CH # 5: THE MUGHAL ECLIPSE
BRITISH ARSENAL SET ON FIRE IN DELHI
The sun was low to meet the Iftar time when rebellion sepoys reached the Red Fort after traveling a day. The call for Maghrib prayer from Moti Mosque was about to reverberate all around. Muslim community of city that daily cluster in the main market of Delhi to buy Iftar items stayed at home. Hindus also didn’t make it to temples on that day. A deep silence before any tsunami was prevailing inside and outside the fort.
‘Open the gates; open the gates of
Red Fort….we want to see the king,’ outraged freedom fighters, had
circled the Red Fort…,’
‘The situation is going worst at every second. It’s better that you leave for any safe place,’ General Nicholson approached his house near arsenal after patrolling. He asked his wife Katherine to pack the necessary stuff and advised Angeline to stay inside.
'I'm afraid if king calls these rebellions inside the fort,' At the call of Maghrib prayer and opening Muslim fast made Nichloson anxious. He went out again.
'How come these sepoys can stand against us and above all looking to ineffective residents of Red Fort for support?' Angeline was also feeling stress in the air.
Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs almost all native religious community was gazing at one center, Red Fort, to seek its back in hope to defeat the alien rulers. There were almost 2000 freedom fighters, calling the Mughal King outside Red Fort but no one noticed or invited them inside for long. The Muslim rebellion sepoys were not even offered a glass of water to break a fast. The big gates of Red Fort were tight shut to listen at the plea of petitioners.
King Bahadur Shah Zafar asked for his Iftar in Diwaan e Khaas with his princes and Prime Minister instead of the family gathering on the lawn like before. Queen Zeenat Mahal, Queen Sharif ul Mahal, Princess Hamida Bano, and all other ladies of the fort stayed in their quarters, and Iftar was served there. Syed Ahmed excused princess Hamida and left early to see his sick mother.
‘We should nominate some men to talk with the crowd outside. I can…,’ Prince Khizar Sultan looked at the King.
‘There is no need to give any importance to these rebellious soldiers. British govt. will better deal with them. General has warned me that if Red Fort shows any inclination towards rebellious soldiers then British will seize our aid and will expunge our title,’ Prince Mirza Mughal cut him up.
‘But at least we should listen to their demands. They’re trained soldiers in number and I think it's a great opportunity for us to…,’ Prince Khizar Sultan insisted again.
‘Mirza Mughal is alright. Trained soldiers also need ammunition, salaries, and logistic support to fight which we can’t offer. British Army is more organized and well equipped today than 50 years before when it defeated King Shah Alam at Buxar and detained us in this fort. I was young and was a part of that war to support my father, but our Army fell like leaves in the grounds.’ King Bahadur Shah Zafar still could feel the horses and elephants stomping and leaving their mates against the fire blasts of up-to-the-minute British enemy in 1807.
‘Let them fuse out their
anger. They’ll get tired with time. Their sentiments will calm down after not
having any response from Red Fort and they’ll turn back. We’re not capable to
mug an immense British force,’ King Bahadur Shah Zafar continued thoughtfully.
‘May Allah has sent us
His aid to revive our legacy in this holy month? All whites are fleeing from
the city. We’re no more their slaves…,’ Prince Khizar Sultan tried to hold his
point.
‘What! All whites are
fleeing?’ Prince Jawan Bakhat’s bite stuck in his throat.
‘Yes, all are running
away taking their families, their sons, their "daughters"….’ Prince Abu Bakar
left his comment in between.
‘Why this mutton Qorma
is so tasteless today and where is my fresh cherry juice?’ Prince Jawan Bakhat
called the fort servants annoyed when prime minister Hakim Ehsaanullah was
giving a briefing on the situation of the city.
‘Delicious! This pigeon
roast has made my Iftar... a party? It is appetizing,’ Prince Abu Bakar was
attentive to his plate apparently.
‘Then, you caught my
pigeon…I’ll not let you go. Today is your last day in this fort…,’ Prince
Jawan Bakhat’s plates slipped down as soon as he got up furious.
‘You both get out of
here, right now!’ Crown Prince Mirza Mughal couldn’t hold his nerves anymore
and they both had to sit calm rest of the dinner time. The Mughal king and
princes continued whether they should talk to freedom fighters or not which
were waiting outdoors.
