Today India celebrates the 232nd Birthday of the last Mughal Emperor and possibly the first freedom fighter as he was the head of the first freedom movement in India against the British rule.

Bahadur Shah Zafar ascended the throne in 1837 at the ripe age of 62, when the Mughal Empire was taking its last breaths; the Britishers had taken over almost all other principalities reducing Bahadur Shah Zafar to a  mere puppet.

But all this changed with the “Gadar” or the first war of independence in 1857. Bahadur Shah Zafar was 82 years old on the fateful day of 11th May 1857, when the rebel Indian soldiers of the British army marched into the Delhi’s Red Fort to fight under his flag. He was  too old to fight and lead a pan Indian armed resistance, but even then he did all he could do. Even though the Mughal Empire was in tatters, the emperor had enough clout and respect among the people. They made him the head of the first war of independence.

Bahadur Shah Zafar is not only known for leading the 1857 war, but his 20 year reign was probably the most glorious period for Urdu literature. The emperor himself was a poet of repute. Delhi College was the centre of all literally activities from 1830s to the day of revolt. The historians have termed this period as Delhi’s Renaissance. Some of his contemporaries of this period included famous poets such as Zauq, Ghalib and Momin. Bahadur Shah Zafar was truly a poet emperor.

Bahadur Shah Zafar was not just fond of poetry, he also took keen interest in all other cultural activities. He was totally secular in his approach. It was under his rule that Hindus and Muslims came together to fight. He was also the patron- in- chief of the Delhi’s unique festival “Phool Walon ki Sair”. Once a year, the royal procession would take him to Mehrauli where he offered tributes at Jog Maya temple as well as Bhaktiyar Kaki’s dargah. Bahadur Shah Zafar banned cow slaughter and patronized Holi and holding of Ramlila during his reign.

On September 21, 1857, the last emperor of India was arrested from Humayun’s tomb and confined to house arrest. Later he was exiled to Rangoon where he died pinning for his homeland.  He was buried without state honors

The couplets written by him in his last days describe his condition very poignantly.

lagta nahin hai dil mera ujray dayar main
kis kee banee hai aalam-e-na paedaar main

kitna hai badnaseeb zafar dafn ke liye
do gaz zameen bhi na mili koo-e-yaar main