Later Reign
After Nadir Shah's invasion, the Mughal Empire disintegrated rapidly. Nawab Alivardi Khan of Bengal proclaimed independence in 1740. In 1748, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India. Heir apparent Ahmad Shah Bahadur, Grand Vizier Nawab Qamar-ud-Din and his son Mueen-ul-Mulk, Ghazi Uddin khan and nephew of Sadat Khan later known as Safdarjung were sent with 75,000 men after the defeat of Shahnawaz Khan in Lahore. At the Battle of Sirhind, Abdali's 15,000 men were defeated and he was forced to retreat. There was a great rejoicing for this event in Delhi.
However, this victory was at a cost. The Grand Vizier Qamar-ud-Din had died at the battlefield. Initially this was kept a secret. However, when the news reached the Mughal Emperor, he could not speak, suddenly became sick and did not come out of his apartments for three days. During this course he fasted. His guards could hear him crying out loud and saying: "How could I bring about anyone as faithful as he Qamar-ud-Din". He died due to grief on 26 April 1748, his funeral was attended by visiting Imams from Mecca.
Read more about this topic: Muhammad Shah
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“Nature seemed to have adorned herself for our departure with a profusion of fringes and curls, mingled with the bright tints of flowers, reflected in the water. But we missed the white water-lily, which is the queen of river flowers, its reign being over for this season.... Many of this species inhabit our Concord water.”
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