MIRZA HAIDER DUGHLAT (1540-1551 A.D.)

Taking full benefit of his past experiences, Dughlat involved local Chiefs in state administrator and installed Nazuk Shah on the throne of Kashmir.The kingdom was divided into three equal parts.Abdal Magrey and Regi Chak were rewarded with the control of one of the parts each Dughlat retained for himself the control over one part of the kingdom. The other nobles were treated with all respect and Dughlat sought their advice in state affairs.He followed a liberal religious policy and respected the shrines and religious places of other communities.He paid a visit to the tomb of Mir-Shams-ud-Din Iraqi at Zadibal and thereby, earned the goodwill of Shia community and its nobles at court.For sometime the policy of religious liberalism did well and he enjoyed the confidence and support of the majority of the nobles and courtiers but soon trouble started when Regi Chak smelled some change in the attitude of Mirza Haider towards the subjects of Shia community.He joined hands with Kaji Chak, and both made an attempt to drive out the Mughals from the valley but were defeated in all encounters and Regi Chak lost his life. Mirza Haider Dughlat , inorder to win the confidence and support of Sunni population, got tomb of Mir Shams-ud-Din Iraqi demolished and a number of prominent Shia Ulma including Shiekh Daniyal executed.

But soon the people realized that the maxim adopted by Mirza Haider is motivated by political consideration and guided by the principle of divide and rule.There was an open revolt against Mughal rule, and the local army, under united command, engaged Mughal Solidiery in pitched battles at different places and inflicted defeats upon them. Ultimately in one of the battles,Mirza Haider lost his life when a straw arrow hit him while trying to scale the wall at the fort of Manar.

During the rule of eleven years (1540-1551 A.D.), Mirza Haider Dughlat tried to raise the living standard of the people by providing the opportunities to earn more for their livelihood. True to the Mughal tradition and taste, he gave fillip to the building activities and got built a good number of buildings particularly mosques with due co consideration to the climatic conditions of the valley. To him goes the credit of introducing Hamam(hot bath) in the mosques which kept the prayer room warm in the cold of winter. New type of doors and windows were introduced in the building and innovations were made in dress and food. Trade and Industry flourished when he invited artisans from neighbouring countries and sent craftsmen traders from Kashmir to neighbouring countries for trade. This enabled them to get benefit from each others experiences and expertise. A great lover of music, Mirza Haider introduced various types of musical instruments in Kashmir. He was a good poet and composed verses in Turki and Persian languages. He equally possessed good command over prose writing. His famous narrative entitled tarikh-i-Rashidi is ranked among the good histories written during the period and is considered an authority account of the time.