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Monday 16 July 2018

CH# 10: The Mughal Eclipse | KILLING OF EUROPEAN PRISONERS OUTSIDE RED FORT AT 1857|

CH# 10 : THE MUGHAL ECLIPSE




The killing of European prisoners outside Red Fort

...The night was warm and clear. The sky was cuddling the shinning stars but restlessness was swarming all around because of the scuffles and presence of fighters in Delhi. 


Many fort servants set their charpoys (yarn beds) in the backyard of the fort. Some luckily found a place on the roof to enjoy the cool air of the Yamuna River above the ground. Muslim residents of fort prostrated their heads in front of Allah to get hold of the grants of first Taaq night of Ramzan at adjacent Moti masjid.

 

‘Eid shopping took my whole day at Chatta Chowk, an adjacent market for royal ladies. I want some fresh air out now,’ Princess Hamida Bano ordered her maids to put her silk dresses and ornaments in her room.

 

‘Chatta chowk was barren today, princess. Everyone is anxious otherwise all noble ladies of town reached here to shop every year,’ one of her maids turned to her room at Mumtaz Mahal.

 

‘Yes, it was…,’

 

 Princess Hamida Bano came out to Hayat Bakhsh garden and walked along the Nehr e Bihishti.

 

 The water level was low that she turned her trouser up from bottom and sat along the water channel. She was feeling the sanity of Taaq Raat(odd number of nights in the last decade of the holy month of Ramzan) while hoping to spot the signs of Laila tul Qadar. Suddenly she saw a shadow approaching Delhi gate hurriedly.

 

‘Who’s there?’ she called and followed the shadow but then she stopped after hearing the whispering from behind the bushes.

 

         ‘Here are the keys. Complete your task after the Fajr prayer, as most of the fort’s residents would be in deep sleep after holy night’s prayers,’ the shadow was in a great hurry.

 

‘You’re wise lady to hold and run this sultanate. I’ll support you to snatch this throne for your son, Prince Jawan Bakhat. Lets those prisoners enjoy their last breaths,’ the parallel shadow took the keys and ran back to the gate.

 

‘I should talk to Aba huzoor,’ Princess hurriedly turned back but her long veil stuck to bushes.

 

‘Who’s there? Oh! Princess Hamida…,’ Zeenat approached her at once and put her handkerchief on her mouth.

 

16th MAY, 1857

 

The Sehri was a mouthful. There were Parathas, yogurt, organic eggs, Lassi, and Mughlai qorma from locals for their survivors; the freedom fighters.

 

Muslim freedom fighters were passing most of their time at yards of mosques. Hindu fighters, as significantly greater in number were staying at desolated British Havelis and apartments.

 

Most of them were unhappy with their Commander Mirza Mughal’s visit. They were fuming at the king and his son’s indecisive approach. 'Once the matineer is always a mutineer' was apparent at that time. Freedom fighters started to gather at the large ground near Red Fort in the early morning. 

 

The sun hid him behind clouds on that day. The cold breeze was boosting up the energies. They were clear on what they were about to do. After all, they were mutineers so it doesn’t matter who was the master right now.  

 

 A big faction of freedom fighters reached Red Fort and entered the Delhi gate by dawn.


They opened the Lahori gate and walked straight to underground Mughal prisons without any resistance. It seemed that all fort residents were taking nap after the pre-dawn Ramzan meal.

 

Prince Khizar Sultan came out in the Mehtab Bagh after reciting the Quran when he witnessed the entrance of fighters as relentless flood water.

 

‘Just alert the guards. Call the king. Inform Commander Prince Mirza Mughal.’ Though cradling grudges for whites too, he yelled at his personal servants but he was late as most of the servants were snoring at the time. 

 

‘Help, help… Jesus... Mercy, mercy…,’ the screams of prisoner women and children woke the fort residents up in a while. Freedom fighters dragged the European prisoners out of the basement to the wide lawns of Red Fort.

 

‘Where are you going, mom?’  Angeline saw her mother approaching the door of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s house wearing a burqa(a gown to cover body and face).

 

‘Haven’t, you observed that the sun is more red than usual? There is mysterious quietness all around the atmosphere. I’m going to Red Fort, to plea the king Bahadur Shah about my prisoner sister and her kids. I know the Mughal’s legacy is always been kind to women and children,’ Katharine was restless.

 

‘Rebellion sepoys are roaming all around. They’ll cramp you before you reached the king,’ Angeline tried to stop her mother.

 

‘No, I’ll go. I have to go. I can’t abandon my sister in a snag. There is not any news about your father either’ she left the door and came in the street.

