January 14, 2014
Once a splendid oasis, this garden now stands in ruins, a forgotten relic of the Chahar Bagh Gardens that once graced the road to Shalimar Gardens, a testament to the opulence of the Mughal nobility. Situated to the west of the Shalimar Gardens and south of Baghbanpura, the garden was once encircled by a towering masonry wall. Sadly, the passage of time has taken its toll, and much of the garden has been encroached upon by the local populace, leaving only fragments of the original wall intact.
In local parlance, this garden is fondly referred to as "Saithan di Bagheechi." The ancient gateway, located on the western side, bears the marks of time, while additional stories were added by Parsi merchants from Bombay who owned the property in the late 1800s. A newer gateway once stood to the north, but it now exists only in traces, engulfed by the houses that surround the garden. On the eastern and southern sides, there were once rooms and chambers constructed with sturdy bricks, but these structures have long since vanished. To the south, a modest mosque once graced the garden, though it has undergone extensive renovations.
The garden's creation is attributed to Mahabat Khan, also known as Khan-e-Khanan, Yamin-ud-Daula. Born as Zamana Beg, he was the son of Ghyur Beg from Kabul. In his autobiography, Emperor Jahangir writes of Zamana Beg, stating, "Zamana Beg, son of Ghayur Beg, held the dignity of 500 when I was Crown Prince. Upon my accession, he received the title of Mahabat Khan and a mansab of 1500 and was appointed Paymaster of my household."
In the seventeenth year of Jahangir's reign, Mahabat Khan was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army with a mansab of 7000. He was sent to confront Shah Jahan and emerged victorious in a battle near Allahabad. Mahabat Khan passed away in 1634, having achieved the prestigious position of Khan-e-Khanan and serving as the head of the military administration. Shah Jahan made arrangements for Mahabat Khan's eldest son, who eventually ascended to the Governorship of Kabul, inheriting his father's title.
Subsequently, Maharaja Ranjit Singh bestowed the garden upon Faqir Aziz-ud-Din, who diligently cared for its upkeep. Following Faqir Aziz-ud-Din's demise, his successor, Faqir Charagh-ud-Din, sold the garden to Jahangirji & Co., a Parsi merchant group.
In the heart of the garden, now in a state of ruin, rests a substantial masonry grave atop a spacious platform. Both Chishti and Sarwar attribute this tomb to Mahabat Khan. Curiously, Latif's historical account of Lahore makes no mention of this grave. Mahabat Khan passed away in the Deccan region in 1634, and his body was transported to Delhi, where he was laid to rest on the grounds of the shrine of Qadam Sharif. Hence, the identity of the interred individual in Mahabat Khan's Garden remains a mystery, at least for now. It is plausible that the Mahabat Khan associated with this garden is an entirely different figure, given the existence of numerous other individuals bearing the name Mahabat Khan throughout Mughal history. For instance, one of Zamana Beg's own sons was bestowed with the title Mahabat Khan upon his father's demise.
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