Khan Jahan Lodi (born Pir Khan Lodi) was one of the most prominent nobles in the court of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. He is well known for his patronage of the Makhzan-i-Afghani, written by Naimatullah Harvi. However, in the second year of Emperor Shah Jahan’s reign, he was compelled to rebel. Darya Khan Daudzai, another influential Pashtun noble, joined Khan Jahan’s defiance and convinced him to aim for the restoration of Pashtun rule in India. Meanwhile, Darya Khan’s brother-in-law, Shaikh Kamal-ud-Din Daudzai, who held a jagir in Peshawar, spearheaded a Pashtun uprising against the Mughals within Pakhtunkhwa.
After suffering several setbacks at the hands of Mughal forces, Khan Jahan Lodi planned to retreat to the Punjab on the advice of Darya Khan Daudzai, Aimal Khan Tarin, and Sardar Khan Rohilla. Their objective was to establish direct contact with the tribes of Pakhtunkhwa. However, Khan Jahan was intercepted before reaching the Punjab and was killed by Mughal forces. He died fighting bravely. The Badshahnama records his end:
"When the misfortunate [Khan Jahan Lodi] saw that the approaching army would in no way leave him alone, he dismounted from his horse and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Madho Singh and a group of macebearers. During the struggle, Madho Singh struck him with a lance. Most of his companions were killed, and the macebearers beheaded the rebels."
Uprising in Pakhtunkhwa
According to the Badshahnama and Amal-i-Salih, Shaikh Kamaluddin (a Bazid Khel Daudzai) initiated the uprising at the instance of Khan Jahan Lodi, who had sent him letters for that purpose. As claimed by the author of Amal-i-Salih, Khan Jahan Lodi had been contemplating the establishment of Afghan rule to replace the Mughals even before his formal rebellion.
According to these two contemporary authorities, Shaikh Kamaluddin gathered the Pashtun tribes of Peshawar and Hashtnagar—namely the Muhammadzais, Gigyanis, Khalils, Mohmands, Daudzais, Yousafzais, and Tarklanis. He also induced Abdul Qadir (great-grandson of Pir Roshan) to join the cause, bringing with him Karim Dad (the blind son of Jalala), and Muhammad Zaman (son of Pir Dad). They were subsequently joined by the Dawars of the Tochi Valley, the tribes of Tirah, the Upper and Lower Bangash, the Khattaks from the southern regions, and the Jajis and Turis, all united under the cause of Khan Jahan Lodi.
The Badshahnama records:
"Most of the Afghan tribes, from the banks of the Attock River to the environs of Kabul and beyond, joined hands with him and decided that, to begin with, the dust of disorder should be raised from Peshawar." (Vol. I, Part 1, p. 311)
The Amal-i-Salih adds:
"He [Khan Jahan Lodi] wrote a fool-entrapping letter, containing a thousand temptations and persuasions, to Kamal-ud-Din... That arrogant one, not probing deep into the matter, was at once taken in by his writing. He summoned all the Afghans to his help and began creating disorder and discord in that land." (Vol. 1, pp. 378-379)
Said Khan, who was stationed at Kohat, received news of the uprising and marched to Peshawar with the remainder of his forces, leaving only a small detachment behind. Initially, he was not strong enough to attack the insurgents. On June 12, 1630, the Pashtuns surrounded the city walls, forcing Said Khan and his troops to retreat within the Bala Hissar citadel.
However, fortune favored the Mughals as internal divisions arose among the Pashtun ranks. Upon witnessing this disunity, Abdul Qadir retired to the Tirah hills. Following his desertion, Shaikh Kamaluddin and his remaining followers bore the full brunt of the Mughal onslaught. The author of the Tarikh-i-Murassa notes:
"Abdul Qadir was the first to lay siege. When other tribes gathered, they became jealous of him, as is customary among the Pashtuns due to lack of understanding, fearing the credit would go solely to Abdul Qadir. Fearing they would conspire with the Mughals to hand him over, he marched off to Tirah with his forces at night. The Mughals, learning of the dissension, emerged from the fort. The remaining Pashtuns fought them but were defeated; a great number of the Yusufzais and Gigyanis were killed."
Regarding the fate of Shaikh Kamaluddin Daudzai following the Mughal victory at Peshawar, his name disappears from the annals of Shah Jahan’s reign. This suggests that he never surrendered.
Death of Khan Jahan Lodi, ca.1633. From Badshahnama
‘Bikramajit’s Victory over Darya Khan in 1631’. Link
Portrait of Khan Jahan Lodi, ca.1670 (made).
Portrait of Khan Jahan Lodi, ca.1615 (made). Inscribed in Persian is 'likeness of Khan Jahan Afghan'
Abdullah Khan Firoz Jang (Mughal officer) with the head of Khan Jahan Lodi, ca. 1631 (made)
1- "On a Foreign Approach to Khushhal: A Critique of Caroe and Howell", Dost Muhammad Khan Kamil, pp.15-29
2- "The Afghan nobility and the Mughals: 1526-1707", Rita Joshi, p-130
3- "History of the Pathans", Vol-ii, pp-430-431
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