“On his way to Calcutta Jan-i-Alam had stopped over in Banaras at the request of Kashi Naresh Maharaja Ishwari Parshad Narain Singh. The Maharaja scattered rose petals on the pathway and walked alongside the royal carriage as he escorted the ex-King to the palace. He presented the customary nazar. Sultan-i-Alam touched it and said, ‘Keep it. I can’t give you the usual gifts.’
“Sultan-i-Alam Vajid Ali Shah’s chief queen, Begum Hazrat Mahal, had stayed back in Lucknow and she and her military advisors held their meetings in the House of Virgins.”
“House of?” Gautam asked, bewildered.
“Virgins, achhutis—pure women. King Nasiruddin Hyder’s stepmother, Badshah Begum, had appointed a bunch of highborn spinsters to look after the rituals of Moharrum in her Imambara. These women were supposed to be impeccable—achhutis. Lucknow was crawling with British spies. Nasiruddin Hyder was a clever fellow—he had an underwater house built for his secret cabinet meetings, probably near Chhattar Manzil,1 because he was anxious to get rid of British domination. He let it be known that the house was built for the inaccessible achhutis. The ruse worked. He met the scholars and vazirs and held discussions in this hide-out in absolute secrecy.
“This King died young. He has been defamed as a sod and an imbecile, but he set up a modern observatory and hospital, an English school and a printing press, and he sailed a steamboat in the Gomti.”
The Bengali gentleman stroked his grey moustache in amazement.
“Begum Hazrat Mahal also used this inaccessible place for her cabinet sessions.”
“Well, there are more things in heaven and earth than . . .” the learned Babu murmured.
The nawab continued: “The Mutiny broke out in the second week of May and the Queen’s troops defeated the English at Chinhat near Lucknow on the 30th of June. The English took refuge in the Residency, where they were held under siege for 140 days.”
“Ah! The Residency!” the Bengali gentleman repeated nostalgically. As a young clerk he had worked there for a few months in 1823. And at Chinhat where the nawab once had his garden house. Whatever happened to Champa Jan and Munshi Shankar? He didn’t want to think.
The nobleman went on, “Begum Hazrat Mahal’s 14 year-old son Birjees Qadr was enthroned as Wali in the absence of his deposed father. The Begum became his Regent, Maharaja Balkrishan was reappointed Finance Minister.
“To the traditional slogan of Khalque Khuda ki, Mulk Badshah ka, the words Hukum Company Bahadur ka had been added ever since the time the English gained political authority in north India. Now the town-criers and drummers dropped the second—Company Bahadur’s hukum had been abolished.
“The exiled Peshwa Baji Rao II died in Bethur near Cawnpore, in 1851. His adopted son, Nana Rao, sent his vakil to England with a petition asking for a pension. The vakil, Azimullah, was a remarkable fellow, entirely self-made. They say his mother was an ayah and that he himself had worked as a butler. He learnt to speak and write fluent French and English and became a school teacher in Cawnpore. Handsome and suave, he was lionised by the ladies of English aristocracy in London. But he failed in his mission—Nana Saheb’s petition was turned down by the Court of Directors. Azimullah Khan returned to Cawnpore and English women continued to send him love-letters.
“Now Nana Saheb also declared his independence and assumed the title of Peshwa Bahadur. Hindu Criminal Law was introduced according to which offenders’ limbs were mutilated. Nana Rao’s soldiers besieged the English in the city, Azimullah Khan led the revolt. He had met French and Russian statesmen in Europe and studied the war strategies of the Ottomans in Constantinople; he became the Mutiny leader, Danka Shah’s advisor.
“Cawnpore was re-taken by the English, Nana Saheb’s palace and temples were blown up. He took his family to the garhi of the local chowdhary at Fatehpur Chowrassi, midway between Cawnpore and Allahabad. The Queen Regent sent her Minister of War, Raja Jailal Singh Nusrat Jung to escort him to Lucknow, and saw to the re-decoration of Sheesh Mahal for the Peshwa herself. On his arrival he was given an eleven-gun salute, but he said perhaps it could have been 21 guns.”
Gautam smiled sardonically.
The nawab continued: “Her Majesty said 21 guns are reserved for visiting monarchs. Twenty-five thousand rupees were spent on the feast for him. I am told Begum Hazrat Mahal sent him a robe of honour, a sword, jewels and a caparisoned elephant with a silver howdah . . .”
Gautam listened, wide-eyed. Then he said, “Couldn’t this extravagance be curtailed in war-time?”