 

                        ‘Wait a minute! I can’t let you go alone,’ Angeline followed her mother by covering herself in a big chador.

 

Umer saw them left Syed Ahmed’s house in hurry and got worried.

 

‘Being a Commander I order you all to stop at once and keep away your feet away from prisoners,’ Prince Mirza Mughal came outside the Mumtaz Mahal.

 

‘We just want to have them in our custody. Let us take these with us, commander,’ Aneel came in front wickedly.

 

           ‘Just wait for the king to decide for it. Where is Prime Minister Ehsanullah? Call him,’ Prince Mirza Mughal got apprehensive.

 

King Bahadur Shah Zafar was hard tired after last night’s supplication. He overheard the uprising and then a knock at his door.

 


‘What else this older soul has to witness?’ he hardly managed to come outside holding his stick.

 


‘Hurry up, write it clearly that king himself ordered to kill the prisoners and pass this to your loyal servant for the record,’ Queen Zeenat Mahal helped Ehsanullah to maintain the daily castle diary before the king was there.

 


‘Although I had reservations to set my back on rented soldiers, you insisted me to do so. I don’t build you. I don’t pay you but I have a right to save these innocent women and children in my territory. Leave them at once if you really think me as an authority,’ Bahadur Shah started the reasonable spat after conceiving the situation. There was silence for while amid fighters only the roar of the twittering of fallen leaves all around the garden. Fighters looked at each other.

 

‘Then your territory ends after the walls of Red Fort zil e subhani and ours started,’ Ranbeer towed the group of shivering prisoners towards the Lahori gate and hundreds of freedom fighters followed him with furious slogans.

 

‘Christen, Christen, Anaa, John…,’ Katherine saw opening up the giant gate of Lahori gate and a mob following the prisoners. The wind became more furious and faster blurring the images while playing with soil.

 


‘Mom please, someone will spot us too,’ Angeline holds her shawl tight. It was at about 8 am.

 


Freedom fighters gathered all 56 prisoners under a Peepal tree outside Red Fort. Many leaves left their branches after surrendering against the apparent storm.

 

‘Kill them, slaughter them. Ban British existence on our land,’ the fighters were shattering.

 

   ‘Don’t you have fear of God? Please give respect to this holy month at least,’ Prince Mirza Mughal yelled but then stopped and continued thoughtfully,

 


           ‘I assure you, not a single decision about prisoners will make its way without your consent,’ he tried to calm that mob down.

 


‘We don’t believe in you. You may handover them to white monsters or may grant them freedom on Eid,’ Niaz Din lined all prisoners under a tree.

 


Bahadur Shah and Princes were helpless to stop that rage of their so-called Mughal sepoys.

 

   ‘Kill them, kill them…,’ a roar overwhelmed the atmosphere from freedom fighters.

 


‘These outraged emotions can only be soothed after drinking a bottle of red wine. For our valiant martyr Mangle Panday and for all the people who laid their lives amid British slavery,’ Ranbir opened the fire and others followed him. Prince Khizar Sultan was stopped by the gate.

 


Just in seconds the air filled in with the noise of fires and the yellow daisies on green grass dyed red with the blood of British and European prisoners. 

mughal eclipeb

‘No…,’ Angeline wiped her tears and hardly held her crying mother from going on. She was afraid of her end if someone recognized them there. Many more locals were also gathered there to witness the massacre.

 

The fighters moved forward leaving shattered dead bodies in the way. The rain made its way after breaching tough black clouds. The green grass under the Peepal tree drowned under the red stream.

 

King Bahadur Shah Zafar was witnessing his helplessness from his balcony. Princes and fort servants waited for the callous rain to stop. After rain gave the break, servants from the fort came out to show their responsibility and buried the bodies near the Christian graveyard before evening.

 

Princess Hamida Bano was found unconscious in the room. She told everyone about Zeenat Mahal’s role but no one believed. Umer held Katherine and Angeline out of the rush and brought them back to Syed Ahmed’s house safely.

 

‘East India Company will not leave you…I bet they will terminate Mughal sultanate for forever...every white soldier’s life is not worth breathing until the revenge of these innocent…every Muslim will pay for this bloodshed,’ Katherine mourned at the graveyard for the night.    


Syed Ahmed Khan arranged a cart for her. Umer stayed with them until they were back.

 

‘Muslims!’ Umer listened at her mourning and rolled back his memory for the sake of clearance.

 

All natives of Hindustan were out in that fight for freedom against the slavery of the British irrespective of any religion. Hindus were not only greater in number but more provoked and focused throughout the movement.

