Humayun

Three days after the death of the late Emperor, Humayun ascended the throne in the city of Agra, on 29th December, 1530 A. D. No sooner did his brother, Kamran, who at that time held Cabul and Candahar, hear of this event, than he marched for the Panjab, ostensibly to offer his congratulations to his brother on his accession, but in reality to try his own fortune whether he might not be raised to the throne of Hindustan. As he drew near to Lahore, he found that Mir Yunis Ali, who had been its governor under baber, was faithful to his trust and adhered to the cause of Humayun. Averse to having recourse to warlike operations, he resorted to a stratagem. Affecting to be dissatisfied with the conduct of Keracha Beg, one of his principal omerahs, he openly rebuked him in the Darbar. The Beg, feigning offence at this treatment, effected his escape the following night, with all his followers, and sought refuge in Lahore. Intrigue and defection were so common in those days that nothing appeared strange in the Beg’s conduct. Delighted to have won over to his side a man of so much consequence, Mir Yunis Ali went out of the city, with a large procession, to meet the Beg and bid him welcome to the capital of the Panjab. He was received with every demonstration of joy, treated as a personal friend, and constantly invited to partake of the hospitality of the Viceroy’s table ; and several social entertainments were given for his amusement. Keracha Beg, however, coolly watched his opportunity, and one night, on the occasion of a festive entertainment, availing himself of the lateness of the hour, when the soldiers had been allowed to return to their respective quarters, he perfidiously seized the person of the Mir, and placed him in confinement. He then took possession of the gates of the citadel and invited Mirza Kamran to the city. Kamran, who had been anxiously waiting the result, no sooner heard of the success of his ally, than he repaired to Lahore and entered the city with a strong force. No resistance was offered. The city was occupied by Kamran who, having relieved Mir Yunis Ali, allowed him to join Humayun. After this success, Kamran took possession of the whole of the Panjab as far as the Sutlej, and was acknowledged as its ruler. Humayun, naturally of a mild disposition, soon after- wards confirmed his brother in his government of Cabul, Candahar and the Panjab. Pleased with this treatment, the Mirza sent valuable presents for the Emperor, as a token of gratitude. Ever afterwards he kept up a correspondence with His Majesty, and in all his communications he expressed the utmost humility, representing himself as the King’s vassal and well-wisher. Once he submitted from Lahore to His Majesty the following autograph odes composed by himself— 

            “May thy beauty increase every moment.

              May thy fortune continue to be happy and prosperous.

              The dust that may rise from the path of Leli,

              May it find a place in the eyes of Majnun.

              The dust that may rise from thy path,

              May it be the light of the eyes of this afflicted.

              Whoever has not walked round thee like a pair of compasses.

              May he be expelled from this circle (of the world).

              As long as there is duration to the world, O Kamran,

              May Humayun be the king of the world.”

            “And, indeed, his (Kamran’s) prayer was accepted, for, in consequence of disloyalty, he was expelled from the circle of confidence, may, from the circle of existence, as will be mentioned in its proper place.

       In the years 1535 A.D., Mahomed Zaman Mirza, after his defeat at Mandsur, having made a diverson on the side of the Panjab laid siege to Lahore. Kamran Mirza, however, returned in time victorious from his expedition of Candahar, and Zaman Mirza retired precipitately to Gujrat.

       When the conflict between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri, Afghan broke out, Humayun with his brothers Hindal and Askeri sought refuge at Lahore ; but the perfidy of his brother Kamran, who had made peace with Sher Shah by ceding Panjab to that monarch, compelled him to quit Lahore with the Imperial family. He and the Mirza crossed the Ravi on 31st October 1540. The Mirza separated from the Emperor near Hazara, and His Majesty proceeded to Scindh. Sher Shah, who had pursued the Emperor from Agra, through the Panjab, laid the foundations of a new Rohtas, and, having appointed his able general, Khawas Khan, Viceroy of the province, returned to Agra.

        Sher Shah was an enlightened and magnificent monarch. From his commanding position on the frontier and his possession of the great mercantile cities of Peshawar and Lahore, he developed the trade of the Panjab with the countries of Central Asia and Northern China. He connected the cities of Multan and Lahore by a road and planted fruit trees to refresh the weary traveller from Bengal to Nilab, a branch of the Indus, for a distance of 1,500 miles. Sher Shah, on attaining power, made special provision for the employment of his countrymen from Roh. This marvellous man died by the bursting of a shell, at the siege of Kalinjar, on May 22nd, 1545. Taken to his tent, he survived for two days, in great agony, but conscious and contemplating future events, thus doing his duty to the last. Sher Shah, on his death-bed, regretted that he had not razed the city of Lahore to the ground. He had long meditated the entire destruction of the city ; “for,” said he, “such a large city should not exist on the very road of an invader, who, immediately after capturing it on his arrival, could collect his supplies and organise his resources there”. He repented also not having had time to plant his tribesmen from the hills of Roh on the tract between Nilab and Lahore, to watch the attempts of the Moghals on the Panjab.

            Humayun, after an exile of fourteen years, crossed the Indus, unopposed, on 2nd of January 1555. Sekandar Shah, the Afghan Governor of Lahore, had carried away the army of the Panjab to Delhi, so that the province was left without any troops for its defence. Humayun marched to Lahore, which was abandoned on his approach, and, entering it on 24th February, was received with every demonstration of joy by the inhabitants. Having appointed Farhat Khan, Shakdur (Governor) of Lahore, Babhus Khan. Foujdar, Mirza Shah Sultan, Amir and Mehtar, and Jouhar Treasurer for the Suba of the Panjab, His Majesty marched for Sirhand.

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