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. Regent means a person who exercises the ruling power in a kingdom during the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign.

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.

In that very batte , a Mughal archer shot an arrow that pierced the eye of Hemu , rendering him unconscious and in agony. Hemu was captured and  was brought before the young Mughal Emperor Akbar, who executed Hemu with his own sword and thenceforth took up the title "Ghazi".

Bairam Khan was a Shia muslim and was disliked by the Sunni Turkic nobles He subsequently had to leave for 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.

Bairam Khan who had greatly contributed  to the establishment of the Mughal empire, under Humayun,  entrusted the position of muhrdar (keeper of the seals) who took part in several military campaigns and who  had accompanied Humayun during his exile in Persia, upon ejection by Sher Shah,  and who helped conquer Kandahar before serving as its governor for nine years thereby  In 1556, playing key roles  as a leading commander in Humayun's reconquest of Hindustan, was not fortunate enough to be endured in that role by Akbar.

Akbar had been brought up and trained by Bairam who treated Akbar more than his son, especially as Akbar was still a kid when Humayu met with an unexoected, premature death. 

However, due to the differences between Akbar and Bairam Khan, owing to the generation gap supposedly, Akbar had signifird to Bairam Khan that hevhad just options. Either he could stay in the palace, as a non-entity and not as a minister, or else go for a pilgrimage to Mecca. 

This may not be enough reasin why is Akbar rated as Akbar  the Great. Reasons are umpteen as subsequent events would reflect, especially that which happened to Bairam as a result.

Bairam Khan was no fake muslim, who would revolt or destroy that kingdom that he had built since the time of Babur, hence he , in all humility, chose to call it a day. 

Further greatness of Akbar may reflect by the fact that nothing was offered to Bairam for security, overlooking the susptibilities involved. And it so happened that while travelling through Gujarat, he was assassinated by one Haji Khan Mewati of Alwar, who was the General and close confidant of Hindu King of North India , Hemu whom Akbar had  since executed  after being captured. He was staying at Patan after Akbar's forces had  captured Alwar Sarkar in 1559. On the fsteful day ,  Bairam Khan was at Sahastralinga Tank, a religious site near Anhilwad Patan.  He  was identified by Lohani Pashtun, an associate of Haji Khan Mewati. Haji Khan found an easy prey, as if Akbar had served the victim's head to the assailants on a silver platter.  Bairam Khan was thus killed, avenging Hemu's death. Bairam Khan thus died on 31 January 1561. 

However, his son and wife who had accompanied. Bsiram, were allowed to go free and were sent back .

Bairam Khan's widow, who was also Akbar's cousin , got married to 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.

 (Cont.      .)