“This was Lukhnavi wazadari, Nilambar Mian.”
“No wonder you chaps lost the war,” the babu commented. The nawab opened his silver betel-case and took out a betel-leaf. His friend lighted his cheroot. The nawab began again.
“Birjees Qadr’s birthday was celebrated with great fanfare. Some Englishwomen who had been taken prisoners-of-war, wore Lukhnavi dress and dyed their palms with henna . . .”
“I thought all of them were languishing in the besieged Residency?”
“Not all, Nilambar Mian. Truth is the first victim, etc. . . .
“On the 16th of September Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde, entered Lucknow with his army. The Queen had summoned the feudal barons to her aid, and swashbuckling knights arrived on their charges from all sides.
“Raja Debi Baksh Singh of Gonda, Raja Sukh Darshan, Lai Madho Singh of Amethi, Rana Beni Madho Singh Bahadur of Beswara, Raja Man Singh of Shahgunj, Raja Hanwant Singh of Kalakankar, Raja Gulab Singh, and many more. It was a galaxy of the descendants of the Sun and the Moon,” Nawab Kamman waxed eloquent, “and the Pathan and Sheikh taluqdars of Nanpara, Malihabad, Sandila, Mahmudabad, Bhatwamau, etc.
“The Begum visited the front lines on elephant and palki. Our men fought valiantly in defence of the city. On the 25th of February 1858, in the fierce battle of Alam Bagh, the Begum again rode out on elephant and took part in the action. Raja Man Singh of Shahgunj showed such valour in Alam Bagh that Begum Hazrat Mahal called him her son and gave him her own dupatta, along with the robe of honour.
“And the Brahmin-zadi Laxmi Bai died fighting like a man in the field of honour in Gwalior.
“There was this jolly Frenchman who used to be a confectioner in Lucknow. He sought me out in Paris and narrated to me the story of the two valiant queens, Laxmi Bai and Hazrat Mahal. ‘Laxmi Bai was like Jean d’Arc—just like Jean d’Arc,’ he said in wonder. Henri also told me that a French priest, Father Joseph, had become a murid of Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and was called Yusuf Ali Shah.
“The Goras pounded Qaiser Bagh with cannon-balls. General James Outram had come back to India and was campaigning in Lucknow along with Lord Clyde, Commander-in-Chief. He sent word to the royal ladies to vacate the palace because he was going to have his breakfast there at 10 a.m. the next day. When she saw that the fall of Lucknow was imminent, the Queen dressed Birjees Qadr in the ritual green garment of a fakir of Imam Hussain. The women bared their heads, let down their hair and stood under the midnight sky, crying, ‘Ya Ali, Ya Hussain’. This is a rite followed in extreme distress, Nilambar Mian.”
“The pity of it, Iago, the pity of it,” the learned Mr. Dutt sighed.
“Abyssinian women soldiers died fighting in the battle of Sikandar Bagh. The Queen was in Begum Kothi. Her advisors requested her to leave the city, and she left Lucknow on the 21st of March, 1858, in a palki, escorted by Rana Beni Madho Singh. Her entourage and soldiers followed. The British captured Lucknow when the Jallad-i-Falak Mirrikh2 was on the ascent. Throughout the time of the Mutiny, Mars had glowed in the night skies like a red-hot coal or a blood-shot eye. You must have seen it too, Nilambar Mian.
“Half the town followed the Queen—it was a stupendous exodus. When Her Majesty reached Bondi in Behraich district, the place turned into a miniature peacetime Lucknow. The Begum stayed in Bondi for eleven months. Meanwhile General Clyde planned to trap the royalists in Behraich. The knights continued to fight back in the countryside, and Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was killed in Shahj
ehanpur on the 5th of June, 1858. His body was torn to pieces and burnt in the local kerbala where tazias are buried on the tenth day of Moharrum. His severed head was hung from the gates of the kotwali.
“Ahmadullah Shah was the only warrior who twice confounded Lord Clyde’s strategies. Even English generals admitted that he was a true patriot and a true soldier—he never killed an innocent person.
“Raja Beni Madho Singh had reached his castle in Shankarpur. He told Lord Clyde that he would surrender his fort because it was his property, but he would not give himself up because his person belonged to his Sovereign. Meanwhile, Nana Rao and others had regrouped in the forest fort of Nanpara. Lord Clyde marched up to the fort, they vanished. He chased them up and down the region, blowing up forts. It was like the English sport of hares and hounds that I had seen in their own country, where they rode out wearing red coats and their hounds hunted poor, helpless vixen. Here Lord Clyde was Master of the Hunt, followed by his Redcoats, but there were no hares. They were confronted by lion-hearted men.
