Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c21.s5.14

v2.c21.s5.14

This was a mere drop in the ocean. The immediate dues of the Marathas and the imperial soldiery exceeded one kror. Plans were formed for collecting this huge amount by forced contributions * from the nobles and the public servants. The very proposal raised a tumult in the capital; the rich were too powerful to be fleeced, and nothing could be collected. Then Nāgar Mal (the diwan of Crownlands), in consultation with Bapu Rao Hingané, attempted to levy the money from the traders and the common people of all the markets. On this question, Nagar Mal and his head assistant Majlis Rai quarrelled and almost came to blows in the camp of the Marathas, but Malhar managed to pacify them. The wazir posted guards to control the exit from every rich man's house and ordered a levy on the traders and artisans. The bazars were closed in protest, thousands of citizens assembled under the palace balcony (*jharoka*), crying to the Emperor against the oppression. The Emperor was powerless; he sent word to the wazir to redress the wrong, but Imad would not listen to him. Two days passed in this way, and then the Emperor threatened to starve himself to death unless justice was done to the people. Then the wazir withdrew his demand for money, and the trouble ceased for the time (end of June.)