Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c30.s1: § 1. Shah Alam II, his character
Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c30.s1
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§ 1. Shah Alam II, his character
v2.c30.s1.1
When the Emperor Alamgir II fell under the assassin's knife (29 Nov. 1759), his eldest son and expected successor, Prince Shah Alam, was a homeless wanderer on the face of the earth, still lying under the public ban of imperial repudiation which the domineering wazir had extorted from his terrorised father. More than twelve years were to pass before his wanderings ceased and he entered the throne-city of his fathers as sovereign. During this period the capital remained kingless, but there was no interregnum, as Shah Alam had proclaimed himself Emperor and celebrated his accession in his camp (23 Dec.) as soon as he heard of his father's demise, and the legal rights of sovereign belonged to him, though he had not the means of exercising his full royal power in practice. There was no rival Emperor in the realm, except for the nine months (30 Nov. 1759—10 Oct. 1760) when a puppet of Imad-ul-mulk occupied the Delhi palace under the title of Shah Jahan II.
v2.c30.s1.2
Mirzā Abdullah, better known by his titles of Ali Gauhar (conferred on 16 Aug. 1754) and Shah Alam (conferred on 24 April 1756 and borne as Emperor), was the eldest son of Alamgir II. At the time of his father's death he had just completed his 30th year. Though he was not gifted with the extraordinary genius and energy required in the redeemer of a fallen monarchy, he was the ablest of the princes of Delhi then alive. The life of neglect and captivity that he had shared with his father till the age of 25 had prevented him from acquiring experience of men and affairs, or developing his latent faculties. But his character was as yet free from vice and sloth. He had learnt self-control in the school of adversity and was willing to improve himself by study and inquiry. Above all, he had not yet fallen under the deadly benumbing influence of that vacuity of life which springs from a sense of the impotence of one's position and the futility of all attempts to better one's lot, and which drives its victim into utter indolence and self indulgence as his only solace.
v2.c30.s1.3
He had tasted misery and hardship, not only during his first twenty-five years as the prisoner of a rival royal branch, but even after his father's accession, when he had to flee away from the jealous fury of the all-powerful wazir. Nor was he without some experience of office administration and warfare, though it was for too short a time and in too small a sphere. The French captain Jean Law, who was often with him from 1758 to 1761, draws a pleasing picture of the young prince.
v2.c30.s1.4
He writes, “The Shāhzāda passed for one of those who have had the best education and who have most profited by it. This education consists particularly in the knowledge of religion and of the Oriental tongues, of history, and the writing of one’s academic exercises well. In effect, all that I could perceive decided in his favour. He is familiar with the Arabic, Persian, Turki and Hindustani languages. He loves reading and never passes a day without employing some hours in it . . . He is of an inquiring mind, naturally gay and free in his private society, where he frequently admits his principal military officers in whom he has confidence.” [Mémoire, 329.]