Tales from later Mughals

palaces and spent more time in merry-making. As the
Mughal Empire declined slowly, the nobility adopted a more
glamorous lifestyle and alienated itself from the common
people.
The next important development occurred when the
East India Company overpowered the Mughals and the
rulers of small states and assumed political power to rule
over the country. The Company either awarded the nobility
and the ruling family stipends or pension to live comfortably
or allowed the income of the states to be used by the rulers
as they liked. This relieved the ruling classes from the
responsibility of state affairs and gave them enough time to
use their wealth in cultural activities. They elaborately
celebrated different festivals, engaged themselves in games,
and hobbies which completely changed their routine of daily
life. However, they neither spent their wealth and time for
advancement of knowledge nor for promoting industry.
Their main concern was how to assert their
superiority over other classes, and this was done not on the
basis of their knowledge or progress, but on being a member
of a noble family and on having inherited property and
wealth. On these bases they claimed to be the guardians of
cultural traditions and institutions. Their argument was that
they had no need to spend their time in acquiring knowledge
or any art when they could employ scholars or artists in
their service. They did it practically and acquired the
services of poets, musicians, wrestlers, artists and dancers.
That`s why, the literature, art and architecture which was
produced during this time was to fulfil the demands of the
nobility, and not of the society.
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