Jodha Akbar is a sixteenth century love story about a political marriage of convenience saga between a Mughal emperor, Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa. But much more then that it's the marriage of contrasts.
1. in akbar's era, lived an historian,
Badayuni(perhaps 1 of his court historians), who has written in his
memoirs displaying - "unhapiness at the development and harps on the
role of akbar's FIRST rajput wife on his liberal religious policy, who
has began to turn His Majesty into an infidel (kaafir) ".!!
clearly, it refers to his change in attitude, towards other religions.
IN THE SHOW ALSO THEY HAVE STARTED SHOWING THESE CONFLICTS WITH MAULVIS..AND BELIEVE IT IS JUST STARTING...
MORE SERIOUS CONFLICTS will COME...
2. moreover, a "fatwa",
was issued against akbar by maulvis and ulemas, when they thought, that
he was denouncing his own religion, as he had started worshipping sun,
light and fire, even in mughal court!! (all hindu symbols).many more
reasons, they will show this in the serial, I feel.
A call for JEHAD against akbar was made by the ulemas in entire sultunate.
3. issued coins displaying ram sita on 1 side and his picture on another. (hindu belief)
4. also issued coins displaying sun on 1 side and his picture on another. (hindu belief)
5. his
1st rajput wife, maryam zamani / harka bai, was given incharge of the
Haj department, seeing her interest in commercial affairs. (HAJ used to
be a very very im[ortant dept. in those days)
6.She was given incharge of the ships used
in overseas trade,(from port of surat), this made her really rich,
something, which salim / Jahangir also mentions in his memoirs.
7. in 1577-78, her biggest ship, named Rahimi was seized by the Portuguese, despite the ship having clearances and right to pass the waters . This really angered Akbar, since it was a blow to the queen's prestige and obviously his prestige too. The Portuguese, were asked to surrender the ship or face WAR!
At once, the ship was returned.
bit more info::
the ship rahimi was captured thrice..or 4times..
ist in 1577...here i have mention it..
2nd in 1609
3rd in 1611
finally 4th time in 1613..
actually it was a bone of contention between mughals and portuguese..
as it will unrivalled for its huge size.
it could carry 1500 people at a time..way back in 1577 A.D.
its a long story..
i'll put up a separate post...on it...
8. She was the only lady in entire Mughal history, to have a direct command over a cavalry(force of horsemen),(in hindi - ghudsawar) of 12,000 men..!!!
9. she was among the richest ladies in the Mughal court.
10. Findly explains in his memoirs- "By a farman of Badshah Jalal-ud-din(i don't know the year in which farman was given), she was known to receive a jewel from every nobleman"according to his estate" each year on the occasion of the New Year's festival.
Like only a few other women at court, Maryam-uz-Zamani was granted the right to issue official documents (farmans), usually the exclusive privilege of the emperor. So you can see that she was very powerful and had the emperor's ear at all times.
11. She was given a separate palace in agra also(after residing in haram for some time). This palace was decorated with frescos of hindu gods. This is mentioned by Edmund Berke in his memoirs , when he visited Agra Fort. Later on, Shah Jahan destroyed many building in Agra Fort, to make new ones. Perhaps, this palace was also destroyed, since now either it does not exists, or its existence is not clear. In the serial also, they have shown akbar ordering for a new palace for jodha but let's see if he gives her a new palace for sure. Lets wait.
12. I could not find till now , authenticity of Ajmer yatra and that tiger scene, but still searching. Maybe I can get some info if its true. But, in press conference, the show director, mr. santram verma, in response of 1 question said, "regarding the tiger twist, that, its not fiction and this event did happened 450 years back. EVEN , HE URGED TO THE VIEWERS, NOT TO DISMISS THE ENTIRE SHOW AS FICTION." But, I ll try still to look for proofs.
13. In 1569(7 years after marriage), when she was pregnant with Salim, she was sent to Sikri near saint salim chisti's dwelling place.akbar too went there. There a palace called Rang Mahalwas constructed for her by akbar, so she could be there with all the comforts as in Agra Palace. The palace is still there and one can see how beautifully it has been made. It was here her son Salim was born.
After this the capital was shifted from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri around 1569-70(in phases).
14. Now, the main event, of all the buildings in Fatehpur Sikri,in best condition is the spacious palace is of Maryam Zamani. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Fatehpur Sikri. The palace is still present. beautiful frescos of krishna have been stuffed there.
