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    The Last Mughal: The Fall of Delhi, 1857
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    The Last Mughal: The Fall of Delhi, 1857
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    The Last Mughal: The Fall of Delhi, 1857
    Ebook876 pages15 hours

    The Last Mughal: The Fall of Delhi, 1857

    By William Dalrymple

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    About this ebook

    WINNER OF THE DUFF COOPER MEMORIAL PRIZE | LONGLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE
    'Indispensable reading on both India and the Empire' Daily Telegraph
    'Brims with life, colour and complexity . . . outstanding' Evening Standard
    'A compulsively readable masterpiece' Brian Urquhart, The New York Review of Books
    A stunning and bloody history of nineteenth-century India and the reign of the Last Mughal.

    In May 1857 India's flourishing capital became the centre of the bloodiest rebellion the British Empire had ever faced. Once a city of cultural brilliance and learning, Delhi was reduced to a battered, empty ruin, and its ruler – Bahadur Shah Zafar II, the last of the Great Mughals – was thrown into exile. The Siege of Delhi was the Raj's Stalingrad: a fight to the death between two powers, neither of whom could retreat.

    The Last Mughal tells the story of the doomed Mughal capital, its tragic destruction, and the individuals caught up in one of the most terrible upheavals in history, as an army mutiny was transformed into the largest anti-colonial uprising to take place anywhere in the world in the entire course of the nineteenth century.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
    Release dateAug 17, 2009
    ISBN9781408806883
    Unavailable
    The Last Mughal: The Fall of Delhi, 1857
    Author

    William Dalrymple

    William Dalrymple is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Royal Asiatic Society, and in 2002 was awarded the Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for his ‘outstanding contribution to travel literature’. He wrote and presented the TV series ‘Stones of the Raj’ and ‘Indian Journeys’, which won BAFTA’s 2002 Grierson Award for Best Documentary Series. He and his wife, artist Olivia Fraser, have three children, and divide their time between London and Delhi.

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    Reviews for The Last Mughal

