Nabab's sons seek justice in London

The sons of a deposed Indian noble, Mu'azzaz Khan, decided to travel to London to plead their case after the British East India Company seized their territory. Their journey, led by Ahmad, was a long and difficult one, spanning two and a half years and involving many challenges.

Ahmad's journey explored in new book

Rahul Markovits' book, The Story of Ahmad Khan: Tracing the Journey of an Indian Traveler in the Age of Revolutions, examines the movements of ordinary people between India and England during the late 18th century. Ahmad's journey, which took him through France in 1793, highlights the complex interactions between individuals and the powers of the time.

British attack on Baroche and its consequences

In 1772, the British East India Company attacked the city of Baroche in Gujarat, despite warnings from its London directors. The attack led to the looting of the city and the death of the local noble, Mu'azzaz Khan, whose sons later sought justice in England. The incident exposed the brutal side of British colonial rule and the limitations of imperial ideology at the time.

Bengal famine and British colonial greed

The Bengal famine of 1770, which may have killed two million people, revealed the British East India Company's exploitative policies. The company's financial practices worsened the crisis, and the loss of Baroche to the Marathas made it difficult to recover the territory. This period marked a turning point in the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of European colonialism.

Ahmad's travels and the challenges he faced

Ahmad's journey across the Middle East and Europe was fraught with difficulties. From Basra to Constantinople, he encountered political tensions, dangerous travel conditions, and cultural barriers. He traveled on small boats along the Tigris River and was detained in Basra due to a murder case involving a Jewish merchant and an Armenian worker.

Ahmad's arrival in France and his reception

After reaching Marseille, Ahmad and his brother Navazish received help from French authorities, despite the xenophobic tendencies of the Revolution. They were lodged in Lyon, where Navazish died and was embalmed. Ahmad was welcomed in Paris and taken to Versailles, where he lived with a family connected to the French government and learned French.

Ahmad's efforts to translate revolutionary ideals

Ahmad translated the Declaration of the Rights of Man into Persian, with the help of Pierre Ruffin, a French official who spoke Persian. Despite financial constraints, he was allowed to wear a French symbol of revolution on his clothing. His time in France lasted seven months, during which he engaged with revolutionary ideals and was considered a potential agent of change.

Ahmad's journey to England and the Company's response

Ahmad eventually reached England, where he learned his brother Ahid ud-din had already arrived. The British East India Company offered financial support to the brothers but faced resistance from Ahid ud-din, who later returned to India. Ahmad received money to bring his brother's remains back to India, but his presence in England raised suspicions of espionage.

Ahmad's return and the consequences

On his return journey, Ahmad traveled through France and was confined in Constantinople due to a plague outbreak. He participated in a diplomatic event with the Ottoman sultan but was arrested in Bombay, where he was imprisoned for nearly three years. Eventually, it was discovered that he was not one of the nabab's sons, ending the mystery of his journey.