Chapter 8: The Triumph of Raghunath
Raghunath, the emperor of Maratha and India, entered the city of Delhi in a grand procession. He had vanquished the Mughals and their emperor Muhammad Shah, who had surrendered to him after a decisive battle at Karnal. He had also subdued the Rajput rebellion, and had vassalized the kingdoms of Mewar, Marwar, and Amber. He had established his dominance over the whole of India, from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal, and from the Himalayas to the Mysore.
He rode on an elephant, adorned with jewels and silk. He was followed by his generals, his ministers, and his allies. He had brought along his army of 300,000 men, as well as his artillery, which he had obtained from the Europeans. He had also brought along his prisoners of war, including Muhammad Shah, his sons, his nobles, and his generals. He had also brought out the treasures of the Mughal empire, which he had looted from their palaces and forts. He had also brought out the Peacock Throne and the Taj Mahal, which he had reconstructed to be his new supreme court for judical system that his going to establish in his Empire equal to all.
He reached the Red Fort, the former residence of the Mughal emperors. He dismounted from his elephant, and walked towards the fort. He entered the fort, and saw the Mughal courtiers, who had bowed down to him. He ignored them, and walked to the Diwan-i-Khas, the hall of private audience. He saw a large platform, where the Peacock Throne used to be. He ordered his men to place the throne there, and he ascended the throne. He looked at the Mughal emperor, who was brought before him in chains. He felt a surge of pride and glory, as he had fulfilled his destiny of conquering Delhi, the heart of India. He had avenged the atrocities of the Mughals, who had oppressed and persecuted the Hindus for centuries. He had also restored the glory of the Marathas, who had risen from the ashes of the Shivaji's empire. He had also created a new era of peace and prosperity for India, under his benevolent rule.
He addressed the Mughal emperor, and said, "Muhammad Shah, you have been defeated by the power of the Marathas. You have lost your empire, your throne, and your dignity. You have no choice but to accept my terms. You will renounce your claim to the throne of India, and you will become my vassal. You will pay me a tribute of one crore rupees every year, and you will provide me with troops and supplies whenever I need them. You will also convert to Hinduism, and you will adopt the Maratha customs and culture. You will also acknowledge me as your lord and master, and you will swear loyalty and obedience to me. Do you agree to these terms?"
Muhammad Shah looked at Raghunath, and felt a surge of anger and humiliation. He had been the ruler of the largest and richest empire in the world, and now he was reduced to a puppet of a Hindu king. He had been the descendant of the great Timur and Babur, and now he was forced to abandon his faith and his heritage. He had been the sovereign of India, and now he was a slave of the Marathas. He wanted to resist, to fight, to die with honor. But he knew that it was futile. He had no army, no allies, no hope. He had no choice but to submit to Raghunath, or face his wrath.
He bowed his head, and said, "I agree to your terms, Raghunath. You are the emperor of India, and I am your vassal. You are my lord and master, and I am your loyal and obedient servant. You are my guru, and I am your disciple."
Raghunath smiled, and said, "Very well, Muhammad Shah. You have made a wise decision. You have saved yourself and your people from destruction. You have earned my mercy and my favor. You have also earned a new name, a name that reflects your new identity. From now on, you will be known as Raman Singh, the deciple of Raghunath."