Acute Akbar Versus The Spirited Nur Jahan

Susheila Naravane

Description

Acute Akbar Versus The Spirited Nur Jahan is a gripping account of the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The narrative brings the Mughal court to life even as it describes Akbar's relationship with his son Jehangir and the other members of his extended family.The story of Nur Jahan has it's roots in Akbar's reign and times. That's why our story begins with Akbar's reign, tracing the intrigues at the court: stories being played out in the lives of his subjects (both Hindu and Muslim) and conspiracies within and outside the realm of the Mughal empire.Woven into this narrative is the possibility of reincarnation due to the karmic interaction between various communities in recurring births. The story is told through the perspective of a protagonist from the twenty first century. The book pulsates with the rhythms of life as lived in the times of Akbar's rule. With its interplay of faiths and cultures, it transports the reader into Akbar's court with its rich imagery. How did the young Mehrunissa, a courtier's daughter, come to be the queen of the mighty Mughal empire wielding immense influence? She was a rarity for any woman in those times, let alone a muslim woman. Did the elements of destiny and desire play an important role, or was it a matter of court and harem intrigue?The book takes a fresh look at how Mehrunissa became Nur Jahan at a time when the Mughals were at the zenith of their power in India.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Hinduism

Informations

• Publié par: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Date de parution: 28 septembre 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781789012316
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright © 2018 Susheila Naravane

The moral right of the author has been asserted.


Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.


