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Masum Khan Kabuli an Afghan chief who waged a relentless war against the Mughals. He took part in the revolt of Mughal military officers in Bengal and Bihar (1580) against akbar. He belonged to the Saiyids of Turbat in Khorasan and was the foster brother of Mirza Muhammad Hakim. He came from Afghanistan, entered imperial service and was given a high rank with fiefs in Patna. Masum, along with some high army officials, initiated the mutiny and read the khutba in the name of Mirza Hakim. As the regent plenipotentiary (vakil) on behalf of absentee Hakim, Masum Khan was invested with the title of Khan-i-Dauran. Masum Kabuli checked the advance of the Bengal viceroy shahbaz khan, Khan-i-Azam, at Kahlgaon. But dissension between Masum and the Qaqshal clan and desertion of many of the rebel leaders to Khan-i-Azam compelled Masum to take refuge with isa khan in Bhati (1583). Masum then advanced from his refuge and raided territories within 14 miles of tanda.
Shahbaz Khan entered Isa Khan's country (1584) and demanded
surrender or expulsion of Masum Kabuli. Isa Khan and Masum Kabuli inflicted
a severe defeat on Shahbaz Khan and forced him to retreat towards Tanda
abandoning all his accumulations and many of his men as prisoners. Masum
advanced to Sherpur (Bogra) and other Afghans raided up to Maldah. Afterwards
the Mughals recovered the country up to Sherpur and Masum was compelled
to take refuge in Fatehabad pargana. The Mughals took his two forts at
Triveni near Hughli (1585). As per the treaty concluded between Isa Khan
and the Mughals (1586) Masum Kabuli sent his son to Akbar's court while
he was directed to go to Makka on pilgrimage. Masum however, continued
his fight against the Mughals in alliance with Isa Khan till at least
1597 and died in May 1599. [Muazzam Hussain Khan] |
