The Fort and the Palace at Agra speak of the time when the power of the Mahomedans in India reached its climax. With Aurungzeb came the first indications of disintegration. In the time of that iconoclast the Hindus grew discontented. The Bengalis asked for more power and influence; and their requests were curtly refused. Things that happened at that time strangely resemble things that are going on to-day in India; aud my Mahomedan friends seemed to think that the English would never have conquered India if Aurungzeb had been a different man. After the death of Aurungzeb, the power of the Mahomedan Emperors waned; and at Delhi, luxury and display replaced strength and good Government. Then too much power was delegated to Satraps; and these Viceroys tried to become independent rulers. So England was able to step in, and oust the Mahomedans who, for 700 years, had ruled over the greater part of India. In the palace at Agra no traces ot decay and effeminacy have been discovered. There the English have not been obliged to whitewash indecent pictures and obscene designs.
The Fort at Agra. Click on image to enlarge it.
In the Fort of Agra (the Palace is inside the Fort) 6,000 persons took refuge during the Mutiny. All Christians who did not go into the Fort at that time were murdered. The Fort was relieved after the fall of Delhi by Col. Greathed; and, although hard-pressed, the people who had taken refuge within its strong walls suffered little from privation, bullets and sickness.
Related material by Margaret Harkness
- The British View of India and Ignorance of Its History
- The British Conquest of India
- Harkness on India
Bibliography
Law, John. [pseud., i.e. Margaret Harkness]. Glimpses of hidden India. Calcutta [etc.]: Thacker, Spink & co. [1909?].
Last modified 19 December 2018