The great uprising of 1857 brought about a significant change in Indian society. This incident led to several socio-political developments in the Indian subcontinent. However, the impact was greater on north Indian Muslims, both socio-culturally and politically. For centuries, Delhi remained the centre of power, and for over six centuries Muslims ruled this region. To the common people, the Mughal dynasty was very important, given their long emotional connections with the emperors, irrespective of whether the emperors were strong like Akbar, Jahangir or Shah Jahan, or inconsequential like Bahadur Shah Zafar. For the people, the king was their anndata, a divine power who would bring back their lost glory, and therefore a figure of rebellion, whether real or symbolic. This perception helped the Mughals to consolidate their presence over a long period. Although the country was fragmented into several small states after the disintegration of the Mughal Empire, these newly-formed states could not erase the memory of Mughal glory, specially after their painful experiences with regional power. The erstwhile subjects were filled with despair and frustration, which was why the spark of rebellion caught on so quickly.