If Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor, had not been involved in the Ghadar i.e. the revolt of 1857, he would have lived the life of a dervish with comfort and ease. But he got caught in the trap set by the rebel forces and spent the last days of his life in great misery.
I came across this interesting piece of history on pages and 10 of the book 'Tears of the Begums: Stories of Survivors of the Uprising of 1857' (originally in Urdu as Begumat ke Aansoo) written by Khwaja Hasan Nizami and translated by Rana Safvi which I had reviewed on 6th of October, 2023.
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Coming up: Was Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar trapped by the rebel forces during the Uprising of 1857?
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
I came across this interesting piece of history on pages 9 and 10 of the book 'Tears of the Begums: Stories of Survivors of the Uprising of 1857' (originally in Urdu as Begumat ke Aansoo) written by Khwaja Hasan Nizami and translated by Rana Safvi.
If Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor, had not been involved in the ghadar i.e. the revolt of 1857, he would have lived the life of a dervish with comfort and ease. But he got caught in the trap set by the rebel forces and spent the last days of his life in great misery.
The day the emperor left the Lal Qila in Delhi, he went straight to the dargah of Mehboob-e Ilahi. He was in a state of despondency and despair. Only a few eunuchs and the porters carrying his sedan chair were with him. His face was lined with worry and his clothes were covered in dust. His white beard was matted with dirt.
On hearing that the emperor had come to the dargah, Hazrat Khwaja Shah Ghulam Hasan presented himself before His Majesty. He found him leaning near the head of the shrine. A faint smile appeared on his face when he spotted Shah Ghulam Hasan. He sat in front of the emperor and asked him about his well-being.
The emperor replied with great simplicity:
QUOTE
“I had said these accursed rebels were headstrong and trusting them was a mistake. They were bound to go down and take me with them. This is what has transpired. Now they have run away. I am a mendicant, but I am a descendant of the Timurid race, which has the instinct and courage to go down fighting. Even though my ancestors went through tough times, they never gave up hope. But my end has already been revealed to me. I am undoubtedly the last Timurid to sit on the throne of Hind. The lamp of the Mughal dynasty is about to be snuffed out: it shall last only for a few more hours. Why then should I indulge in unnecessary bloodshed? That’s why I left the Qila myself. This country now belongs to God and He can bestow it on whomever He pleases. For hundreds of years, my ancestors ruled Hindustan through force and fear. Now it is time for others to rule. We will become the ruled and they shall be the rulers. There is no reason to mourn, for we too removed someone from the throne and destroyed their dynasty to establish ours.”
UNQUOTE
On completing his monologue, the Badshah handed over a box to Shah Ghulam Hasan, entrusting it in his care and said:
QUOTE
“When Amir Timur conquered Constantinople, he acquired this box from the treasure of Sultan Yaldram Bayazid. It has five strands of hair from the blessed beard of our beloved Prophet. It has been passed down in our family as a special blessing. Now there is no place for me in this wide world, and I don’t know where I can take it. I am placing the box in your care as you are the worthiest person I know. These strands of hair have provided much solace to my weary heart over the years. Today, on the most calamitous day of my life, I must part with them.”
UNQUOTE
Shah Ghulam Hasan took the box from the Badshah, and carefully placed it in the treasury of the dargah. The box remains with the dargah of Mehboob-e Ilahi even today, and on every twelfth day of Rabi al-Awwal visitors to the dargah might catch a glimpse of it.
After having some food, the Emperor left for Humayun’s tomb, where he was arrested and later exiled to Rangoon, where he continued his spiritual pursuits. Until he breathed his last, he was a forbearing and pious dervish.
This tale should serve as a warning to all humans. After hearing it they should give up pride and ego. Only then can man become human.
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