Muslim sepoys arranged water and dates to break the fast. Many sepoys moved to near markets and the rest stayed outside Red Fort.
‘I was not even able to
speak out while fasting,’ Umer gulped water and looked at Ashoke who was still raising the
slogans of Mughal might, looking at shut gates and tightly packed windows.
‘The feeble King Bahadur Shah Zafar is disinclined to show his face. So first, he wants us to show our strength,’ Aneel was also down and hungry after a daylong trip.
‘I think Red Fort feels that our emotions are time-based and will evaporate with time but now it’s time to prove our passion for freedom to everyone. We just need a Mughal name tag, rest we know to manage the war but at this time I'm just thinking about our dinner. I guess no one is willing to host us.' Niaz Din ate a few dates and looked upon the fort gate once again.
'Then let's treat ourselves on white blood,' Ranbeer got up.
‘Take a hold sword,
daggers, rifles whatever you can grab, and cut down every white in the
city.’ Niaz Din and Aneel also got up heated. In few minutes, a disorganized
furious mob of almost 2000 men, lacking any prominent central command, entered
the markets of Delhi after sensing the Red Fort’s apathy.
The security men, city
police, British officers, and most shopkeepers ran away instantly after looking at the
armed mob. Delhi fell under the control of rebellious sepoys without any
resistance from the British and this big achievement encouraged their passion for the freedom of Hindustan.
The sepoys held lit lanterns from the shops.
‘You deserve this. The dawn of freedom is
about to twinkle. Slavery is about to end forever,’ Aneel turned the
fruit basket of a Christian shopkeeper who was about to close his shop. The watermelons bumped and spilled
far on the muddy roads. Rolling melons, watermelons, and
ups and down date baskets offer the treat for the tired and hungry mob. Few Muslim sepoys attacked fresh frying Jalabi and
Pakora stalls.
‘I always enjoy eating
at Iftar times with Muslims. It looks like my favorite treat of the year,’
Ashoke managed to grab two plates of Qorma and fresh chapptian from the near
restaurant, where a Muslim owner was feasting freedom fighters for free.
‘This qorma is very tasty. Come and join us to feast our victory,' Umer Khan called Ranbir. They sat on the ground near houses.
'Have you seen how British cowards flee just at first strike? I regret not striving out earlier,' Ranbir approached near.
‘Umer, doesn’t it feel
like a dream that we’re breathing in free air. It’s my Hindustan…a free
Hindustan…without any malicious white faces,’ Ashoke got up and seized lungful
of air.
‘It is…I believe like Delhi... our whole land will be clean from these unholy white men…,’ Umer
Khan could also felt the aroma of free air.
‘Then I’ll go back to my town and will grow on my land,’
‘And I’ll marry and will visit the Taj Mahal as a Raja of my free state and will offer a high rank to Umer Khan in my royal Army,’ Ranbir cut Ashoke up.
‘Which I’ll refuse with
no regret to command the Mughal Army,’ the air filled with their cackles while
thoughts of upcoming free days.
The bottles of good soda, jars of Lassi, and sharbat satu with Tuq Malanga were outflowing on bricked roads of the market. The darkness was wrapping the blue sky.
'Let's arrange some place to rest,'
'I know the sectors where most of residents are foreigners,'
With a full stomach, now the mob moved towards
residential areas.
Niaz Din and Aneel threw a fireball on the apartments, where Europeans and white foreigners were residing.
Terror, cry, and pain-filled in the air. Fireballs blasted like fireworks at dark night. Not only
the foreigners but many local pedestrians, carts, and shopkeepers were the target of revolted soldiers then.
‘Loot this all and set
the shop at a fire. Tonight we’ll balance all old debts,’ few men entered the gold
shop with oil bottles.
Many local rioters join the cause fighters at the time of conflicts and scuffle. They loot, rob, and kill under the shadows of sloganeers. This was what happeningg too at the time. At last, the mob seemed to get tired, found places to relax, and went on rest after scuffling around.
Next day, mutineers circled the Red Fort again and still, there was tranquility all around. King Bahadur Shah Zafar closed Quran, put aside the colorful bamboo curtain, and peeped through his room’s balcony. Enraged freedom fighters were demanding to meet the king so that they could tell him their intentions.
