Just finished reading a meticulously researched and very well-written book that delves into the lives of the important women hailing from the Mughal empire. Ira Mukhoty’s
Daughters of the Sun is an excellent attempt to chronicle the women who played key roles in building the Mughal empire. The book gives an unusual peep into the private lives of Mughals from the times of Babur to Aurangzeb.
The Mughal women — powerful wives, unmarried daughters, eccentric sisters and fiery milk mothers — often worked behind the scenes and from within the zenana, but there were some notable exceptions among them who rode into battle with their men, built monuments, engaged in diplomacy, traded with foreigners and minted coins in their own names. Others wrote biographies and patronised the arts.
Ira Mukhoty has written in this book about the remarkable characters like
Khanzada Begum who, at 65 years, rode on horseback through 750 kilometres of icy passes and unforgiving terrain to talk on behalf of her nephew, Humayun;
Gulbadan Begum, who penned the only document written by a woman of the Mughal royal court, giving a rare glimpse into the harem, as well as a chronicle of the trials and tribulations of three emperors—Babur, Humayun and Akbar — her father, brother and nephew; Akbar’s milk mothers,
Jiji Anaga and
Maham Anaga, who shielded and guided the 13-year-old emperor until he came of age;
Noor Jahan, a widow and mother who would become Jahangir’s last and favourite wife, acquiring an imperial legacy of her own; and the fabulously wealthy
Jahanara, Shah Jahan’s favourite child, owner of the most lucrative port in medieval India and patron of one of its finest cities, Shahjahanabad.
In a complete rejection of the strong stereotype about the conservative attitude of Islam towards its women, Ira Mukhoty has clarified that it was the Mughals who drew inspiration from the Rajput ideas of purdah for women instead of it being the other way round. Lucidly written and gripping from start to finish, this book runs into 320 pages.
Published by Aleph Book,
Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens & Begums of the Mughal Empire is priced
Rs 699
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