" Mariam was a Hindu,
and this palace in all its construction and nearly all its
ornamentation belongs to the Hindu and Jaina styles of Mariam's native
country, Rajputana. It even contains aHindu temple. It is also the most important of all the palaces.
On the left of the entrance is a small guard-house. A simple but finely proportioned gateway leads through a vestibule into the inner quadrangle. The style of the whole palace is less ornate than the other zanana buildings, but it is always dignified and in excellent taste. It must be remembered that the severity of the architectural design was relieved by bright colouring and rich *purdahs*, which were used to secure privacy for the ladies , and to diminish the glare of the sunlight.
Archologically its construction and ornamentation are very interesting. One of the most interesting features of the palace is the Hawa Mahal, a pavilion projecting from the north side, enclosed by pierced stone screens. from here the residents could enjoy the cool breezes and theview of the lake with the distant hills beyond, without being exposed to the vulgar gaze. Thepalace was formerly connected with Akbar's private apartments, Mahal-e-khas, by a covered way, supported on pillars, near the entrance. Akbar could directly visit this palace at any time. This was removed some years ago. "
--Compiled From Archaelogical Survey of India's handbook
15. The latest Handbook of Archaelogical Survey of India for Fatehpur Sikri says, the Diwan-i- Khas, which Akbar constructed, has a Hindu Chamber for worshipping in the west corner of the building, on the second floor. This was probably used by Akbar for worshipping or his main Hindu consort.16. on birth of his son, Danial. he was born in ajmer , at the place of sheikh danial. he wassent to Amer, after 4/8 days of birth, to be brought up by Raja Bharmal's wife, so that he may attain etiquettes(obviously to be brought up in hindu traditions). This move was stiffly opposed by Mughal nobles, but akbar went ahead. Clearly, this shows, though he may have many wives, both Mughal and Rajput, but still Amer was somewhat more close to him.
i do not mean daniyal was hindu, but only that he was sent to amer to be brought up there, as per rajputana culture.
I wonder how many of you knew of it. Atleast, for me it was tough to digest.!!
17. Again, while proceeding on a war in Gujarat in 1572-73, the city of Agra with the Imperial Haram , which was the residence of prominent Mughal ladies(akbar's mother, aunt, foster mothers, other wives, etc.), was stationed under control of Bharmal.,since there was danger of simultaneous attack from bihar and bengal...!!!
It is said the war was to be a gamechanger in jalal's life. For the first and only time, a Mughal king, left his entire family/pride/whatever you say, in hands of a hindu king.this was because there was a danger of another attack from bihar and Bengal, simultaneously.
Clearly its A mark of great respect/love/belief or close ties with amer.
A fearsome battle was fought in Gujarat, where akbar life was once again rescued by bhagwant das and man singh.
(previously bhagwant das saved akbar's life in battle of paronkh, as shown in the show.. the battle is true..!!it happened really. bhagwant das took a bow shot on akbar on his body and also offered him his water. Paronkh - is a village in today's uttar pradesh, in eta district.)
They(man
singh and bhagwant das) arrived in time with reinforcements. Young
prince Man singh led the army and bhagwan das fought/stood, side by side
with akbar in entire battle. A force of 3000 warriors comprising some
mughals and mostly rajput warriors defeated a force of 20,000 afghans!!!
Shocking but true. Akbar recounts it in his memoirs as one of the most important battles in his life. this changed his attitude towards rajputs considerably.
In this battle, the raja's elder son, Bhupat Rai/ Bhupat Singh was killed.(They have not shown him in the serial till now, hope they will introduce him also.) Akbar made bhupat's killing a personal issue, and allowed Maryam Zamani to go to Amer for mourning Bhupat's death. Again, the outcry of mughal maulvis and ulemas and nobles was severe, as they indirectly accused akbar of giving large freedom to his hindu wife. But akbar again defied them and allowed her to go.
Now, he launched a manhunt for shah madad, foster brother of muhamed Husain mirza, who had killed bhupat. He was caught and personally beheaded by akbar.!!
Clearly, these events show that amer had great meaning in this life. But, akbar was such a big personality, that a lot has been written about him, his wars, but not about his personal life.
REFERENCES -
1. The ARCHIVES AT Agra.
2. The historical archives at Central Arc. Library, Delhi.
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