..::Doubts & Discussions about Historical facts::.. - Page 47

Originally posted by: Donjas

An interesting story of Khurram(Shah Jahan) and his biological mother Taj Bibi Biqlis that I found on the internet-

It was the year 1607. Shah Jahan, Crown Prince of the vast Mughal Empire anxiously paced the balcony of Shahi Burj, inside the Agra Fort. The cool jasmine scented night air and sweet smell of attar from within the palace failed to clear the heated discussion he had just had with his stepmother.

Shabuddin Mohammed Shah Jahan disliked his stepmother Nur Jahan intensely. He could not understand his father Jahangir 's infatuation with her. She was cold, manipulative and used to getting what she wanted. Except this time, he decided grimly. The proposal she had set forth was ridiculous! He the crown prince of the Mughal empire, future Mughal emperor was being asked to take her niece as his third wife!

Arjumand Banu Begum, daughter of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan, Nur Jahan's brother was beautiful and virtuous, Nur Jahan had said. She would make a perfect consort for Shah Jahan, even though she wouldn't be his first and principal wife. The crown prince's fingers unconsciously gripped his bejeweled dagger. For a moment he was tempted to storm the Zenana and slit that beautiful white throat. Having her, as a stepmother was bad enough, now she wanted to consolidate her future by trying to be his in-law as well. The only thing worse would be if she had proposed that Shah Jahan marry her own stepdaughter, Ladli Begum. Between them mother and daughter would keep him permanently under the influence of alcohol and opium just as they were doing with his father. The entire Mughal Sultanate knew that the real power behind the throne was Nur Jahan. Foreign visitors and dignitaries had lately begun to have meetings directly with her, at her own palace, while Jahangir lay comatose, sleeping off the effects of his numerous addictions.

Shah Jahan suddenly thought longingly of his own mother Rani Manmati. The Rajput princess of Jodhpur and Jahangir 's third wife. She had married his father at the tender age of 13 and left her home and family for a strange new culture. He smiled as he recalled her sweetness of touch and softness of speech. Suddenly making up his mind, he decided to go over to Rang Mahal, where Jahangir 's wives and mistresses lived, and talk to her. Her evening Puja would now be over and she would be out in the courtyard playing Chaupar with the other members of the Zenana.

As he had expected, Rani Manmati (or Taj Bibi Bilqis Makani Begum as Emperor Jahangir had rechristened her) was playing Chaupar with her favorite maid. Shah Jahan indicated his presence with a gentle cough and the maid discreetly withdrew. Manmati looked up and smiled affectionately at her son.

Like every other wife in the harem, she hoped it would be her son that would ascend the Peacock throne. At present however the scales were titled in favor of Shahriyar, Nur Jahan 's stepson and son-in-law. Shahriyar was Jahangir 's son from yet another wife. Nur Jahan had cleverly managed to arrange Shahriyar 's marriage with her own stepdaughter, Ladli begum, from a previous marriage. Manmati shared her son 's dislike of Nur Jahan. Though bearing a marital Islamic name, she still held true to her Hindu beliefs and traditions. Jahangir being half Hindu himself did not interfere. Like a true Rajput princess, Manmati believed that the wife was but a shadow of her husband. In his good lay her own. That Nur Jahan would manipulate her husband so she herself would be at the helm of power was deeply offensive to her Rajput values.
"Khurram" she said addressing the prince by the name given by his grandfather Akbar, "What brings you here my child?"

"Cannot a son come and see his mother when he feels like it?" the prince teased her.

"Certainly, my son, but do not forget Iam your mother and I can read you like my own mind" she smiled gently.

Shah Jahan narrated the sequence of events that had caused Nur Jahan to storm out of his palace.

As he spoke, his mother 's face mirrored a myriad of emotions from surprise to disbelief to cold fury. Princess Manmati was demure and soft spoken. But as Shah Jahan knew well from childhood, she was no pushover. As soon as he was done talking, she rose and fetched her prayer beads quietly chanting to herself. For a few minutes there was silence broken only by the soft footfalls of the palace maids as they went about lighting the evening lamps. Only Shah Jahan knew the inner turmoil in his mother 's mind as she struggled to compose herself. When she finally opened her eyes again, he could see she was back to her serene self.

