India, Nov. 16 -- Warren Hastings, the governor general of the East India Company stationed in Calcutta, commissioned the talented German-British artist Johann Zoffany to capture a striking scene from a cockfighting match they had both witnessed in the court of Asaf-ud-Daula. Zoffany, renowned for his ability to depict vibrant, crowded scenes, created a thoroughly detailed piece known as 'Colonel Mordaunt's Cock Match.' The painting features not just the Nawab, but also a number of other notable figures from that era, including the distinguished Claude Martin. Even today, this painting serves as a focal point for analysis and debate. One might wonder why an expensive work of art carries Colonel Mordaunt's name, especially considering his reputation as a mere flatterer in the Nawabi court. As Claude Martin remarked: "Colonel Mordaunt is now at the vizier's court, hunting, fighting cocks and doing all he can to please the Nabob in the expectation of being paid the large sums due to him by the Prince..." It seems that Mordaunt wielded some influence in the Nawabi court, and delving into his background and experiences reveals a captivating story. John Mordaunt, often referred to as Jack by his peers, was the (illegitimate) son of Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough. His early years were tumultuous, and he eventually made his way to Madras, arriving as a 'servant of the Company,' before transitioning to Calcutta. During his time there, he was tasked by the commander-in-chief to draft a letter to another colonel posted in a different location. Mordaunt, whose writing skills were minimal, produced a meaningless jumble of words and presented it to the General, who was appalled, and asked Mordaunt to read out what he had written. To this, our doughty hero refused, saying it may be his duty to write the letter but not to read it. Mordaunt's literary skills can be gauged from the fact that once a certain gentleman wanted to borrow a horse from him for a day or two. Mordaunt may have been illiterate, but he was certainly generous to a point, since he replied, "You may kip the hos as long as you lick." While in Calcutta, he successfully arranged for two of his female cousins, Janet and Susanna, to marry British officials who were stationed in the city. The young women had journeyed all the way from England to India on what was referred to as a 'husband hunting trip' - a practice that was quite common in those days. Mordaunt later managed to be assigned to Warren Hasting's retinue and through the latter's good offices, he joined Asaf-ud-Daula's court at Lucknow as an aid-de-camp, holding the grandiose title of 'Commander of the Nawab's Bodyguard'. The Nawab was hugely impressed by Mordaunt's physical demeanour and his ability to organise and participate in various 'games'. The latter was adept on the use of pistols, card playing, hunting and cock-fighting. It appears that Mordaunt arranged for game-cocks to be brought from Britain to India, where he used them to take on local cockerels. The colonel also seemed to have a penchant for hitting others with a common ruler. He was witty, hyper-active and soon became a permanent fixture in Asaf's court, although he did not do any work to benefit the Nawab, but went on with his whimsical ways. In the meantime, he continued to draw salary from the both the Company as well as from the Nawab's coffers. In this way, he managed to accumulate quite a bit of wealth, but since he knew no arithmetic, his personal 'accounts' were recorded in various notes and slips, which only he could understand. Though he earned a lot of wealth, he also lost a lot of money, as people would give him IOUs which he could not decipher or enforce later. Mordaunt's unpredictable behaviour and his influence over the Nawab baffled his peers. In fact, a few envious colleagues voiced their belief that he was, in reality, an agent of the East India Company, dispatched to observe the Nawab's activities. However, the critical question persists: why would the Company prefer such a spy, who struggled with even basic reading and writing skills? This question remains unanswered. Lord Cornwallis, on his visit to Lucknow came across Mordaunt, and asked the latter whether he would like to rejoin his Regiment back at Calcutta. Mordaunt's witty reply was, "I cannot do you half the service there, that I can in keeping the Vizier amused, while you ease him of his money." It appears that Mordaunt was not such a buffoon as he portrayed himself to be. Despite his lack of formal education, he possessed exceptional survival skills, while his opponent would remain bewildered by his whimsical behaviour. Mordaunt's life remained shrouded with unanswered questions. Indeed, the very manner in which he achieved the position of Lt Colonel in the EIC, without fulfilling any of his military responsibilities and obligations, and being permanently absent from his official place of duty, is another example of this enigma. Mordaunt's death was destined to be as cryptic as his life. Confident in his skills with a pistol, he participated in a duel after an unspecified quarrel, in which he managed to survive although the bullet got lodged in his chest. In those days, people often engaged in duels with pistols or other lethal weapons - a form of planned combat, to settle a quarrel or a point of honour. Duels were held in the presence of reliable witnesses. In fact, Warren Hastings himself had participated in a duel against Philip Francis, his most bitter opponent in the EIC's Supreme Council at Bengal. This duel was held on August 17, 1780, at 5.30 am in Calcutta. Francis missed his mark, but Hastings' shot brought him down. Fortunately, it was not a fatal wound and the former survived, leaving for England a year later. But Mordaunt, back in Lucknow, was not destined to leave Indian shores. He died shortly after his ill-fated duel, and was buried in the old Christian cemetery at Cawnpore (Kanpur). PC Sarkar, a former scientist, has authored several books on the forgotten heritage of Lucknow...