RUQAIYA SULTAN BEGUM-A JOURNEY OF HER LIFE-PART I

RUQAIYA SULTAN BEGUM-A JOURNEY OF HER LIFE-PART I

I would upload this article on Ruqaiya in V parts as her journey was an elaborate one.

NOTE:This article is mainly based on facts and events taken from historical books of the 15th and 16th century.Modern historian view and bazaar gossip are not followed.

Ruqaiya sultana begum was the longest serving Mughals empress having a tenure of 49 years.She was the first wife of Emperor Akbar,granddaughter of Emperor Barbar(founder of the Mughal dynasty),daughter in law of Emperor Humayun,stepmother of Emperor Jahangir and foster mother of Emperor Shah Jahan.She was born in Kabul in 1542.

RUQAIYA'S PARENTS:

Ruqaiya's father was Mirza Hindal,the fourth favorite son of emperor Babar.Hindal was supposed to be the best among the four brothers of Babar .He was free from opium and womanizing.His step brother Emperor Humayun was the first son of Babar.Hindal was born when Babar first conquered Hindustan .

Ruqaiya's mother was Sultanam begum,the adopted daughter of Barbar's sister Khanzada begum.Khanzada begum was a highly respected lady in the Mughal household.Since she was childless she adopted her husband's sister Sultanam begum when she was 2 years old.She was very fond of Sultanam begum and arranged her wedding with Mirza Hindal who was also a favorite of Khanzada begum.Khazanda khanam also had a great liking for Young Akbar.She saw Akbar when he was 3 years old and admired and always praised him and compared him with her brother Babar.

The wedding of Ruqaiya's parents was a grand one in Kabul.All the members of the imperial household loved and cherished the couple.Hindal was very devoted to his wife Sultanam and did not marry again.The young couple was blessed with a lovely daughter Ruqaiya who happened to be the only child of their life.

RUQAIYA' GRANDMOTHER

Ruqaiya's grandmother was Dildar begum,the third wife of Emperor Babar.Ruqaya was loved and cherished by her grandmother.Didlar begum was very fond of Humayun.She, in fact, favored Humayun in ascending the throne rather than her own son.This shows the good nature of Ruqaiya's grandmother.Hamida Banu,Akbar's mother was very close to Didlar begum.Hamida Banu in her teens used to spend a lot of time in Ruqaiya's grandmother's house.Her father Akbar Ali was a preceptor of Hindal. Hamida Banu always shared a very close relationship with Didlar begum,Hindal and Ruqaiya's aunt Gulbadan begum.

It was Ruqaiya's grandmother who arranged the wedding between Humayun and Hamida Banu.

RUQAIYA'S AUNT GULBADAN BEGUM:
Gulbadan begum,the author of Humayun Nama was Hindal's blood sister.She and Hindal were adopted by Humayun's mother Maham begum ,since she had lost 3 daughters and 2 sons after Humayun.It was only her heart hunger that she compelled Barbar.Though Dildar first objected she agreed since all of then were in the same household.This highlights the good nature of Ruqaiya's grandmother. After the death of Maham begum both of them returned to their biological mother.Gulbadan begum and Hindal shared a very close relation.She loved her brother much more than her own son and husband.In fact at the time of Hindal's death she openly exclaimed that she would have sacrificed the life of her husband or son for the sake of her brother.This was the love they shared.The same love she had for her niece Ruqaiyathroughout her life.After her husband's death, Gulbadan spends rest of her life in Akbar's harem.She was a mental support for Ruqaiya.

RUQAIYA AND SALIMA SULTANA BEGUM:

Salima was the third wife of Akbar and Ruqaiya's cousin.She and Ruqaiya are pious Muslim.Both of them shared a close relationship with Gulbadan Begum.Dildar begum was the grandmother for both Salima and Ruqaiya.So both could have spent happy moments in their grandmother's house.[The Turkish pavilion in Fatehpur seems to be a pleasure pavilion used by both Ruqaiya and Salima.It could not be their residence for the size is quite small.But definitely, there is some connection between the Turkish house and these two Turkish queens.Anyhow Akbar had built a single building to be used by both the queens.This shows the affection between the two ladies.But Historical chronicle is not clear about Fatehpur Sikri.This part of Turkish pavilion is based on interpretations.]

CHILDHOOD OF RUQAIYA:

Ruqaiya had a happy childhood in Kabul.She was cherished and loved by all her family members.Her father though in a polygamy household married only once and was devoted to his wife.He had a profound love for his only daughter.Ruqaiya spends her days happily in Kabul with her cousin Salima,Bakshi Banu,Abul Qasim and Akbar.Always there was a problem between the elders but the kids were treated well by all the family members.Akbar was an idle boy always interested in playing,while the girls concentrated on their education.Ruqaiya and Salima were highly educated while her husband Akbar turned out to be an Emperor who could not read or write though was very efficient. Her great grandmother Khanzada begum loved both Ruqaiya and Akbar.Maybe it was only the blessing of this elderly lady that the wedding of RuaqaiyaAkbar took place though she was no more at the time of her wedding.

DEATH OF RUQAIYA'S FATHER:

Prince Hindal died fighting for Humayun when Ruqaiya was 9 years old.This was a great blow to the entire royal family.The happy days of Ruqaiya were almost coming to an end and she was supposed to become more responsible.Both Father and daughter had a very close relation which was revealed after 75 years.Hindal's final resting place was emperor Barbar's tomb.

To contd as Part II.(soon will be uploaded)