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ISBN 978 1789012 316

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Glossary
1. Aali Jah – Your Majesty
2. Abba – father
3. Abba huzoor – respected father
4. Abba jaan – father dear
5. Ahadi – gentleman trooper
6. Agya chakra – Point of divine contact in middle of brows
7. Amarnath – Hindu god Shiv
8. Arsh Ashiyani – Title of a king
9. Atga – guardian
10. Auliya – (Urdu) holy man (ascetic)
11. Azeri – from Azerbaijan
12. Badtamiz – bad-mannered
13. Baig (beg) – a lord
14. Bania – grocer
15. Barr-u-bahr – architect and engineer
16. Bedaulat – beggar
17. Begum – a lord’s wife
18. Bhagwan – (pronounced bhugwan) God
19. Bharat Varsh – India
20. Brahmin – Hindu priest
21. Burqa – Gown with hood and veil
22. Chaddar – sheet
23. Dargah – tomb of a Muslim saint
24. Darwesh – holy man
25. Diwan – governor
26. Diwan-i-bayutat- Turkish for manager of royal household
27. Esai – Christian
28. Fakir – Muslim ascetic
29. Farash khana – tents, carpets, bedding store in palace
30. Farman – order, command (royal)
31. Farsi – Persian
32. Faujdar – Fortress commander
33. Fatwa – edict passed by Muslim clergy
34. Firangi – foreigner
35. Grand mufti – chief expert in Muslim law
36. Gulab – rose
37. Gul aftab – sunflower
38. Haakim – doctor
39. Halwai – (Hindi) sweetmeat maker
40. Hazrat Isa – Honourable Jesus
41. Hindus – (derived from River Sindhu (Indus)) original natives of India
42. Isa – Jesus
43. Jahan panah – refuge of the world (king)
44. Jaan – life or a substitute for “dear”
45. Jannat – Heaven
46. Jannat ashiyani – One who is in heaven (dead) for a dead king
47. Jagirdar – fief holder
48. Jyotish – fortune teller
49. Kafila – caravan
50. Kafir – non-Muslim, unbeliever
51. Kakhan – Uzbek chief
52. Kamiz – top worn over salwar
53. Kanya – girl; see also Vishkanya
54. Karma – action(s)
55. Kayasth – of mixed descent
56. Khatra – danger
57. Khabardar – beware
58. Khamiz – shirt
59. Khan khanan – chief khan, chief nobleman
60. Khatri – of warrior class
61. Khatun – lady
62. Khichdi – cooked mixture of lentils and rice
63. Khidmatiya – servant
64. Khufiya – secret service
65. Kotha – house of dancing girls
66. Khillat – ceremonial robe
67. Khuda – God
68. Khuda hafiz – God be with you
69. Khutba – prayer at accession
70. Khwaja sara – chief eunuch
71. Kurnish – bowing in salutation to monarch
72. Kishmish – raisin
73. Laila and Majnu – two lovers of ancient Arabia
74. Madar – mother
75. Mahatma – great soul
76. Mahawat – elephant driver
77. Makhdum-ul-mulk – chief officer
78. Mallika – queen
79. Mama – maternal uncle
80. Mansab – grant of land with command of troops
81. Mansabdar – fief holder
82. Matbakh khana – kitchen
83. Maulvi – Muslim priest
84. Meher – bride price paid to father
85. Meherbani – kindness
86. Mihir – sun
87. Meer (mir) – lord
88. Mir bakshi – paymaster of the army
89. Mir kafila – head of caravan
90. Mohar – gold coin
91. Moksh (Sanskrit) – release of soul from rebirth
92. Muezzin – one who gives call for prayers
93. Muhtarma – ‘’respected lady’’
94. Mullah – Muslim priest
95. Muslim ulema – clergy
96. Musth – elephant in rut
97. Mutahi nikah – temporary marriage
98. Nikah – proper marriage
99. Nirvana – (Hindi) liberation of soul from the cycle of birth and death
100. Paan – betel leaf
101. Pathan – Afghan
102. Pandit – Hindu priest
103. Peer (Pir) – Muslim holy man
104. Qayamat – death
105. Posteen – warm jacket
106. Rabab – string instrument
107. Rajputni – Rajput woman
108. Sachak – (Urdu) engagement
109. Sadhu – Hindu ascetic, who wears a saffron robe
110. Sadhana guru – One who guides spiritual practice
111. Sadr – Muslim priest
112. Sahibs – four companions of the Prophet
113. Salaam alekum – a greeting
114. Saltanat – sultanate
115. Sayyad – descendant of the Prophet of Islam
116. Shahbaaz – Hawk
117. Shahzaada – prince (son of a king)
118. Shaitan – Devil
119. Shaitanpura – abode of the Devil – notorious area
120. Shias – those Muslims who revere the Prophet’s descendants, through his daughter Fatima
121. Shikar – hunting
122. Shirin – who loved Farhad
123. Sifarat khana – Portuguese embassy
124. Sirka – vinegar
125. Suba – province
126. Sufrachi – attendant
127. Sufi – Muslim ascetic, a spiritual person
128. Sulah – peace treaty
129. Sulah-i-kul – peace with all
130. Surahi – earthen water pitcher
131. Taslim – salutation
132. Ulema – clergy
133. Umara – nobles
134. Vakil – prime minister
135. Vazir – prime minister
136. Vishkanya – poison- or disease-impregnated girl
137. Wali ahad – crown prince
138. Walekum saalam – greetings!
139. Ya Khuda – Oh God
140. Zakat – 2.5 per cent tax paid by Muslims to help other Muslims
141. Zamindar – landholder
142. Zat – foot soldiers
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the Mughal Emperor Akbar, our immuniser-in-chief, with his profound vision and diplomacy, military might and brilliant generalship.
Akbar’s excellent administration, fiscal prudence, good governance and justice system inoculated this land against invasion.
The book is also dedicated to his daughter-in-law, the feminist Begum Nur Jahan who is an inspiration to Indian women to fight for their rights.
Also to my country, Hindustan, to our armed forces, the devoted guardians of our sovereignty, may it be everlasting.
The British, who ruled later, added the perfume of their jurisprudence to this flower that is India today. May we be eternally vigilant and free.
Lastly, to my paternal grandmother, Sharada Naravane, who encouraged my love of reading.
Contents
1. The Dream
2. Qudsia
3. Akbar’s Coronation
4. Kabul
5. The Tutor
6. Hamida chooses Maham (1560)
7. The Chief Of Intelligence
8. Statecraft
9. Bahraich Fair
10. The Spectre From Chausa Ferry
11. The Sultan Seeks Advice
12. The Caravan From Iraq
13. The Khan Zaman Ali Quli Khan Uzbek
14. The Kacchwahas Of Amber
15. Raja Maldeo Of Jodhpur
16. The Street Of The Courtesans
17. An Epoch-Making Royal Marriage
18. East to Chunargarh and Chausa Ferry
19. Akbar’s Twentieth Birthday
20. The Hamaam of Sheikh Abd un Nabi
21. Nawroz – Female Intrigue (1563)
22. The Attempt On The Sultan’s Life
23. The shias at court – Muzaffar turbati made vazir
24. Akbar Consolidates His Grip (1567)
25. A Message For Zakia Khanum
26. Peshrau Khan – The Arranger
27. Kingship And God, The Mahzar, Iran, And Central Asia (1574)
28. From Iran To Hindustan (1577)
29. The Neighbourhood And Hindustan Iran – Tehran (1577)
30. Akbar’s Sickness (1582)
31. The Goonga Ghar (The Dumb House)
32. The Queen Mother Introspects (1582)
33. The Iranian Family (1585)
34. Central Asia Abdullah Khan Uzbek (1586)
35. The Iranian Family Again
36. Nowroz (1587)
37. The Zenith Of Power
38. Ghiyas Beg And Family
39. Akbar And His Heir Salim
40. The Esai (Christian) Missionaries
41. The Intriguers
42. Ghiyas Beg Meets Peshrau Khan Next Diwan Of Kabul
43. The Wali Ahad Prince Salim
44. Guhar-un-Nissa Begum Takes A Hand (1596)
45. A New Life (1594)
46. A Dilemma For The Khan Khanan - The Attempted Assassination (1596)
47. The Red Herring
48. Kabul – And Childbirth
49. Death Of Abdullah Khan Uzbek (1598)
50. Akbar Looks South – The Conquest Of Asirgarh (1598)
51. Agra and Lahore –Regime Change
52. Kutbuddin In Bangal
53. The Widow
54. A State Of Limbo (May 1607)
55. The Nikah (marriage)
56. The New Malika
57. Affairs Of State
58. And Now, The Who’s Who Of Rebirth
59. The Last Days Of Nur Jahan
Chapter 1
The Dream
A mala got up, thinking of her dream. It was early morning, just before sunrise. These dreams of hers were getting out of hand. She didn’t know what to make of it all, and if they didn’t stop soon she was sure they would drive her round the bend. Just now, for instance, before she got up, she had been dreaming that she was walking in the space within the outer and inner walls of an old fort, perhaps in the dungeons. It was dark, and there was the typical dank, musty atmosphere and sense of stale trapped air associated with a monument that was at