MUSLIM KAMBOHS

A PROMINENT RULING ELITE, OF MUSLIM ERA

According to well known historian, Mr A. L. Bhasham:

“The administrative reforms of Akbar had over-hauled the entire set up of muslem leadership. Not only the Iranians but even the Afghans as well as Indian Moslems like Sheikhzadas, Sayads & Kambohs formed an equal partners in the administrative set up of the Moslem rule.” (Cultural History of India by A. L. Basham, Oxford, 1975, p 261).

The Ain-I-Akbari of Abu Fazal (Translated by H. Blochman) states that :

“under Akbar and Jahangir, it was indeed a matter of distinction to belong to the Kamboh (Kamboj) caste and that no Kamboh was in economically bad circumstances in whole of India during this period”. (Aina-I-Akbari by Abu Fazal, Trans H. Blochman).

“Thus during the mediaval period, the Kambohs or Kambojs were considered and classed among the ruling elites” [Dr. (Prof) Jaspaul K Dhanju].

“The Moslem rule was indeed a golden period for the Indian Kambojas after they had lost their ancient kingdoms in course of time” , rightly states S Kirpal Singh Dardi.[These Kamboj People, 1980, p 202, K. S. Dardi].

(1) Among the Zuberi Kamboh Moslems, the name of Makhdum Sheikh Samayudin Kamboh (also called Sheikh Nasirudin Kamboh) is very prominent. He was born in 1405 in Multan in Pakistan. His father Maulana Sheikh Fakhrudin was a respectable religious leader of the time. Makhdum Sheikh Samayudin was the royal religious adviser or Pir to emperor Behlol Lodhi and later to Sikandar Lodhi and commanded greatest respect amongst the entire religious community of the time.

(2) Mufti Jamal-u-din Kamboh was the grand son of Makhdum Sheikh Samayudin(Sheikh Nasirudin Kamboh) Zuberi. Jamaludin remained chief Judge of Delhi during the reigns of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi, Emperor Babur and his son Emperor Hamayun. Interestingly, he maintained this prestigious position during the brief rule of Pathan ruler Sher Shah Suri also. Probably, he was also the Chief Justice of Delhi during Akbar times. This is because he lived more than 90 long years and thereby, he must have been also a contemporary of Akbar for some times. Therefore, he must have maintained his highly respected position during the days of Akbar also. He died in 484 Hijri (Aina-a-Akbari by Abu Fazal Alami, English Trans H. Blocheman, Second Ed, 1965, p 614). His respectable father and Mia Ladan Khan Kamboh, his uncle, a welknown scholar of his times, tutored him. Author of Muntakhbu-a-Twarikh writes: “Mia Jamal-u-din delivered religious sermons. He never went to the homes of the emperor and other Aristocratic Amirs/Viziers. He always kept company with the Danashmands (intellectuals), philosophers, holymen and high class respected magistrates. Numerous of his students became great intellectuals and philosophers of their times.”

(3) Mian Ladan Khan Kamboh : was son of Sheikh Nasirudin Kamboh: He was a scholar and philosopher Moslem Kamboh from the Zuberi Kamboh line. He was the intellectual and religious teacher of Mian Jamal-u-din Kamboh.

(4) Sheikh Jamali Kamboh : “He was one of the greatest poets-cum-scholar of the times in Persian language. He was much a respected and favored religious personage in the court of Sikandar Lodhi and later that of Babur. He had traveled to Arab, Egypt, Rome, Sham, Iran, Irak, Turkistan, and Afghanistan countries in those days of limited communication means. He had greatly enriched Persian literature and is considered a great sufi poet and philosopher of Persian literature”.(ref: Silsila Alya, by Anayat Hussain Mahravi)

(5 )Nawab Aitmad-Al-Malik Kamboh Sambhvi: Was a great Surbeer Yodha …a very brave person who had steadfastly helped Sher Shah Suri in defeating Hamayun. As a result, when Sher Shah Suri later became emperor, Nawab Aitmad al Malik Kamboh was appointed his prime minister. Nawab sahib was instrumental in moulding Emperor Sher Shah Suri to concentrate on the administrative reforms for the benefit of the public whom he ruled. Thus Sher Shah under took, with his help, to open numerous hospitals for men & animals, dug up wells, erect Sarais or Dharamshalas etc. He also pioneered the land reforms to improve the economic condition of farmers and increase food produce. This great person is the author of Great Trunk Road which lies now between Peshawar and Calcutta. Sher Shah Suri and Nawab Aitmad al Malik Kamboh are remembered for these works they undertook for the welfare of the public in a short span of only six years of Sher Sha Suri's rule.

