Winds of Change

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Winter 1605A.D. Pari Mahal, Lahore Fort

“The lady Asmat Begum, the wife of Treasurer Ghiyaz Begh, is here to see you, Sultana Begum.” Rukaiya looked up at the eunuch, Rashid, who announced this, still not used to not being called the “Padshah Begum”. This new title seemed alien to her.

“Send her in.” She sat up in a graceful posture, waiting for the lady to arrive. Asmat Begum and her husband had been trusted aides to the Emperor, and she needed some people by her side. She did not overlook the fact that despite the entire Turkish Harem flocking around the new soon-to-be Padshah Begum, pleasing her with gifts, this lady had come to her threshold first.

Asmat Begum bowed before her before sitting on the cushion laid on the floor.

“Here are some sweetmeats and perfumes for the Sultana Sahib, Asmat had pointed to the silverware covered in blue velvet.

“Why congratulate me, Asmat Begum?” Rukaiya forced a smile. “Shouldn’t you take this to Mariam Ur Zamani first?”

“No, my queen, this is for the celebration of the birth of a baby girl to my daughter in Bardhaman.” Her words made Rukaiya look up at her smiling face. Had she seen anyone in this harem so happy over the birth of a girl child?

Asmat Begum read her mind as she quickly added, “Ali Quli has sent his regards and is extremely happy to have a healthy baby after the few mishaps they...” She bit her lips. Asmat’s daughter was once the talk of this harem, for her beauty, grace, intelligence and her magic over the young prince Salim, who seemed captivated by her. Rukaiya was well aware of how the Emperor had made sure she was married to a general befitting of her noble status and shifted to Bengal, away from Salim’s eyes. Rukaiya had, however, never had the desire to know the girl or understand why the Emperor acted promptly against his son’s desires.

“Congratulations to them.” Rukaiya Begum promptly took off a pearl necklace from her neck and handed it over to Asmat Begum. “So what is her name?”

“Ali calls her Laadli.” Rukaiya Begum smiled at the simplicity of the choice.

“How many days are you here?” She asked Asmat Begum, offering her some dates and nuts.

“The emperor has ordered my husband to shift back to Agra and settle there.” The lady spoke.

“Agra?” Rukaiya frowned a little “The capital in Lahore...”

“No longer stands.” The voice at the threshold made Asmat get up promptly, bowing to Jagat Gossain.

The lady in her thirtieth year seemed radiant, wearing a traditional lehenga and jewellery befitting of her rich Rathore heritage. She stood with a few ladies in waiting with a smile on her face. Adjusting her dupatta over the vermilion-clad mang tika on her head, she stepped inside the room, as Rukaiya sat poised and unmoved.

“Jodha Begum," Rukaiya smiled at her with a slight nod, trying to hide her surprise at being uninformed about the turn of events.

“I was expecting you at the celebrations, Sultana Begum Sahiba," she addressed Rukaiya Begum without a bow, "But since you did not arrive, I decided to come to visit you instead.” She sat down on the cushion beside Rukaiya Begum as Asmat Begum let out a surprised gasp at her audacity “I suppose you haven’t yet blessed me with my new role.”

“Well, I haven’t heard the official announcements yet, Jodha Begum. You have received my gifts from my son, Khurram, though, haven’t you?” Rukaiya spoke, unnerved by her behaviour, “And you are in fact most welcome to visit my palace any time you want.”

“Very well.” Jagat Gossain spoke plainly, “The announcements will come soon. I am here on behalf of the Shahenshah to inform you that he is shifting the capital of the land to Agra with immediate effect, and he will spend only his leisure days in Lahore henceforth. The harem has been ordered to shift immediately.” She stared at Rukaiya Begum, hoping for a retort to her words, but there were none. Instead, Rukaiya looked at her eunuchs as if to order them to do the needful.

Jagat Gossain was happy with the newfound authority over the intimidating oldest of the Harem and got up to leave, giving Asmat Begum one last disapproving stare.

“I am not leaving Lahore, and neither are the ladies who wish to stay with me.” Jagat Gossain had anticipated something of this sort. She turned at the words of the Dowager Queen and nodded approval. “Very well then, Salima Sultana Begum has decided to come with us; she will advise the council and Shahenshah alongside me. Mariam Ur Zamani has decided to stay back here with you. I guess she knew you won’t leave Lahore so soon.”

A faint smile escaped Rukaiya’s lips. This woman, who had no idea of life and politics beyond the Harem, was set to advise the council and emperor. Of course, she needed Salima Begum by her side. Mariam Ur Zamani will never trust her alone to run one of the most powerful of their forts. What if she instigated a rebellion? She knew what Rukaiya Begum was capable of. Rukaiya didn’t mind having her around. They barely talked or crossed each other’s paths unless absolutely necessary.

“Khurram Baba is staying back with me.” She smiled. Jagat Gossain’s sparkling eyes seem to dim down at those words.

“But... but... the Shehzade is required to be present at court to...”

“He is still in his learning years and under my guardianship.” Rukaiya Begum looked firm “I know what is best for my son.”

She watched Jodha Begum stomp out of her palace. Rukaiya Begum sighed. She had made enemies in this place without realising that for long. Power indeed is blinding to the truth. Asmat shook her voice a little awkwardly.

“Well, you see, Asmat Begum," Rukaiya smiled faintly, "Choose your side wisely.”

“My Lady, we had always been...” She stopped as Rukaiya shook her head.

“Times are changing, Asmat Begum. But you know what, it will be ever-changing yet still.”

The confused lady bowed to her quickly before taking her to leave.

It is not clear how much power Jagat Gosain held as the unofficial Padshah Begum before the power unofficially again shifted to Sahila Begum in 1608 but given that the heir to the throne and her only son was raised by Rukaiya as her own, not only in guardianship (elderly ladies being a guardian of Princes was the norm in the Timurid House) but as her son, it is assumed that she did not have a liking towards the former Padshah Begum. Asmat Begum, the wife of Ghiasuddin Begh, father of Meherunissa, was a perfume maker and hence had close contact with the significant ladies of the Harem much before her daughter stepped into the harem politics. She played an active role in making her daughter’s role in the harem prominent as well.


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