Murshid Quli Khan

• 1. Origins And Conversion

  ›

  In the Deccan Plateau, a young boy named Suryanarayana Mishra was born in 1670. He belonged to a Hindu Brahmin family before his life took an unexpected turn. At around ten years of age, he was sold to Haji Shafi, a Persian nobleman who converted him to Islam and renamed him Mohammad Hadi. This transformation marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to become the first Nawab of Bengal. Some historians argue that this conversion was not merely religious but also political, as it positioned him within the Mughal administrative framework. The exact details of his early life remain debated among scholars, yet the consensus is clear: from a Hindu child to a Muslim administrator, his path was shaped by both fate and calculation.

  14

• 2. Rise To Power In Bengal

  ›

  Aurangzeb appointed Quli Khan as Diwan of Bengal in 1700, placing him at the heart of provincial revenue collection. At that time, Azim-us-Shan served as subahdar, or governor, of the province. Their relationship quickly deteriorated due to conflicting ambitions. Azim-us-Shan intended to use collected revenues to fund his campaign for the Mughal throne after Aurangzeb's death. Immediately upon taking office, Quli Khan transferred officials loyal to Azim-us-Shan into his own service, provoking anger and suspicion. This move signaled a power struggle that would define much of his career. Despite initial tensions, Quli Khan managed to maintain his position through strategic alliances and careful diplomacy with the central empire.

  7

• 3. Conflict With Azim-us-Shan

  ›

  Azim-us-Shan planned to assassinate Quli Khan using unpaid soldiers as pawns. He convinced them that Quli Khan was responsible for their lack of wages and orchestrated a confrontation under false pretenses. One morning, when Quli Khan approached Azim-us-Shan, soldiers led by Abdul Wahid surrounded him demanding payment. According to historian Chowdhury, Quli Khan recognized the plot and warned the soldiers about their conspiracy. He told them, "You have conspired to assassinate me. Remember that the Alamgir (Aurangzeb) will come to know everything." His calm response disarmed the situation temporarily. However, he secretly reported the incident to Aurangzeb, who issued a stern warning to Azim-us-Shan against harming Quli Khan. The episode highlighted the precarious nature of political survival in Mughal Bengal during this turbulent period.

  8

• 4. Founding Of Murshidabad

  ›

  Feeling unsafe in Dhaka, Quli Khan relocated the diwani office to Mukshudabad, later renamed Murshidabad. He chose this location because it lay centrally within Bengal, facilitating communication across the province. Its position along the banks of the Ganges attracted European trading companies seeking access to regional markets. By moving bankers and administrative functions there, he transformed the city into a thriving commercial hub. Historian Chowdhury notes that Quli Khan acted with support from Aurangzeb, which allowed him to bypass Azim-us-Shan's objections. A year later, in 1703, Aurangzeb transferred Azim-us-Shan out of Bengal, leaving Farrukhsiyar as titular subahdar. The capital officially shifted to Mukshudabad, now known as Murshidabad, becoming the center of all provincial activities. Disputes persist over whether the renaming occurred in 1702 or 1704, but evidence points toward 1704 based on coinage records.

  59

• 5. Revenue System Reforms

  ›

  Quli Khan replaced the traditional jagirdari system with the mal jasmani model, resembling France’s fermiers généraux. Under this new arrangement, security bonds were taken from contractors who collected land revenue. Although many jagirdars initially remained, they were gradually displaced by these contractors, who eventually became zamindars. Despite the decline of the Mughal Empire, Quli Khan continued sending substantial revenues to Delhi annually. Records indicate that every year, 1 crore 30 lakh rupees plus additional payments in kind reached the imperial treasury. He personally oversaw the transport of funds and goods via infantry and cavalry units to Bihar for delivery to collectors. His justification was twofold: maintaining loyalty to the emperor while ensuring autonomy in governing Bengal according to his own vision.

  6

• 6. Architectural Legacy

  ›

  As Murshidabad grew into the capital of Bengal, Quli Khan commissioned several key structures to support governance and trade. In the Dugharia region, he built a palace, a diwankhana serving as an office for revenue collection, and an inn for foreign travelers. A mint established in 1720 facilitated local economic activity. Perhaps most notably, he constructed the Katra Masjid mosque in 1724 at the eastern end of the city. This five-bayed rectangular structure served both religious purposes and housed his final resting place beneath its staircase. Popular belief suggests materials used came from destroyed Hindu temples, though evidence indicates uniformity in construction materials. Instead, Khan remained an active patron of local temples throughout his reign, reflecting a complex relationship between faith and architecture.

  39