    4/5

    177 ratings15 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This is undoubtedly an excellent historical narrative about a place and a time of which I knew nothing when I started the book and I appreciate the enormous amount of time and energy Dalrymple and his associates have put into researching and writing this book. I imagine that anyone reading this can see a but coming, so here it us.
      The problem with this book is its length and complexity. There is just too much detail and too many characters to make it really readable; I think the author needed an editor or even a co-writer to get a fascinating story, which goes some way to explaining the background to some of today's problems, both on the sub-continent and in the West's relationship with it, distilled into the clear and compelling story it could have been.
    • 5/5
      A wonderfully told and researched look at the downfall of Delhi during the Indian Revolt of 1857. A difficult read at time due to the barbarity of both sides but does not revel in it.
    • 4/5
      This is a fine book indeed. The title is a bit misleading, in that while it does shed considerable light on the last days of Bahadu Shah Zafar, it is not about him and his life in detail. It is really about Bahadur Shah Zafar's last days and years in the context of The Great Mutiny. It is indeed true that the Mughals transformed themselves from a conquering dynasty to one where tolerance and artistic freedom flourished. If the had also focussed on the economy and developing technology, then perhaps they would still be around today. That they did not do so is partly the reason why the British were superior in military terms.The book does give a fairly detailed account of the mutiny from the perspective of Delhi, and details the suffering of the people in some detail. It also clearly does not spare the British. In today's days, as Dalrymple says, the perpetrations of the British armies would have classified many of them as war criminals. As it happens, many of them went on to lead long lives, unencumbered by guilt. Not Britain's finest hour.He is also different, in that instead of calling Nicholson a great man, he refers to him as a great psychopath, his military skills notwithstanding. The Mutiny resulted from British insensitivity. While the atrocities committed by the Indian mutineers is inexcusable, the greater crime rests with England. A good book. Well written.
    • 4/5
      Mutiny, bloodshed and revolution have always held a place of disturbing awe in my heart. From the pages of books and the safe distance of history, of course. This telling of the story of the Mutiny of 1857 from the perspective of Delhi and the court of the last Mughal emperor is the story of a city in chaos and suffering. The portrait of a revolt and its counter-revolt shows how easy it is to be swept up in fanaticism and frenzy with no concern for the human cost of the action. It is a well told story that uses much previously un-cited source material to give a much broader view of what happens when ideologies clash.
    • 4/5
      The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty by William Dalrymple - I was rushing to read both this and Blood Meridian as neither could be renewed at the library (on hold by someone else). What they have in common is covering nearly the same time period - 1857 in this case - and a lot of slaughter.Some good things about the Last Mughal are that it includes a lot of first person narrative about the events in quotes from letters, journals and a few accounts written later, as well as some excerpts from newspapers both British and Indian nationals. As far as history, Dalrymple covers well the relationships between Indians and British at that point of time, and slightly before and the recent changes. According to him the relationship had changed from one in which the British had more respect for Indian religion and culture and frequently had "gone native", changing religion in some cases or marrying natives. It also covers the relationship between the Islamic Mughal rulers in Delhi, and the Hindus. Delhi, itself, the ruler's city, was about half Muslim and half Hindu. Prior to the uprising told about in the book, this was a high point of tolerance between practitioners of the two religions with both practicing their religion freely. The Mughal's apparently didn't make a distinction between monotheists or people of the book, and others.Although the title refers to the fall of the dynasty, actually the dynasty mostly consisted of a somewhat captive court, the the British East India company in control. However, there was a rich cultural life especially of poetry that centered in the court and the "last Mughal".What I missed was context. There was a very brief summary in the introduction of the Mughal House of Timur in South Asia, Zafar, the ruler, being a descendent of Ghengis Khan, and a short summary of the growing power of the British and decline of the Moghuls. However, I was not clear how much of India was actually ruled by Delhi at this point in time as the account mentions other kingdoms. I feel a need to read a history of India now, and that might be helpful before reading this book.Another context I miss is the why of the British beginning to mix less with the Indians, becoming more prostelitizing and contemptful of the Indian religions. The insurrection in the armed forces of Indian soldiers or sepoys was set off by bullets greased with cow and possibly pig fat and harsh treatment of those refusing to use them.Most of the book is about the insurrection and its eventual defeat. Initially there is massive slaughter of Christians as the British are seen as trying to forcibly christianize. the Indians. Basically all Christians in Delhi unable to flee were slaughtered, though many were helped to flee by other Indians. Later, the slaughter is by the British, who also killed women and children, innocent bystanders, even people who had supported them, as well as those who fought them. They justified their slaughter by vengeance for the previous slaughter, and by their view of the Indians as less than human. Some viewed the entire battle as a fight for Christ. As Islamic Jihadists, many from the strict Wahhabi sect, came to support the city of Delhi, there also came to be more of a hard line between Muslims and Hindus from that point on.I'd have preferred something that was less blow by blow, and more of an overall history, but as there are a lot of personal stories followed, there's still a lot of interest in the account.
    • 5/5
      Having just read the novel The Siege of Krishnapur, and now interested in history of the British in 19th century India, somehow I stumbled onto the Last Mughal. As the Siege was entirely from the (imagined) viewpoint of British East Indian Company officials defending themselves in an outpost town, the Last Mughal interestly showed Delhi undersiege by the British. Unbelievalbe richness and detail of the Last Mughal, pulls you in to both a story with characters and a view of history that reads like a novel. Couldn't put it down!
    • 5/5
      Engrossing history of a rebellion against British rule and bloody aftermath
    • 5/5
      The great strength of 'The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857' by William Dalrymple (also see White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India) is its use not only of more familiar British sources, but also many Indian (Urdu and Persian) sources on one of pivotal events in the history of both India and the British Empire, the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the First War of Indian Independence as it is also sometimes called. Dalrymple's over-reliance on the raw materials makes the book drag to its conclusion. For the last 100+ pages, Dalrymple sometimes gives over the narrative to his primary sources as page after page consists substantially of quotes from letters, reports, or memoirs. Dalrymple also spends only the briefest time placing the events of 1857 in a larger historical framework. Nonetheless, the book is a triumph of research and offers that rarity in historical writing, the truly fresh perspective. Dalrymple gives voice to the Indian perspective of the fall of Delhi. As the great court poet Ghalib so poignantly expressed it, "The light has gone out of India. The land is lampless."
    • 4/5
      Nicely written and very evocative. Concentrates on events in Delhi and so is best read in conjunction with a wider history of the 1857 War of Independence/Mutiny.
    • 4/5
      A good history of the Indian rebellion in 1857, using Indian as well as European sources.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant treasure on the history of India and I was transformed and while reading felt I am living in the Mughal era. Loved it.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy his literary devices and creative vivid narrative.

