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The most interesting and complex character of JA serial is Ruqaiah because she has so many shades to her character. OK jealousy, ambition to be mariam-uz-zamani etc are some of her traits which we all know.
But the most enduring trait is she is lonely and insecure whether as per history or as per serial both. Why?
Every woman requires someone for whom they want to live for who will be exclusively theirs only. For a girl child first it is her parents(usually fathers) or siblings, after marriage her husband, then her children and finally in last phase of life her grand children. In 15th century this is more true because woman never went out of house or to work etc.
Men usually have their profession to pursue so they are not that attched to anyone or anybody. Take case of Akbar he has his goal set he wants to unite entire indian subcontinent under him and that was his aim in life. Jodha had Salim and his kids, Salima had Khannum and Rahim and their kids and other begums if not for kids from Akbar had some family from maternal side.
But imagine Ruqaiah's plight. She lost her mother as a toddler, she had no siblings whom she could share her pain, fear and happiness and lost her father at age of 7. The three people whom she relied on her uncle Humayun is no more, Hamida cares two hoots about her and is showing favouratism to Jodha only always and Akbar too is smitten with not only Jodha but 300+ more wives. Every week a new wife or can we say trophy lands up in agra fort to take Jalal's attention away from her. Add 3000+ cocubbiness and maids to that. And i truly pity that woman called Ruqaiah Babar's grand daughter and Hindal Mirza's only child. How lonely, how humiliated, how insecure she must have felt all alone without any sibling, parents or children to share her pain her fears her life.
Is this the life she deserved after her father gave up his life made her an orphan to save Akbar's life and give Humayun his throne. Had Hindal Mirza ever thought if he died how Humayun and Akbar will take care of his baby girl all alone in this world? As far as i have read Hindal Mirza did not ask or left a will to marry Ruqaiah to Akbar. Humayun took that decision because Hindal had left his provinces and kingdom to Akbar in his will. All he may have wanted in return is to treat his baby daughter his only child with affection respect and care. And what did Akbar gave in return humiliation after humiliation marrying 300 women after her having 3000 cocubbines etc just treating that woman as a furniture piece of his palace.
So whether in real life or serial Ruqaiah is right in fighting with Akbar and getting insecure about Jodha, Salima and other begums. When she was married to Akbar this was not the life she would have invisioned. Forgetting giving her respect as his wife and an empress now Jalal is starting to be indifferent, humiliate her by shouting at her, saying he can see jealousy burning in her when he goes to jodha and other women etc. Ruqaiah has no father, mother, brother, sister or son and daughter to fight on her behalf for her rights. So its obivious she will fight for herself. If in 21st century woman demand equal rights and some respect in house and work place why Ruqaiah cannot demand rights even in her own house.
She is in precarious situation because if Akbar divorces her where shall she go? She has no other house or family member who can shelter her and provide for her. Hence she is so angry at Akbar for keeping quiet in durbar. If her father/brother were there in that durbar Adham would not have gone alive for disrespecting her. In those times honour of women was utmost and father, brothers copuld die protecting it, woman would die if a word was said against their honour. And Adham Khan told your marriage is invalid that means Ruqaiah staying illegally with a man? How humiliating for her respect and honour.
And jalal just sat their quietly listening to that nonsense. Hamida who jumps to save Jodha everytime left Ruqaiah alone to defend her honour. As husband and sasumaa and more than that first cousin brother and chachi of Ruqaiah they should have defended her. But no both sat as if some theatre drama is going on there. If jodha was there would they have sat so silent never?
Jalal is more worried about his emperor post and hamida empress post whereas for jodha he was ready to give up his throne? While ruqaiah own blood cousin whose father sacrificied life to save you and make your father and you emperor they both will not say a word?
What sort of family is jalal and hamida to ruqaiah? Are they not selfish they used ruqu and her father to gain freedom to become king married her to get her father's provinces etc and now suddenly jalal does not want her as he has jodha, after sometime he will have some other love interest etc. My respect has slowly started reducing for jalal and both akbar as i think about ruqaiah's plight. jalal and hamida should not forget there is a word called gratitude.
No wonder the real ruqaiah wanted to be buried with hindal mirza and babar in kabul than with her husband in agra.
And poor hindal mirza(the real one) must have been turning in his grave for leaving his only child so helpless and vulnerable in life.
Ruqaiah seems innocent she has no maturity like salima to get into jalal's and others good books nor clever like jodha to please others. She says as it is not diplomatic so everyone hate her although she is speaking the obivous truth. Hence she was sidelined by everyone including jalal.
CID
