Class and Religion

You see any matrimonial column its divided on caste and religion. Further marriages usually happen in same class people even today. Its a rare very rare thing for a marriage of different class to take place even in 21st century. We have heard and seen honour killings even in these times where fathers, uncles and brothers kill their own children for daring to fall in love forget for falling in love with another caste and class person. It takes a person lot of guts to love or marry a person from another caste, religion or class even in big cities as they will face social and family boycott.

So in case Salim-Anarkali love story truly happened(and not a folklore) in 16th century how difficult it must have been for these two persons to defy their family, society etc to really fall in love. The same is case of a Jehangir-Nur Jahan where a widow was wedded by an emperor(one of the rarest cases in history) that too when this widow was in her mid 30s usually beyond age to bear kids and with a child from first husband. But by then Jehangir was an emperor whom hardly anyone would oppose for fear of losing favour with him.

This complex society and culture and class clash when two persons defy family norms, society norms and fall in love could have been more sensitively potrayed by the CVs alas their caliber only limits itself to saas bahu tiffs and love-hate relationships between lovers. And this is a even more sensitive love story as it involves the person in highest class and social loving a person from the lowest of starta. A courtesan in those days must have been treated as equal to a prostitute if not worst by society.

It would be obvious that parents oppose such a love. Even in 21st century which lower or middle class family and parents shall be ready to accept a girl who dances in parties in front of men(a bar dancer may be) as a daughter in law none. But if this story was true I would appreciate the guts of an anarkali to love a crown prince knowing the dangers and the punishment if the emperor knows the truth. Salim relatively has lesser to lose his crown only and may be anger of his parents for rest of life but anarkali can even lose her life.

Now coming to the serial -

Salim has realized his mistake of thinking that anraklai was the reason for his childhood punishment and anraklai too has realized that salim is not as bad as thought. What I am surprised is the open contact and love affair that is being shown. I mean if anarkali and salim keep meeting so openly will they not be caught by family and parents faster than later. While in such situations the boy and girl try to avoid being seen together and meet secretly lest their family and parents know and the love is put to a stop. I am surprised that almost everyone in salim family be it his brothers, mom etc know about this love and anarkali's mom also knows and yet all are quiet as if their love never exists.

Second angle is Man Bai why is man bai in this mess. Jodha even after seeing salim meet anarkali and question anarkali allowed the engagement. Indeed she literally threatened salim to engage with man bai(agree for marriage). She told him if he break this marriage she will no longer consider him as son etc. Salim actually is being blamed by all on forum for loving anarkali despite man bai. Actually salim has much less fault, the fault lies in Akbar and jodha announcing marriage publicly without asking him and then putting pressure on his to accept it. Now why is salim not openly accepting that he loves anarkali because she has not accepted that she loves him. If she accepts Salim can announce to his parents and world of his love for her and fight for it too. But now he is in catch 22 situation he cannot go public till she says yes else her reputation will be at stake. Further as this is 16th century he must also be worried of his family reaction and dangers to anarkali life too. So very very less blame is on him in this mess. Its Akbar, jodha and anraklai who are to be blamed for what is happening to man bai and may happen in future.

I know of quiet a few such cases where parents have forced kids to marry and its led to unhappy marriages. We anyway read of lot of extra maritial affairs, murders by spouses and lovers etc that is because of forced marriages by family.

If you see history jehangir did not marry after Nur Jahan that means its not like he wanted to go on marrying or womanizing wife after wife. The moment he met someone compatible whom he loved he stopped marrying anyone else.

Yes its a impossibility to think that Akbar would have accepted his son marrying a courtesan or a widows as daughter in law. But still when Akbar himself married commoners, divorcees and widows so may be Salim would have felt he shall agree to his son marrying a coutesean or a ministers daughter. Is it not?

I think it's fault if jodha n AKBAR why they publicly annoce the marriage without even asking to him

N yes still marriage in diff caste n religion considered as crime even n modern time

N most importantly well educated people also meant such things n this happens everywhere from our family to our surrounding

But in some cases the situation is different we have to accept it ...