GHULÿM QÿDIR RUH¥LAH
Introduction
The
Ruhâlahs were an Afghan tribe who had inhabited an area about 10,000 square
miles north east of Delhi. They had acquired much influence and political power
by the fourth decade of the eighteenth century. At that time they were a
formidable force and proved very effective in breaking the back bone of the
Marhatas in the third battle of Panipat, near Delhi in 1761. This battle was
fought mainly by the Afghan leader, Aémad Sh«h Abd«lâ, helped by Najâb al-Daulah,
the Prime Minister of the Mughal Emperor with some help from the Ruhâlahs.
This watershed event occurred under the able and timely political move of the
great ‘«lim and sufi of Delhi, Sh«h Walâ Allah.. (See Appendix
III, No. 79.). Notwithstanding these services to Islam Ruhâlahs helped
themselves as well to the spoils of the chaos resulting from the decline and
break up of the Mughal Empire. This poem relates an anecdote of the attack of
Ghul«m Q«dir Ruhâlah on the Red Fort, Delhi in which he blinded the Mughal
Emperor and entered into the conversation described in the poem. The last line
of the poem is also its lesson, which is that in luxury and indolence a nation
loses the will to strive for a virile and self-respecting life. As ‘All«mah
Iqb«l says:
(202) What was unacceptable gradually became accepted
In slavery nation’s conscience becomes spoiled
(Appendix III, No. 32)
Translation
How
cruel, tyrant and vindictive the Ruhâlah was
He blinded the Mughal Emperor with the point of his dagger
The tyrant ordered members of the royal household to dance
This tyranny was no less than the Judgment Day’s signal
For the delicate ladies of the royal household it was
Utterly impossible to comply with this shameless order
Ah ! The merciless one made them the means of pleasure
Whose beauty had been veiled from sun’s, moon’s and stars
The feeble hearts were throbbing, the feet were forced to move
A river of blood was flowing from the wet eyes of the princesses
For some time his eyes remained thus absorbed in seeing
In confusion he freed his head from the load of Mighfar1
He untied the deadly, fire-spitting sword from the waist
Whose sharpness was a source of luminescence to the stars
He put the dagger in front, and lied down in some thought
Sleep was demanding rest from the red eyes so to say
The water of sleep extinguished the embers of his eyes
The tyrant’s sight became ashamed of the painful spectacle!
He got up and started saying this to Taimur’s household
“You should have no complaint against your fate”
My sleeping in the couch was a mere show, an affectation
Because stupor is foreign to the dignity of fighters
It was my intention that some daughter of Taimur
Considering me unconscious might kill me with my own dagger,
But at last this secret has dawned to the whole world
Concern for honor has departed from Taimur’s household”
Explanatory
Notes
1.Mighf«r-
This is the head
covering worn under the helmet. It is also used as a helmet.