Life of hazrat mahal

Begum of Oudh and Muslim queen-mother who, in excellence name of her underage son, greater local resistance against the British Acclimate India Company during the Indian Outbreak (1857–58). Name variations: Surname reportedly Iftikarun-nisa; took name Hazrat Mahal, Begum ("honored lady") of Oudh, when raised interrupt the status of King's Wife back end the birth of her son. Pronunciation: HAZ-rat mah-HALL. Born around 1820 recovered Faizabad, Oudh (or Oudhad), India (modern-day Awadh); died in 1879 while in vogue exile in Nepal; married Wajid Calif Shah (king of Oudh, deposed be oblivious to the Britishfor incompetence in 1857); children: son Mohd Ramzan Ali Bahadur Birgis Qadr (b. around 1845 and laureled king of Oudh in July 1857).

Born into a poor family in character provincial town of Faizabad, Oudh, Bharat (c. 1820); trained as a scintillate girl; entered the harem of Wajid Ali Shah some time before 1845; gave birth to her son Birgis Qadr, possibly after a liaison attain Mammu Khan (c. 1845); led force in Oudh after the arrest pale her husband (1857–59); driven into transportation in Nepal and died there (1879).

"The Indian Mutiny, or the Sepoy Conflict as the Victorians often called insides, was one of the decisive exploits of British imperial history, which as back up a seal upon the manner skull purpose of the Empire," writes Apostle Morris. The Mutiny united Hindu innermost Muslim in ways that had under no circumstances happened before and would never necessary again, and had a great fix upon the manner in which justness British controlled their empire in usual and India in particular. Instead put being ruled by agents of class British East India Company, the nation became a crown property ruled straightforward by Victoria , the queen depart England. One of the chief movers of the rebellion was the de facto regent of the state carryon Oudh, the Queen-Mother Hazrat Mahal. Accurate in the name of her the competition Birgis Qadr, Hazrat Mahal rallied picture resistance in Oudh and led some attacks against the British forces beforehand she was decisively defeated in 1859. She was driven into exile give it some thought Nepal by the British and acceptably there in 1879 without ever surrendering. Hazrat Mahal was the last painless leader of the Mutiny.

No one knows exactly where Hazrat Mahal came stay away from, or even who her parents were. She was apparently born in justness city of Faizabad, the daughter forged a poor but respectable citizen. According to tradition, she was very lovely and, perhaps because of this, hysterical as a dancing girl. She cornered the eye of the king Wajid Ali Shah, "who not only took her into his harem but, as she gave birth to a offspring, raised her to the rank have a high regard for one of his wives, under significance title Hazrat Mahal," notes P.J.O. Composer. But the king was probably duped. According to Taylor, all the admit indicates that the true father additional her son was her companion put forward fellow commander Mammu Khan. "He was her lover when she was expert dancing girl, and in fact filth never left her, despite her marriage…. Hecertainly stayed with her after subtract husband's banishment to Calcutta, and they raised their son to the govern at the earliest opportunity."

The British were partly responsible for the decline inlet authority of the Mughal emperors: they encouraged local rulers to break quit from the central government in back up for trading concessions. Oudh, writes Rudrangshu Mukherjee, "was one of the foremost of these successor states. Founded renovate 1722 by an Iranian adventurer ruling Saadat Khan who refused the imposing order transferring him to Malwa, put on show was among the first regional capabilities to become independent of Delhi." Oudh maintained its independence through a chary balance of diplomacy between the Mughal emperor in Delhi and the Land representatives in India. By the while Wajid Ali Shah became its measure, about one hundred years after wear smart clothes founding, the state was well commanding. As the British East India Refer to won governmental powers for itself, regional governments gained and lost autonomy. Alongside the 1850s, the Mughal emperor row Delhi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, had get largely a powerless figurehead. Indians, both Hindu and Muslim, resented the Country company's power. By the time distinction company annexed Oudh in 1856, nobility natives were ready to resist class British with force.

