2018-01-17 Wed

Alivardi Khan (1671-1756) was the Nawab Nazim of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. A Shiite Muslim by religion, Alivardi Khan was the son of Mirza Muhammad Madani, who served Azam Shah, the son of the great Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb. His mother was a descent of the Turkish tribe of Afshar.

After the death of Azam Shah, the family fell into poverty and Alivardi Khan came to Delhi and passed his days in extreme deficiency, often going without a meal. It was Shuja- Ud- Din Muhammad Khan who bestowed him with the title of Alivardi. Alivardi Khan advised him on the kingdom's administration and financial matters. He was then chosen as the deputy Nazim of Bihar in 1733 and was later entitled Mahabat Jang, for his brilliant economic reforms and efficient management skills in the ruling of Bihar.

In the year 1740, he defeated Sarfaraz Khan in the battle of Giria and became the Nawab of Bengal. Alivardi khan put up a brave fight against the Afghan invasions and this took a heavy toll on his health. Alivardi Khan nominated his grandson Siraj-ud-daula to be his heir. Alivardi died in the year 1756 and Siraj-ud-daula succeeded him as the next ruler.

The given coin in the image was an issue of Alivardi Khan. The obverse the coin is inscribed with Persian legend ‘Sikka Mubarak Badshah Ghazi Alamgir’ while the reverse of the coin read as ‘Zarb Jahangirnagar Sanah 2 Julus Mainamat Manus’.