Photographers: Charles Shepard & Robert Tyler.
Old Delhi, India.
Photographed in May 1858 by Charles Shepard and Robert Tyler with their subject, a helpless Bhadur Shah Zafar gazing blankly into the camera. This photo is possibly one of the most widely recognized images of the last Mughal emperor, and in many ways a symbolic reflection of how weak and pitiful the once mighty Mughal empire had become at the end. An empire that since the victory of its founder, Babur, at the battle of Panipat in 1526 A.D. had existed for almost three centuries – reigning with absolute authority for more than half of this span.
82 at the time of the Indian mutiny of 1857, Bahadur Shah was both a victim of politics and fate. An emperor only in name with his sovereignty restricted largely to within the city of old Delhi. He was disrespected and disregarded by his own followers, and drawn into the conflict by rebel soldiers who neither followed his orders nor heeded his pleas. Yet looted, pillaged and murdered innocent Europeans and Eurasians under his banner.
Found guilty on four charges by a military court and dealt with harshly by the British India government. Shah had ultimately witnessed the execution of his elder sons and grandsons. Before being exiled to Rangoon, Burma on a meager pension. His death in 1862, marks the official and complete end of the Mughal empire.
