A Caligula in the Red Fort

This is the second article of my series on the decadence of the Mughal emperors. In the post-Aurangzeb period, the history of the empire is mostly a narrative of incompetence and degeneration. The situation can best be described in the words of Allama Iqbal,

wa’ay nakami mata-e-karwan jata raha

karwan kay dil say ehsas-e-zian jata raha

(What a failure!

Not only that the assets of the caravan are lost,

The caravan is not even consciousness of this loss)

This moral turpitude would have required a Herculean effort to arrest but, unfortunately, the springs of fortitude in the Mughal veins had gone dry. As their power waned, the emperors only cared for personal gratification and were incapable of comprehending the collapse that was tearing up the empire in all dimensions.

In this article, I hope to draw the reader’s attention to something rather typical of that period: the behaviour of Jahandar Shah, the eighth Mughal Emperor. He came to power after a fierce four-way war of succession at Lahore in which his three brothers and two nephews lost their lives. Yet, instead of cementing his rule during his brief reign of 11 months, the Emperor led a frivolous life and indulged in scandalous behaviour with his consort, Lal Kunwar.

Lal Kunwar was a dancing girl by profession. She was reported to have been a descendant of Mian Tansen, the favourite musician of Emperor Akbar – but this claim may have been simply a ploy to dignify the family. She was referred to as kanchni or kalvant – that roughly translates to what is today referred to as mirasi. Having become a concubine of Jahandar Shah when he was a prince, she was elevated to the status of a queen when he became Emperor and was given the title of Imtiaz Mahal.

After his coronation at Lahore in February 1712, Jahandar Shah moved to that city in early May. During the next nine months, Lal Kunwar exercised supreme influence over the Emperor and an atmosphere of general frivolity was created, which eventually led to Jahandar’s ignominious downfall in February 1713.

Among other wild decisions, an order was given by the Emperor to cut down all the tall trees from the palace to the hunting grounds near Delhi because they obstructed Lal Kunwar's view

There was a lot of resentment in the family against Jahandar over this affair. His eldest son Izz-ud-din was deprived of his command of troops during the march from Lahore to Delhi for showing resentment at the behaviour of his father and Lal Kunwar. Such was the hold of Lal Kanwar that as she didn’t like two of Emperor’s sons, their father refused to see them and sent them to prison.

Lal Kunwar was also at the centre of an estrangement between the Emperor and his aunt, Zinat-un-nissa Begum, daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb. This Princess had refused to visit or acknowledge the new queen. In her rage, Lal Kunwar publically ridiculed the lady and called her embarrassing names. At the instigation of his consort, the Emperor ceased to visit his aunt, and refused her invitation to a function because Lal Kunwar had not been invited to it.

It must be kept in mind that having a concubine, or a number of them, was not an issue at that time. It was the way these two were behaving publically, as will be recorded below, that made the whole affair so disastrously scandalous for the dynasty.

There was a popular belief in Delhi that if a childless couple bathed naked every Sunday for forty weeks in the tank at the shrine of Shaikh Nasir-ud-din Oudhi, commonly called the Chiragh-i-Dihli (Lamp of Delhi), it would be blessed with a child. As Jahandar Shah didn’t have a child with Lal Kunwar, though he had plenty from his other wives and concubines, they started bathing every Sunday at the shrine – both as naked as they were born – in full view of the other visitors.

It became a practice at the court that low musicians gathered at the palace to drink with the Emperor’s company every night. When these men became drunk, they would kick and cuff Jahandar Shah and shout in a drunken way. Jahandar Shah, in spite of his long experience of the world, and all the majesty that he had seen around his grandfather and father, bore these insults for fear of offending Lal Kunwar.

Gifts were showered upon Lal Kunwar and her friends. An annual allowance of two crore rupees (20 million) was made for her household expenses, exclusive clothes and jewels. She was allowed to display the imperial umbrella, to march with drums beating and followed by a procession of five hundred men, as if she were the Emperor in person.

Many indecent and vile persons were promoted to high ranks and awarded valuable jagirs (fiefdoms). One day, Lal Kunwar complained to Jahandar that she could not live without seeing Zuhra. On inquiry, she said that Zuhra ran a vegetable stall. Jahandar appointed the vegetable seller as Lal Kunwar’s lady-in-waiting.

There are many stories of the insolent conduct of these favourites who rose from humble backgrounds. Chin Qilich Khan (later the first Nizam of Hyderabad) was one of the most honourable nobles of the era living in Dehli. His father, who had served the Mughal empire loyally in the army, had lost his vision in his later age. One day, Chin Qilich was passing in his palki through a narrow street, when he was met by Zuhra on an elephant, followed by a long train of servants. The Khan’s small retinue was hustled out of the way by the followers of the lady-in-waiting. As they crossed each other, she, pointing at the Nizam, cried out, “Is that the blind man’s son?” By the Nizam’s orders, his men pulled her rudely from her elephant. A complaint was made by Zuhra to the Emperor through Lal Kunwar. Jahandar Shah ordered that Nizam be punished – but on fear of causing widespread disaffection amongst the nobles, the matter was dropped.

Among other wild decisions, an order was given by the Emperor to cut down all the tall trees from the palace to the hunting grounds near Delhi because they obstructed Lal Kunwar’s view. One eye witness, Khushhal Chand, lamented that, “Spreading trees, with heads reaching the sky, the refuge and solace of the weary, foot-sore, traveller, the abode of far-flying and sweet-singing birds – received wounds in the garment of their existence, and fell into the dust of degradation and disgrace.” The trees had been planted by past Emperors, ancestors of Jahandar Shah. The symbolism would not have been lost on anyone.

