Book SummaryThe Last Mughal, by William Dalrymple

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Last Mughal

The diminishing influence and control of the Mughal empire.

This section explores the gradual decline of the imperial Mughal authority, leading up to the critical events of 1857. Dalrymple illustrates the waning influence of the Mughal empire, their growing dependency on monetary support, and the impending threat of their extinction in the period of British ascendancy.

The political influence of the Mughal Empire gradually diminished.

This part delves into the steady decline of the Mughals' administrative authority. Dalrymple highlights how the Mughals' downfall was significantly influenced by the progressive erosion of privileges and benefits they once held, a situation worsened by the colonial strategies of the British.

The gradual decline of Mughal supremacy occurred alongside the continuous expansion of British power.

After their triumph against the Marathas in 1803, the British assumed the role of protectors for the Mughal ruler, Shah Alam II. As British dominion spread, their methods adapted in response. The brother of Sir Thomas Metcalfe played a notable role in the diminishing influence of the Mughal empire. He publicly withdrew his allegiance to the Mughal dynasty and convinced the Governor General to stop the customary tribute, thus indicating that the British no longer acknowledged the Mughal Emperor's sovereignty.

The influence of the Mughal empire diminished further in 1833 when the East India Company ceased to include their imperial endorsement on its currency. Successive Viceroys, including Lord Auckland and Lord Dalhousie, persisted in this policy by minimizing contact with the Mughal court and prohibiting British nationals from accepting honorific titles linked to the Mughal empire, considering such titles to be purely symbolic gestures. The actions implemented aimed to reduce the Mughal Emperor's status from its once lofty stature to the level of a lesser aristocrat.

Context

• The Marathas were a powerful confederation in India that posed a significant challenge to both the Mughals and the British. Their defeat in the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805) allowed the British to expand their influence in India.
• He was a British colonial administrator in India, serving as the Governor-General's Agent at the Mughal court in Delhi. His family had significant influence in British India.
• Currency bearing the Mughal endorsement was a sign of economic control and influence. By removing this endorsement, the British were asserting their own economic dominance and diminishing the perceived legitimacy of the Mughal rulers.
• Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General from 1848 to 1856, is known for the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex territories of rulers without a direct heir. This policy further weakened traditional Indian powers, including the Mughals.
• The Mughal Empire, once a dominant power in the Indian subcontinent, had been a symbol of cultural and political authority since the early 16th century. By the 19th century, its power had waned significantly due to internal strife and external pressures, particularly from European colonial powers.

Zafar faced degrading constraints on his rule.

Upon ascending to the throne in 1837, the influence and might that once bolstered the Mughal Empire during the reign of Bahadur Shah II, known as Zafar, had markedly diminished. His rule was confined strictly within the walls of the Red Fort, akin to a religious leader whose authority is limited to the Vatican's perimeters. Sir Thomas Metcalfe, the British Resident, closely monitored Zafar's behavior and imposed numerous restrictions on him. The requirement for noblemen not residing in Delhi to obtain Metcalfe's authorization before they could access the Red Fort underscored the extent to which Zafar's rule was constrained, even in his own royal residence.

Zafar frequently experienced profound humiliation due to his reliance on British judicial systems for the preservation of his authority, which only highlighted his lack of power. He could only display royal jewels or bestow ceremonial garments symbolizing Mughal authority with the explicit approval of Metcalfe. The British deliberately aimed to eradicate any remaining influence and power associated with the Mughal empire.

Context

• Unlike European monarchs who retained some degree of political power, Zafar's role was largely ceremonial, highlighting the unique nature of colonial rule in India where indigenous rulers were often kept as symbolic leaders without real authority.
• The requirement for noblemen to seek Metcalfe's permission to enter the Red Fort was a tactic to undermine the traditional networks of loyalty and patronage that supported the Mughal court, further isolating Zafar from his allies.
• The British Resident, such as Sir Thomas Metcalfe, acted as a representative of British interests, overseeing and often controlling the actions of local rulers to ensure compliance with British policies.
• This reliance on foreign judicial systems also signified a cultural imposition, where British legal norms began to overshadow and replace local customs and laws.
• Being unable to freely display symbols...

The Last Mughal Summary The growing divide between the British colonists and the native Mughal residents of Delhi, along with the intensifying religious and cultural tensions, became more and more apparent.

In this segment of the book, Dalrymple examines the growing divide that emerged between the Mughal rulers of Delhi and their counterparts from British colonial rule. Dalrymple emphasizes the shift in British attitudes toward Indians, characterized by a move away from a harmonious coexistence to the imposition of Western standards, which exacerbated tensions between religious and cultural groups.

The British populace began to view individuals originating from India differently.

This subsection focuses on the shift in British attitudes towards Indians, particularly during the early to mid-nineteenth century. Dalrymple ascribes the change to the growing sway of Evangelical Christian beliefs, which, along with a rising imperial arrogance linked to Britain's supremacy in military and economic domains, played a significant role.

The rise of Evangelical Christianity resulted in the forsaking of culturally syncretic lifestyles.

The arrival of British women in India is often cited as a contributing element that worsened the interactions with the indigenous people. Nevertheless, Dalrymple observes that the decline in interracial unions and the rise in prominence of bibis as...

The Last Mughal Summary A series of incidents led to the uprising of 1857, which included the capture of the Red Fort and the participation of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

This section scrutinizes the chain of events that led to the uprising of 1857. Dalrymple offers an in-depth analysis of the growing unrest within the Bengal Army, the clear signs of strife within Delhi, the warnings from the Nawab of Loharu, and the wave of violence that engulfed the city following the insurgents' entry from Meerut.

Dissatisfaction was mounting within the ranks of the Bengal Army.

In this segment of the narrative, Dalrymple explores the various factors that contributed to increasing discontent within the ranks of the Bengal Army soldiers. He underscores the introduction of greased cartridges, perceived as a violation of religious practices, alongside the overseas service obligation imposed by the Enlistment Act, and the resentment stemming from the distant and biased behavior of British officers toward indigenous troops.

The Greased Cartridges and Rumors of Defilement

The Bengal Army's dissatisfaction escalated markedly due to the obligation to employ the Enfield rifle, which necessitated the use of greased cartridges. The belief that the cartridges which soldiers were required to open with their teeth were tainted with materials that gravely...

The Last Mughal Summary The Mughal empire and India's cultural heritage were profoundly impacted by the chaos, severe counterattacks, and destruction that engulfed Delhi during the uprising, as well as by the British siege and subsequent attack.

This segment of the narrative delves into the chaotic era of strife, describing the chaos and savagery that engulfed the metropolis, the British responses, and the lasting effects on the Mughal Empire and the Indo-Islamic culture it represented.

Chaos engulfed Delhi, resulting in widespread plundering.

The narrative details the collapse of the established legal and administrative systems in Delhi amidst the uprising. Dalrymple highlights the escalating tensions between indigenous Indian troops and the zealous cohort of recent arrivals, in addition to the ruinous impact the Gujar's supremacy had on the villages encircling Delhi.

The Sepoys resorted to aggressive behavior, compelling the residents to relinquish their funds.

The arrival of the sepoys initially sparked a sense of liberation among some segments of Delhi's populace. As optimism faded into apprehension, the insurgents, struggling to establish a consistent governing body, increasingly resorted to coercion and threats to uphold their dominance.

The community faced considerable hardships due to the forceful procurement of supplies and money by the military. Initially welcomed warmly by the local residents,...