 Alauddin Isfahan, alias Mirza Nathan, was awarded the title of Shitab Khan by Jahangir.His father Malik Ali, later entitled Ihtimam Khan, came to Bengal as Mir Bahr, serving as admiral of the Mughal fleet in 1608 along with Islam Khan Chisti.Serving in the Mughal army in Bengal, he witnessed most of the region's political events and common life, and wrote from personal observation.