Bahadur Shah I

Bahadur Shah I have also been known as Prince Muʿaẓẓam, the second son of the emperor Aurangzeb, he was considered the likely successor when his older brother fled to join his father’s brother and adversary, Shah Shuja and became the heir apparent. In 1663, Prince Mu’aẓẓam was sent to the Deccan plateau area of southern and central India to act as his father’s representative. In 1683–84, he commanded an army against the Marathas in the Portuguese colony of Goa, south of Mumbai, but he was forced to flee after failing to get the backing of the Portuguese. 

Who was Bahadur Shah?

Affluent monarchs Aurangzeb and Shah Jahan tormented him for eight years until his father appointed him as governor of Kabul (now in Afghanistan), where he remained for the next two decades. When his father died, Prince Muʿaẓẓam slew his two brothers to ascend to the throne of the empire. As Bahadur Shah I, he faced opposition from the Marathas and Rajputs during his brief reign. He also faced opposition from followers of the Sikh religion, whom he drove into the hills of Punjab in 1710–12 but failed to capture their leader, Banda Singh Bahadur, during his short reign as Bahadur Shah I.

Here are some intriguing facts that should be aware of:

• Bahadur Shah’s entire name was “Abul-Nasr Sayyid Qutb-ud-din Muhammad Shah Alam Bahadur Shah Badshah”. After his death, historians began to refer to him as “Khuld-Manzil” (Departed to Paradise)     . 
• Bahadur Shah was appointed administrator of the Deccan region in 1663, when he was just 20 years old.  In the aftermath of his loss in Pune to Shivaji, Bahadur Shah spent eight years in solitary confinement.
• Bahadur Shah attempted to depose his father, Aurangzeb, on a number of occasions. Bahadur Shah failed often, and each time he did, he was chastised and placed under monitoring.
• In 1695, Bahadur Shah was sent by Aurangzeb to Punjab to fight against “Guru Gobind Singh”. Bahadur Shah declined to initiate a war because he had real regard for religious beliefs.
• On June 19, 1707, he became the first monarch to succeed to the throne at the age of 63.
• Bahadur Shah signed treaties of peace with the rulers of Amber and Jodhpur, Man Singh and Ajit Singh, respectively. During Bahadur Shah’s reign, he was involved in a number of controversies with both the Rajputs and Sikhs. Sikhs, Rajputs, and Mughal viziers suppressed Bahadur Shah for a long period of time, but Ajit Singh and Man Singh stood with him and supported him through it.
• On February 27, 1712, Bahadur Shah passed away at Lahore. According to a Mughal nobleman named Kamwar Khan, he died as a result of spleen enlargement that led to deterioration in  health.
• Shah’s corpse was laid to rest at the Moti Masjid in Mehrauli, Delhi, after his death.

Conclusion

According to the context, it is clear that ancient history has a severe impact on Indian culture as well as it is also able to motivate modern writers. Bahadur Shah I is one of the famous personalities who contributed a lot to instigating Indian culture as well as maintaining his kingdom through the Mughal style. He showed respect towards Guru Gobind Singh as against his Father, who was against religious tolerance.