Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s8.11

v1.c15.s8.11

The general discontent with Safdar Jang's rule favoured the Queen-mother's plan for overthrowing him. This plot was secretly matured and at last carried out in March 1753. She had hitherto been the motive force of the Government on the side of the Emperor. "Every business was transacted by her. Causing Khwājah Tamkin, Rajah Lachhmi Narayan, Rajah Nāgar Mal (the diwān of Crownlands) and other high officers to sit down before her audience chamber, she used to discuss affairs with them from behind a screen. All petitions of demand (mutālib) from every part of the empire and closed envelopes that were sent to the harem were read out to her and her orders were issued on them, which had to be carried out." [TAh. 45b.] This position of supreme authority made her the centre and spring of the coalition against the wazir. Intizām was the avowed enemy of Safdar Jang and openly kept away from the Court in fear of the wazir, while Safdar Jang always avoided passing by Intizām’s mansion lest he should be shot at from within. “The friction between the two daily increased. The Emperor outwardly sided with Safdar Jang and humoured him, but secretly won Intizām over.” Imād, though a lad of 15 only, was the deepest of the plotters and averted all suspicion by professing to follow Safdar Jang while his heart was set on overthrowing him.