Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c13.s1.9

v1.c13.s1.9

The Queen-mother Udham Bai, formerly a public dancing girl, had been introduced to Muhammad Shah’s notice by Khadija Khanam, the daughter of Amir Khan, and had so fascinated that Emperor as to be raised to the dignity of a queen. Neither her humble birth and ignoble profession nor her later life in the royal harem had fitted her to play worthily the part of the veiled power behind the throne, in which so many queens of Muslim India have distinguished themselves. She remained the same vulgar woman of loose character to the end, using her son’s elevation as a lever for asserting her own greatness at Court and for grasping at money. She had fallen under royal disfavour and even persecution for her conduct during the latter days of her wedded life, and she now took her revenge by heaping scorn, humiliation and poverty upon her former rivals, the nobly born widows of Muhammad Shah,—Malika-i-Zamani and Sahiba Mahal, who were universally honoured in Delhi society. There were two redeeming traits in her character, namely her blind animal affection for her son and her extensive unselfish charity, by which the nephews and grandsons of former Emperors, pining in neglect and abject poverty in the Delhi palace, as well as many poor people living outside were enabled to enjoy comfort and decency. [TAh. 16.]