The Mughal Harem

This work is a maiden attempt at research in the hitherto overlooked area of social history of medieval India.It attempts to recapitulate the day-to-day life of the ladies of the seraglio.The delicate and delightful task has been deftly handled and it is hoped that scholars and laymen both will enjoy.

The present study deals with the royal Mughal ladies in details and is concerned with their achievements and contributions which till today form a part of rich cultural heritage. It provides a detailed account of the life and contributions of the royal Mughal ladies from the times of Babar to Aurangzeb's, with special emphasis on the most prominent among them.

The Women of Mughal Harem: Secrets revealed gives an exhilarating account of the Mughal domestic life. Harem of the Mughals has been a subject of much speculation and debate amongst the scholars and the general public alike. While foreign travelers have painted it as a pleasure house, meant for the sexual gratification of one man-the Emperor. Native chroniclers have called it an abode of quintessential bliss. So what was the reality of harem? Just like any normal household, the life of harem inmates bears testament to joy and pain, hope and despair, love and loss- all the bittersweet emotions that add spice and flavor to human life. In fact the Mughal Harem was a far more diverse and vibrant institution than what it is believed to be- it was a unique all women's world. This book brings to life the trials and tribulations of generations of Mughal women who inhabited a world very different from ours. Today when a worldwide debate is going on to trace women's place in history, this work has become all the more relevant. A peek into the lives of Mughal women would give us a better understanding of an obscured and almost mythical world-the harem of the mighty Mughals.

A self confessed word-a-holic and traveller, Tanushree is sure to be packing her bags and boots to zip around the world not brandishing her pen. With two successful novels, few best selling non fiction titles and a few hundred travel tales under her belt, she is all set to launch into yet another voyage with words. A bundle of optimism with wandering feet and a kaleidoscope of dreams, she loves nothing better than flirting with clauses and phrases. After leading a nomadic life for several decades, thanks to the Indian Army, she has finally grown roots at Pune.

‘Despite what we would like to believe, the Mahal was not an exotic sexual playground; it was a family space. And the stories of these women, from queens and princesses to foster mothers and female officers, deserve to be heard.’ In every citadel of the Mughal Empire, there existed a luxurious fortress that housed the women of the court. Known as the ‘Mahal’, this closely-guarded space that few men could enter has intrigued the world for centuries. Uncovering the little-known lives of the remarkable women who inhabited the Mahal, this commanding narrative introduces us to Ehsan Daulat Begum, Babur’s grandmother, without whose enterprise there would have been no Mughal Empire; the Padshah Begums who ran the vast establishment of the Mahal with an all-women team; the female scholars and poets – like Zeb-un-Nissa, Salima Sultan Begum, Zeenat-un-Nissa – who influenced the emperor in matters of diplomacy and state policy; and the queens and princesses who ran vast estates and oversaw fleets of trading vessels, among others. Mahal is a rare peek into life behind the veil, and an illuminating account of the role women played in the courts of the Mughal Empire.

A Finalist for the 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in History Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. When it came to hunting, she was a master shot. As a dress designer, few could compare. An ingenious architect, she innovated the use of marble in her parents’ mausoleum on the banks of the Yamuna River that inspired her stepson’s Taj Mahal. And she was both celebrated and reviled for her political acumen and diplomatic skill, which rivaled those of her female counterparts in Europe and beyond. In 1611, thirty-four-year-old Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the twentieth and most cherished wife of the Emperor Jahangir. While other wives were secluded behind walls, Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband, and governed in his stead as his health failed and his attentions wandered from matters of state. An astute politician and devoted partner, Nur led troops into battle to free Jahangir when he was imprisoned by one of his own officers. She signed and issued imperial orders, and coins of the realm bore her name. Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal uncovers the rich life and world of Nur Jahan, rescuing this dazzling figure from patriarchal and Orientalist clichés of romance and intrigue, and giving new insight into the lives of women and girls in the Mughal Empire, even where scholars claim there are no sources. Nur’s confident assertion of authority and talent is revelatory. In Empress, she finally receives her due in a deeply researched and evocative biography that awakens us to a fascinating history.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Babur was a drunkard! He loved a boy named Babri! Akbar raped children! Akbar raped his own daughter-in-law! Akbar had Harem of 5000 women! Jahangir blinded his son with his own hands! Shah Jahan did not spare even his own daughter! Aurangzeb beheaded his own brother and sent his head to his imprisoned father! Almost every Mughal king killed some of his sons and brothers! and much more.This book is an eye opener on Mughal history in India. Mughals have been glorified as great rulers in Indian history books despite being maniacs, incest-lovers, rapists and merciless invaders.The book is a compilation of all hidden facts. Straight from their authentic biographies. To make Indians realise, enough is enough.Do not glorify these filthy creatures in the name of preserving the secular fabric of India.Note: This is the latest edition of the book "Great Ruler of India" with different title and few additional chapters.

This 2005 book looks at domestic life and the place of women in the Mughal court of the sixteenth century.