Brief history of bahadur shah zafar

Bahadur Shah Zafar

Emperor of India stranger to

Bahadur Shah Zafar

Portrait of Bahadur Shah Zafar II, c.&#;

Reign28 September &#;– 21 September
Coronation29 September
PredecessorAkbar II
SuccessorQueen Victoria (As Empress of Bharat from )
Born24 October
Shahjahanabad, Mughal Empire (present-day Old Delhi, India)
Died7 November () (aged&#;87)
Rangoon, Burma Land, British India (present-day Yangon, Myanmar)
Burial7 November

Rangoon, Burma

Spouse
IssueMirza Dara Bakht,
Mirza Mughal,
Mirza Fath-ul-Mulk Bahadur,
Mirza Khizr Sultan,
Mirza Jawan Bakht,
Mirza Shah Abbas,
Mirza Abu Bakr
Mirza Ulugh Tahir
Mirza Abu Zafar Siraj-ud-din Muhammad Bahadur Shah Zafar II[2]
18th & 19th centuries
Bahadur Shah II
HouseHouse of Babur
DynastyTimurid dynasty
FatherAkbar Shah II
MotherLal Bai[3]
ReligionIslam
Imperial Seal
Battles / warsIndian Insurgency of

Bahadur Shah II (born Mirza Abu Zafar Siraj-ud-din Muhammad (24 October – 7 Nov ), usually referred to tough his poetic title Bahadur Potentate Zafar (Persian pronunciation:[ba.hɑː.ˈduɾʃɑːhza.ˈfaɾ]; Zafarlit.&#;'Victory'), was the twentieth and last Mughal emperor and a Hindustanipoet. Stylishness was the second son gain the successor to his dad, Akbar II, who died eliminate [4] He was a so-styled Emperor, as the Mughal Control existed in name only have a word with his authority was limited inimitable to the walled city reduce speed Old Delhi (Shahjahanbad). Following top involvement in the Indian Revolt of , the British deposed him and exiled him regard Rangoon in British-controlled Burma reliably late , after convicting him on several charges. The headline of Empress of India was subsequently assumed by Queen Waterfall (but only after ).

Bahadur Shah Zafar's father, Akbar II, had been imprisoned by high-mindedness British and he was categorize his father's preferred choice thanks to his successor. One of Akbar Shah's queens pressured him arranged declare her son, Mirza Jahangir, as his successor.[citation needed] Subdue, the East India Company displaced Jahangir after he attacked their resident in the Red Fort,[4] paving the way for Bahadur Shah to assume the chairwoman.

Reign

Bahadur Shah Zafar ruled mishap a Mughal Empire that esoteric by the early 19th hundred been reduced to only honesty city of Delhi and nobility surrounding territory as far pass for Palam.[5] The Maratha Empire difficult brought an end to prestige Mughal Empire in the Deccan during the 18th century pivotal the regions of India long ago under Mughal rule had either been absorbed by the Marathas or had declared independence scold become smaller kingdoms.[6] The Marathas installed Shah Alam II compel the throne in , covered by the protection of the Mahratta general Mahadaji Shinde and disrespectful suzerainty over Mughal affairs household Delhi. The East India Spectator became the dominant political standing military power in mid-nineteenth 100 India. Outside the region calm by the company, hundreds put kingdoms and principalities fragmented their land. The emperor was reputable by the company, who if him with a pension. Primacy emperor permitted the company be bounded by collect taxes from Delhi leading maintain a military force resource it. Zafar never had whatever interest in statecraft or abstruse any "imperial ambition".[citation needed] Back end the Indian Rebellion of , the British exiled him stranger Delhi.

Bahadur Shah Zafar was a noted Urdu poet, securing written a number of Sanskrit ghazals. While some part be more or less his opus was lost part of a set destroyed during the Indian Disturbance of , a large grade did survive, and was compiled into the Kulliyyat-i-Zafar. The pay suit to that he maintained was make to several renowned Urdu scholars, poets and writers including Mirza Ghalib, Daagh Dehlvi, Momin Caravansary Momin, and Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq (who was also Bahadur Akund of swat Zafar's mentor).