A particularly inhuman and cruel incident occurred when Jahandar Shah and Lal Kunwar were on the roof of their palace, taking a view of the river. A boat full of men crossed over. Lal Kunwar said that she had never seen a boat full of men go down. A hint was enough for the Emperor. He ordered boatmen to take a boatload of passengers and abandon the boat mid way in the river. The order was complied with. She was gratified at the sight of those unfortunate drowning people struggling in the water.

Another revealing incident occurred one night after a day had been spent by the couple in debauchery. They visited various gardens around the city and then entered the house of a spirit-seller, a friend of Lal Kunwar. They drank there until they became senseless. On leaving, they rewarded the woman owning the shop with money and the grant of the revenue of a village. During the journey home, Jahandar and Lal Kunwar fell asleep. On reaching the palace, Lal Kunwar was taken out by her retainers and carried to her room. The driver of the carriage, who also had been drinking, made no inspection of his cart and left it at the stable with the Emperor in it. The Emperor’s absence began to cause alarm to the officers of the palace. When he was not to be found in Lal Kunwar’s apartments, the carriage was examined and the Emperor found fast asleep, nearly two miles away from the palace.

The driver of the carriage, who also had been drinking, made no inspection of his cart and left it at the stable with the Emperor sleeping in it

Lal Kunwar’s brother Niamat Khan Kalawant was a singer. On her insistence, Jahandar Shah appointed him as Subedar (governor) of Multan. Disgusted at this order, the Wazir-ul-Mulk (Chief Minister) told Niamat in all gravity that no order can be issued without a bribe and asked him to deliver 1,000 stringed musical instruments. Niamat worked hard and supplied 200 of these but also complained to Jahandar about the excessive bribe demanded from him. When Jahandar Shah asked the Wazir the reason for collecting so many music instruments, he sarcastically replied that when musicians were sent to govern provinces, nobles must discard their weapons and learn to play music. Being dependent on the wazir for his throne, Jahadar was embarrassed and promptly cancelled the appointment.

All three brothers of Lal Kunwar were ennobled with the titles of Niamat Khan, Namdar Khan and Khanzad Khan respectively, and received mansabs of four or five thousand men.

For a time, Dehli fell under severe misrule. The Emperor and Lal Kunwar ordered grand illuminations three times a month. In consequence of extensive illuminations, so much oil was used that it rose significantly in price. Then, when all the oil in the city was consumed, clarified butter was put to use until this, too, had ceased to be available. This indicates the state of affairs in other matters as well.

The result of this mismanagement and highhandedness was that all nobles and governors turned against the Emperor except his main Wazir. Farrukhsiyar, a cousin of Jahandar Shah and a contender to throne, raised an army with the help of powerful supporters and defeated Jahandar at Agra in February 1713. Sensing retribution from the new Emperor, Jahandar’s wazir captured his former master by deception and presented him to Farrukhsiyar. The wazir was, however, not spared. He was strangled to death and Jahandar was put in prison. On his repeated requests, Lal Kunwar was allowed to join him. On seeing her, he is said to have exclaimed joyfully, “Let the past be forgotten, and in all things let us praise the Lord!”

However, the conditions of imprisonment were soon made severe and harshness was carried to the point of placing the fallen Emperor’s feet in fetters.

A few days later, the new Emperor sent a group of men to prison for Jahandar’s execution. As this group entered the prison room, Lal Kunwar shrieked, clasped her lover round his neck and refused to let him go. Violently forcing them apart, the men dragged her down the stairs. Then laying hands on Jahandar Shah, they strangled him. As he did not die at once, he was kicked with heavy-heeled shoes several times in vulnerable parts of his body and finished off. A word was sent to the nazim of the prison that an executioner was needed.

The nazim, Muhammad Yar Khan, who was standing outside the room, bathed in cold perspiration, asked, “What is left for an executioner to do?”

The leader of the group replied, “To cut off his head, and carry it to His Majesty.”

The head was severed. The body was thrown into an open litter and the head placed on a tray. Half an hour after nightfall, they reached the camp with the previous emperor’s head and trunk, and laid them down at the entrance of the new emperor’s tent. Later, when Farrukhsiyar marched from the Agra to Delhi, the head of Jahandar Shah was carried on the point of a long bamboo held by an executioner seated on an elephant and his body was laid across the back of another elephant, followed by the elephant on which the new emperor rode. There was an immense crowd in the streets, some of whom were unable to restrain their grief at the atrocious spectacle.

Jahandar was buried in Humayun’s tomb (where around 150 Mughal royals are buried). Lal Kunwar was sent to the settlement of Suhagpura, where the widows and families of deceased emperors lived in retirement, to spend out her life.

Jahandar Shah’s acquisition of the crown was due to favourable accidents. His conduct during his few months in power showed him to be quite unfitted to hold rule. He was the first sovereign of the house of Timur who proved himself absolutely unfit to rule and this indicated the irreversible decline of the Mughal Empire.

Parvez Mahmood retired as a Group Captain from PAF and is now a software engineer. He lives in Islamabad and writes on social and historical issues. He can be reached at parvezmahmood53@gmail.com