Bagh Paintings

Painting was a highly developed art in ancient India. The cave paintings of Ajanta testify this. The paintings on the walls of the verandah of a cave at Bag are other instances where you can find painting at its greatest. The Bagh Caves are situated in the Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh .

Among the many masterpieces of Bagh paintings, we must mention the depiction of a procession of elephants. In fact according to some exerts, the painting is more impressive than those at Ajanta.

Bahadur Shah I, Mughal Emperor

Muazzam emerged victorious in the war of succession among the sons of Aurangzeb following his death in 1707. Muazzam, then subahdar of Kabul at the time of his father’s death, crowned himself emperor with the name of Bahadur Shah, generally known as Bahadur Shah I. He ascended the Mughal throne at an advanced age of 67.

Also known as 'Heedless king' (Shah-i-bekhabar) due to his indifference to administration, Bahadur Shah I was the only ruler of the Later Mughals to have exercised the real authority. Though he was not a great administrator, he was affable by temperament. By his conciliatory attitude he managed to retain the support of most of the factions and groups in the Mughal court.

Bahadur Shah I pursued a conciliatory policy towards the Rajputs and the Marathas. Sahu, son of Sambhaji, who had been in Mughal captivity since the fall of Raigarh, was released. Jeziah, imposed by Aurangzeb, was withdrawn. He acknowledged the independence of Mewar and Marwar. Bahadur Shah I died in 1712 during the course of his campaign against the powerful Sikh leader Banda Bahadur.

Bahadur Shah I was succeeded to the Mughal throne by his son Jahandar Shah. 

Young Bengal Movement

The Young Bengal Movement was started by a remarkable personality of the 19th century Henry Vivian Derozio (1809-1831) who was  a teacher of English literature and History in the Hindu College in Calcutta. 

A rationalist to the core, Derozio was also editor of the Hesperus and Calcutta Literary Gazette. He was associated with India Gazette as well. A radical thinker Derozio exercised unprecedented influence over his students. He urged them to live and die for truth - to cultivate and practice all the virtues, shunning vice in every shape. He gave the greatest impetus to free discussion on all subjects-social, moral and religious. 

In 1828. Derozio established the Academic Association which used to organise debates and discussions on various topics and subjects. 

Though he lived for only 22 years, Derozio ranks among those rare teachers whose attachment to knowledge, hatred of evil and love of truth made a profound impression upon those who came in contact with him. He pursued what was right and was accused of misguiding the youth. Some influential Hindus had him removed from service and shortly thereafter he died. But the Derozian influence continued and it was known as the Young Bengal Movement. All the leading movements of the period were influenced by his ideas.