Sarfaraz Khan

Early life

Born Mirza Asadullah, sometime after 1700, he ascended as the Nawab of Bengal under the title Mutaman ul-Mulk, Ala ud-Daula, Nawab Sarfaraz Khan Bahadur, Haidar Jang , Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. He was earlier raised to the title of Sarfaraz Khan by the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar in 1720 and was the Diwan of Bengal from 1720-1726.

He was the elder son of Mutamad ul-Mulk, Shuja ud-Daula, Nawab Muhammad Shuja Khan Bahadur (Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan), Asad Jang, Nawab Nazim of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, by his first wife, Zainab un-nisa Begum Sahiba, daughter of Mutamad ul-Mulk, Ala ud-Daula, Nawab Murshid Quli Khan Bahadur Nasiri, Nasir Jang, Nawab Nazim of Bengal and Orissa.

Succession

Sarfaraz Khan succeeded on the death of his maternal grandfather, 30 June 1727 but was deposed in favour of his own father, July 1727. He succeeded his father on his death, 13 March 1739 and remained the Nawab of Bengal between 1739 and 1740 until being defeated by Alivardi Khan in 1740.

Reign

Known to be an extremely pious, religious and moderate ruler he left the administration into the hands of his Nazims and Naib Nazims. Religious matters was his priority. This neglect in administrative matters resulted the gradual rise of Alivardi Khan the Nazim of Azimabad (Patna).

Sarfaraz Khan became the Diwan of Bengal for sometime early into the reign of his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan and later became the Nazim of Jahangir Nagar (Dhaka). Sarfaraz, however,did...
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