पकड़ा गया मूंछों वाला।
- जहीर देहलवी (१८३५-१९११)
No no I am not indicating at anything other than the book "Dastan-e- Ghadar" an autobiography of Mughal courtier and a famous court poet, who was all of 22 and holding a post of a security officer in Bahadur Shah Zafar's court in May 1857, when Delhi saw the devastation caught between the mutineers and British India forces.
The couplet was Zahir's narration when he saw British forces plundering and punishing Delhiites after the mutineers (purbias, telanganees and others) deserted city and British forces started killing and plundering the city in a way that was only seen during the Nader Shah's attack on the city between March and May 1739.
Just finished reading this interesting book. Originally written in Urdu and has been translated by Rana Safvi and published in 2017. The title drew me to the book since I have been reading books written by William Dalrymple on the subject..Mughal India and British Raj. From the title I assumed it would be a story and an eye witness account of the Ghadar .. 1857 mutiny against by East India Company's Indian forces.
Although the book starts with that, I didn't get the 360° picture of the event as well as described by Dalrymple in his book "the Last Mughal". About half the book or 5 chapters describe of rebel forces capturing Delhi and killing Europeans and then Indian British forces loyal to EIC capturing Delhi back and killing and plundering anyone and everyone that came in front. And simultaneous migration of Delhiites, whoever could get away from the city.. Zahir was one of them.
The book takes you to Zahir's journey of life running for survival and returning back to Delhi after four years when city calmed down. But Bahadur Shah Zafar's capture, trial and exile had seen the demolition of Mughal court and finding no employment his transition of life started and the next 40 years took him to various courts of Maharajas, navabs in Alwar, Jaipur, Tonk and finally to Hyderabad in hope of a better life. He was largely patronised by the rulers as a poet but also worked alongside as an honest cop whose job was much appreciated and lived a good life. He was disillusioned with his last home in Hyderabad where the court and nobels had no interest in art or music or poetry and lived in debauchery. In his words:
"No one appreciated poetry or literary activities here. There were no patrons for men of letters in this city, however accomplished they may have been.
ऐ अंदलीब नादान दम दर गुलु फरोबंद
नाज़ुक मिजाज़ ऐ शहान ताब ऐ सुखन नदारद
O unwise nightingale,
hold your breath in your throat,
The fragile hearts of kings can't bear to her your song".
Last days of this great poet who was a pupil of the likes of Zauq, Ghalib and Momin went in penury and the famous poet died an unknown death in an unknown city.
It's an interesting story that initially sounds dull if you are familiar with the mutiny stories but it becomes very interesting soon after his migration from the city in the aftermath of killings in the city by British forces. Some originality also seem to have been lost in the translation. I may have enjoyed the original much more..alas! I can't read Urdu, although I can understand it to the level of enjoying the book. So learning reading Urdu script could become a project very soon.😂😂😂.
Nice commentary. What i loved anout this book, it is narrative not by a historian but by a common person. A person who had no interest in either of the parties (rebels and Britishers). This is most often the case with people who ironically end up suffering the most in such daunting times. His journey until his last days in Hyderabad highlights the society once existed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Thanks for recommending this book. Although the review says unknown.. I presume you are Vineet.😂😂
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