Kingmakers

In the eighteenth century, India faced unimaginable circumstances of political chaos, administrative weakness, economic decline, and cultural decline. Many of the emperors of that era were luxurious and extremely short-sighted. As a result, cases of adultery and corruption increased, while the concept of public welfare was relegated to the background. It was during this period that the Syed brothersSyed Abdullah Khan and Syed Hussain Ali Khanrose to prominence. Renowned for their valor and bravery, these two brothers were loyal to the Mughals. By citing their own helplessness, Prince Farrukhsiyar emotionally swayed them in the power struggle. For the next seven years, these brothers held such sway that they held a position far superior to the emperor. They had a decisive say in decisions regarding royal inheritance as well as in everyday affairs. In effect, they became the arbiters of the countrys monarchy. But despite their power, what did the Syed brothers achieve? One was treacherously murdered, while the other was poisoned. Were these two brothers, who stood at the forefront of the imperial army and fought the enemy, victims of the Mughal emperors palace politics? They too must have made mistakes! Answers to History is the first book to attempt to answer these unanswered questions of the Mughal period. It unravels the personalities and achievements of the Syed brothers, known as kingmakers, their rise and fall, and sheds factual light on the circumstances of the Mughal dynastys decline. This book is a document of a period of Indian history that has been largely overlooked. The author has written this book in a novelistic, engaging style, yet maintaining the authenticity and credibility of history. Prof. Shashi Prabha