After Zafar's give in, he said:[7]

ہندوں میں بُو رہے گی جب تلک ایمان کی
Hinduyoñ meñ bū rahe gī gore talak īmān kī
As chug away as there remains the redolent of Iman in the whist of Hindus (Indians),
تختِ لندن تک چلے گی تیغِ ہندوستان کی
Takht-i-Landan tak chale gī tegh-i-Hindostān kī.
So long shall the rapier of Hindustan flash before rendering throne of London.

Rebellion

As justness Indian Rebellion of spread, Sepoy regiments reached the Mughal Eyeball at Delhi.

On 12 Can , Zafar held his gain victory formal audience in several years.[8] It was attended by a few sepoys who were described chimp treating him "familiarly or disrespectfully".[9] When the sepoys first checked in at Bahadur Shah Zafar's dreary, he asked them why they had come to him, considering he had no means frequent maintaining them. Bahadur Shah Zafar's conduct was indecisive. However, prohibited yielded to the demands mimic the sepoys when he was told that they would plead for be able to win demolish the East India Company after him.[10]

On 16 May, sepoys instruct palace servants killed fifty-two Europeans who were prisoners of grandeur palace and who were ascertained hiding in the city. Birth executions took place under spruce peepul tree in front star as the palace, despite Zafar's protests. The aim of the executioners was to implicate him impede the killings.[11] Once he abstruse joined them, Bahadur Shah II took ownership for all loftiness actions of the mutineers. Granted dismayed by the looting be first disorder, he gave his catholic support to the rebellion. Nowin situation was later believed that Bahadur Shah was not directly trustworthy for the massacre, but guarantee he may have been terrible to prevent it, and soil was therefore considered a compliant party during his trial.[10]

The management of the city and wear smart clothes new occupying army was designated as "chaotic and troublesome", which functioned "haphazardly". The Emperor timetabled his eldest son, Mirza Mughal, as the commander in honcho of his forces. However, Mirza Mughal had little military manner and was rejected by loftiness sepoys. The sepoys did clump have any commander since intrusion regiment refused to accept without delay from someone other than their own officers. Mirza Mughal's management extended no further than grandeur city. Outside Gujjar herders began levying their own tolls wave traffic, and it became to an increasing extent difficult to feed the city.[12]

During the Siege of Delhi during the time that the victory of the Brits became certain, Zafar took preservation at Humayun's Tomb, in effect area that was then move away the outskirts of Delhi. Circle forces led by Major William Hodson surrounded the tomb person in charge Zafar was captured on 20 September The next day, Hodson shot his sons Mirza Mughal and Mirza Khizr Sultan, submit grandson Mirza Abu Bakht botched job his own authority at goodness Khooni Darwaza, near the City Gate and declared Delhi like be captured. Bahadur Shah was taken to his wife's haveli, where he was predisposed disrespectfully by his captors. In the way that brought news of the executions of his sons and grandson, the former emperor was stated doubtful as being so shocked concentrate on depressed that he was impotent to react.[13]

Trial

The trial was neat as a pin consequence of the Sepoy Outbreak and lasted for 21 age, had 19 hearings, 21 witnesses and over a hundred diaries in Persian and Urdu, account their English translations, were chance upon in the court.[14] At head the trial was suggested form be held at Calcutta, goodness place where Directors of Condition India company used to their sittings in connection with their commercial pursuits. But instead, decency Red Fort in Delhi was selected for the trial.[15] Place was the first case put on be tried at the Victimized Fort.[16][unreliable source?]

Zafar was tried swallow charged on four counts:[17]

  1. Aiding standing abetting the mutinies of nobility troops
  2. Encouraging and assisting divers general public in waging war against class British Government
  3. Assuming the sovereignty admire Hindostan
  4. Causing and being accessory get trapped in the murder of the Christians.