(6) Sheikh Abdul Gadai Kamboh : Had been a great religious leader during the times of Hamayun and Akbar. He was sada-a-sadur (Chief-Justice or administrative General) of Akbar. He was the son of Sheikh Jamali, who was a great Sufi and poet of Persian language. Sheikh Gadai was greatest scholar of Akbar times and always kept company with great scholars and philosophers of the times. Everyone in Darbar-a-Akbari was obligated to bow his head and shake his beard to pay obeisance to Akbar as entered the court. But Sheikh Gadai Kamboh was an exception. Rather, the emperor personally would visit Shiekh Gadai Sahib to obtain his blessings. He had limitless powers in the matter of Administration in Darbari-a-Akbari. He had unlimited powers to grant & take back fiefs and pass on & remit death sentences etc. He undertook numerous reforms including land reforms. He was also a famous poet of Persian language.

According Muntakhbu-a-Twarikh, “He obtained the position of Sadar-a-Sadur. In the religious affairs in India, Khorasan, Irans, and the Central Asian countries beyond the Oxus river, for many years he continued to be considered the chief among the Pirs and great religious leaders of these countries. He was indeed a born poet and wrote numerous poetry in the Indian tradition and sung them in scholarly gatherings about which he was always very excited. He would visit the Dargahs of Saints, Pirs & religious philosophers and would arrange annual fairs on their ursa. He breathed his last in 976 Hijri (1568/69).” [Muntakhbu-a-Twarikh]

(7) Sheikh Hasham Khan Kamboh was grand son of Mufti Jamaludin Zuberi. He was a famous Manasabdar (General) during the reign of Jahangir.

(8) Nawab Amadul Malik Kamboh : He was the grand son of Sheikh Hasham Khan. He was the chief justice of Lahore during Shah Jahan. Later, he became the governor of Lahore and Multan during the rule of Aurangzeb.

(9) Sheikh Abdul Aziz Multani : Was Prime minister of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi.

(10) Hasham Mohammad Akram Khan Kamboh was the chief justice of Delhi during the times of Aurangzeb.

(11) Shah Baaz Khan Kamboh : General Shahbaz Khan was one of the finest general of Emperor Akbar. Credit for most of Akbar ‘s expansions goes to this valiant Shah Baaz Khan Kamboh. Shahbaaz Khan won for Akbar the territories of Jaunpore, Bengal, Avadh, Ajmer, Udaypore, Jodhpore, Southern and Western Punjab etc. This valiant general had reduced to submission the famous Rajput Hindu chiefs like Rajaput Rana Partap, Raja Jai Chandra sen, Rana Komalgir, Rana Sangram and Raja of Surat etc. The famed Rana Partap, a proud Rajput was decisively crushed by Shahbaaz Khan and there was enormous blood shed resorted by Shabaaz upon the soldiery of Rana Partap. Rana Partap however, succeeded in saving his life by escaping from the siege of Shahbaaz Khan in the guise of a recluse or an ascetic.

Abu Fazal states that Shahbaaz Khan was an excellent general, faithful officer but he also accuses him of fanaticism. In matter of magnanimity and generosity he had no equals and his collegue generals were jealous that he has got a parse or a touchstone in his possession. His army division was always found in the best possible condition. He owned an excellent fleet of 10,000 horsemen which was made up entirely of the Kamboja soldiers. The total annual pay for his unit was over Rs 30,00000.00 in those good old days .He was the best friend of the Kambojs of whatever religion they came from and had helped them to the best of his capacity. It is stated in the Ain-a-Akbari that he helped and gave so much to the Kambohs that not even a single Kamboj was in a bad economic condition in those days.(Aina-a-Akbari by Abu-Fazal Alami Trans by H. Blochman, 1965, Second Edition).

The well known saying ‘Kukur Kaan Kamboh Kabila Palde' had indeed become vogue as a consequence to Shah Baaz Khaan's over-generosity towards his ethnicl kins from Kamboja tribe.

Daily, Shabaaz Khan would donate 100 Asharafis to the poor in the name of famous Gavas, Abdul Kadu-a-Jilani. By his valiant achievements in the field of military, Akbar was so much pleased with him that he awarded him jagir after jagir. Probably, he was the richest General of his times and thus also earned the jealousy of numerous people like Birbal, a Hindu minister in Akbar's court. After Akbar, his enemies succeeded in prevailing upon Jahangir to seize from his successors the entire fiefdom and other estate he had been awarded by Akbar for his military achievements.

Shahbaaz Khan was indeed a very arrogant General and his clash in the court of Akbar with other Generals and ministers was a routine matter. But as he was an excellent general and faithful officer, Akbar had a great regard and appreciation for Shahbaaz Khan and liked to invite Shahbaaz khan to keep company with him. In the matters of religion (Islam) Shah Baaz Khan did not even care for Akbar's authority and even defied Akbar at times. His arrogance & fanaticism indeed earned obsctacles in his way for further promotion as he did not achieve what he was really worth for. (Abu Fazal in Aina-a-Akbari). He was dedicated Nimazi and never failed in the performance of five nimaaza/day.

The above text is based on Aina-a-Akbari by Abu-Fazal (Translated by H. Blochman.) [Ref p 436-444, 344, 365, 382, 197, 347, 197, 440 etc).

