and disbursement of the imperial revenue, he limited their source of income to profits of Nankar (tax-free lands give in consideration for services rendered) tenures. Accordingly a new revenue roll (some say a Perfect Roll before the permanent settlement
Permanent Settlement
The Permanent Settlement — also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal — was an agreement between the East India Company and Bengali landlords to fix revenues to be raised from land, with far-reaching consequences for both agricultural methods and productivity in the entire Empire and the...
of Bengal) was drawn up.
Land and agrarian reforms
On matters of land reforms, the Amils (collectors of revenue) under his orders, sent Shiqdars and Amins to every village of the Parganas, measured the cultivated and waste-lands, and leased them back to tenants, plot by plot, and advanced agricultural loans (Taqavi) to the poorer tenantry, and put forth exertions for increase in the produce of the lands. Thus Murshid Quli affected not only increase in revenue, but also increase in their areas.He ensured that a part of the revenues were remitted to the imperial treasury in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. Till the time of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
the entirety was remitted to Delhi but post 1717 this remittance was limited to the annual tribute (Nazrana).
His administration was so vigorous and successful that there was neither foreign incursion nor internal disturbance, and consequently the military expenditure was nearly abolished.
Personality
Murshid Quli Khan was very powerful as a personality and his commands were so overawing that his peons sufficed to keep peace in the country, and to overawe the refractory. And fear of his personality was so deeply impressed on the hearts of all, both the high and the low, that the courage of lion-hearted persons quailed in his presence. He did not allow petty Zamindars access to his presence. The Mutsadis and Amils and the leading Zamindars had not the heart to sit down in his presence; on the contrary, they remained standing breathless like statues. Hindu Zamindars were forbidden to ride on Palkis. The Mutasadis, in his presence, did not ride on horseback ; whilst the MansabdarMansabdar
Mansabdar was the generic term for the military -type grading of all imperial officials of the Mughal Empire. The mansabdars governed the empire and commanded its armies in the emperor's name...
s attended at state functions in their military uniforms. In his presence one could not salute another; and if anything opposed to etiquette occurred on the part of anyone, he was immediately censured. Every week he held court on two days to listen to complaints, and used to mete out justice to the complainants. Amongst his deeds of justice, it may be mentioned, that to avenge the wrong done to another, obeying the sacred Islamic law, he executed his own son. In administration of justice, in administration of the political affairs of the country, and in maintenance of the respect due to the Mughal Emperor, he spared no one. Murshid Quli Khan's uprightness in administration of justice (regardless of all family ties of attachment) is remarkable.
In brief Murshid Quli was no better or no worse than quite a few Muslim rulers who set up kingdoms in India but most certainly he enhanced the material prosperity of Bengal in terms of revenue.
Death and succession
Ghulam Husain Salim
Ğulām Husayn “Salīm” Zaydpūrī was a historian who migrated to Bengal and was employed there as a post-master to the East India Company serving under George Udny . At Udny’s request, the author composed a history of Bengal entitled Riyāż al-salātīn, completed in 1787-8...
. However Encyclopaedia Britannica suggests that the year was 1726.
In absence of a direct heir, he nominated his maternal grandson Sarfaraz Khan to succeed him. It is highly likely that Sarfaraz Khan ascended to the Masnad as Nawab Nazim before abdicating in favour of his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan was the second Nawab of Bengal. He married Zainab un-nisa Begum, the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan and after the death of his father-in-law on June 30, 1727, he became the Nawab Nazim of Bengal Subah .-Early life:Born at Burhanpur, Deccan, as Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad...
. On hearing of Sarfaraz's accession to the Masnad, his father, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan was the second Nawab of Bengal. He married Zainab un-nisa Begum, the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan and after the death of his father-in-law on June 30, 1727, he became the Nawab Nazim of Bengal Subah .-Early life:Born at Burhanpur, Deccan, as Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad...
, the Dewan Nazim of Orissa, marched at the head of a large army towards Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
. To avoid a conflict in the family, the dowager Begum
Begum
Begum, Begam or Baigum is a Turkic title given to female family members of a Baig or 'Beg', a higher official. The term Begum is derived from the word Beg, and means a female member of the Beg's family.Also used Begzadi, for Ex...
of Murshid Quli Khan intervened; and her son-in-law Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan was the second Nawab of Bengal. He married Zainab un-nisa Begum, the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan and after the death of his father-in-law on June 30, 1727, he became the Nawab Nazim of Bengal Subah .-Early life:Born at Burhanpur, Deccan, as Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad...
ascended to the masnad of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.
By the end of 1727, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan
Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan was the second Nawab of Bengal. He married Zainab un-nisa Begum, the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan and after the death of his father-in-law on June 30, 1727, he became the Nawab Nazim of Bengal Subah .-Early life:Born at Burhanpur, Deccan, as Mirza Shuja ud-din Muhammad...
was firmly established as the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
of Bengal.
Murshid Quli Khan lies buried below the steps of Katra Masjid
Katra Masjid
Katra Masjid was built by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan in 1724. This five-domed mosque is on a high platform in the centre of a huge courtyard which is surrounded by a double-storeyed row of rooms. Four big minars similar to Egyptian pylons were built at the four corners. Murshid Quli Khan was buried...
, a mosque in Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
. He laid the foundation of the Nasiri dynasty which would last for another thirteen years.
See also
- List of rulers of Bengal
- History of BengalHistory of BengalThe history of Bengal includes modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal, dates back four millennia. To some extent, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers separated it from the mainland of India, though at times, Bengal has played an important role in the history of India.- Etymology :The exact origin...
- History of BangladeshHistory of BangladeshThe history of Bangladesh as a nation state began in 1971, when it seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh was part of ancient, classical, medieval and colonial India....
- History of IndiaHistory of IndiaThe history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...