The Nizam was afraid that this son was now going to wrap his rule up. So, he took the Badshah’s leave citing settlement of this dispute and embarked on a journey from Delhi in August 1740. The son informed him, he should remain at Delhi, and if he came to Deccan, he would fail. Ignoring that, the Nizam, with complete caution, arrived at Burhanpur by November 1740. From there, up to two months thereafter, he tried on one hand to convince his son by sending various emissaries and letters, while on the other hand, he also prepared for battle.
Seeing his father advance south of the Tapti, and his meeting with the Peshwa, Naseer Jung hesitated and retired to Khuldabad where he began living in a saint’s tomb. However, once the Peshwa moved further north, Naseer Jung, egged on by his supporters, marched with an army of thirty thousand to within a hundred kilometres of Burhanpur. From here, he sent a message to his father asking him to return to Delhi and leave the Deccan in his hands. A second similar message was sent a few days later. The Nizam, therefore, crossed the Tapti river and camped at Edlabad (Muktainagar). Many of the people who were upset with the Nizam joined Naseer Jung. Naseer wrote, “You perform administration at Delhi, and grant me full authority here in the Deccan. I do not desire to fight with you at all. But even after this, if you don’t grant me the administrative authority in the Deccan, I will retire from life, become a mendicant, and permanently live at the monastery of sage Shah Burhanuddin Gharib at Khuldabad.”
Seeing his son’s power, the Nizam was stunned. Assuming that he was being helped by the Peshwa, the Nizam attacked the regions south of the Godavari. A news report reads, “Report on 3 March 1741. Nawab came from Vaijapur to Puntamba. He threatened the regions Akole, Junnar and Nasik. He dispatched some force to capture the Bitinga fort near Igatpuri. The Marathas within the fort resisted courageously. Malhar Dadaji Barve was protecting this region on behalf of the Peshwa. The Nawab ordered his chief officials to capture all the forts like Kavnai, Alang, Madangad, Bitinga. He also ordered them to destroy some military stations with horse stables in the Sangamner province.”
The Nizam had attacked the Peshwa realms only to ensure that the Marathas do not attempt to help Naseer Jung. This region towards Sangamner, Nasik, was later recaptured by the Marathas in 1751 after Naseer Jung’s death.
Naseer Jung also prepared to fight with his father. A final message from the father to the son failed to avoid a clash. The Nizam went to Aurangabad and secured the location perfectly. Naseer Jung attacked him to capture Aurangabad. On 23 July 1741, the father-son duo clashed in a huge battle between Khuldabad and Daulatabad. The Nizam’s army in full battle array unleashed a cannonade with his powerful artillery and this set the stage for a victory. The Nizam’s artillery was perfect, rendering Naseer Jung’s bravery useless. Many of his colleagues were killed, he was also wounded much. Seeing this, the Nizam’s trusted lieutenant, Sayyed Lashkar Khan took his elephant near Naseer Jung, captured him alive, and handed him over to the Nizam. He was nursed back to health in the Nizam’s camp.
Shahanawaz Khan, another Sardar and wise gentleman had joined Naseer Jung’s party. He ran away to save his life, and hid himself for five years. This Shahanawaz Khan wrote an excellent text named ‘Masir-ul-Umara’ during this exile period which contained a list of the names of various powerful and brave Sardars in the Mughal Empire. After five years, the Nizam pardoned his crimes, and accepted him into his service. He kept the son in a tent beside his own and took care of his medical supplies. Sayyed Lashkar Khan was given the responsibility to take good care of him. After the battle, Sayyed Lashkar Khan presented an offering to the Nizam for his victory. Immediately, he offered yet another offering. The Nizam asked, “Why this offering for the second time?”, to which Sayyed Lashkar Khan replied, “The second is for the reason your son escaped injury on the battlefield and is safe and sound.”
The Nizam accepted the offering. Then Lashkar Khan came with a third offering. To the Nizam’s inevitable query, he replied, “The name of your son Naseer Jung: meaning victory in war. This name is given to those who do not retreat in war. As God willed it, your son did not retreat in war. This third offering is for his behaviour, appropriate to his name.”
During this battle Naseer Jung came in the cross-hairs of the Nizam’s son-in-law Mutawassil Khan, who was about to shoot an arrow at him. Mutawassil’s son Muzaffar Jung was on the same elephant and stopped his father, thereby saving Naseer Jung’s life. It is extraordinary that this event is recorded, for when Naseer Jung claimed the succession at Hyderabad several years later, Muzaffar Jung was his principal rival.
The father never met Naseer Jung. The Nizam thanked God on the day of the battle by saying, “Today God has granted me three things. First, the victory in this battle; second, He has delivered my son to me alive; third, I was blessed to witness his unique valour.”
After six months to a year, the Nizam’s anger calmed down. His family members too began insisting he leaves behind erstwhile rouse against Naseer Jung. So then, the Nizam brought out his son for a meeting and embraced him affectionately. Naseer Jung bowed his head in front of his father and cried profusely. He said, “I was driven by some arbitrary thoughts. Why did my mother give me birth! Why didn’t she poison me when I was born?” Hearing these words, everybody including the Nizam began crying. After this, he never misbehaved.
To be continued…
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