Yadgar-E-Makhkhan Lal (An Old and Rare Book)

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The Yadgar-e-Makkhan Lal being a contemporary memoir of the Asaf Jahis, contains a graphic picture of various details of the military administra.ion and political structure of the subordinate Nawabs or the Rajas under the Nizam IV of Hyderabad. Incidentally, it provides basic material which is very useful for any research scholar to understand the nobility, the Jagirs and the financial grants, made by the Nizams for the persons employed. The manuscript deals with the socio-economic conditions that existed in the Deccan during the period of the Asaf Jahi rule. Though the manuscript has carried some unnecessary and de- rogatory remarks, it has a basic value as a record of contemporary source.

So far the origin and early life of Makkhan Lal is concerned, there is no definite evidence except that he came to Hyderabad along with his grandfather from Shahjahanabad (Delhi). He first entered in the service of the Nizam III along with Rajdar Khan in the year 1230 A.H. He was also elevated the position of Raja and was considered to be a poet in Persian and Urdu. He was considered the first translator of Persian quatrains of Omar Khayam into Urdu which is now available in the Oriental Manuscripts Library & Research Institute. He died in 1261 A.H. and a locality in the old city called Koncha-e-Makkhan Lal is still existing in memory of the above scholar. It is the policy of the Oriental Manuscripts Library & Research Institute to bring out similar contemporary memoirs which are in Persian, Arabic and Urdu to get them translated by competent scholars with a view to expose to those who are not well-versed in the above languages. To that extent, I am glad to place on record that Yadgar-e-Makkhan Lal, duly edited by Dr. Mir Najmuddin Ali Khan, will provide an opportunity to every research scholar interested in the political, social and economic history of Deccan during the Asaf Jahi regime.

I thank, Sri Mir Karamat Ali, Research Officer and other staff of Oriental Manuscripts Library & Research Institute for assisting me in bringing out the above publication. I also thank M/ s Rare Printers for accomplishing the work in its present shape.

A xerox copy of the manuscript Yadgar-e-Makkkhan Lal was provided to me for trasnlating it into English. This manuscript of whose xerox was given to me belongs to Oriental Manuscript Library and Research Institute Andhra Pradesh. This manuscript is not a good copy, nor there is any edited copy in the OML.

Salar Jung Museum and library has a printed copy of Yadgar- e-Makkkhan Lal in Persian script.

This copy is not in a good condition. It has many mistake of spellings, language, style and facts. The copiest could be held responsible for spellings and language mistake but one cannot forgive the author for giving incorrect information.

As I am a serearch scholar of History, especially of the Deccan and have an experience to read the Persian archival records. In translating this manuscript, I came across many difficulties of language and spelling yet it could not withheld my work. Only for this reason more time was spent in translating it.

In Chapter I the author had made many mistakes of facts. It seems he had done it intentionally to defame the Asaf Jahi family. The reason for this is that from the office in 1248 A.H. and was removed in 1260 A.H. This might have made him prejudice. While writing the names of the other employees of the Government he pays respect to them by weiting Nawab or Raja before their names but he simply uses the names of the Princes (the Kings' sons) without a Nawab or Bahadur.

There is no record about his Parents or education. He was introduced by Raja Chandu Lal in 1234 A.H. to supply the provision in the Royal Palace. (Gulzar-e-Asafi P 377.

Gradually he was raised to a post of Ard Begi and in 1245 AH as Raja Rayan and then elevated to a post of Vizir. But in 1248 AH he was suspended due to certain grave reasons which are not in the knowledge of this translator. In 1260 he was terminated from service. Though he died in 1261 AH yet he was preparing and gathering such materid from 1248 AH itself.

There are so many contemparary histories like Maathir-e- Asafi, Gulzar-e-Asafi, Shajra Asafi, Dastan-e-Nizam Ali Khan and Nizam Ali Khan etc. The material which they supply for the Asaf Jahi dynasty is entirely other than what Makkkahn Lal has geven to the readers.