Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s7.39

v2.c22.s7.39

The week from 28 February to 6 March was the period of the Spring Carnival (*Holi*), when in every Hindu house there is rejoicing and playful bombardment with coloured powder and water, singing and dancing day and night. Even the Emperor and his wazir used to disport themselves in this festive season. “But this year,” as the Court historian of the reign writes, “not one man celebrated these rejoicings. Every one was sunk in grief and misery.” [*TALS.* 105b.] Holi was no doubt played in Mathurā and Vrindāvan, but there the dye so profusely poured was the life-blood of Hindus. But before we follow the invader in this southern campaign, we shall trace the course of the war in the country around during the period of his stay in the capital. From Delhi as a centre Ahmad Shah continued to send out parties to forage in the Doab on the east and the Faridabad district on the south, the bridge of boats thrown over the Jamunā below Delhi facilitating the crossing and quick return of these detachments. In the middle of February the desolation created by them in the Sikandrabad district (modern Bulandshahar) is thus described by the eye-witness Ghulām Hasan Sāmin of Bilgrām :—“Sikandrabad was full everywhere of fugitives from the environs of Delhi. Thence to Anupshahar (a four days' march) in every village that we passed, not a sign of an inhabitant was to be seen, and along the route unnumbered dead bodies were lying. Anupshahar too was crowded with fugitives from Delhi, to such an extent that it was difficult to force a way through its lanes... The Shāh had ordered a general slaughter in parganah Dāsna, the zamindari of Rai Bahadur Singh." |*Ind. Ant.*, 1907, pp. 15-16.|