Skip to main content

The Harem Politics

“A title comes with a lot of responsibilities; those who succeed trust their capabilities.”

Rukaiya Sultana Begum was watching over the preparations for a grand fest in Kabul. The garden was decorated with flowers, and a carpet was laid at the entrance. She inspected the decorations of the tents; the dancers brought for the evening feasts and praised Nasir. She then moved to the kitchen area where the meal was being prepared.

Jalaluddin Mohammad had successfully made a stronghold in Hind, and he was going to march against Hemu at Din Panah. Jalal informed her about his movements, in formal letters with seals, since the day he left Kabul. But Rukaiya did not complain. At least, she knew about him that way.

The celebrations, however, were to welcome their paternal aunt, Gulbadan Begum, to Kabul, along with her first cousin, Salima was the daughter of her own aunt, Gulrukh Begum, a daughter of Babar. Jalal had officially informed them of Rukaiya, who was now the Padishah Begum, as they would be the new members of her harem. Jalal was trying hard to unite the ladies of his father’s and Uncle’s harems together under one safe roof. Gulbadan Begum was his favourite aunt, while the orphaned Salima stayed with her.

Salima was their close cousin. She had been playmates with them as children, and Rukaiya had met her last at her own wedding. She was happy that now, with Salima’s arrival, she would have someone to talk to. Gulbadan Begum was close to Jalal as well as Hamida Banu, but she appealed very little to Rukaiya. She had ordered the cooks to make all their favourite dishes. The eunuchs and maids gossiped that Salima Begum had grown into a very beautiful woman and that it was because of this that Jalal had ordered his aunt to shift into his Harem, under his watchful eyes.

Gossip did not escape Rukaiya’s ears, but she had learnt to deal with it over time. Jalal was at Mankot, and she wrote, urging them to meet him and discuss the safety and needs of the Harem. Together, they had decided that once Din Panah was safe, they would shift half of the Harem to Lahore from Kabul as he had promised. Rukaiya hoped and prayed it was soon because it would mean staying closer to Jalal and the seat of activities. Sometimes, Maham Anga’s hold over Jalal and his dependency on her disturbed Rukaiya. She knew that to hold on to her position, she needed to be on good terms with the foster mother as well.

Salima had the sharp features and tall build of the Timurid dynasty, unlike herself and Jalal. Rukaiya could not help but admit that she was indeed beautiful. The ladies bowed in decorum to the new Padishah Begum and presented her with gifts from their journey. Persian carpets, jewellery and clothes were exchanged. Rukaiya then ordered the maids to escort them to their chambers and promised a meeting at lunch.

Walking into her chambers, she was surprised to find Hamida Banu Begum waiting for her. Just returning from her journey to Kutch, Hamida Banu rarely stepped out of her chambers. Rukaiya was surprised to find her there and offered a seat.
“I could have come to meet you myself.”
“That would not have been befitting of a Padishah Begum. All the haram ladies should come to you, which is the rule your grandfather made for all of us.” Hamida Banu smiled, making Rukaiya nod in agreement.
Chewing on some freshly arrived dates that Rukaiya offered with wine, Hamida seemed uneasy. Rukaiya knew she wanted to talk about something, but was unsure.
“What is it, Mariam Makani?” Rukaiya addressed her by the newly entitled name, given by Jalal himself.
“I had been talking to Bega Begum and Gulbadan Begum in the gardens...”
“And?” Rukaiya sat upright with a frown.
“I was thinking of asking the Padshah’s permission to continue the building of his father’s tomb. Bega Begum wants to look over the constructions.” She smiled, “I talked to some architects and...”
“That is a very good idea.” Rukaiya agreed, “I will write to him for the permissions immediately.”
“No. Wait for the war for Din Panah, we want to relocate it there.” Rukaiya nodded understandingly.
“Also.” Hamida Banu stopped to choose her words carefully “I was thinking of arranging a marital alliance for Shehzadi  Salima. She is beyond marriageable age, and Shehzaadi Gulbadan Begum was worried. Bega Begum suggested we should talk to you.”
“Do you have someone in mind? If not, then I can ask the Padshah...” Rukaiya spoke with a smile. A wedding would be a perfect celebration for all the ladies; they had not participated in any celebration since Jalal’s hasty coronation.
“No. Let him concentrate on the wars.” Hamida stopped her. “We can tell him later.”
“Are you tense about the gossip?” Rukaiya caught Hamida Banu a little off guard as she chose to remain silent.
“He wrote to me that Phupphi Gulbadan Begum and Shehzaadi Salima need our protection. We, as Timurid blood, should protect our kin. It was my opinion to bring them here.” Rukaiya lied to see Hamida Banu Begum, a little relieved, “You need not worry.”
“I think Khan E Khana Bairam Khan will be a good choice for her. It will strengthen our family ties with him and will be a fitting reward for his honest services to the Shahenshah and his father.” Hamida’s words made Rukaiya frown. “Even Bega Begum would agree with this.”
The man was twice Salima’s age. He had other Begums, as well as a son. But when was a Timurid Princess asked for her consent? Rukaiya smiled faintly, showing her approval.
“I will talk to the Padshah then. If he agrees, once the war is over, we can send Khan Baba an official proposal.” Hamida agreed to her words and left.

