The life of Young Yusuf Shah was romantic as well as a tragic. Born in an environment of dynamic events, he led a simple life. He was an accomplished scholar and master of music. The natural beauties of Kashmir had so bewitched him that he would spend months in roaming on the beautiful mountains and flowery meadows. He transformed Gulmarg and Sonamarg into resorts. In his youth, he had married a pretty rustic girl Zoon, who became his queen Habba Khatoon, the famous poetess of Kashmir.
Yosuf Shah Chak had to undergo many ordeals and onslaughts when Kashmir was attacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. He defeated the Mughal army twice. Finally, Yusuf Shah Chak was invited to Delhi by Akbar and deviously sent to exile to far-off village in Bihar where he died a sad man carving only to see his wife Zoon and his home Kashmir. His grave is in Biswak Village (Patna, Bihar).
Yusuf Shah continued to have Sayyid Mubarak Baihaqi as his prime minister. But the king abandoned himself to the career of a voluptuary, which so estranged his minister that he resigned his post. Muhammad Bat was appointed in his place, and the king continued indifferent to the state.
The nobles banded themselves together and sought help from Sayyid Mubarak Baihaqi who advised them to avoid rebellion. At the same time, he sent word to the king through Baba Khalil, a shia divine, requesting him to treat the insurgents mildly in order that the revolt may not grow in volume. The king exhibited a lack of diplomacy when he asked Sayyid Mubarak Baihaqi, on pain of death, to hand over the insurgents in chains to him. It was both a direct affront and a challenge which the Sayyid accepted readily.
Malik Muhammad Naji advised the king to be generous in order to win over his side even his opponents. But to this Yusuf would not listen. On the other hand, he dispatched soldiers under two Sardars, Habib Khan Chak and Muhammad Khan Chak, to fight Sayyid Mubarak Baihaqi. Malik Muhammad Naji lost his son in this contest. The king too lost his throne. Malik Naji pined and died within a few weeks. Yusuf relinquished the insignia of royalty and betook himself to the mountains of Brinal-Lamar between Tahsil Kulgam and the Pir Pantasal range.
Reference:
Sufi,G.M.D (1996). Kashmir Under The Mughals. Kashir: Being A History Of Kashmir(p. 227) Delhi:Capital Publishing House.
