Silver Half Tanka of Nasir Shah– Malwa Sultanate

 

Obverse

Inscription	al wathiq bil-samad lam yazali abul muzaffar nasir shah	अल-वसिक़ बिल-समद लम यज़ली आबु’ल मुज़फ़्फ़ार नासिर शाह	الواثق  بالصمد لم یزلی ابوالمظفر ناصر شاہ
Translation	The Truster in God, The Endless The Father of the Victor Nasir Shah	ईश्वर, जो अनादि है, में भरोसा रखने वाला विजेता के पिता नासिर शाह	خدا، جو غیر فانی ہے، میں عتناد رکھنے والا ابوالمظفر ناصر شاہ

Reverse

Inscription	bin ghiyas shah al khilji al sultan Khallada mulkahu 909	बिन ग़ियास शाह अल ख़िलजी अल सुल्तान ख़लदह मूलकहु 909	بن غیاث شاہ الخلجی السلطان خلد ملکہ 909
Translation	Son of Ghiyas Shah Khilji the Sultan, May [God] preserve the country 909	ग़ियास शाह ख़िलजी के पुत्र, सुल्तान, [भगवान] इस राज्य को कायम रखे 909	بن غیاث شاہ الخلجی سلطان  اس سلطنت کو قائم [خدا] 909 رکھے

 

Nasir Shah

Nasir-ud-Din Shah or Nasir Shah (reigned: 1500-1510) was a Sultan of the Malwa Sultanate. He was the eldest son of Ghiyas Shah. He had been granted the title of ‘Abd al-Qadir’, making him heir apparent and a major figure in the administration of the state. It is said that much of the management of the sultanate was in Nasir Shah’s hands during his father’s rule as he had devoted himself to his harem after reigning for 20 years.[i]

After ascending to the throne and dealing with certain disaffected nobles, he led an ineffectual campaign into Mewar in 1502-3.

Unmistakable evidence of royal support for Hindi and Sanskrit throughout Nasir Shah's reign can be found, which sparked the creation of a growing number of Hindi and Sanskrit works. Ishwar Suri authored Lahtang Chantra in Dasapur (Mandsaur) under his rule, and Nasir Shah's name has been referenced in the Prashasti with enough respect to suggest that the Sultan was not opposed to promoting this language.[ii]

He was cruel by nature and showed no compassion for his own brother nor even for his nephews, whom he mercilessly executed on his accession. Several of his nobility were enraged by him because of his violent outbursts and ruthless character. He lacked faith in his sons. His heart was burdened by the pain and suffering he had brought upon his father in his old age, and the thought of punishment would never leave his mind.

Towards the end of his reign his son, Shihabuddin revolted against him. Therefore, he nominated his third son, Azam Humayun and nominated him as his successor with the title of Mahmud Shah.[iii]

The coin

Nasir Shah’s coinage retained the square format so typical of his father’s reign. Here again, the legend is divided into two parts by the extension of the Arabic letter ‘ye’. The Sultan’s name and title is contained on the obverse alongside a mint-mark. His title is a slight variation of his father’s.

The reverse presents the name of his father, Ghiyas Shah, alongside the prayer “Khallada [Allah] Mulkahu” which is quite common on Islamic coins. The date is off to the bottom-left side.  

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[i] Goenka, S. G. (2022). The Coins of the Indian Sultanates: Covering the Areas of Present Day India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. New Delhi: Manoharlal Publishers & Distributors.

[ii] Day, U. N. (1965). Medieval Malwa A Political And Cultural History 1401-1562. Munshi Ram Manohar Lal.

[iii] Hasan, S. B. (1992). Malwa under the Mughals (1562-1707) . Aligarh: Department of History Aligarh Muslim University.