Kamboj - During Muslim Rule

During Muslim Rule

During the early years of Islam in India, one of the groups of this clan embraced Islam at the instance of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi (of Multan) and his son Shaikh Sadruddin.

Muslim Kambojs were influential during Lodhi and Moghul rule. Miyan Jumman Khan Kamboh was "Hajib-i-Khas" (Special Lord of Bed Chamber), Umar Khan Kamboh was Amir-i-Akhur (Minister of Cavalry department) and Miyan Ladan Khan Kamboh was an Imam and Royal Nadim of Sikandar Lodhi. Shaikh Itmad-ul-Malik Sambhal was Amir-i-Arz (Paymaster General) and then Prime Minister of Sher Shah Suri. General Shahbaz Khan Kamboh was the most capable and trusted general of the Akbar. He had been "Mir Tozak" (Quarter Master General/Master of Ceremonies), "Mir Bakshi" (Lord Pay Master General/Chief Military Adviser), and "Wakil" (Highest Mughal Administrative Officer, Prime Minister) of Emperor Akbar. As a Governor of Bengal in 1581, Shabaz Khan had distinguished himself greatly and had commanded 9000 strong cavalry in Bengal when operating in Brahmputra,. Shaikh Gadai Kamboh had been "Sadru-s-Sadur" or "Sadar-i-Jahan" (Administrator General or Lord Chief Justice) in Akbar's reign. Nawab Saddullah Khan Chanyoti was the Prime Minister and General Nawab Bahadur Kamboh had been very active and intelligent military officer and Vizier (Minister) in the court of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan held a mansab of 5000 horsemen during reign of Aurangzeb and of 6000 during Bahadur Shah's reign and had been governor of Katehr (Rohilkhand), Bihar, Etawah, Bengal, Kalabagh and Hamuiri at different times of his life.

Numerous other Kamboj are known to have occupied very key military and civil positions during Lodhi, Pashtun and the Moghul reign in India. "The Sayyids and the Kambohs among the Indian Muslims were specially favored for high military and civil positions during Moghul rule".

"The Kambo, Indian Shaikh-zadas and local Saiyid nobles rose to prominence during the period under review" (i.e. Lodi dynasty of Delhi).

Muhammad Umar writes: "The (Muslim) Kamboh distinguished themselves by their courage, generosity and high spirits. They were famous for their excellent manners and were particularly gifted with wisdom and nobility....In terms of social stratification, the Kambohs were counted among the Shaikhs.....Among the Indian Muslims, the Kambohs were regarded as the noblest of all. However, perhaps with a view to maintaining the purity of their descent, or because of pride of nobility, they confined their matrimonial relationships within their own groups and did not establish marriage connections with other Muslim groups including even the Saiyids and the Mughals. Some members of this clan like Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, Nawab Abu Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Khan and Nawab Khair Andesh Khan rose to high positions during the reign of Mughals" .

Ain-i-Akbari of Abu-Al-Fazal Alami (Trans. H. Blochman) informs us that it was a matter of distinction to belong to the Kamboh lineage during the reigns of Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir .

The Kambohs held Nakodar in Jullundur and Sohna in Gurgaon some centuries ago; and the tombs and mosques that they have left (in Sohna) show that they must have enjoyed considerable position.