<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>SAIF UD-D&#298N MAHM&#362D</TITLE>
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<p class="C1">&#65279SAIF UD-D&#298N MAHM&#362D, also called Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n (d.1685), a high-ranking noble in the reign of Aura&#7749gz&#299b, was a man of religious disposition which, earned him the popular title of Faq&#299rullah, meaning a holy man of God. His father, Tarb&#299at <u>Kh</u>&#257n, had been a Ba<u>kh</u>sh&#299 or paymaster under Emperor Sh&#257h J&#257h&#257n, and his elder brother, Fid&#257&#299 <u>Kh</u>&#257n, was Aura&#7749gz&#299b's foster-brother. During the war of succession (1658) Saif ud-D&#299n had fought gallantly on the side of Aura&#7749gz&#299b, who rewarded him with the title of Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n and the governorship of &#256gr&#257. Relieved of his post later, Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n retired to his small fief in Sirhind territory where he founded, in 1668, a fortified habitation named Saif&#257b&#257d, now Bah&#257durga&#7771h, near Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257. He was governor of Kashm&#299r twice -- in 1665-68 and again in 1669-1671. In 1671, he quit the post and turned a hermit. He was restored to his title and rank at the end of 1675, and made S&#363bahd&#257r of Bih&#257r in 1678, but was dismissed in 1683. He died on 23 April 1685.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Naw&#257b Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n was an admirer of Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur whom he met on several occasions. Once Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur is said to have put up with him at Saif&#257b&#257d for over three months. The Gur&#363 encamped in Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n's garden, outside the fort, enclosing his mansion and mosque. The Naw&#257b also took him into the inner apartments of his mansion to enable the ladies of his household to meet him. An old Gurdw&#257r&#257 across the road from the Bah&#257durga&#7771h Fort now marks the site where Gur&#363 Te<u>gh</u> Bah&#257dur had stayed as Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n's guest. Saif <u>Kh</u>&#257n's tomb is also located near the Fort. People still remember him with reverence as Saif&#257 B&#257b&#257 and visit his tomb, especially on Thursdays.</p>
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BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Padam, Pi&#257r&#257 Si&#7749gh, and Gi&#257n&#299 Garj&#257 Si&#7749gh,eds., <i>Gur&#363 k&#299&#257&#7749 S&#257kh&#299&#257&#7749</i>. Patiala.1986<BR>
<li class="C1"> Trilochan Si&#7749gh, <i>Guru Tegh Bahadur : Prophet and Martyr</i>. Delhi, 1967<BR>
<li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>Guru Tegh Bahadur</i>. Delhi, 1982<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">A. C. Banerjee<br></p><BR>
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