‘Aali ja, they
don’t appear to be ordinary petitioners. Why don’t you listen to them once
otherwise, they’ll continue insurrection in the city,’ Prime Minister Hakim
Ehsaanullah entered the king’s room. Hakim Ehsaanullah was the king’s
personal physician and a close companion for a long. King Bahadur Shah
Zafar relied on him for many of his decisions.
‘I only don’t want to
bluff these motivated men by endowing them with an ineffective support from Red
Fort,’ King Bahadur Shah Zafar shut the wooden window and sat down.
‘Tell the freedom
fighters, my all support is with them if they support me till throne. I’ve sent
money and few men to escort their needs,’ Prince Khizar Sultan sent his
messenger to meet freedom fighters.
Queen Sharif ul Mahal
searched for Prince Mirza Mughal and advised him to take the advantage of the situation as a crown prince. Being reluctant, Prince Mirza Mughal also sent his
men to get news from mutineers. The instant plotting according to the prevailing
situation was started inside the fort.
‘I don’t think the king
will call us? We should think something else,’ Niaz Din clearly opt the
disinterest of Red Fort.
‘Freedom fighters
are approaching here under the slogan of restoration of Mughul sultanate. We can’t take
a risk to eliminate this cause from our movement,’ Aneel replied thoughtfully.
‘We’ll get freedom at any cost whether someone support us or not. For now, British cowards are running out but they’ll hit back, I know. We need ammunition to
continue,’ Niaz Din observed the situation and continued.
‘And I know where we can
find it! Our real destination is not too far. After that, the king will have no
choice, rather than to listen to us. The British arsenal is 3 km outside the city.
We’ll come back with ammunition now. We just want his name tag, not the
authority and we’ll keep trying on it that King will be constrained against us,’
Ranbir held his gun and moved his back from the fort. Once again a disorganized
mob was ready to enter the city.
‘Hurry up, take your
stuff, Angeline. Your father has sent a horse cart from the arsenal. We have to
reach Flagstaff tower as soon as possible. Revolted sepoys have plundered the
whole city and they are approaching in here,’ Katherine was putting eatables in
the box.
‘What about the father? Why
he is in the arsenal when many of the foreign families and officers have
already run away,’
‘Don’t worry, he’ll join
us soon,’ Katherine’s voice was trembling in panic.
12th May
1857
Tuesday
11: 30 am
I’m leaving Delhi maybe for forever. These
small-minded browns seem outrageous this time. They claim that if the British govt.
would listen to their complaints about harsh taxes, inferior job opportunities, and
cow/pig fat rifles then the situation wouldn’t be too worst. There are riots in
the whole city but I’m happy that soon I’ll return to England leaving this
grubby country and its atrocious inhabitants if I could survive…
Angeline was writing her diary in hurry. Katherine looked outside for the cart.
They were residing on the ground floor of a modernly build British style building adjacent to the arsenal.
‘Are you mad? The mutineers
will slaughter us if they reach here. It’s not the time to write a diary, just
grab your stuff and come to the back yard,’ Katherine pulled her towards the
door, where other British families were waiting for them. Most of them were
kids and women.
The British officers
were not expecting such a massive outbreak from their slaves. The carts were
fast on a road towards Flagship tower but suddenly turned inside small streets.
An enraged crowd was coming straight towards the arsenal, raising the freedom slogans.
The mutineers reached arsenal and entered in without any obstruction again.
‘Collect as much ammunition as you can,' Niaz Din ordered the sepoys.
'Just stop them from reaching the main depot,' General Nichloson called his officers. He was still in his office attached to arsenal.
‘Sir, it’s impossible to
resist these fuming sepoys. They are increasing in number every second and are
ready to die for their cause. Most of our soldiers have run away. Only 9
soldiers are at security now. We should also see the way to escape,’ Lt. John
held another page and looked at General.
‘Keep on telegraph the other garrisons. Tell them about the gravity of the situation here,’ General Nicholson turned up to the telegraph machine and wiped his sweat. It was too hot in a small office of the arsenal. Sun was blazing through windows while making its way through Poplar trees.
‘Keep on telegraph…I
said,’ he yelled again after observing the Lt. John sitting free.
‘I’m on it but there is
no reply from anywhere yet, Sir,’ he hardly answered.
