The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857


Reflecting on the conclusion of enduring dynasties, a profound melancholy washes over me. It's a poignant reminder of the timeless Sanskrit adage, "Time devours all," resonating through 5000 years of human existence. The slow decline of civilizations like the Greek and Roman empires serves as a stark testament to the relentless passage of time.

The aftermath of World War I witnessed the demise of formidable powers like the Hapsburg and Ottoman empires, succumbing to military defeat. The tragic fate of the last Romanov Czar in Russia, facing execution, stands as a poignant chapter in this narrative. Similarly, the decline of the Mogul Empire, established by Babur in 1526, marks the end of a 350-year-old dynasty, adding another layer to this saga of history's inevitable march. 


  Bahadur Shah Zafar captures the emotion of deep despair, depression, and worthlessness of the last emperor of the great Mughal.

Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hoon, na kisi ke dil ka qaraar hoon
Jo kisi ke kaam na aa sake, mein vo ek musht-e-gubaar hoon

न किसी की आँख का नूर हूँन किसी की आँख का नूर हूँन किसी के दिल का क़रार हूँजो किसी के काम न आ सकेमैं वो एक मुश्त-ए-गुबार हूँन किसी की आँख का नूर हूँ

It has been translated to English by a Russian student of Urdu poetry, Philip Nikolayev, :)

not the light of any one's eyes,
nor the solace for any one's heart
of no use to anyone,
I am that one fistful of dust

(In a startling revelation, veteran lyricist and poet, Javed Akhtar said the ghazal was written by his grandfather Muztar Khairabadi and not Bahadur Shah Zafar as has been widely known; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEzyZAp07Jk) 

By Central Asian standards, the 19th-century Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II had some pretty impressive bloodlines. Put it this way: If the descendants of Tamerlane and Genghis Khan had held family reunions on the same summer Sunday, Zafar would have been expected to show up at each, lamb biryani in hand

  1. The story of Mangal Pandey could be augmentation  from  nationalist historian 
  2. By the end of the siege of Delhi, the British force consisted predominantly of Sikh and Muslim mercenaries from the North West Frontier and Punjab, with about four-fifths of the army being Indian.
Anarchy 

2. Bengal: Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula & Jagat Seth (1757)

  • Bengal was the richest province in India.

  • Siraj-ud-Daula, the young Nawab, tried to resist British power.

  • In 1757, the Battle of Plassey became a turning point:

    • The Company defeated Siraj-ud-Daula with the help of Mir Jafar (a traitorous general) and Jagat Seth (a powerful banking family from Murshidabad).

    • Jagat Seths, wealthy moneylenders, financed the Company's coup, expecting stability and profit.

  • This victory gave the EIC control of Bengal’s revenue—a massive financial boost.

 Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II

  • Sought to restore imperial control over lost territories.

  • Allied with Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh) and Mir Qasim (new Nawab of Bengal).

  • This triple alliance faced the EIC at the:

    ⚔️ Battle of Buxar (1764)

    • Allies:

      • Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II

      • Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh)

      • Nawab Mir Qasim (Bengal)

    • Defeated by British under Hector Munro.

References

  1. The Empire podcast Mutiny Episode no 3  The Empire podcast Mutiny Episode no 3  
  2.  Mangal Pandey: Drug-crazed Fanatatic or   Canny Revolutionary?
  4. Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ Scotsman Books of the Year

 Chronology

PeriodDynastyKey Figures
c. 1000–1186Ghaznavids & GhuridsMahmud of Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori
1206–1290Mamluk (Slave) DynastyQutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia
1290–1320Khalji DynastyAlauddin Khalji
1320–1414Tughlaq DynastyMuhammad bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah
1414–1451Sayyid DynastyKhizr Khan
1451–1526Lodi DynastyBahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi
1526 onwardMughal DynastyBabur, Humayun, Akbar...


 Summary of powerful women Contributions

NameRoleInfluence/Legacy
Khanzada BegumDiplomat, elder stateswomanSupported Babur, guided Humayun, high moral authority
Gulbadan BegumHistorian, writerAuthored Humayun Nama, early female historian
Noor JahanEmpress & de facto rulerPolitical power, issued farmans, minted coins
Mumtaz MahalChief consort, advisorInspired Taj Mahal, wielded informal court influence
Jahanara BegumImperial woman, patronPolitical force, urban planner (Chandni Chowk), Sufi
Zeb-un-NissaPoet, mystic, scholar


Literary contributions, Sufi legacy



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Enemy of All Mankind

Image
   The book in PDF at My Google Drive  The book delves into the history of piracy, beginning with the Sea Peoples of the ancient world, exploring the origins of piracy and its evolution over centuries. It discusses the role of pirates in the global imagination and their impact on commerce, culture, and international law. A significant portion of the summary explores the economic implications of piracy and the specific event involving Avery. It examines the intricate relationships between pirates, global trade, cultural perceptions of piracy, and the media's role in shaping the image of pirates. The Mughals and Global Trade : The narrative also provides a detailed account of the rise of the Mughal Empire, its economic prowess, and its significance in global trade, particularly highlighting the importance of cotton and the subcontinent's wealth.   chapter 1  Origin stories  The first chapter titled "Origin Stories" in the book "Enemy of All" covers...
Read more

Revenge of the Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell:

Background,  Tipping Point 1) Law of few   2)  The stickiness factor 3) The power of context  Malcolm Gladwell's *Revenge of the Tipping Point* revisits and expands upon the ideas he introduced in his earlier work, *The Tipping Point*. This new book explores how small changes in social behavior can lead to large-scale shifts , but it focuses on the darker side of these phenomena—how social engineering, manipulation, and unintended consequences can create harmful epidemics. **Key Themes and Concepts** 1. ** Social Epidemics and Power Dynamics* *      Gladwell examines how individuals or small groups—whom he terms " super spreaders "—can disproportionately influence social trends. He investigates the mechanisms behind these tipping points and how they can be exploited for both good and ill. For instance, he recounts stories of bank robbery epidemics in Los Angeles and the rise of Medicare fraud in Miami to illustrate how certain contexts ...
Read more

"One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This" by Omar El Akkad

  Introduction/Synopsis  Thi s book, is  a personal reflection interwoven with observations on contemporary conflicts, particularly the Israel-Hamas War. It touches on themes of violence, identity, and the social conditions of Muslims and Arabs in the United States. The author reflects on language, memory, and the impact of war, while also sharing personal anecdotes and experiences. The book seems to grapple with questions of morality, responsibility, and the complexities of navigating a world marked by conflict and injustice. The author also reflects on his experience of being an immigrant in the West. He criticizes how Western media approaches conflicts differently based on who the victims are, particularly noting the stark contrast in coverage between Israeli and Palestinian casualties.  He does not see the killing in Gaza as a betrayal of democratic ideals but as proof that those ideals have been lies from the start: “It has always been this way.”    He...
Read more