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The Harem Politics

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“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.
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