Tales from later Mughals

available to the rich, one can understand the economic
condition of common people who were ready to work on
minimum salary. One can see how the aristocracy enjoyed
the pleasures of life and exploited the poverty of their
subordinates. When an Englishman visited India in 1858 and
saw so many servants in the homes of his countrymen, he
was shocked. But when he was told that their monthly salary
he understood the phenomenon of keeping a large number
of servants.
It is interesting to learn the daily routine of an English
officer. It was the duty of a servant to wake up his master. A
barber shaved him while he was lying in bed, cut his nails,
and cleaned his ears. By this time his breakfast was ready
which he ate at his leisure. After that his barber arranged his
hair. Then it was time for the huqqa; the servant who was in
charge of it served it after cleaning it and filling fresh
tobacco. When the officer went to his office he was
accompanied by up to 12 servants who carried his office
files and other baggage.
Unfortunately, the feudal culture is still thriving in
Pakistan. We see it not only in the jagirs of feudal lords but
even in the cities where elite classes faithfully follow these
outdated feudal traditions to preserve their status in society.
We do not have the Mughals or the British but we have
retained their heritage of the feudal culture.
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