The mystery of Bahadur Shah’s crown
By K.R.N. Swamy
Tribune India - June 2000

As he fled from the Red Fort at Delhi, as its capture by the Birtish became imminent on September 14, 1857, Bahadur Shah the last Mughal Emperor, carried with him his most precious treasure: a box containing three beard hairs of Prophet Muhammad that had been with the Mughal royal family since the days of their founder Timur in the 14th century who bequeathed them to the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia near Delhi.

Bahadur Shah did not take any treasures with him, and for all we know he did not have any. By the end of August 1857, the Emperor had been in deep financial difficulties, and faced with a monthly demand for the pay of Rs. 573,000 by his army, was eventually driven to promising the officers all the jewels of his zenana, and when, even that did not appear to satisfy them, rising from his chair he threw before them the embroidered cushion in which he had been sitting and bid them to take that. Then the Emperor went into his private apartments and brought out jewellery and gave it to the officers, saying, "Take this and forget your hunger!" But the officers refused, saying "We cannot accept the Crown jewels, but we are satisfied that you are willing to give your property as well as your life to sustain us".

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Image:
Bahadur Shah II (r. 1837-58), last Mughal emperor of India - ca.1850
This half-length portrait depicts the emperor sitting against a bolster, holding the mouthpiece of a huqqa, in the background is a landscape with a river.
Painting
Delhi, India
Watercolour on ivory

Copyright: © V&A Images