A new site, built from published sources. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us
Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Rustam Dil Khan

Mughal subahdar (governor) of Haidarabad (Hyderabad) under Aurangzeb, and son of the earlier subahdar Jan Sipar Khan. He built the Kali Masjid outside the Yaqutpura gate in AH 1114 (1702). After Aurangzeb's death he submitted to the rebel prince Kam Bakhsh. The prince suspected him of a plot and had him trampled to death by an elephant in 1708.

Rustam Dil Khan was the Mughal governor (subahdar) of Haidarabad (now Hyderabad) in the last years of Aurangzeb. He also governed in the first year of the war of succession that followed. Like his father before him, he governed the province from Hyderabad.12 He died a victim of the rebel prince Kam Bakhsh.12 See the Mughals in the Telugu country.

Family

Irvine follows the Mughal biographical dictionary Maasir-ul-umara.2 He says that Rustam Dil Khan was the son of Mir Bahadur Dil, entitled Jan Sipar Khan, son of Sayyid Mukhtar Khan Sabzawari.2 His mother was a daughter of Khan Zaman, son of Azam Khan.2

Bilgrami gives the father’s career: Jan Sipar Khan won his title fighting against Dara Shukoh, and was made commandant of the fort of Bidar. After the fall of Golconda he escorted the captive Abul Hasan to Daulatabad. On his return he took over the government of Hyderabad from Ruhullah Khan. He died in office in AH 1113 (1701–02; AH is the Islamic way of counting years) and was buried near the Imli Mahal, where his house stood.31

Governor of Haidarabad

According to Bilgrami, Rustam Dil Khan succeeded his father as subahdar, “as a deputy of Prince Kam Baksh”.1 He was made faujdar (military governor) of the Bijapur Karnatak in AH 1116 (1704–05).1 He became subahdar of Hyderabad again in AH 1117 (1705–06).1

Sarkar records that in 1695 the emperor sent “Rustam-dil Khan from Haidarabad” with troops to support his general Qasim Khan in the Karnatak.4 So he seems to have served in the province while his father was governor.4

In AH 1114 (1702) he built the Kali Masjid outside the Yaqutpura gate of Hyderabad.3 Its inscription names “the Exalted Khan Rustam Dil” as founder.3 See the Kali Masjid inscription.

Kam Bakhsh and the end

When Aurangzeb died in 1707, Kam Bakhsh claimed the throne and marched on Hyderabad. Irvine calls Rustam Dil Khan “a man of a good family and well-known”.2 The prince’s general Ahsan Khan wrote him friendly letters, and he was sent a farman (royal order) backed by oaths on the Quran.2 These persuaded him to submit.2 He came out at the head of four or five thousand horsemen to pay his respects.2

News reached Bahadur Shah’s camp about the treasure at Machilipatnam (then Masulipatam).5 It was reported that Rustam Dil Khan had forbidden the diwan (revenue officer) there to hand over thirty-two lakhs of imperial treasure to Kam Bakhsh’s men.5 His frequent meetings with Ahsan Khan were reported to the prince as a plot to seize him on his way to the Friday prayer.6

Kam Bakhsh sent for him before sunrise with his pen-case, on the pretext of drafting a reply to Bahadur Shah. Rustam Dil Khan, “free of all suspicion, took off his weapons, as he did daily”.67 He was seized with his sons in the prince’s quarters.67 After three days of imprisonment he was thrown under an elephant and trampled to death.67 His body was paraded through the city and buried in the garden of the Imli Mahal.67

Irvine adds that his wife, “of the family of Mukhtar Khan”, tried to defend their house.7 She killed or wounded several of the prince’s men before she was persuaded to give up.7 Bilgrami’s account agrees in substance and puts his grave near his own house by the Imli Mahal.1 When the news reached Bahadur Shah, the emperor sent mourning robes to Rustam Dil Khan’s cousins, Khan Alam and Mukhtar Khan.8

In local tradition

A Telangana tradition, recorded by the census of 1961 at Tatikonda in the Warangal district, remembers a governor named Rustam Khan. He was sent against the rebel Papadu. According to that account he besieged Papadu’s fort for three months without taking it, and went away after receiving presents. The tradition belongs to the legend of Sarvai Papadu.9 It does not say whether this Rustam Khan was Rustam Dil Khan.9

Footnotes

  1. Bilgrami, Landmarks (1927), p. 97 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. William Irvine, ed. Jadunath Sarkar, Later Mughals, Vol. I (1922), p. 52 and note (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  3. Syed Ali Asgar Bilgrami, Landmarks of the Deccan (1927), p. 96 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Jadunath Sarkar, History of Aurangzib, Vol. V (1924), p. 119 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  5. Irvine, Later Mughals, Vol. I (1922), p. 58 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  6. Irvine, Later Mughals, Vol. I (1922), p. 53 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  7. Irvine, Later Mughals, Vol. I (1922), p. 54 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. Irvine, Later Mughals, Vol. I (1922), p. 59 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  9. A. Chandra Sekhar (ed.), Census of India 1961, Vol. II, Part VII-B (18): Fairs and Festivals, Warangal District (1964), p. 19, entry “Thatikonda” (PDF p. 42) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

References

Sources (4)
  1. Syed Ali Asgar Bilgrami, Landmarks of the Deccan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Archaeological Remains of the City and Suburbs of Hyderabad (opens in a new tab), Government Central Press, Hyderabad-Deccan, 1927, pp. 96–97. [Public domain]
  2. William Irvine (ed. Jadunath Sarkar), Later Mughals, Vol. I: 1707-1720 (opens in a new tab), M. C. Sarkar and Sons, Calcutta; Luzac and Co., London, 1922, pp. 52–59. [Public domain]
  3. Jadunath Sarkar, History of Aurangzib, Vol. V: The Closing Years, 1689-1707 (opens in a new tab), M. C. Sarkar and Sons, Calcutta, 1924, pp. 119. [Public domain]
  4. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Vol. II: Andhra Pradesh, Part VII-B (18): Fairs and Festivals, Warangal District (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, 1964, pp. 19. Public domain in India; paraphrased. [Public domain in India]

Spotted an error on this page? Tell us

Last updated: