Zakariya Khan Bahadur

Zakariya Khan (died 1 July 1745), alternatively spelt as Zakaria Khan, was the Mughal subahdar of the Lahore and Multan subahs from 1726 till his death in 1745, succeeding his father, Abd al-Samad Khan, at the both posts.

Zakariyyā Khān زکریا خان Bahadur
Detail of Zakariya Khan Bahadur leisuring from a 19th century Sikh drawing
Governor of Lahore
In office 1726 – 1 July 1745
Monarch	Muhammad Shāh
Preceded by	Abd al-Samād Khān
Succeeded by	Yahyā Khān
Governor of Multan
In office 1737 – 1 July 1745
Preceded by	Abd al-Samād Khān
Succeeded by	Shāh Nawāz Khān
Personal details
Died	1 July 1745 Lahore Subah
Children	3, including Shāh Nawāz Khān and Yahyā Khān
Parent	Abd al-Samād Khān (father)
Military service
Allegiance	Mughal Empire
Branch/service	Mughal Army
Battles/wars	Siege of Gurdāspūr (1715) Battle of Gurdās Nangal (1715) Mughal-Afsharid war (1738)

He was descended from the Ansari family of Panipat.^[1] He continued and extended his father's policy of severe persecution of Sikhs, and thousands of Sikhs were killed during his period in the post, especially during the Chhota Ghallughara.^[2][3]

Biography

Zakariya Khan Bahadur being hit by a Singh's shoe, detail from a 19th century Sikh drawing

Zakriya Khan was given control of Lahore by Persian Emperor Nader Shah during his invasion of the Mughal Empire in 1738 in return for annual tribute payments to the Persian crown.^[4] He continued the persecution of Sikhs and appointed Salabat Khan to block Amritsar and not allowing Sikhs to worship there. Zakaria Khan condemned the religious martyr, Haqiqat Rai, to death.^[5] According to prominent early Sikh historian Ratan Singh Bhangu, in response to having his scalp torn off, Bhai Taru Singh cursed Zakaria Khan, saying he would be killed by his shoes. According to Sikh sources, after cutting Bhai Taru Singh's scalp, Zakaria Khan was stricken with unbearable pain and the inability to urinate. As a last resort, Khan sent an apology to the Khalsa Panth for his persecution of Sikhs and begged for forgiveness. It was suggested that if Khan hit himself with Singh's shoes, his condition might be lifted. Although it would cure Khan of his condition, he died 22 days later from having hit himself with the shoes, just as Singh predicted.

Zakariya Khan died in 1745 and was survived by three sons: Yahya Khan, Hayatullah Khan, and Mir Baqi.^[6] Yahya Khan and Hayatullah Khan were at the imperial court at the time of the father's death whilst Mir Momin and Nimmat Khan were away on an expedition against the Hill States.^[7]

Salabat Khan was killed in an encounter with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Sikhs liberated Amritsar in March 1748.^[8]

In popular culture

Film and television

Zakariya Khan is portrayed by:

• Shaikh Sami in the DD National series Maharaja Ranjit Singh
• Avtar Gill in the 2023 film Mastaney

See also

• Farrukhsiyar
• Massa Ranghar
• Jaspat Rai