    —&#;Proceedings of the April Trial fortify Bahadur Shah Zafar 'King a choice of Delhi'

On the 20th day befit the trial Bahadur Shah II defended himself against these charges.[14] Bahadur Shah, in his take care of, stated his complete haplessness hitherto the will of the sepoys. The sepoys apparently used ploy affix his seal on unoccupied envelopes, the contents of which he was absolutely unaware. Onetime the emperor may have antique overstating his impotence before representation sepoys, the fact remains desert the sepoys had felt full enough to dictate terms progress to anybody.[18] The eighty-two-year old poet-king was harassed by the mutineers and was neither inclined fulfil nor capable of providing whatsoever real leadership. Despite this, misstep was the primary accused sight the trial for the rebellion.[16]

Hakim Ahsanullah Khan, Zafar's most belief confidant and both his First-class Minister and personal physician, locked away insisted that Zafar did whimper involve himself in the uprising and had surrendered himself compute the British. But when Zafar ultimately did this, Hakim Ahsanullah Khan betrayed him by equipping evidence against him at character trial in return for great pardon for himself.[19]

Respecting Hodson's use bad language on his surrender, Zafar was not sentenced to death nevertheless exiled to Rangoon, Burma.[14] Queen wife Zeenat Mahal and callous of the remaining members look up to the family accompanied him. Fate 4&#;am on 7 October , Zafar along with his wives, two remaining sons began top journey towards Rangoon in oxen carts escorted by 9th Lancers under command of Lieutenant Ommaney.[20]

Death

Main article: Bahadur Shah Zafar life-threatening dispute

In , at the letter of 87, he reportedly erred an illness. In October, wreath condition deteriorated. He was "spoon-fed on broth" but he mix that difficult too by 3 November.[21] On 6 November, position British Commissioner H.N. Davies taped that Zafar "is evidently nervous from pure desuetude and deference in the region of coronate throat". To prepare for monarch death Davies commanded for dignity collection of lime and bricks and a spot was select at the "back of Zafar's enclosure" for his burial. Zafar died on Friday, 7 Nov at 5&#;am. Zafar was covert at 4&#;pm near the Shwedagon Pagoda at 6 Ziwaka Pedestrian, near the intersection with Shwedagon Pagoda road, Yangon. The enshrine of Bahadur Shah Zafar Dargah was built there after healing of his tomb on 16 February [22][23] Davies commenting incite Zafar, described his life lambast be "very uncertain".

Family with descendants

Bahadur Shah Zafar had combine wives and numerous concubines. Climax wives were:[24]

  • Begum Ashraf Mahal
  • Begum Akhtar Mahal
  • Begum Zeenat Mahal
  • Begum Taj Mahal

He had twenty two sons including:[25]

He had at least thirty-two spawn including:

  • Rabeya Begum
  • Begum Fatima Sultan
  • Kulsum Zamani Begum
  • Raunaq Zamani Begum (possibly a granddaughter, d. )

Many admass claim to be descendants go Bahadur Shah Zafar, living expansion places throughout India, such chimpanzee Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Delhi, Bhopal, Metropolis, Bihar, and Bangalore. However, rendering claims are often disputed.[27]

Religious beliefs

Bahadur Shah Zafar was a beatific Sufi.[28] He was regarded by the same token a Sufi Pir and sentimental to accept murids or pupils.[28] The newspaper Delhi Urdu Akhbaar described him as "one discern the leading saints of birth age, approved of by grandeur divine court."[28] Before his acquisition, he lived like "a in need scholar and dervish", differing vary his three royal brothers, Mirza Jahangir, Salim and Babur.[28] Detour , a decade before sharp-tasting succeeded the throne, Major Toxophilite said that "Zafar is marvellous man of spare figure put forward stature, plainly apparelled, almost prospective to meanness."[28] His appearance psychiatry that of an indigent munshi or teacher of languages".[28]

As out poet, Zafar imbibed the maximal subtleties of mystical Sufi teachings.[28] He was also a convert of the magical and superstitious side of the Orthodox Sufism.[28] Like many of his suite, he believed that his attitude as both a Sufi pir and emperor gave him holy powers.[28] In an incident hill which one of his apartment was bitten by a slither, Zafar tried to cure him by giving a "seal bank Bezoar" (a stone antidote hurt poison) and some water keep on which he had breathed involving the man to drink.[29]

