Once the plot was baked, Aliwardi Khan did not waste any time. He summoned all the Hindu and Muslim Sardars of his army. With a pious Muslim holding a copy of the Qur’an, and a Brahmin holding a pitcher of water of the Ganga and a leaf of the Tulsi plant, Aliwardi first had them take an oath of fidelity to his cause. Then, Aliwardi Khan addressed them, “I am now going to fight my personal enemies, and as I know you for my old companions, on whose hands I must trust, and from whose valour I must expect success, I request that, if you intend to stand by me and to follow my fortunes, every one of you, please take the most solemn oath that you shall not abandon me whether I rush into the water or into the fire, whether my adversary be an Afrasiab (the erstwhile Turkish conqueror) or a Rustam (erstwhile Persian prince). Swear then, that you shall be friends to my friends, and enemies to my enemies; and that be my fate what it will, you shall stand by me inviolably with your lives and fortunes.”
Following this speech, Aliwardi disclosed his secret mission – the defeat of Nawab Sarfaraz. Although startled to hear it, none broke ranks as they had taken an inviolate oath of allegiance; nor was it practical to do so. The army began its march, proceeding between the river Ganga and the hills in complete secrecy until they reached the fortress of Teliagadhi on the south bank of the Ganga and about two hundred kilometres from Murshidabad. The garrison here was loyal to Sarfaraz but was forced to surrender. Aliwardi then entered the district of Raajmahal, which was within a few days’ march from Murshidabad.
Sarfaraz had no inkling of this movement until Aliwardi was so close to his capital. Startled at the news, he summoned the trusted Haji Ahmed and demanded an explanation. Haji Ahmed assured the court that Aliwardi was loyal to the Nawab and that he would go and persuade him to return. As Aliwardi approached Murshidabad, he wrote to Sarfaraz, “Since, after the many affronts heaped on my brother Haji Ahmed, attempts have been made on the honour and chastity of my family, your servant, in order to save that family from further disgrace, has been obliged to come so far… your servant hopes that Haji Ahmed should be permitted to come to him with his family.”
The court was divided in its counsel about letting Haji Ahmed join his brother. Ghaus Khan, who led Sarfaraz’s army, opined it will not serve any purpose holding the ‘old man’. If the Haji succeeds in turning Aliwardi back, it was to the good, however, if he did not, the battle had to be fought. Haji Ahmed averred that if he was sent, he would ensure Aliwardi would turn back from his march towards Murshidabad.
Haji Ahmed was therefore released and sent to Aliwardi with two of his loyal officers. Aliwardi then, using a brick wrapped in a cloth instead of the holy book, took an oath of allegiance to Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz’s envoys returned to Murshidabad with the happy news that Aliwardi had declared his loyalty. Hearing this, Sarfaraz relaxed and ordered “his butler to prepare dainty dishes for a banquet and his soldiers let go from their hands the reins of watch and alertness.”
Keeping in mind his word to Nawab Sarfaraz that Aliwardi would ‘turn back’, Haji Ahmed, “as if to fulfil the promise he made at his departure, prevailed upon his brother to have his elephant turned about for some hundred yards, after which he returned to the road again” and resumed his march to Murshidabad.
Hearing of Aliwardi’s advance, Sarfaraz finally moved out with his army on 6 April 1740. He led his army to a place called Giria about five miles northwest of Jangipur on the east bank of the Bhagirathi, a branch of the Ganga (in the Santhal Pargana near Rajgarh railway station 20 miles north of Nalhati), where they came face to face. The armies were almost evenly matched except that Aliwardi had battle-proven Pathans in his army and the invaluable art of dissimulation. He divided his army into three parts, and sent one part of his army opposite Ghaus Khan, another under a Hindu chief named Nandalal he sent at night to Sarfaraz’s rear, and he led the third opposite the Nawab. The battle began on the morning of 10 April 1740, with Sarfaraz on an elephant holding a Qur’an and firing arrows. The initial forays were fierce. Aliwardi’s attack was multi-pronged and soon several Sardars in the Bengal army were killed. Of Sarfaraz’s three advisors, Rairayan Aalam Chand, who was still accompanying the Nawab’s army, was injured, fled to Murshidabad and later died there. As the battle progressed, Sarfaraz was left with just a thin crowd of slaves defending him. His Mahout offered to take him to a friendly Raja, but Sarfaraz angrily refused saying, “I will not retreat before these dogs.”
It was not long after that he was hit by a musket shot and killed. Elsewhere the battle continued. Ghaus Khan had defeated Nandalal. He sent messages to the Nawab, only to learn he had been killed. The loyal General with his two sons then led a suicidal attack on Aliwardi’s army and fought until all three were killed. The battle was over. Sarfaraz’s body was taken to Murshidabad by his Mahout, and buried at night. Aliwardi then prepared to enter the city of Murshidabad and seize the office of the Subedar of Bengal.
To be continued…
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