      I'm from Tamil Nadu, India. Parts outside of Tamil Nadu, India are foreign to me but I am curious to understand, learn about them.

      I've composed 30 Poetry and I can call myself a Poet. Long ago, I came across a German Orientalist, Annemarie Schimmel. In her book, she concluded that Mughal Empire had great appreciation for art and most Royals were Poets. I would recommend that book if you enjoy Art -- poetry, calligraphy.

      Dalrymple finishes with an awe-inspiring poem written by Zafar to his Wife. As a Poet, my imagination and senses delight with such vocabulary. To me that was the best part of the book.

      Other parts, I have ventured and explored through other authors. I learnt that Evangelical Christians were influential within English East India company around 1800-1850's. The Company started to support Christian Missionaries. Before this Era, they had strictly not let religion interfere into India.

      I am guessing effects of Great Awakening reached England with Clapman Sect seeking rights of Missionaries to enter India.

      Through Dalrymple, I could connect how things changed from being mesmerized by Bengal (India) to considering Indians beneath the English. The First Generation Orientalists like William Jones (philologist), their records indicate that they were in love in Hindu Civilization, they got Indianized.

      Overall a wonderful book and I appreciate able to connect my other musings of knowledge in Indian History.

      I would recommend this to anyone interested in Mughal Empire, Empires, History of India, Wealth, Biography

