Later Mughals v1.c9.s37.7

v1.c9.s37.7

A consultation was held in order to select a Prince, and the lot fell upon Prince Bidar Dil, son of Bidar Bakht, grandson of Alamgir, who was known as having the best understanding among all the Princes. By the time that this had been decided, the outbreak in the city, as we have already related, had occurred. The case seemed urgent and the greatest haste was made. Qutb-ul-mulk sent his own master of the ceremonies, Qadir Dad Khan, and a number of the Jodhpur Rajah's personal attendants, or Bhandaris,‡ to bring out the Prince selected. When these messengers arrived at the door of the Prince's dwelling, where also were assembled the sons of Prince Rafi-ush-shan, the women jumped to the conclusion that, having made Farrukh-siyar a prisoner, the Sayyids had now sent men to slay all the Princes of the royal house, and thus make clear their own way to the throne. Under this impression, they barred the door, locked it on the inside, and hid the Prince in a store-cupboard. In vain the messengers called out: "We have come to escort Prince Bidar Dil, and place him on the throne." Not a word was listened to, and the men were repelled with sticks and stones. As there was no possibility of searching or delaying longer, for the danger that the rioters in the street might get the upper hand increased every moment, the Nawab ordered a band of men with hatchets to break in the door. On forcing an entrance, their first effort was to find the particular Prince who had been named to sit upon the throne. But his mother wept and wailed beyond measure, nor could they find the key of the store-room. In despair, they turned towards the sons of Rafi-ush-shan, and out of them picked Rafi-ud-darjat. Although he was the youngest of the three, in intelligence and judgment he was found to excel his brothers. This youth was brought as he had been found, wearing his ordinary clothes, his only ornament being a necklace of pearls, taken by Qutb-ul-mulk from his own neck. The Nawab holding one hand and Ajit Singh the other, they seated him straightway on the jewelled peacock throne, which two days before had been brought out into the Diwan-i-am for the celebration of the Nauroz, or vernal festival. Those present offered their gifts, as is usual upon a fresh accession. Then, under the supervision and control of Najm-ud-din Ali Khan, Rajah Ratan Chand, Rajah Bakht Mal and Dindar Khan, son of Jalal Khan, at the head of a number of Afghans, were sent into the female apartments to arrest the deposed Emperor. [K. K. 814-816.]