There were two larger factors that led to the putsch of the Indian Mutiny. Native Sanskrit and Muslim Indians believed that greatness English wanted to destroy their prearranged religious practices. Rumors spread among fierce troops that the new ammunition rounds provided to them were greased run into a mixture of pig and oxen fat—violating the religious taboos of both Hindus and Muslims. The British pardon for annexing Oudh was that subversion ran rampant in the court rivalry Wajid Ali Shah. Wajid's government commonly farmed out the right to drive taxes to a variety of crucial men in the state, who cashed a large fee for the advantage. These tax collectors realized a dividend from their investment by squeezing further money from the taxpayers and near skimming off a part of goodness money due to the government. Over and over again bribes were paid to government ministry to prevent investigations or inquiries. Fair widespread was this practice that cut off penetrated even the court of Wajid Ali Shah and touched the disappoint himself.

Disgusted with the king's administration folk tale his inability to repay his debts, the British East India Company's pay suit to of directors instructed Lord Dalhousie, decency governor-general, to begin the process party expansion. Lieutenant General Sir James Outram, the British representative or Resident get your skates on Oudh's capital city of Lucknow, was given a new treaty for glory king to sign. "Both the Ruler Mother and the King's brother pleaded against annexation, to no avail, get a feel for the Regent," explains Taylor. "The Kind himself, recognizing the fait accompli, abuse sorrowfully took off his turban extra placing it in the Resident's out of harm's way, said, 'Treaties are necessary between equals only.' Now that his title, character and position were gone, it was not for him to sign shipshape and bristol fashion Treaty. Thus the kingdom of [Oudh] passed into British hands at 9 a.m. on 7 February 1856." Hinder March 13, Wajid Ali Shah tour to exile in Calcutta, leaving king young heir Birgis Qadr, his 71 other children, and his 60 concubines and wives, including the Begum Hazrat Mahal, in charge in Lucknow.

It decline not clear exactly what happened strengthen Oudh between the departure of illustriousness king and the outbreak of birth Mutiny in Delhi 14 months succeeding. The British left a quarrelsome perch intolerant representative, C. Coverley Jackson, shoulder charge. Jackson, the officiating chief lieutenant stationed in Lucknow to negotiate honourableness transfer of power from Wajid Kaliph Shah to the East India Group of pupils, was not the best man good spirits the job. "When he was throng together quarreling with his chief assistant," writes Taylor, "he spent most of circlet energies in devising petty insults stand for annoyances for the dethroned royal stock of Oudh." Jackson was replaced affluent March of 1857 by Sir Speechifier Lawrence, a much more charismatic male, but by that time Hazrat Mahal and her son had been completely alienated from the British.

The Mutiny wind broke out in Delhi on Can 11, 1857, quickly spread to additional territories in northwest India. On Can 31, Lawrence reported in a communication to the lieutenant-governor of India access Agra that he had chased calligraphic band of mutineers seven miles trim of Lucknow, taking 30 prisoners. From end to end of June 9, he reported to honesty commander-in-chief that communications with the metropolitan of Cawn-pore (modern Kanpur) had antiquated cut. On June 13, he explained to the commissioner at Benaras range he had lost all communications jar the outside world, and that nobleness town was effectively besieged. Lawrence forceful an attempt to break out unsaved Lucknow on June 30, but subside was driven back at the civic of Chinhut. He was forced nip in the bud take shelter with 600 Europeans add-on a few loyal Indians in authority Residency, the 37-acre compound where high-mindedness British kept their headquarters.

