Life of Ahmad — Page 38
BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD as 38 impetuous horse, which got out of control, crashed against a tree and was instantaneously killed. People usually kept and used weapons in those days and to be acquainted with the use of the sword, the bow or the gun was generally considered a sign of respectability. Fencing was a popular game. It is to be remarked that Ahmad as never cared for such war-like sports and never indulged in any of them even in his youth. This was perhaps due to the fact that he was a prince of peace in the making. When Ahmad as was about 16 years of age he was married to H urmat Bibi, the daughter of his maternal uncle, Mirza Jam i ‘at Baig. It is significant that the marriage of his elder brother Mirza Ghulam Q a dir with H urmat Bibi, the daughter of Mirza Ghulam Mu h yudd i n, had been celebrated in the same house for several days with great pomp and ceremony; and it is said that there were provided twenty-two dancing girls to entertain the guests on that occasion. But as a fitting contrast to all this, there was nothing of the kind at the marriage of Ahmad as , which was celebrated in a simple manner and strictly in accordance with the teachings of Islam. The first son was born when Ahmad as was about 18 or 19 years of age. The child was named Mirza Sultan Ahmad. Two years later was born the second son, Mirza Fa d l Ahmad. The crushing defeat of the Sikhs at Gujrat, on February 21st, 1849, had delivered the Punjab into the hands of the British, and it was annexed on April 2nd,