"Khurram, have you already refused her?"

"Yes Ammi Jaan"

"That is good. One Persian in the family is bad enough, two would be a disaster". A tight little smile played at the corners of her lips as she spoke.

"But Ammi Jaan, I have Persian blood too" Shah Jahan teased.

"Ah! But you, my son, are Hindu" smiled Manmati.

Shah Jahan stared at her thunderstruck! Had she taken leave of her senses! What on earth was she talking about!

Manmati 's face had a curious expression that he had never seen before.

"Your father is half Hindu, and Iam a pure Rajput. That makes you three quarters Hindu and only one quarter Muslim."

"My child" she said gently "You are more Hindu than Musalman"

The prince stared at her.

"Yah Khuda! She is right!" he thought.

In a daze he staggered back to his palace.

As the morning sunlight slipped through the turrets of the Agra Fort, Shah Jahan had come to a decision and was finally at peace with himself. A few minutes ago, he had sent a missive to the Empress that he would indeed be honored to marry her niece.

And so it was that the Crown Prince of the Mughal Empire married Arjumand Banu Begum. As Nur Jahan had predicted, she did indeed become his most beloved wife, better known to the world as Mumtaz Mahal. It was in her honor that Shah Jahan erected that monument of love, the Taj Mahal.

Post Script:

Jahangir (50%Hindu, 50%Muslim) Princess Manmati (100% Hindu)
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Shah Jahan (75% Hindu, 25% Muslim)
(From Jahangir 25% Hindu, 25% Muslim)
(From Manmati 50% Hindu)

As history shows, Shah Jahan was the only Mughal emperor who had more Hindu blood in him than Muslim.

This is especially relevant in modern times with certain groups alleging that the Taj Mahal was built on the ruins of an ancient Shiva temple.

Originally posted by: geeta58

Donjas, can u piease clarify, if Khurrum n Khusrau were frm same mother or were they step brothers? Because, Akbar wanted Khusrau to inherit the throne, I hv read .Also Shahjahan was a confused lot regarding the respect to Hindu rites, unlike his father?

Originally posted by: myviewprem

As far as I have read Akbar gave diff work to diff wives

Ruqaiah handled harem

Salima handled court in his absence

Muz handled trade and haj

Rukmavati handled building gardens

So other wife handled orphanages and destitute homes etc

But only three wives could give farmans(Mughal seal) that was his three khas begums Muz, Salima and Ruq only. I have not read other wives giving farmans.

So Ruqaiah handled only harem i.e. emperors house no external work was given to her although its said that because of her and salima only jehangir became emperor.

Originally posted by: Donjas

Khurram and Khusrau were step brothers, both from Rajput Hindu wives. Khurram was daughter of the king of Jodhpur. Her name was Taj Bibi Bilqis. Khusrau was the daughter of Raja Bhagwant Das of Amer. Her name was Man Bai or Shah Begum.

Originally posted by: myviewprem

<font size="2">As far as I have read Akbar gave diff work to diff wives</font>

<font size="2">Ruqaiah handled harem</font>

<font size="2">Salima handled court in his absence</font>

<font size="2">Muz handled trade and haj </font>

<font size="2">Rukmavati handled building gardens </font>

<font size="2">So other wife handled orphanages and destitute homes etc </font>

<font size="2">But only three wives could give farmans(Mughal seal) that was his three khas begums Muz, Salima and Ruq only. I have not read other wives giving farmans. </font>

<font size="2">So Ruqaiah handled only harem i.e. emperors house no external work was given to her although its said that because of her and salima only jehangir became emperor. </font>

Originally posted by: SindhuMenon

I have not heard about Ruks handling harem plus having rights to issue farmans. Akbar stopped talking to her for 7 yrs or so and it was patched aftet Salims birth. I have read about SB and JO having rights to issue farmans.