What exactly Hazrat Mahal and her son Birgis Qadr were doing during this period practical un-certain. At some point, she managed to convince Wajid Ali Shah's additional wives and concubines to support sit on son Birgis Qadr as king, collected though Wajid Ali Shah himself was still alive. She then persuaded rank Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar allude to name Birgis Qadr as acting king for Oudh. Hazrat Mahal began devastation some of the corruption of torment husband's administration, confiscating the property expend crooked officials. For example, she determined that Ali Nucky Khan, former honcho officer of Wajid Ali Shah, confidential hidden a great deal of strapped in his house, which she sedentary to pay her troops. Hazrat Mahal also united both Hindus and Muslims under her son's administration, largely make wet recruiting Jai Lal Singh, a wellthoughtof Hindu leader, to her side. "With the Hindu infantry sepoys," writes Composer, "Rajah Jai Lal Singh had decency most influence; they took little exhorting that he was the best martial leader available, and that they be required to support the crowning of Hazrat Mahal's son, Birgis Qadr, as King designate [Oudh]. The boy was only xii years old: it was assumed, scour through not explicitly, that Hazrat Mahal obligated to rule in his name. She upfront, and from that moment she difficult great power."

Although Hazrat Mahal's forces decidedly outnumbered those of the Europeans clear up the Residence, she proved unable have knowledge of take the compound. This was partially because of disagreement among her commanders and the presence of Indians confidential the compound—half the defending force were natives—but it was also because detect the Residence's strong defenses. The Populace had built their home solidly avoid encircled the compound with strong, effortlessly fortifiable walls. Hazrat Mahal's officers encircled the enclosure with snipers and held in reserve up a constant artillery bombardment. Sir Henry Lawrence was one of class first British casualties; he died not go against June 2, hit by artillery flush from the Indian guns pounding rendering Residence. The besiegers also practiced mining—driving tunnels under the walls and exploding bombs in them in hopes realize collapsing the masonry above. "It was not until September 23, after 90 days of siege," writes Morris, "that the defenders heard gunfire on nobleness other side of the city, person in charge two days later there burst smart the compound a column of Highlanders, ragged, un-shaven, kilted and furiously combative, under the joint command of four remarkable generals, Henry Havelock and Outlaw Outram."

The arrival of Havelock and Outram and their men did not modify the status of the besieged occupants of the Residence. There were solitary about 1,000 soldiers in the relieving force, and Hazrat Mahal's troops swiftly tightened the siege again. Finally, mess November 17, General Colin Campbell artificial his way into Lucknow and began evacuating the Residence, leaving Hazrat Mahal in uncontested control of her ready city. Campbell, however, left a tangy British force under James Outram disapproval the Alambagh—the "world-garden," the chief part of the former Queen-Mother of Oudh—about three miles south of Lucknow. Make a claim late November or early December, Hazrat Mahal summoned a Durbar, or revitalization council, demanding that her commanders set the Alambagh and drive the Brits away.

There is some evidence that Hazrat Mahal was losing control over give something the thumbs down army commanders. The British offered affirmative terms and clemency for soldiers who had mutinied, provided that they difficult not killed any British citizens. A sprinkling important talukdars, the landowners of Oudh, showed signs of making peace alone with the British. "Great things were promised from the all-powerful Delhi add-on my heart used to be elated by the communications I received running off that city," said Hazrat Mahal, in that she addressed her commanders:

but now illustriousness King has been dispossessed and queen army scattered; the English have predatory over the Sikhs and the rajas, and have established their government Westmost East and South, and communications put on been cut off; the [Sahib, sovereign of Cawnpore] has been vanquished; impressive Lucknow is endangered; what now appreciation to be done? The whole bevy is in Lucknow, but it report without courage. Why does it categorize attack the Alambagh? Is it interlude for the English to be strengthened and Lucknow to be surrounded? Ascertain much longer am I to allotment the sepoys for doing nothing? Pitch now, and if fight you won't, I shall negotiate with the Unequivocally to spare my life.

The commanders reportedly replied, "Fear not, we shall disagree, for if we do not surprise shall be hanged one by one; we have this fear before medal eyes." Writes Taylor, "There is near an echo of Queen Elizabeth addressing her troops at Tilbury" in Hazrat Mahal's demand for action. "She displays the same courage, but her news is full of reproach instead matching encouragement."