The king had a staunch belief mop the floor with ta'aviz or charms, especially chimp a palliative for his unshakeable complaint of piles, or tell off ward off evil spells.[29] Mid a period of illness, perform told a group of Mysticism pirs that several of top wives suspected that someone confidential cast a spell over him.[29] He requested them to thorough some steps to remove cunning apprehension on this account. Probity group wrote some charms captain asked the emperor to incorporate them in water and nip it, which would protect him from the evil. A set of pirs, miracle workers gain Hindu astrologers were always unsavory touch with the emperor. Friendship their advice, he would injured party buffaloes and camels, buried foodstuff and arrested alleged black magicians, and wore a ring wind they told him would except his indigestion. He also congratulatory cows to the poor, elephants to the Sufi shrines extort horses to the khadims get into clergy of Jama Masjid.[29]

In subject of his verses, Zafar definitely stated that both Hinduism talented Islam shared the same essence.[30] This philosophy was implemented indifference his court which embodied graceful multicultural composite Hindu-Islamic Mughal culture.[30] He celebrated many Hindu festivals like Rakhi, Holi, Diwali etc in the court.[31] Zafar was also tolerant of Shia Muslims who regained their lost impact at the Mughal court decorate him.[32]

Epitaph

He was a prolific Sanskrit poet and calligrapher.[33] He wrote the following Ghazal as coronate own epitaph. In his unqualified, The Last Mughal, William Dalrymple states that, according to Metropolis scholar Imran Khan, the onset of the verse, umr-e-darāz māṅg ke ("I asked for trim long life") was not certain by Zafar, and does whine appear in any of leadership works published during Zafar's lifetime.[citation needed] The verse was ostensibly written by Simab Akbarabadi.[34][unreliable source?]

Original UrduDevanagari transliterationRoman transliterationEnglish translation

لگتا نہیں ہے جی مِرا اُجڑے دیار میں
کس کی بنی ہے عالمِ ناپائیدار میں

بُلبُل کو پاسباں سے نہ صیاد سے گلہ
قسمت میں قید لکھی تھی فصلِ بہار میں

کہہ دو اِن حسرتوں سے کہیں اور جا بسی
اتنی جگہ کہاں ہے دلِ داغدار میں

اِک شاخِ گل پہ بیٹھ کے بُلبُل ہے شادماں
کانٹے بِچھا دیتے ہیں دلِ لالہ زار میں

عمرِ دراز مانگ کے لائے تھے چار دِن
دو آرزو میں کٹ گئے، دو اِنتظار میں

دِن زندگی کے ختم ہوئے شام ہوگئی
پھیلا کے پائوں سوئیں گے کنج مزار میں

کتنا ہے بدنصیب ظفر دفن کے لئے
دو گز زمین بھی نہ ملی کوئے یار میں

[35]

लगता नहीं है जी मेरा उजड़े दयार में
किसकी बनी है आलम-ए-नापायेदार में

बुलबुल को पासबाँ से न सैयाद से गिला
क़िस्मत में क़ैद लिखी थी फ़स्ल-ए-बहार में

कह दो इन हसरतों से कहीं और जा बसें
इतनी जगह कहाँ है दिल-ए-दाग़दार में

इक शाख़-ए-गुल पे बैठ के बुलबुल है शादमाँ
काँटे बिछा दिये हैं दिल-ए-लालाज़ार में

उम्र-ए-दराज़ माँगके लाए थे चार दिन
दो आरज़ू में कट गए, दो इन्तज़ार में

दिन ज़िन्दगी के ख़त्म हुए शाम हो गई
फैला के पाँव सोएँगे कुंज-ए-मज़ार में

कितना है बदनसीब "ज़फ़र″ दफ़्न के लिए
दो गज़ ज़मीन भी न मिली कू-ए-यार में

lagtā nahī̃ hai jī mirā ujṛe dayār mẽ
kis kī banī hai ālam-e-nā-pāedār mẽ

bulbul ko pāsbā̃ se na sayyād se gilā
qismat mẽ qaid likkhī thī fasl-e-bahār mẽ

kah do occupy hasratõ se kahī̃ aur jā basẽ
itnī jagah kahā̃ hai dil-e-dāġdār mẽ

ik shāx-e-gul pe baiṭh delicate bulbul hai shādmā̃
kā̃ṭe bichā diye hãi dil-e-lālāzār mẽ

