The Ten-Year Reign: Mirza Haidar's Moment in Kashmir

In the tumultuous years following Emperor Humayun's loss of the Indian throne, his loyalists and relatives found themselves navigating a landscape of shifting alliances and uncertain futures. Amidst this backdrop, a fascinating chapter unfolded in the valley of Kashmir, led by the skilled and complex figure of Mirza Haidar Dughlat, a cousin of Humayun and a renowned historian in his own right.

A Bloodless Entry into the Valley

Mirza Haidar, having previously sought refuge and assistance from Humayun, turned his gaze towards Kashmir. The valley at this time was marked by internal strife and a lack of stable leadership. Ministers held the real power, using nominal rulers as puppets. This political vacuum, coupled with the Mirza's strategic approach, paved the way for an almost effortless takeover.

In 947 AH (1540 AD), Mirza Haidar entered Kashmir through the Poonch pass. Remarkably, he conquered the region without a single battle. The existing power structures, weakened by dissension, offered little resistance. It was a conquest achieved not through brute force, but by capitalizing on the valley's internal disarray.

A Decade of Rule and Contradictions

For the next ten years, Mirza Haidar zealously applied himself to the administration of Kashmir. The Akbarnama notes his efforts to clothe the "desolated appearance" of the land with "cities and civilization." He actively sought out artists and craftsmen from various regions, laboring for the valley's renown and prosperity. Music, in particular, saw a "brisk demand," with new instruments introduced, suggesting a period of cultural invigoration under his patronage.

However, this era of outward progress was marred by what the text describes as the Mirza's "frigid and insipid bigotries" (Ta'asgubhā-i-khunuk-i-bīnamak). This rigid adherence to his own religious views, a result of what the author calls "imperfect development," hindered the fostering of unanimity and fidelity among the Kashmiri populace. The narrative suggests that this personal rigidity created a lasting "odour of bigotry" in the valley, demonstrating how a ruler's personal beliefs can profoundly impact the social fabric.

The Seeds of Downfall

Mirza Haidar's rule, despite its initial successes in bringing a semblance of order and cultural growth, began to unravel. The text points to a critical error: he "transgressed the law of justice" and became preoccupied with his "own lusts and pleasures," letting go of prudence and the burden of responsibility. This shift in focus allowed the inherent "fraud and seditiousness of the Kashmiris," which his earlier skill had suppressed, to resurface.

The opposition, a mix of Afghan auxiliaries and disaffected Kashmiris, strategically worked to separate the Mirza from his capable servants. In 958 AH (1551 AD), a night attack near Khanpur sealed his fate. He lost his life, becoming a "traveller to the region of non-existence." His death underscores the precariousness of power when a ruler loses touch with the principles of just governance and alienates the populace.

A Complex Legacy in the Akbarnama

The Akbarnama, in recounting Mirza Haidar's story, doesn't shy away from presenting a nuanced picture. It acknowledges his initial loyalty to Humayun and his later complex actions, such as reading the khutba (Friday sermon) in the name of a nominal ruler rather than Humayun, though it notes he later corrected this. The text aims to preserve the historical record, showing both the positive contributions (civilization, arts) and the negative aspects (bigotry, eventual misrule) of his time in power.

Mirza Haidar's ten-year interlude in Kashmir serves as a historical lesson on the challenges of imposing external rule, the double-edged sword of a ruler's personal convictions, and the vital importance of maintaining justice and unity. His story, preserved in chronicles like the Akbarnama, reminds us that even periods of apparent stability can be fragile, susceptible to the interplay of leadership, local dynamics, and the unpredictable turns of fate.