Subhadra Sen Gupta
Description
Language: English
Pages: 288
About The Book
In every citadel of the Mughal Empire, there existed a luxurious fortress that housed the women of the co
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urt. Known as the Mahal, this closely-guarded space that few men could enter has intrigued the world for centuries.
Uncovering the little-known lives of the remarkable women who inhabited the Mahal, this commanding narrative introduces us to Ehsan Daulat Begum, Baburs grandmother, without whose enterprise there would have been no Mughal Empire; the Padshah Begums who ran the vast establishment of the Mahal with an all-women team; the female scholars and poets - like Zeb-un-Nissa, Salima Sultan Begum, Zeenat-un-Nissa - who influenced the emperor in matters of diplomacy and state policy; and the queens and princesses who ran vast estates and oversaw fleets of trading vessels, among others.
Mahal is a rare peek into life behind the veil, and an illuminating account of the role women played in the courts of the Mughal Empire.
About the Author
Subhadra Sen Gupta has written over 30 books for both adults and children including the popular A Children's History of India. She loves to travel, flirt with cats and people-watch.
Introduction
EVERY CITADEL IN MEDIEVAL INDIA HAD A CLOSED CORNER, a luxurious restricted space hidden behind high walls, guarded night and day, where only the royal men were allowed to enter. The medieval harem was designed as a fortress within a fortress, where the women - the queens, princesses and concubines -had to live, and was run as an all-female establishment. For all their long royal titles, these women were the private property of the monarch, just like the gold, silver and jewels in the treasury and the horses and elephants in the stables. The residents of the harem knew that they were symb
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