“The Begum did not accept defeat. Queen Victoria’s famous Proclamation was published on the 1st of November, 1858. Our own Queen issued a counter-proclamation in which she logically challenged the British Empress’ statements point by point.”
The nawab cleared his throat, paused, then continued, “In the Firman she wrote, ‘The Proclamation says that all contracts and agreements entered into by the Company will be accepted by Queen Victoria. Let the people carefully observe this ruse. The Company has seized the whole of Hindustan and if this arrangement be accepted, what then is new in it? The Company called the young Raja of Bharatpur a son, then took his territory. The Raja of Punjab was carried off to London.
“‘They expelled Peshwa Baji Rao from Poona and interned him for life in Cawnpore. Their breach of faith with Sultan Tipu is well known. The Raja of Banaras they imprisoned in Agra. On one side they hanged Nawab Shamsuddin of Ferozepur, Jharka, on the other they took off their hats and salaamed him.’
“That reminds me, Nilambar Mian, Outram had come home on leave while we were in London. I was told that one day he turned up at Harley House in mufti, carrying a rolled umbrella like any average Londoner. He said to General Sikander Hashmat, ‘I am Outram who took Lucknow from you, I have come to pay you a visit.’ The Prince asked him to take a seat. He kept standing, according to protocol, because Sikander Hashmat was a prince of royal blood . . . so, what was I saying?”
“The Begum’s Firman.”
“Ah, yes. So Her Majesty wrote that these are old affairs, but recently in defiance of treaties and oaths and despite the fact that they owed us millions of rupees, and on the pretext of misgovernment and the discontent of our people, they took our country. If our people were discontented with Vajid Ali Shah, how is it they are content with us? And no ruler ever experienced such loyalty and devotion of life and goods as we have done in recent months!
“Queen Victoria’s Proclamation says that the Christian religion alone is true. What has the administration of justice to do with the truth or falsehood of a religion? asked the Begum. She ended her Firman adding that the English promised no better employment for Hindustanis than making roads and digging canals. If people cannot clearly see what this means, there is no help for them.”
Gautam was astounded. He had never heard of this counter proclamation. The nawab had come to the end of his unhappy narration.
“The Queen’s knights continued their battle in the countryside”, he said. “Ultimately Rana Beno Madho Singh, Nana Rao, Bala Saheb, Jwala Parshad, Khan Bahadur Khan, Mammu Khan, all of them were pushed out by Lord Clyde to the Nepal border. They crossed the Rapti and went into Nepal, but Rana Jung Bahadur refused to help them because he had become loyal to the British Crown. Raja Jailal Singh, the Begum’s Minister of War, and Jwala Parshad were executed.
“With his seal of ‘Peshwa Bahadur’, Nana Saheb wrote from Deogarh in Urdu to Maj. Richardson that he would rather die with honour than accept the terms of surrender. He dated his letter 22nd Ramzan, 1275 A.H.
“Rana Beni Madho Singh was also camping with his womenfolk at Deogarh. He told them, ‘I am leaving. Don’t desert the Begum, stay with her.’ Then he made a heap of the jewels and money he had brought with him. He told his soldiers, ‘Those of you who want wealth, take it and go away. Those who want death with honour, come with me.’ Two hundred and fifty men stayed back with him. They fought the Gurkhas and were killed, the Rana was taken unawares and shot in the back.
“The glamorous French-speaking Azimullah Khan, Nana Rao, his brother Bala Saheb, all succumbed to malaria in the rain-forests of the Terai. This is precisely what General Clyde had planned.
“The Begum was given asylum in Nepal and still lives there. Now eminent Englishmen admire her courage and her charisma—how all of Oudh took up arms on her call.”
Nawab Kamman fell silent and gazed at his turquoise ring. The precious stone, feroze, signified victory.
1 After 1947 a labyrinth of underground passages was excavated near Chhattar Manzil. These tunnels probably led to the underwater house.
2 “The Killer Planet”, Mars.
27. Bakht Khan, Lord Governor-General
A workman passed by carrying a step-ladder, on his way to light the gas lamps. The two old men watched him in silence. After a long pause Nawab Kamman resumed his dolorous saga.