‘The small garrison of
Delhi is unable to stand against the spontaneous outbreak. There are almost
3000 attackers and the number of revolted soldiers is increasing with every
minute. Many of our companions have fled to Flagstaff tower to save their
lives. Keep on the telegraph. Keep on the telegraph. Tell them, we need
aid…we need men…,’ General Nicholson shrieked on John restless and drank a
glass of water in one swing.
Freedom fighters entered the arsenal. Umer Khan and Ashoke collected the guns and rifles in a big sack. Niaz Din and Aneel looked and found a treasury of gunpowder. Ranbir was loading the rifles and swords on the bull carts which seopys were arranging from nearby.
Fighters successfully arranged enough number of weapons but still, it was not sufficient for
them. They started to move towards main depot.
‘Sir, our nine soldiers
proved frail against revolted seopys. They are approaching towards depot
now,’ one injured British soldier entered the room.
‘Then we have no
choice,’ General Nicholson clenched his fist.
‘We can’t let our
ammunition go in mutineer’s hands. Blow it up. Do it at once,’ General ordered. Lt. John
got stunt on the order for awhile.
‘I’ve found a room with cannonballs. We should grab them too,’ Ashoke ran towards its mates.
‘We’ll have them on our
next visit. For the time being, you tow it to the carts outside. We should
leave now,’ Ranbir delivered him a big sack of gunpowder and held two guns with
him. Many freedom fighters were outside the arsenal, leaving only a few inside
dragging their final assortments.
‘Then I’ll gather those
balls alone,’ Ashoke moved back carrying the sack.
‘Listen, I’ll come with you,’ Umer Khan joined Ashoke.
They just entered the area where several cannonballs were put at a corner.
'Make it hurry. There are still British soldiers resisting here,' Umer forwarded a sack towards Ashoke.
Just then a sudden blast jolted the floor and punched them up in the wall. The blast could be heard far outside the arsenal. The Zohar prayer call in mosques halted for a while after listening at the blast. Hindus entering temples couldn’t ring the bell and ran back towards their houses.
General smartly had ordered to set the depot on fire so that no ammunition is left in the arsenal for the mutineers to rob down.
Umer got hit and jammed under an old log that fell from the roof. Ashoke’s sack not only pulled his ups and downs but erupted in the blaze. The black smoke, smell, and crying filled in the air.
‘Ashoke…Ashoke… are you
alright? Answer me…,’ Umer khan managed to crawl to look his mate coughing in
dark.
‘You’ll be fine. Just
stay with me…Ashoke; we’re very close to meet our dream of freedom…Ashoke… you
know when you’ll turn back to your village then I’ll miss you a lot. Ashoke…Ashoke…soon
someone will come to rescue us…keep your eyes open…,’ Umer pleaded to Ashoke
whose body was burnt badly.
‘Umer, I know
it’s a long journey to win freedom from the British but I’m content to die as a
proud warrior of the war of independence… Promise me that you’ll not let die
our cause of freedom in any situation. This is not mutiny. This is a war of independence...,’ Ashoke closed his eyes. Umer felt severe pain in his wounded shoulder and scratched chest.
‘Yes, it's not mutiny my friend. I’ll fight for our dream of independence and root out white grabbers from our land. I’ll…,’ Umer cried out. The smoke was clearing now.
Screaming and crying from the adjacent houses of arsenal stated the gravity of the immense
blast. Many residents were injured and died even staying in their houses.
Three of the British security men were also buried under arsenal debris.
A lot of people gathered
there and took the injured to near hospitals on foot or carts. The whole city seemed to come out furious and raged against the British and to aid the freedom fighters. The slogans of freedom filled in the air.
A mutiny turned to war after the demise of men from both sides.
Fleeing British familiess were also spotted by a rabble then. They were forced to move down and lined at sides. Most of them were women and kids. Katherine and Angeline were dragged at sides.
‘Please leave us. Let us go. We’ll go to Karnal or Flagstaff tower and will never come back,’ Katherine pleaded.
Angeline was trembling on knees with other British
residents. The whole city was seized by revolted sepoys and local rioters...Click to read CH # 6
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Disclaimer:
all characters of the story are imaginary. They bear no resemblance to anyone
living or dead.
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