A Martyr in the Mughal Night: The Tragic End of Mirzā Hindāl

The annals of the Mughal Empire are filled with tales of grand victories, political intrigue, and complex family dynamics. Among the figures who navigated these treacherous waters, Mirzā Hindāl, the half-brother of Emperor Humāyūn, stands out not just for his participation in the era's conflicts, but for the manner of his end – a death deemed a martyrdom in the service of his sovereign.

Abu'l Fazl, the esteemed chronicler of Akbar's reign in the Akbarnama, recounts the turbulent period following Humāyūn's return from Persia and his ongoing struggle to reclaim his throne from his rebellious brother, Mirzā Kāmrān. This was a time of shifting loyalties, daring maneuvers, and constant peril, particularly from unexpected attacks.

The Shadow of Conflict

The conflict between Humāyūn and Kāmrān was more than a political rivalry; it was a bitter fraternal feud that destabilized the nascent empire. While Kāmrān repeatedly betrayed Humāyūn, seeking power through alliances with Afghans and Uzbeks, Mirzā Hindāl, despite earlier moments of wavering, had largely committed himself to Humāyūn's cause. His loyalty became a crucial anchor in a sea of uncertainty.

Humāyūn, having re-established a foothold, was constantly wary of Kāmrān's movements. The text describes Humāyūn's forces encamped near Japriār, a village in the district of Neknahār, taking precautions against a potential night assault. Batteries were arranged, and a trench and bulwark were prepared – standard defensive measures of the time, reflecting the ever-present threat.

The Fatal Night Attack

Intelligence arrived that Mirzā Kāmrān, allied with a large body of Afghans, intended to launch a night attack. Humāyūn's forces were put on high alert, stationed at every point along the entrenchments. It was the night of Sunday, the 21st of Zīl-qa'da, 958 AH (corresponding to November 20, 1551 CE).

As a quarter of the night passed, Kāmrān and his Afghan allies struck. The camp was plunged into chaos under the cover of darkness. Humāyūn, ever the leader, mounted his horse and took position on a height behind his tent, summoning his young son, Akbar, to his side. The loyal soldiers held their ground in the entrenchments, and the battle raged fiercely.

Mirzā Hindāl was among those defending the lines. The text notes that an undesirable number of Afghans managed to penetrate the batteries, including Hindāl's. In the dark confusion, Hindāl confronted the attackers. While his own men were reportedly distracted, looking after their horses, Hindāl engaged the enemy directly. The time for ranged weapons passed, and he grappled with an Afghan. In this desperate hand-to-hand struggle, the Afghan's brother, named Jaranda of the Mahmand tribe, struck Hindāl with a poison-stained spear, sending the Mirzā to "the other world."

Discovery and Grief

Hindāl's death went unnoticed in the immediate pandemonium. His soul departed "without its being known," his body left where it fell. Later, as some of his servants returned, Khwāja Ibrāhīm Badakhshī spotted a body wearing a black cuirass – the kind Hindāl wore. Despite the darkness and ongoing fight, he recognized the Mirzā. With remarkable presence of mind, he carried the body back to Hindāl's tent and, to prevent the enemy from rejoicing or the imperial forces from being disheartened, concealed the death, reporting that the Mirzā was merely fatigued and slightly wounded.

The truth eventually reached Humāyūn. The news that Mirzā Hindāl had "left this evil world" turned the joy of the victory into "abundance of sorrow." Abu'l Fazl describes Humāyūn's grief as exceeding human conception, lamenting the loss of his noble brother. Yet, guided by wisdom, Humāyūn turned from lamentation to resignation, accepting the Divine Will.

Loyalty Remembered

Hindāl's death was not just a personal tragedy for Humāyūn; it was a significant loss for the empire. Abu'l Fazl frames it as gaining "the glory of martyrdom," acquiring a "good name in the visible world and an exalted rank in the world of reality." This perspective highlights the cultural and spiritual value placed on dying in service, particularly in contrast to the perceived treachery of others.

In a poignant move, Humāyūn later assigned Hindāl's territories, including Ghaznin, to young Akbar. This transfer, occurring when Akbar was just ten years old, was seen as a recognition of Hindāl's loyal service and a symbolic passing of the torch to the future emperor, whose own greatness, Abu'l Fazl suggests, was already apparent.

Mirzā Hindāl's story, preserved in the Akbarnama, serves as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of power struggles in the 16th century and the high price paid by those caught in their web. His end, in the chaos of a night battle, underscores the unpredictable nature of warfare, while his portrayal as a loyal martyr offers insight into the values esteemed within the Mughal court and the narratives constructed to legitimize rule and honor sacrifice.

His tomb was eventually placed in Kabul, near that of his father, Bābar, a final resting place that speaks to his enduring, albeit tragic, place within the imperial family history." royal lineage he served until his last breath."