“And the significant thing is, that despite their total victory, they are still afraid of Sultan-i-Alam’s immense popularity. Why, they recently demolished a pavilion in Qaiser Bagh where he used to preside over his Jogia Mela, dressed in yellow. This Basant festival was open to the general public. The people of Lucknow gathered at the pavilion and wept, remembering him. Now the authorities are maligning him as a debauch. I assure you, Nilambar Mian, he is no rake, he has never missed a single early morning prayer.”
Gautam kept quiet. These were sensitive matters involving one’s faith and intense personal loyalties. Then he said haltingly, “Nawab Saheb, our customs of polygamy and harems seem odd to westerners.”
“They are hypocrites! Over there they have mistresses and bastard children. Here, even a dasi-putra has a certain right of inheritance.
“Anyway, they occupied Lucknow, and Sikhs, Gurkhas and 93rd Highlanders sacked the city. Begum Kothi and the Imambaras were plundered, the colossal chandeliers of Imambara Hussainabad now lighted the new girjaghars of Lucknow. In their frenzy the English razed half the city. The Imambara Asafi was turned into military barracks, the royalists were disarmed and the troops of Raja Hanuwant Singh of Hardoi laid down their arms. But, like Beni Madho Singh, Raja Hanuwant Singh refused to accept defeat. ‘My men owed allegiance to me, they have given up. I owe allegiance to my Raj Mata Hazrat Mahal, I will not surrender. You can kill me.’ He was immediately shot by the firing squad.” The nawab wiped a tear and added proudly, “These men were Surajvanshi and Chandervanshi Rajputs of Oudh.”
Dutt Babu pursed his lips, then said with some hesitation, “Nawab Saheb, you must have heard of Mr. Charles Darwin—”
“Yes, I have, indeed,” the nawab replied somewhat sharply. “Descent from sun and moon is a metaphor, all mythology is a metaphor of eternal verities, mon eher ami.
“I had gone to France with Malika Kishwar’s party feeling utterly miserable. Owing to the Sepoy War my Rastogi1 had not sent me any hundis from Lucknow. The fugitive royals had enough troubles of their own, so I found myself down and out on the streets of Paris.
“Henri, who used to once cater for my chai-pani parties in Lucknow, now introduced me to some young Frenchmen who were studying at L’Ecole Orientale. I started giving them private tuition in Persian. One of the students booked a passage for me on board a French ship and that’s how I got back to Lucknow, via Pondicherry. As I told you earlier, the city was lying in ruins. I wandered in a daze in desolate lanes, looking for my next-of-kin. One evening I sat down exhausted amidst broken columns and fallen arches and recalled Mirza Rafi Sauda’s dirge. After the
sack of Delhi by Abdali, he had lamented:
Owls hoot where once we heard Raga Hindol,
At night you only see the light
Of the torch-like, flaming eyes of ghouls2
“Eventually, I found out that my family had joined the Great Exodus after the departure of Begum Hazrat Mahal and managed to reach our tiny garhi in Neelampur. I went there and after some time, brought them to Matia Burj.
“Now, wherever I see an ancient banyan and its beards, I avert my eyes. They remind me of corpses dangling from roadside trees. When I came back to India the hanging mela was in full swing. Twenty-seven thousand Muslims were hanged in Delhi. Thousands of Hindus and Muslims were sent to the gallows in Cawnpore, Allahabad and other places. In Lucknow they installed the gallows in a row on a roadside. Forty to fifty persons per day was usual for the hangmen, and the corpses were kept dangling till the next batch was brought. Many were executed on the mere suspicion of being rebels and lots of distinguished men were tied to cannons and blown up.
“They hanged a few old women, too, for good measure and a young courtesan, Azizan Bai, who had fought as a soldier in Cawnpore. Urdu poet Imam Bakhsh Sehbai and his sons were shot. Maj. Hodson even presented two Mughal princes’ severed heads on a platter to the old King.” The nawab’s voice quivered.
His friend was distressed. What can I say to him? I can’t even begin to gauge the depth of his anguish. He has lost an entire civilisation, and yet he is in the dock as the culprit.
Gautam was well-acquainted with the version of the Mutiny which the English press of India had published. The Siege of the Lucknow Residency had already become a literary legend in England and Anglo-India. The heroism of British generals and soldiers, the bravery of European students of Lucknow’s La Martiniere College, the massacre of English families all over north India, the treacherous drowning of boats carrying English women and children in the Ganges off Cawnpore—all of which was true, too.
River of Fire Page 18