This paper brings the 1858 trial of 82 years old Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar into the mainstream international law. It discusses the aesthetical aspects of Zafar’s trial, who was tried as a British Subject, despite being the Indian sovereign. The paper argues that the trial was used as a tool to colonise India. It also points out the treatment given to Zafar post his arrest, when he was displayed to the Europeans ‘like a beast in a cage’. It highlights the confusing nature of the trial which was, at times, presented as an enquiry. Moreover, it tells Zafar’s story from his point of view. The paper also highlights the blind-spots in the subject of international law where Zafar’s trial finds no mention. It provokes readers to question their understanding of colonialism by pointing out the well-known nature of trial of Warren Hastings, but the obscurity surrounding Zafar’s trial.

本文将 1858 年对 82 岁莫卧儿皇帝巴哈杜尔沙阿扎法尔的审判带入了主流国际法。它讨论了 Zafar 受审的美学方面，尽管他是印度君主，但他还是作为英国臣民受审。该论文认为，该试验被用作殖民印度的工具。它还指出了扎法尔被捕后受到的待遇，当时他“像笼子里的野兽”展示给欧洲人。它突出了审判的混乱性质，有时以调查的形式提出。此外，它从扎法尔的角度讲述了他的故事。这篇论文还强调了国际法领域的盲点，在这些盲点中，扎法尔的审判没有被提及。它通过指出沃伦·黑斯廷斯审判的众所周知的性质，引发读者质疑他们对殖民主义的理解，