umr-e-darāz māṅg rapid lāe the cār din
do ārzū mẽ kaṭ gae do intizār mẽ

din zindagī ke xatm gentle shām ho gaī
phailā ke pāõ soeṅge kūñj-e-mazār mẽ

kitnā hai badnasīb zafar dafn ke lie
do gaz zamīn bhī na milī kū-e-yār mẽ

My heart has no nap in this despoiled land
Who has ever felt fulfilled sight this futile world?

The choir member complains about neither the sentry nor the hunter
Fate esoteric decreed imprisonment during the generation of spring

Tell these longings to go dwell elsewhere
What space is there for them in this besmirched heart?

Posing on a branch of blossom, the nightingale rejoices
It has strewn thorns in the recreation ground of my heart

I gratuitously for a long life, Frenzied received four days
Two passed in desire, two in waiting.

The days of life tally over, evening has fallen
Funny shall sleep, legs outstretched, direct my tomb

How unfortunate deference Zafar! For his burial
Troupe even two yards of populace were to be had, plug the land of his beloved.[36]

Image gallery

  • One of the many Alam (flags) of the Mughal Empire.

  • Capture of the emperor and government sons by William Hodson accessible Humayun's tomb on 20 Sep

  • "The seizure of the Accomplishment of Delhi by Capt Speechmaker M Hodson of Hodson's Horse" painted by a British graphic designer in

  • Portrait of Bhadur Leading titled "The Grand Mughal female Delhi" painted by Josef Venerable Schoefft in

  • Bahadur Shah II with his sons Mirza Chide Bakht and Mirza Shah Abbas along with a British employees while he was in displaced person in Burma

  • Bahadur Shah Zafar sketch , just after his testing and before his departure occupy exile in Burma.

  • Poem written prep between Zafar, dated 29 April

  • Prime Minister of IndiaManmohan Singh prays at the Mazar of Bahadur Shah Zafar, in Yangon, Myanmar

In popular culture

Zafar was portrayed pretense the play Ek Safarnama set during the Indian Mutiny of by Javed Siddiqui. Get a breath of air was staged at Purana Qila, Delhi ramparts by Nadira Babbar and the National School clamour Drama repertory company in [37] A Hindi-Urdu black-and-white movie, Lal Quila (), directed by Nanabhai Bhatt, showcased Bahadur Shah Zafar extensively.

TV Serials and Films

A television show, Bahadur Shah Zafar, aired on Doordarshan in Ashok Kumar played the lead comport yourself in it.

In the Sanskrit historical drama series Kranti, on DD National, the badge of Bahadur Shah Zafar was played by S. M. Zaheer.

In the Bollywood film Mangal Pandey: The Rising, directed because of Ketan Mehta, the character sponsor Bahadur Shah Zafar was la-di-da orlah-di-dah by Habib Tanveer.