Rukaiya sat reading some letters that had arrived in her name. It was almost noon when Salima Begum, clad in a very simple green sharara, presented herself before the Padishah Begum. Rukaiya decided to call on the royal tailors to make some clothes befitting of the Timurid Princess for her cousin. They sat in the courtyard of her chambers, savouring fruits and wine.
“The Khan e Khana is a brave man,” Rukaiya spoke as Salima congratulated her on their success in the recent wars.
“He is. My father used to speak often of him. He had helped a lot, I heard.”
“Yes, he had.” Rukaiya agreed.  “We are all grateful to him.”
“I have immense respect for him.” Salima smiled. Rukaiya noticed her adjusting her hair and jewellery as she spoke. She seemed conscious of how she presented herself, or so it seemed.
“I met the Padshah Ghazi once when we left,” Salima spoke, choosing her words carefully. “He is extremely charming, Khala says.”
“Gulbadan Phuphi is always in awe of her nephew.” Rukaiya smiled.
“He said I am beautiful too, for a Timurid Princess.” There was a subtle hint of vanity and taunt in her voice that Rukaiya chose to ignore as she took a fruit, dressed with honey and nuts and smiled at Salima.
“He said right.” She agreed, plainly making Salima frown a little.

Salima expected her to show some reaction. She had heard gossip in every corridor of Mankot and Kabul that the emperor was smitten by her beauty. That is why, after a very short meeting, he had offered her a place in his harem. Salima always knew her beauty attracted attention. Today, she was sure it could attract her fortune as well. She came to Kabul hoping to find a chance to impress the Padishah Begum and be in the good books of the elders. Rumours travelled far that the Padishah Begum had been married for two years to the Emperor and yet failed to attract his attention or produce an heir. Bega Begum was Emperor Humayun’s first wife, too, but giving him an heir gave Hamida Banu an upper hand over the Emperor. The same could happen with Jalal. Rukaiya Begum seemed harmless and gentle for her own good. Salima had her thoughts running.

In the evening, Hamida Banu had called upon the elder ladies to discuss the marriage proposal to the Khan E Khana. Bairam Khan enjoyed immense power in the court of the Timurid house, and she did not expect a better match for Salima. The word soon spread around the Harem. Rukaiya Begum wanted to marry off Salima Begum to Bairam Khan.

Rukaiya was watching a few doves frolicking in the bird bath in the evening when she heard a commotion outside her chambers. She gestured at her maid to have a look, but before she could find out, Salima Begum was at the threshold of her room, in the same attire she had seen in the morning, and visibly angry. Nasir was right behind her, trying to stop her from entering the chambers.
“I want to talk to you alone.” Her tone sent a gasp among the maids and eunuchs. Not even Hamida Banu ever talked to Rukaiya Begum like that. The Padshah would have her executed for her tone. But the Padishah Begum was calm. She gestured for the people to leave.

Once everyone left, Rukaiya Begum leaned against her cushion on the carpet and gestured for the visibly angry girl to sit. She stood fixed in her spot, making Rukaiya smile a little.
“You are doing this because of your own insecurities. You are the one who has planned this.” It was an allegation.
Rukaiya did not speak a word, nor did she show any displeasure. Her lack of responses agitated Salima Begum more.
“You think I am beautiful, and that is why you want me to stay away from the Emperor. Because you feel, you may lose your position to me.”
Rukaiya stared at the girl speaking. Something in her reminded Rukaiya of her old self when she used to speak to people without giving a second thought to her words. Rukaiya knew this was Salima’s first day at her haram, and she would soon know the decorum as well. Rukaiya sat up at her words, still silent.
“I am not going to marry the Khan E Khana. He is like a father figure. You know that, too. How could you choose him for me?” Salima’s voice cracked. “I will write to the Padshah and demand justice on this.”

