|
The fall of Delhi in 1857
Submitted by admin on 19 September 2009 - 1:08am.
Articles
Features
Indian
Muslim
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
It was all over by Sept 20th 1857. Indian forces had retreated
from their positions. Mughal Royalty abandoned the Red Fort and
people started leaving Delhi in large numbers to escape from looting
by the British forces. Same day, last Emperor of India Bahadur
Shah Zafar was arrested by the British forces, his three sons
murdered in cold blood and their severed heads presented to the
King. Delhi had fallen and with it any hope of keeping the foreign
occupation out of India. Though some Indian forces continued fighting
the occupying powers as late as 1859 it was not until 1947 that
Indians will again take charge of their country.
We have all read and heard about the great war of 1857, but unfortunately,
most of it is British account or by Indians who wanted to please
their British masters. Hardly any research has been done to present
the Indian perspective of this war of 1857. Dr. Shamsul Islam,
a professor of Political Science in Delhi University has spent
more than a decade collecting materials that give detail information
of day to day happenings in the Indian camp.
He has published a number of books in Hindi and English presenting
original materials and shocking the readers with what he uncovers.
A different image of 1857 and particularly the siege of Delhi
appear as we read the letters written by spies and traitors present
in Delhi but working for the British. These spies were put in
service as soon as the native soldiers of British forces declared
mutiny. These spies provided valuable information from within
the city to the British forces on Delhi Ridge. These letters were
translated by the British forces and preserved in different archives
and collections which Prof. Shamsul Islam through his painstaking
research has collected over the years. He has cross-checked the
facts and events mentioned in these letters and now we have an
alternate record of a very important part of the Indian history.
When these letters are read along with letters and reports by
the British forces they provide a valuable insight into how the
great war of 1857 was lost by the Indian forces.
British Memorial of 1857 war at Delhi Ridge
In 1972, Government of India offers an amendment
British Forces
First reading the British accounts, we find that British forces
were demoralized with lot of confusion and indiscipline among
the ranks. Consider this, writing in early September 1857 one
Officer writes “We had been the Besieged and not the Besiegers.”
On Sept. 6th we find William Hodson, the intelligence chief ready
to give up. He writes, “If the campaign lasts very long I
shall be forced to go home next year.” Nevertheless British
forces stormed Delhi by breaching Kashmiri Gate, a plaque commemorating
the names of those who attacked it still stands at Kashmiri Gate
but we don’t know the names of those who defended the gate
from attacks by the British forces. Though British were able to
enter the city thanks to the breach but still they met strong
resistance. British historian of this period, John William Kaye
wrote, “it was plain that we had received a severe check,”
he adds that the British troops, “were much exhausted by
fatigue, and much depressed by the mortality that surround them.”
On Sept. 16th, Major General Archdale Wilson describes his and
his forces condition:
“Our Force is too weak for this street fighting, when we
have to gain our way inch by inch, and of the Force we have, unfortunately,
there is a large portion besides the Jummoo troops in whom I can
place no confidence…. I find myself getting weaker and weaker
everyday, mind and body quite worn out… We have a long and
hard struggle before us.”
On Sept 19th, a day before the Fall of Delhi, Hodson makes this
observation: “We are making slow progress in the city. The
fact is, the troops are utterly demoralized… For the first
time in my life, I have had to see English soldiers refuse repeatedly
to follow their officers.” How this demoralized and indiscipline
army able to win Delhi is what Prof. Islam uncovers in letters
from spies working for the British.