      Deus Vult,
      Gottfried
    • 4/5
      The East India Company was a trading partner with India, until little by little, they became a governing body. This was done by defeating their French counterpart, and they gained political control of Bengal. Little by little, they became a ruling body over most of India, and soldiers were made of Indian Hindus.
      Evangelical missionaries started a problem when they became too zealous in their efforts to convert Hindus and Mussulmen to Christianity. Then, a new kind of rifle was distributed among the Indian soldiers--the bullets were packed in grease and they required to be bitten to load. The sepoys belied that they were packed in pig and cow grease and that it had been done to force them to be defiled. They rose up and marched in Delhi, killing many English.
      The last King of the moghul empire, himself a Muslim, ruled the city's Muslim and Hindu population peacefully. But when the sepoys rose against the English and the Muslims began to form jihadis, he was forced to take a position against the English. Three months of brutal killing of English followed, until sufficient English troops could March on the city, and the Muslims/Hindus were bloodily defeated. Vengefully wreaking violent death on any and every Indian in sight, the English destroyed the beautiful city of Delhi, making no effort to make records of the fabulous architecture, libraries, and King's palace. The king himself was exiled to Rangoon where he lived out his old age, guarded by a platoon of soldiers.
      This, unfortunately, was the beginning of the rift between Hindus and Mussulmen.
      Sad, insightful and fascinating extensive work by Dalrymple.
    • 5/5
      This is an extremely well researched and highly readable account of the decline and fall of the 300 year old Mughal Empire in India during the Uprising of 1857. While I had owned this book for over seven years, I was only now inspired to read it by listening to the author being interviewed on Iain Dale's Book Club podcast about his latest book on the history of the East India Company. The history of British involvement in India had already been very long and involved by the early 19th century. The British authorities in India had generally quite good relations with the ruling Mughal dynasty (a Muslim dynasty ruling the predominantly Hindu country) at this stage, and a number of British men, the so called "White Mughals" had become totally imbued in Indian culture, speaking the language, and adopting customs and costumes, and marrying Indian women, and sometimes converting to Islam. However, by the 1840s and 50s this atmosphere had changed. An increasing atmosphere of Christian evangelism has taken root both in British India and in Britain itself, and they had virtually said that the Mughal Emperor Zafar would be the last of his dynasty. This was matched by an increasingly radical Islamic Jihadi influence which rejected the tolerant Sufi ways of the Mughal court, which was a centre of culture and learning that had fostered generally positive Hindu-Muslim relations.The uprising itself was actually led by high caste Hindu sepoys (soldiers in the British army in India) on 11 May 1857, due to proximate reasons of harsh military discipline being imposed. However, it was neither the "single coherent mutiny or patriotic national war of independence beloved of Victorian or Indian nationalist historiography". There was a mixture of nationalist and religious motives, exacerbated to some extent by socio-economic discontent, though this was not a major factor. There were horrible massacres of many Europeans including women and children, sowing the seeds for future appalling vengeance. At the same time, the "mutineers" killed those Hindus who had converted to Christianity, while sparing Europeans who had converted to Islam. There were many reasons why the Uprising failed. Zafar himself held an equivocal position - he tried to assume leadership of it up to a point, seeing it as an opportunity to restore Mughal greatness, but at the same time he was repelled by the degradations and killing of obviously innocent European people being perpetrated by his subjects in his beloved Delhi. The Indians' strategy and tactics were poor, with a lack of co-ordination between sepoy regiments, and failure to grasp the importance of a potential attack on the besieging British rear on the Ridge outside Delhi. The British had much superior sources of intelligence and also the support of the Sikhs, due to their historic enmity with Hindus, despite the Sikhs' much more recent wars with Britain. Then, as now, the Gurkhas were also a key part of the British army. The general chaos was exacerbated by the activities of local tribesmen outside Delhi indiscriminately robbing everyone on all sides.The British recaptured Delhi in September 1857. The British desire for vengeance at the reverse to imperial fortunes had tragically been sharpened by the murders of their fellow countrymen, women and children, and by what later turned out to be entirely false reports of rapes of European women by the sepoys. However, what followed was effectively near genocide - indiscriminate killing of unarmed non-combatants, women and children, and even in the cases of adult men, generally with no attempt at distinguishing between the guilt and innocence of individuals. Even totally pro-British loyalist Indians, who had assumed they would be safe, were often killed out of hand. There was also much destruction of Delhi, and the elimination of many symbols of Mughal culture, over and above the natural destruction that is an inevitable part of any military conflict. This ghastly situation came about, as it so often does, by an extreme process of "othering" and seeing the opponent as less human - the British came to see even women and children as "not human beings, but fiends, or, at best, wild beasts deserving only the death of dogs". As for Zafar, the last Mughal himself, he was captured and many members of his family systematically hunted down and killed. A peacable and cultured 82 year old, he was subjected to an ignominious show trial, where he was absurdly accused of being the leader of a vast Muslim conspiracy aimed at replacing the British Empire and exiled, together with members of his immediate family, in fairly primitive conditions in Burma, where he died five years later. Despite this sorry story of death and destruction, cooler heads prevailed in the end and much of the more extreme levelling and destruction of Delhi did not happen, with influential voices (including, back in Britain, Disraeli) calling for new approaches. The 250 year old East India Company was wound up, so that India would "at least now be ruled by a properly constituted colonial government rather than a rapacious multinational acting at least partly in the interests of its shareholders." The Mughal legacy was largely forgotten, and the later wellsprings of Indian nationalism that led to independence 90 years later came from new generations often educated in Europe and with more cosmopolitan attitudes.A great read, just a pity my edition lacked the photographs. Full of very useful notes and a comprehensive bibliography, maps and dramatis personae.
    • 4/5
      William Dalrymple's account of the fall of the Mughal dynasty in India is well researched, including perspectives from both British and Indian sources. It is long, but easy to read since the author has an almost conversational style of writing.The history of the 1857 Uprising and its various battles was well detailed, but I found even more interesting were the insights I gained into the political positioning of the women, and the impact violence had on the British troops. The systematic hunting down of all Uprising "sympathizers" and the destruction of Delhi itself were difficult to reconcile with the perception of the British bringing enlightment to the Hindu/Muslim world. Looking back from today's perspective, it has caused me to reflect on the current conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

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