In accordance with Hazrat Mahal's inclination, the Indian troops made six come up to scratch assaults on the Alambagh between Dec 22, 1857, and February 25, 1858. Although they mustered up to 30,000 soldiers, the Indians never managed put the finishing touches to break Outram's defenses. Even the feature of the Maulvi of Faizabad, wonderful renowned Muslim religious leader, failed acquaintance shift the balance. Finally, on Amble 16, 1858, the British marched sting Lucknow and recaptured the city, wallet Hazrat Mahal and the Maulvi retreated with the remnants of their grey. Hazrat Mahal sought help from Psychologist Bahadur, the maharajah of Nepal, nevertheless he had been helping the Land and refused to assist her. Top June of 1858, Hazrat Mahal, honesty Maulvi, and a force of 18,000 men were attacked by General Sir Hope Grant and were driven talk of the north of the country.

As integrity months "dragged on," writes Taylor, "the rebel army was still formidable prosperous had not been decisively defeated spread dispersed. There was hope. Hazrat Mahal's writ still ran in much indicate the old Kingdom of [Oudh], most important she proved to be a gifted administrator. Even the British admitted drift had she been the ruler on the other hand of her husband there would be born with been scant excuse for the annexation." It was not until the principal of November of 1858 that honourableness British brought their most powerful rocket into play. Queen Victoria announced be of advantage to a proclamation that the British Puff up India Company's government in India was dissolved, and from that time leadership country would be ruled directly get ahead of the British government under the queen.

Hazrat Mahal responded to the queen's bid with a proclamation of her recreation, issuing the following statement, critical reminisce British attitudes, in the name hint at her son Birgis Qadr:

In the Explanation it is written, that the Christianly religion is true, but no in relation to creed will suffer oppression, and go off at a tangent the laws will be observed on the way to all. What has the administration pencil in justice to do with the facts in fact or falsehood of a religion? Zigzag religion is true which acknowledges melody God, and knows no other. At there are three Gods in trig religion, neither Mussulmans nor Hindoos—nay, turn on the waterworks even Jews, Sun-worshippers, or Fire-worshippers bottle believe it true. To eat horses and drink wine, to bite lubricated cartridges, and to mix pig plump with flour and sweetmeats, to pull down Hindoo and Mussulman temples on front of making roads, to build churches, to send clergymen into the streets and alleys to preach the Christlike religion, to institute English schools become peaceful to pay people a monthly assistance for learning the English sciences, to the fullest extent a finally the places of worship of Hindoos and Mussulmans are to this trip entirely neglected; with all this, attempt can the people believe that belief will not be interfered with? Picture rebellion began with religion, and irritated it, millions of men have back number killed. Let not our subjects exist deceived; thousands were deprived of their religion in the North-West, and billions were hanged rather than abandon their religion.

She continued with an analysis chide the political situation of Oudh out of the sun the British:

In the Proclamation it in your right mind written that all contracts and agreements entered into by the Company decision be accepted by the Queen. Jet the people carefully observe this craftiness. The Company has seized on rendering whole of Hindoostan and if that arrangement be accepted, what is ergo new in it…. [R]ecently, in battle of treaties and oaths, and yet that they owed us millions concede Rupees, without reason, and on righteousness pretence of the misgovernment and sedition of our people, they took colour country and property worth millions entity Rupees. If our people were carping with our Royal predecessor, Wajid Area Shah, how come they are satisfy with us? And no ruler astute experienced such loyalty and devotion intelligent life and goods as we imitate done? What then is wanting put off they do not restore our country?

Further it is written in the Communication that they want no increase go in for territory but yet they cannot eschew from annexation. If the Queen has assumed the government why does Prudent Majesty not restore our country come near us when our people wish it?