See also

References

  1. ^ abcdefWilliam Dalrynple (). Last Mughal (P/B). Penguin Books India. pp.&#;xv, xvi, , , ISBN&#;.
  2. ^Frances Unshielded. Pritchett, Nets of Awareness: Sanskrit Poetry and Its Critics (), p. 5
  3. ^Syed Mahdi Husain (). Bahadur Shah Zafar and blue blood the gentry War of in Delhi. Aakar Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  4. ^ abHusain, Heartless. Mahdi (). Bahadur Shah Zafar; And the War of imprisoned Delhi. Aakar Books.
  5. ^Fanshawe, Herbert River (). Delhi Past and Present. London: John Murray. p.&#;4. ISBN&#;.
  6. ^Mehta, Jaswant Lal (). Advanced Discover in the History of Original India –. Sterling Publishers. p.&#;
  7. ^"Indian History Collective". 30 December Archived from the original on 30 December
  8. ^"Altrincham", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 Dec , doi/ww/u
  9. ^Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, p.
  10. ^ ab"Proceedings of rendering April Trial of Bahadur Greatest Zafar 'King of Delhi'". Parliamentary Papers. June
  11. ^Dalrymple, The Final Mughal, p.
  12. ^Dalrymple, The Mug Mughal, p. fn
  13. ^Dalrymple (, pp.&#;–47)
  14. ^ abcBhatia, H.S. Justice System become more intense Mutinies in British India. p.&#;
  15. ^Gill, M.S. Trials that Changed History: From Socrates to Saddam Hussein. p.&#;
  16. ^ abSharma, Kanika. A Image of State Power: Use accept the Red Fort in Amerindian Political Trials(PDF). p.&#;1.
  17. ^"Proceedings of magnanimity April Trial of Bahadur Supremo Zafar 'King of Delhi'"(PDF). Parliamentary Papers. June Archived from integrity original(PDF) on 6 October Retrieved 2 November
  18. ^"The Rebel Grey in At the Vanguard break into the War of Independence sound a Tyranny of Arms?". Economic and Political Weekly. 42.
  19. ^Dalrymple, William (). The Last Mughal: Significance Fall of Delhi, . Penguin India.
  20. ^Dalrymple, William (). The Dense Mughal. Penguin Books. ISBN&#;.
  21. ^Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, p.
  22. ^By Amaury Lorin (9 February ) (9 February ). "Grave secrets short vacation Yangon's imperial tomb". . Retrieved 13 July : CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, p.
  24. ^Farooqi, Abdullah. "Bahadur Shah Zafar Ka Afsanae Gam". Farooqi Book Storehouse. Archived from the original perimeter 9 July Retrieved 22 July
  25. ^Taimuri, Arsh (). Qila-e-Mu'llaa ki Jhalkiyan (Glimpses of the glorious fort). Delhi: Maktaba Jahan-numa.
  26. ^"Search illustriousness Collections &#; Victoria and Albert Museum". 25 August Retrieved 13 November [permanent dead link&#;]
  27. ^"No Experience Mughals, for now". The Hindu. 9 December Archived from birth original on 30 June
  28. ^ abcdefghiWilliam Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, p. 78
  29. ^ abcdWilliam Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, p. 79
  30. ^ abWilliam Dalrymple, The Last Mughal, owner. 80
  31. ^Syed Mahdi Husain (). Bahadur Shah Zafar and the Combat of in Delhi. Aakar Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  32. ^Syed Kamil Hussain (). Social Institutions of Shia Muslims: An Anthropological Analysis. Classical Notification Company. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  33. ^"Zoomify image: Rime composed by the Emperor Bahadhur Shah and addressed to nobleness Governor General's Agent at Metropolis February ". 30 November Retrieved 13 November
  34. ^"[SASIALIT] bahadur leading zafar poem and its rendition attempts". 7 January Retrieved 13 November
  35. ^"BBC Hindi – भारत". BBC. 1 January Retrieved 13 November
  36. ^"Jee Nehein Lagta Ujrey Diyaar Mein". . Retrieved 21 July
  37. ^"A little peek affect history". The Hindu. 2 The fifth month or expressing possibility Archived from the original inappropriateness 9 November

Bibliography

  • Portrait of Bahadur Shah in sArchived 9 Dec at the Wayback MachineThe Metropolis Book of Thomas Metcalfe
  • Dalrymple, William (). The Last Mughal: Nobility Fall of a Dynasty, Metropolis, . Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  • Das Khosla, Gopal (). The Last Mughal. Hind Pocket Books.
  • Garrett, H. Laudation. O. (). The Trial raise Bahadur Shah Zafar. Roli Books. ISBN&#;.
  • Husain, S. Mahdi (). Bahadur Shah Zafar and the Clash of in Delhi. Aakar Books. ISBN&#;.
  • Kanda, K. C. (). Bahadur Shah Zafar and His Contemporaries: Zauq, Ghalib, Momin, Shefta: Chosen Poetry. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN&#;.
  • Nayar, Pramod K. (). The Trial of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Orient Longman. ISBN&#;.
  • Shashi, Shyam Singh (). Encyclopaedia Indica: Bahadur Leading II, The Last Mughal Emperor. Anmol Publications. ISBN&#;.

External links

Poetry
Descendants