British Memorial lists important battles of the Siege of Delhi
British Agents
These spies not only provided information about Indian troops
preparations and movements to the British but also advised them
how and when to attack. They also acted as agent provocateurs
for the British masters. These British agents were everywhere
in the city and some in the circles closest to Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Dr. Islam identifies three important British agents in Delhi-
Rajab Ali, who was awarded Rs. 10,000 for his services during
the siege; Jeewan Lal, whose family was always attached to the
Mughals, in fact one of his forefather was prime minster of Aurangzeb,
was made honorary Magistrate and a Municipal Commissioner for
providing critical information to the British during the siege;
Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh was very close to King Zafar, one of his daughters
married Zafar’s son Mirza Fakhru. In reading through the
letters we find Mirza Ilahi Bakhsh planning the fall of Delhi
by other nobles of the city including queen Zeenat Mahal. He on
one occasion saved the life of Jeewan Lal when rebels arrested
him for spying for the British. He also successfully convinced
Bahadur Shah Zafar not to leave the city with Indian forces and
brought about the surrender of the King and the princes.
There were many other spies working overtime for the British
forces and Hodson writes that they were employed to sow the seeds
of dissension within Indian Forces, between Delhi residents and
defenders of the city and also between Hindus and Muslims.
British marker at Kashmiri Gate
Indian Forces
Ironically, letters of British spies provide lot of information
about activities in the Indian camps. We find Bahadur Shah Zafar
actively involved in the civil and military arrangements in Delhi.
We find Indian forces very well organized with proper command
and control. Corrupt people being punished and grievances of the
people redressed. We find Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and even Indians
from South and some Whites fighting for the Indian cause. We find
a proper Military Council that managed the affairs of the war
and planned strategies. Military Council was also responsible
for maintaining funds; 12 member Council had representation of
a civilian Delhi resident as well. This council was democratic
with representation of Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs; Mirza Mughal
who though had a seat in this council was not able to have influence
in the debates since other members distrusted him for charges
of funds embezzlement against him.
Bakht Khan Rohilla, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian forces (1857-1859)
Indian forces were divided in sections with doctors attached
to each section and fighting organized so that each section gets
proper rest without hindering the war effort. They made new advances
in making ammunitions and also came up with a rocket gun which
was personally inspected by the King on Sept. 6th and employed
into the service the next day. Families of those who died in battles
were given Rs. 3 monthly pension.
King Zafar seems to be in full command when he orders a ban on
cow slaughter. He also removes some of the princes from collecting
funds when they were found to be involved in embezzlement. Collection
of funds was levied on all irrespective of caste and religion.
Funds thus collected were distributed according to the discretion
of a committee constituted for this purpose.
Memorials
British built a memorial on the Ridge that they occupied during
the siege. This memorial still stand there today near University
of Delhi campus honoring those who faught for the British cause,
listing names of important British officers and counting wounded
and dead both natives and British and a listing of battles during
the siege that lasted from May 20th to Sept. 20th 1857. India
is yet to built a memorial for the patriotic sons and daughters
who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. In 1972, Indian
government put up a board there that says that what British inscriptions
called ‘enemy’ are actually brave Indian soldiers who
fought for national liberation.
Indian soldiers are still called "mutineers" in official
Red Fort museuem
And British version of events of 1857 war is still supreme in
India. (Poster in Red Fort museum)
It is strange that more than 150 years since the Fall of Delhi
and even after 60 years of India’s independence we are yet
to identify Indian heroes and recognize their sacrifice. While
we know that Major William Hodson’s grave is maintained in
La Martiniere College in Lucknow, we don’t know what happened
to Bakht Khan Rohilla, commander-in-chief of Indian forces who
kept alive the resistance against British occupation forces till
1859.
Relevant books by Dr. Shamsul Islam:
English:
Rebel Sikhs of 1857, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
Jeewan Lal: Traitor of Mutiny, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
Letters of Spies: And Delhi was Lost, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
Hindi:
1857 ke Baghi Sikh, Vaani, Delhi, 2008
Ghadar ka Dalal: Munshi Jeewan Lal, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
Jasosoon ke Khatoot: Aur Dilli Haar Gayee, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
1857 Kee Heratangez Dastanen, Vaani, Delhi, 2008.
[All photos by TwoCircles.net]
http://www.twocircles.net/2009sep18/fall_delhi
|