(12) Ilham-u-lah Kamboh : He was the son of General Shah Baaz Khan Kamboh. He held a position of Diwantan for Baglana but soon he died there. (Aina-A-Akbari by Abu Fazal, Trans H. Blochman, 1965, Second Edition, p 440)

(13) General Ranbaaz Khan : He was son of General Shah Baaz Khan. Originally he commanded a cavaliery of 1200 soldiers. Later he was promoted and became 2000 manasabdar (General) in the reign of Shah Jahan after 13 years of meritorious service. During 20th year of his service, he was propmoted and became full general for the military expedition that was sent to Bangash (Aina-A-Akbari by Abu Fazal, Trans H. Blochman, 1965, Second Edition, p 440)

(14) Maulana Sheikh Hamad, Bin Fazal Allah Jamali Multani Kamboh : He was son-in-law as well as desciple of Hazrat Sheikh Samayudin. He was the religious tutor of Emperor Sikandhar Lodhi.

(15) Sheikh Abdul Aziz Multani Kamboh : He was the prime minister of Ibrahim Lodhi.

(16) Nawab Iatmadul Malik Sambhvi Kamboh : was a senior minister (some say Prime minister) of Pathan ruler Sher Shah Suri.

(17) Sheikh Abdul Moman Kamboh : He was from Aristocrats of Sambhal. He was minister in the court of Shah Jahan.

(18) Nawab Sadula Khan Chanyoti Kamboh : He was the prime minister of Shah Jahan and carried out his responsibilities of prime ministership very well.

(19) Nawab Vakaral Malik, Maulvi Mushtak Hussain : Was the governor of southern state of Nizam Haidrabad, later became home minister of Haydrabad and later his deputy prime minister. For long time he had been secretary of Aligarh Moslem University.
(20) Sheikh Anaytulah was a Moslem Kamboj from Lahore. By virtue of his intelligence and abilities, he was promoted as Mir Munshi (General) and later a minister in the court of Shah Jahan.

(21) Sheikh Mohammad Saleh Kamboh Lahori : He was nephew (sister's son) of Sheikh Anayatulah. He was a Diwan of Lahore during Shah Jahan. He wrote a book Shah-Jahan-nama in Persian language. This is a well known book in history.

(22) Khwaja Hassan Multani Kamboh : He was a Multani Kamboh. Sher Shah Suri awarded him rulership of Pargana Marhara in 1502. He was very respected courtier in Darbare Sher Shah Suri.

(23) Abu Mohammad Khan Multani Kamboh : son of Khwaja Hassan Multani, was a Amir Vizier in the court of Aurangzeb.

(24 )Nawab Bahudur Khan Merathi : was another a Amir Vizier in the court of Emperor Aurangzeb.

(25) Nawab Dadan Khan : He remained for some time the Governor of Lahore and had some tussels with rebel Sikhs.

(26) Nawab Mohabat Khan : He was son of Nawab Dadan Khan. He remained the Governor of Peshawar.

(27) Nawab Khair Andesh Khan : Was first son of Nawab Mohabat Khan. Very able person indeed. When the governorship of Gujarat fell vacant, in his choice of the names for the vacant position, Emperor Aurangzeb wrote to his prime minister Jamal-tal-Malik Asand Khan that for the governorship of Gujarat, he does not see more able a person than Khair Andesh Khan Kamboh.

(27) Nawab Khairyat Andesh Khan : Nawab Mohabat Khan's second son Khairyat Andesh Khan was 5000 Manasbdar (General) and was also a governor of Kashmir. This sahib had constructed the Nawab Bazar of Kashmir.

(28) Ahisan Ali Khan: was the brother of Kharyat Andesh Khan and was the governor of Kashmir during times of Ahamad Shah Durani.

(29) Afet Andesh Khan : was also son of Khairyat Andesh Khan. He was 2000 Manasabdar (General) as well as was appointed governor of Otawa during the last phase of Mogul rule.

(30) Hasham Mohammad Akbar Khan : Was Lahori Kamboj. He was the Chief justice of Delhi during the rule of Aurangzeb.

(31) Dr. Zialudin Kamboh, Ph D. Had been a great Moslem leader of modern times. Remained Vice Chancelor of Moslem University of Aligarh for long time.

(32) Hamad Ali Khan Kamboh : was a well known barrister of UP. He obtained Bar-at Law in 1885 from England and was one of the topmost legal expert of the State of Uttar Pardesh of his times. He wrote several books on Law in the early twentieth century.

(33) Hakim Anayat Hussain Mahravi : Was a famous historian. He wrote a book named Sil-Sila Alia, on Kamboj history at the start of 1119th c AD.

(34) Bahavudin Kamboh : Was another prestigious Moslem Kamboj in the court of Akbar. Akbar had deputed Bahavudin Kamboj to negotiate with rebel king of Kashmir Yusuf Khan Chaak (a Kamboj?).

(35) Yusuf Khan Chak : Another well known Kamboj of ‘Chaak' sub-caste. Was the king of Kashmir during Akbar's reign. But was a rebel and at odds with Akbar.