AKBAR THE GREAT-3

एक दुखी परिवार – २३    

Bairam’s assassination-Akbar weds Bairam’s widow.

Following Humayun's death in 1556, Bairam Khan was appointed Regent over the young monarch Akbar. 

As regent, he consolidated Mughal authority in northern India and most notably led Mughal forces at theSecond Battle of Panipat, which was fought between Akbar and Hemu, the Emperor Hemachandra Vikramaditya in November 1556.

Bairam Khan was a Shia muslim and was disliked by the Sunni Turkic nobles He subsequently had to leave India to perform the hajj pilgrimage inMecca, as Akbar did no longer endure his continued guardianship on him which he construed as his meddling with Akbar’s style of functioning.

Due to the differences between Akbar and Bairam Khan, Akbar had told Bairam Khan that either he could stay in the palace, but not as a minister, or go for a pilgrimage to Mecca. While travelling through Gujarat, he was assassinated by Haji Khan Mewati of Alwar, who was the General and close confidant of Hindu Kings of North India Hemu, and was staying at Patan after Akbar's forces captured Alwar Sarkar in 1559. One day when Bairam Khan was at Sahastralinga Tank, a religious site near Anhilwad Patan, he was recognised by Lohani Pashtun, an associate of Haji Khan Mewati. Haji Khan attacked and killed Bairam Khan, to take the revenge for Hemu's death. Bairam Khan died on 31 January 1561. However, his son and wife were allowed to go free and sent to north India. Bairam Khan's wife, who was also the cousin of Akbar, married Akbar after Bairam Khan's death. Later on, Bairam's son, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, got an important assignment in Akbar's administration and was one of the 'Nau-rattans' (Nine Gems) of Akbar.

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