Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s7.10

v1.c15.s7.10

But the greatest blunder of Safdar Jang was the promotion of young Imād-ul-mulk to the highest power and dignity, in ignorance of human character. When the first report of Ghāzi-ud-din's death reached Delhi (on 29th October, 1752), his family feared that the needy Emperor, at Intizām’s instigation, would seize the treasure stored in his Delhi mansion. His young son Shihābuddin, coached by his tutor Aqibat Mahmud Kashmiri, at once went to Safdar Jang’s house and from nine o’clock of that night till the noon of next day sat down there weeping and crying out in utter misery; he would listen to no consolation, nor consent to eat or drink anything. To Safdar Jang’s words of sympathy he replied (as taught by Aqibat), ‘‘You are my father, and as the late Ghāziuddin was a brother to you, I have really lost my paternal uncle. You are my only defender and patron now.’’ His persistence wore Safdar Jang out and at last the wazir vowed that the orphan would in future find a father in him. He made Shihāb-ud-din exchange turbans (in sign of full brotherhood) with his son and heir Shuja-ud-daulah, took him inside his harem, where his wife unveiled herself before Shihāb like a mother to her son, and finally he promised that he would use all his influence with the Emperor to secure the orphan’s succession to his father’s property, estates and even office. Then only could the youth be induced to break his fast.