 

‘You have written the end of this empire with your hands. You’ll have to pay for assassinating our people. Mughal king and princes will not find escape on this land for this act,’ Angeline came to Umer who was resting in the balcony. He was feeling better and already requested Syed Ahmed Khan to let him leave.

 

‘Mughal king and princes tried to stop the mob but freedom fighters were not ready to listen at anyone. Actually, it’s not their fault. We’ve observed a long harsh rule from your people and it was just a reaction,’ Umer got up and tried to focus his eyes in shrill sunrays. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky after two days of rain.

 

‘What! Freedom fighters…reaction... they are just mutineers…rebellious goose who have forgotten their status. That Prince Jawan Bakhat was offering me to stay in Red Fort. How much disgusting! 

I knew this…I told you…you’re dumb browns…without brains…you all are same…these Mughals will pay for it…I’m not afraid of you…kill me too if you want…my father will soon reach here to destroy you…you better tell it to your comrades,’ Angeline shed in tears but was yelling out. Syed Ahmed Khan and Princess Hamida Bano approached there and controlled her.

 

‘Red Fort will pay monetary compensation to families of those killed assassinated,’ Princess Hamida Bano tried to console Angeline.

 

‘Oh…the people who were feeding on our pension will pay us compensation…and you Syed Ahmed…you worked in British offices for long…clear your mates about their backward and outdated status,’ Angeline turned to Syed Ahmed discounting Princess Hamida Bano.

 

‘Angeline…my girl…please calm down…every Muslim will pay for it…just come with me,’ Katherine whispered and took her out at sides.

 

‘Have you observed, how much frightened these British are from Muslims?'


 'They should be as they’ve snatched this rule from them and are scared of losing it in their hands. Still, I’m regretful, I couldn’t save those prisoners that why I came here to assure right security at your house,’ Princess Hamida Bano turned to Syed Ahmed Khan.

 

‘Angeline is right. We’re far behind modern development of world but British don’t understand that the real cause of mutiny is British themselves…their harsh rules…taxes…,’ Syed Ahmed thought.

 

 Days cut down to Eid fast after the incident. The triumph of apparent victory and freedom from the British hyped the victory of occasion at the walled city of Delhi.


 

‘Ba ADAB BAMULAISHA HOSHIAR (stay alert n respected)

 

THE KING OF HINDUSTAN

 

THE KING OF KINGS

 

EMPEROR BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR IS APPEARING IN WHILE

 

The echoes of slogans, joy and announcements were adding the triumph among the public. The last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar accompanied with his princes were publicizing him out. It was probably first and last time whoen last Mughal King was on roads with full royal grace after offering the Eid prayers reviving the long-ago tradition of Mughal emperors.

 

 A radiant, royal elephant covered with silk and velvet, whose ivory tusk was dazzling with silver and gold, was depicting the king’s strength and regain of Mughal power over the British. The freedom fighters had taken the control of the walled city of Delhi first and then spread out at four sides of the city to overtook the British.

mughal eid celebrations

    The roads were decorated with mughal flags, and paper buntings.

                

‘It’s really crushing to wave the bowing subjects, courtiers, and stimulated public running behind you. Now I know why people kill their blood for this highest status,’ Prince Jawan Bakhat waved to the general public. He was constantly trying to balance himself on a giant wooden couch set at the back of an elephant. His brothers Prince Khizar, Prince Mirza Mughal, and nephew Prince Abu Bakar (the son of Mirza Mughal) wore expensive royal ornaments and sparkling gowns on this occasion were also sit there. The route for the king’s convoy was decorated with brocade pieces of marvelous colors and designs. The people were rowed on both sides of the road from far, just to see the glimpses of their king and princess.

 

                ‘At last, the people of Hindustan are breathing free and content under the magnificent Mughal rule,’ Prince Khizar Sultan observed thoughtfully.

 

‘I wish I could rain gold upon my people like Mughal King Shah Jahan and King Aurangzeb,’ Bahadur Shah Zafar stood up and showered the coins embedded with Bahadur Shah’s picture upon the people. Other princes also followed him.

 

‘Long live the Mughal king,’

 

Long live the crown prince,’

 

People around responded merrily and the air filled with Mughal slogans. Everyone at Shahjhanabad (Delhi) was pleased with the Mughal restoration and was thinking it to sustain forever but the uprising was spreading all around. East India Company was round on tables to meet the situation... TO BE CONTINUED

Link to CH # 11

Link to CH# 1

Above complete novel of 'THE MUGHAL ECLIPSE' is also available KINDLE AMAZON

Disclaimer: all characters of the story are imaginary. They bear no resemblance to anyone living or dead.

The writer can be followed at fusion stories@facebook.com.

 


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