 She walked away, making Rukaiya sigh at the empty doorway. She could have spoken, told Salima that it was not she who had arranged the marriage. Nor did she fear losing to Salima’s beauty. Perhaps tell her not to listen to the gossip. She felt pity for the girl. Perhaps felt remorse that she was in power yet so powerless. But she kept quiet, for the girl was in too much rage to understand her. Nor would she ever be in the position to understand her.  Rukaiya then called on Nasir and ordered him to send for the older ladies in the courtyard. They had a wedding to discuss. She was sure that the palace gossip would run on this matter, especially after Salima walked into her chambers. She needed to be the sensible one.

Salima Begum joined Akbar’s harem in the year 1556 and married Bairam Khan in the year 1557. Bairam Khan already had an heir in Abdur Rahim Khan E Khana, later known as Sufi poet Rahim Das, who had fought in Mewar as the Khan E Khana and written poems on Maharana Partap, impressed by his heroics. Salima Begum was extremely well-read and a poet herself. She later accompanied her mother-in-law to a Hajj in 1576, and also played a major role in the father-son truce with Salim. Many wrongly interpret her as the poet Makhfi, which is actually the pseudonym of Zeb Un Nissa.




Popular posts from this blog

Purnota: Chapter Thirty One

“Please, Sir, we were going to show the evacuation notice to the lawyer.” The older man with a salt and pepper beard and a bald head pleaded with the Judiciary official, who handed him a paper of illegal occupancy. The NGO stood on the ground of the property that belonged to the Bhowmicks. Their lawyer, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, had sent a notice of warning and evacuation that the NGO did not pay heed to. The man in charge looked least concerned at the plea of the older man. His hands were folded, eyes teary, as the men who came with the Bull Dozer to knock down the one-storey house with thatched roof broke down the board of the NGO.  “Why did you not show the notice then?” The man rebuked in a gruff voice. “Because we thought it was some mistake.” Another man, relatively younger and calmer, came forward from the crowd that stood there watching as he spoke. “We got the land as a gift from Mr. Bhowmick some eleven years back to make the school for the orphans.” “Then where is the dee...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Two

Bondita got down from the local train with a duffle bag and her hoodie tied around the waist of her dark green Kurti, which she teamed with white leggings and a white dupatta. The weather at Canning seemed hotter and humid than Chandannagar, and at first glance, Bondita spotted the spring blooms of Krishnachura painting the tree at the station red. She picked up her bag and looked around the crowded station. Someone was supposed to come and get her. She dragged her bag through the crowd and finally reached the gates. The rickshaws, vans and small autos were shouting out names of different places, names that appeared like images in her memories. “Bondita Malkin?” She turned to see a woman in a checked printed saree worn above the ankle with a Ghomta over her head and the Anchol tied to her waist. Bondita nodded as the woman in her forties surprised her by touching her feet. Bondita jolted away in shock. “What are you doing?” She asked with raised brows as the woman took her duffel bag. ...

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda amidst uncertainty and chaos. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rawat Chundawat, and some other chieftains stopped the ongoing Raj Tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhatiyani hadn't expected Kunwar Pratap to show up, that too, despite her conveying to him his father's last wish of crowning Kunwar Jagmal. Twenty-one days after Udai Singh's death, she was finally close to a dream she had dared to dream since Jagmal was born. He was not informed about the Raj Tilak as per Dheerbai's instructions. She eyed Rawat Ji. He must have assembled the chiefs to this revolt against her son, against the dead king. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing, Chotima?" A disappointed voice was directed at her. She could stoop down so low? For the first time, an anger...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Three

Aniruddha stepped out of his room, in a wrinkled Kurta, with a towel and toothbrush, to almost bump into Bondita, who was hurrying out of her room, trying to wear her watch on the go. He stopped before she barged into him and spotted her in one of Thamma’s Dhakai sarees. It was a white-on-white saree she had worn with a quarter-sleeved black blouse. Her hair was bunned with a claw clip, and she wore a small black Teep complementing her Kajol-drawn eyes. She looked slightly startled as she stopped at his dishevelled appearance and looked away at his stare. “Why are you…” He cleared his throat to do away with his morning groggy voice, “Dressed up?” Bondita shook her head at his words. “Because I have camp today, the NGO representative is waiting downstairs.” At her words, Aniruddha nodded and promptly held her wrist to check her watch. Bondita eyed his index finger and thumb, briefly brushing around her wrist as he suppressed a yawn. “But… It's 7 AM.” Bondita smiled, amused at his wo...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Six