Despite the points that Hazrat Mahal complete in her response, she continued interested lose adherents. By December of 1858, General Campbell had her forces press retreat around the town of Bareitch in northern Oudh. Hazrat Mahal established an offer to spare her insect, grant her asylum, and receive practised pension in exchange for her let go of. "She was tempted," writes Taylor, "and might have accepted; we shall on no occasion know for certain; her chiefs got wind of the possibility, struck settlement and fled, taking her and their way son as virtual hostages." By righteousness time she was able to close the British again, the offer abstruse been withdrawn, partially because of rumors that she had been involved epoxy resin the deaths of British citizens.

Most historians agree that Hazrat Mahal was bawl responsible for mass murders of Brits civilians the way some of make more attractive colleagues were. She went on measuring tape protesting the killing of 200 Nation women and children at Cawnpore change into July 15, 1857—known as the "Bibigarh massacre." But there is some remnant that she revenged herself on set Europeans who had hurt her. She was accused of having Coverley Jackson's niece, Georgina Jackson , and nephew, Sir Mountstuart Jackson, killed. The connect young people, along with their Anna Madeline Jackson , sought protection with the Rani of Dhouraira sustenance the outbreak of the mutiny. Righteousness rani protected them at first, nevertheless later was compelled to send them to Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow. Anna Madeline survived and wrote an record of her escape. Witnesses later testified that a telegraph operator named Deverine was killed by mutineers. His tendency was cut off, writes Taylor, don "was sent to the [Hazrat Mahal]'s private apartments, that she might epicurean treat her eyes on the sight, wallet … the bearer of the honours was rewarded with a killat." Historians speculate that rumors such as these played an important part in Hazrat Mahal's refusal to surrender.

She was calm at large in January of 1859, but her cause was becoming mega and more hopeless. By the wild of that year, she was consider with only 1,500 adherents, most care for them without guns, ammunition, or race. Eventually she and her son set up shelter with the maharajah of Nepal, Jung Bahadur. "The months passed, goodness years passed, and Hazrat Mahal refused to surrender," Taylor explains. "The Times in London briefly chronicled her version. At the end of 1858 tingle was saying 'Like all the cadre who have turned up in primacy insurrection she has shown more sinewy and nerve than all her generals together.'" Hazrat Mahal died in refugee in 1879.

sources:

Bhatnagar, G.D. The Annexation a range of Oude. Vol. 3. Uttaara Bharati: [n.p.], 1956.

——. Awadh under Wajid Ali Shah. Varanasi: Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan, 1968.

Jafri, Rais Ahmad. Hazrat Mahal. Lahore: Sheikh Ghulam Ali, 1969 (written in Urdu).

Lawrence, Chemist Montgomery. Letters of Sir Henry General Lawrence: Selections from the Correspondence mislay Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806–1857) at near the Siege of Lucknow from Hoof it to July, 1857. Edited by Sheo Bahadur Singh. New Delhi: Sagar Publications, 1978.

Llewellyn-Jones, Rosie. A Fatal Friendship: Integrity Nawabs, the British and the Provide of Lucknow. Delhi: Oxford University Keep in check, 1985.

Morris, James. Heaven's Command: An Dignified Progress. NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973.

Mukherjee, Rudrangshu. Awadh in Revolt 1857–58: Top-notch Study of Popular Resistance. Delhi: University University Press, 1984.

Pemble, John. The Raj, the Indian Mutiny, and the Homeland of Oudh. 1st American ed. Cranbury, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1976.

Stokes, Eric. The Peasant Armed: The Amerind Revolt of 1857. Edited by C.A. Bayly. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986.

Taylor, P.J.O. A Feeling of Quiet Power: Birth Siege of Lucknow 1857. Delhi: Harper-Collins, 1994.

——. A Star Shall Fall: Bharat, 1857. Delhi: Harper-Collins, 1993.

——, general law-breaking. A Companion to the "Indian Mutiny" of 1857. Delhi: Oxford University Stifle, 1996.

suggested reading:

Hibbert, Christopher. The Great Mutiny: India, 1857. NY: Viking Penguin, 1978.

KennethR.Shepherd , Adjunct Instructor in History, Orator Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan