Indu Sundaresan's book called The Twentieth Wife is fiction though it is based on actual events and historical figures. It
is a very enjoyable read, full of historical facts and events that shaped our
history, beautiful descriptions of the grand lives the members of the royal family led in contrast with the total lack of control they had on their personal lives.
It tells the story of the beautiful Mehrunissa and her quest to become the wife of Prince Salim, who later ascends the throne as
Emperor Jehangir. Born to Mirza Ghias Beg and Asmat, at a time when they were fleeing Afghanistan and at the very lowest ebb in their lives, the birth of Mehrunissa is seen a sign that the bad times for the family are coming to an end.
Mehrunissa first sees Prince Salim on his first wedding day, when she is 8 years old and decides that one day she too will marry him. Salim first meets Mehrunissa when she is betrothed and he already twice married, but he falls deeply under the spell of her beauty. Not allowed to marry by the Emperor Akbar, Mehrunissa sees her dreams come to naught as Salim marries time and again for political gain and she is forced to wed the soldier from Afghanistan, Ali Quli (more famously known as Sher Afghan after he saves Prince Salim’s life by killing a lion).
A strong willed and intelligent woman, Mehrunissa absorbs knowledge of the court from her father who is the diwan to the Emperor and from Akbar’s chief wife, the Padshah Begum Ruqayya Sultan Begum, on the workings of the zenana, which enable her to reach her goal.
Finally, at the age of 34, a widowed Mehrunissa becomes the twentieth wife of Emperor Jehangir who renames her Nur Jehan, light of the world. All the years of waiting and wanting come to a fruitful end and she is able to control Jehangir, who is by then weary of the monotony of running an empire, and through him the empire.
It is essentially a story of longing and not getting what you want and what you think you deserve even when you are someone as strong as a prince or an emperor.
Chronology of the 6 great Mughal Emperors:
Babur -Founder of the Mughal Empire
Humayun -Consolidator of the Mughal Empire, he also developed of a new style of architecture.
Akbar -The Great Mughal
Jehangir (Prince Salim) – Established a highly regarded Justice system including the Chain of Justice, whom anyone could ring to inform the emperor of an unjust act.
Shah Jehan (Prince Khurram) -Patron of the Arts and builder of the Taj Mahal, the greatest tribute to the love for his wife, Arjumand Begum, more famously known as Mumtaz Mahal.
Aurangzeb -A religious zealot, orthodox, puritan and unforgiving to all non-muslims
Related books that have been a pleasure to read:
Jahanara---by Lyane Guillaume (Translated from French by Uma Narayanan & Prema Seetharam)
Taj, a story of Mughal India---by Timeri Murari
On my To Read list:
Beneath a Marble Sky: A Novel of the Taj Mahal---by John Shors
The Feast of Roses---by Indu Sundaresan