Bondita opened her door in the usual hours of the morning and found Thamma and Jyatha Moshai on the couch in their living room, sipping tea. She had half sat on her bed, leaning against the pillow all night, imagining her plight when she faced Aniruddha in the morning. What if he did not think of it as much as she thought of his actions? What if that was his uncomfortable way of comforting her because she was upset? But what about his eyes, his gestures? Had she misread all of it? Bondita blushed to herself the moment she remembered how his eyes followed her around for the past two days. Bondita was hurrying through her daily chores, eyeing the clock, for she would be late for work and overheard Trilochon lament about things not changing since Binoy left. He thought that things were getting better at home, but as soon as Aniruddha had left for Sunderban, Binoy informed him that he had changed the attorney in charge of his case. Bondita frowned slightly as her hand stopped at wearing th...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Five

“The bride is older than the groom.” Aniruddha heard one of the older villagers speak in a judgmental tone. “No wonder the higher castes don’t attend such atrocities.” He eyed the younger man he was talking to, who smiled. Aniruddha was sitting beside them on a bench in the open courtyard of a house where the wedding rituals were taking place. Tirio and Tumdak were playing rhythmically in a corner as some women danced to the tunes surrounding the new bride and groom. The men sat on the other side of the courtyard.  “Forget about the Brahmins, we don’t expect them to come.” The younger man shook his head. “As for traditions, what is wrong if the bride is older?” He smiled sheepishly at the older man. “What’s wrong? Everything. Master Moshai, you can be educated, but our ancient traditions have reasons. The groom must be older than the bride. It has some reason.” He shook his head. The teacher, in turn, educated the man that it was a perfectly normal Santhali ritual to marry older wo...

Scheme of Things

The ousting of Shams Khan and his troops from Chittorgarh earned Kunwar Partap Singh overnight fame across the land as tales of his bravery made their way through the dunes and hills, across rivers and borders to lands far and beyond. At thirteen, he had commanded an army troop to take over the fort of Chittorgarh and restore Mewar’s borders to their former glory. People started comparing him to his forefathers, the great Rana Kumbha, who built forts across Mewar and his grandfather, Rana Sanga, who had united all Rajputs against external threats. As bards sang praises of the prince, gossip soon followed. Gossip was the most entertaining one could get in the mundane city lives and village gatherings, and it often travelled faster than the fastest Marwadi horse. So alongside the tales of his absolute bravery and how he hoisted the Mewari flag on the fort, were the stories of how his life was in danger, the king and queen did not quite get along and how he was made to live in poverty by ...

Purnota: Chapter Thirty Four

“You are cheating, he can’t play!” Bondita was attracted by the commotion downstairs as she opened the window of her room. She walked out to the balcony to inspect it. It was Sunday, and Padma had promised to make Chicken Curry, knowing Bondita had invited Tapur to join them for lunch. In the courtyard was a group of boys, probably Sidhu’s friends, with a broken pipe for a bat, a wooden plank for a wicket kept between two bricks and a rubber ball, arguing over a game of cricket. Bondita’s eyes stopped at Aniruddha, marking a line with chalk and then measuring feet using steps to mark the boundaries. Bondita looked amused at the sight. “Batuk. You went out fair and square; give me the bat.” Bondita put her hands on her waist as she commanded. Batuk refused to part with his new bat. Som frowned at his brother. “She is right; it was a clean bowl. Give her the bat!” Som commanded. “I was not ready.” Batuk shook his head. “She knew that.” “It's still out.” Bondita frowned. Aniruddha wal...

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabdeh looked visibly displeased at the ladies who ran around. " They are at the fort gates, and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red lehenga and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maasa Maasa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here, I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa., " Ajabdeh." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" ...

Happy Ending

Dheer had a sleepless night. Yes, she had killed the Maharani, but to seek revenge for her son. Jagmal was all she had for a dream, and Rana Pratap's first decision was to banish him. He had never been that tough with his other brothers who went with Akbar, then why him? Just because he wanted to be a king? Just because they brought a false letter and bought a few witnesses? Her son died in Ajmer, so young. And she had always blamed Ajabdeh Punwar for Rana's hard decision. After all, ever since she came as a support for Jaivanta Bai, she had been like his shield, even though creating misunderstandings didn't help Dheer Bai Bhatiyani. Ajabdeh had done the impossible, showing him the real face of his Chotima. What bothered Dheer now was whether he remembered anything, and most importantly, if she did. Dheer had turned pale at the song and smile Pratap gave, but if he knew she had killed Ajabdeh, it meant Survi remembered her walking to a dying Ajabdeh and confessing that ...