Page:The Oriental Biographical Dictionary.djvu/275

Souda Souda, his real name is Mirza Muhammad Rafi'a, to which he subsequently added his poetical title " Souda," and is now commonly known by the appellation of llirza Eafiiis Souda. He was a native of Dehli but resided at Lakhnau, and his Diwan and Kasaed contain a variety of poems on various subjects ; also Idyls. Elegies and other miscellaneous pieces in Hindustani verse. These volumes are held in the highest estimation all over India. They include a number of encomiastic poems on the late Nawab 'Asaf-uddaula of Lakhnau, and many other persons of high rank and power, both at Lakhnau and Dehli ; not the least remarkable of which is an eulogy on the late Mr. Richard Johnson. The satires of this poet are also numerous and admirable ; but having created him many enemies, to avoid the consequences of their anger, he feigned himself insane, and took the poetical name of Souda or madman, but he is frequently known by the appellation of " Malik-ush-Shuara," or king of poets. He died at Lakhnau in the year 1781 A. D., 1195 A. H., aged 70 years. 'Asaf-uddaula of Lakhnau gave him a stipend of 6,000 rupees a year. He was a pupil of Siraj-uddin 'All Khan 'Arzu.

Soudai, Baba of Abiward, a poet who had formerly assumed for his poetical title " Khawari" but as he used to go about the streets with- out a turban or shoes, people gave him the title of " Soudai," i. e., distracted, which he subsequently used in all his compositions. He lived in the time of Shahrukh Mirza. He died 1448 A. D., aged 80 years.

Soz,, the poetical name of Sayyad Muhammad, who flourished in the reign of the emperor Shah 'Alam, and is the author of a small Diwan in Urdu. He died in 1797 A. D., 1212 A. H. Another Soz is mentioned in the " Mirat-ul-Khayal" who lived in the time of 'Alamgfr. He was a native of Bukhara and brought up in India.

Sozan,, poetical appellation of Nawab Ahmad 'AH Khan Shoukat Jang son of Nawab Iftikhar-uddaula Mirza 'AH Khan, and nephew of Nawab Salar Jang. He Hved in the time of Nawab 'Asaf-uddaula of Lakhnau, and is said to have been a good Urdu poet.

Sozani, Hakim, sumamed Shams-uddm Muhammad of Samarkand, a Persian poet who derived his origin from Salman Farsi one of the first companions of Muhammad. Some authors say he was a native of the city of Nakhshab, and others pretend of Samarkand. It is said that when he was a student at Bukhara, he conceived so great a friendship for the apprentice of a needle-maker, that he himself learned that profession, and he therefore assumed the takhallus of Sozanf. (Sozan means a needle.) He is considered the best humoristic poet of his time, and is the author of a poem called "Kasaed Sozani," or elegies, written in a very devout style, containing nearly 8,000 verses. During his youth he was a great debauchee ; but when advanced in years, he became very devout, made the pilgrimage of Mecca and died in 1173 A. D., 569 A. H., at Samarkand, aged 80 years. One of his friends declared that he had appeared to him after his death (in^ dream) and said that G-od had forgiven all his sins for the sake of one of his verses, in which expressing his humiUty and contri- tion he says, "0 Lord, I offer unto thee an oblation, not to be found in thy treasury. Accept thou my sins, my poverty, my repentance and my nothingness."

Subaktagin,, surnamed Nasir-uddin, a man of Turkish descent, who, according to some historians, was purchased as a slave by Alaptagin Sultan of Ghazni, who perceiving in him the promise of future greatness, raised him by degrees to posts of confidence and distinction ; and his character obtained him the support of all the adherents and officers of that prince. He was raised to the throne of Ghazni after the death nf Abu Is-hak the son of Alaptagin 977 A. D., 367 A. H. He enlarged its dominions, and became the first of a family, called Ghaznawi, and by us Ghaznavides, which outshone, at one period, the glory of the proudest dynasties of Asiatic monarchs. He conquered a part of .India, which, when connected with his former posses- sions of Ghazni and Kabul, gave him a kingdom that extended from Khurasan to the Panjab. Subaktagin reigned 20 lunar j'ears, and died in August, 997 A. D., Shaban, 387 A. H., aged 56, near Balkh, from which place his remains were conveyed to Ghazni for interment. He was succeeded by his son the celebrated Sultan Mahmud. Including Subaktagin sixteen kings of his race reigned at Ghazni and Lahor. Their names are as foUow : —

List of the Ohaznavide dynasty of Persia and India, including Khurdsdn, Maioar-un-nah; Bukhdrd, ij-c. Capital Ghazni. 1. Nasir-uddin Subaktagin. Ismail appointed successor, but displaced by his brother. 2. Sultan (Yemin-uddaula Abu'l Kasim) Mahmud. 3. Muhammad, his son, deposed instantly and blinded. Muhammad, restored and again deposed. 4. Masaud I, another son, deposed and killed. 5. Maudud, son of Masaud. 6. Masaud II, reigned only six days. 7. Abu'l Hasan 'AH son of Masaud I. 8. Abdur Rashid son of Mahmud. 9. Farrukhzad son of Masaud. 10. Ibrahim his brother. 1 1 . Masaud III son of Ibrahim. 12. Sheizad. 13. Arsalan Shah. 14. Bahram Shah fled to Labor. 15. Khusro Shah ruled at Labor. 16. Khusro Malik ruled at Labor, 'Kings of the family of Ghor. Ala-uddin Hasan Ghori. Malik Saif-uddin. Ghayas-uddin Muhammad Ghorf. Shahab-uddin Muhammad Ghorf. Taj-uddin Eldiiz.

Subhan Bakhsh, Maulwi, , author of a modern history of jurisprudence, or rather of jurists in Urdu, compiled from the works of Ibn- Khallikan and Sayiiti, entitled " Farjuma Tan'kh-al- Hukmae wa Tazkirat-al-Mufassirfn." It was published at Dehli in 1848 A. D.

Sub-hani, Maulana, a poet whose native country was Najaf Ashraf, commonly called Kufa, from which place he never stirred all the time of his Hfe. He lived at the same period in which Shaikh Faizi and Zahiiri flourished, and wrote nothing but Rubais in the Pei-sian language on different subjects of which 12,000 were collected after his death.

Sub-hi, a poet who served under Sultan Shujaa the son of Shah Jahan.

Suchet Singh, a Sikh chief, who joined the rebels after the murder of Maharaja Sheir Sin"-h was attacked by Hira Singh, near Lahor, his force dis- persed and himself killed about the 6th April, 1844. On hearing of the death of this chief, no less than 95 females of his family sacrificed themselves at Lamba.