Articles

In Memory of Mumtaz

An Indian love story

Genghis Khan. In the harsh sparse Russian steppes of long ago, arose a ruthless Mongol warrior, Genghis Khan. In the early 1200’s AD, he gathered a small army of ferocious cavalry, the “screaming barbarians”, and slaughtered, plundered and enslaved his way across central Asia. Hundreds of city states and small kingdom capitulated or collapsed in the face of “the riders of the apocalypse”. No medieval or oriental army ever won a battle against the Mongols. He created an empire that stretched from China in the east, across Russia to the Danube river in the west. The Largest kingdom ever in the entire history of mankind!

New India. India had lain safe and protected by the Himalayan mountains. However in the early 1500’s about when Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, the Khan Mongol army came through Afghanistan and conquered India. A new kingdom was set up in Northern India, capital at Agra, ruled by descendants of Genghis K.

Although the invasion was vicious, there followed strong rules. order, stability, new art and culture were imported, and more Islam was introduced. The Kingdom in fact lasted for 320 years, (much longer than the British empire which overtook it).

Arjumand. In the time of the 4th Mongol (or Mogul or Mughal) emperor, the “prettiest girl in India“, Arjumand Banu was born in April 1593. Her parents were Persian (Iran) and had come to live in Agra. When she was 14, she met the emperor’s son at a private market, and gave him some cheek over a piece of glass jewellery. Taken aback by her beauty and attitude, the prince asked to marry her. Being only 15, father gave him a cold shower and said “wait till you’re 20“.

The Dancer, the Queen. Although raised in India, Arjumand had learned Persian dancing. That was a Middle Eastern style, but with very graceful arm and body movements almost like classical ballet. She was very beautiful to watch, but never became a professional dancer. The prince took every opportunity to see the girl of his dreams dance. Poets said “even the moon would hide in shame from her beauty”. Prince was entranced, their relationship grew. Meantime the emperor had the prince marry 2 ladies for political expediency, but always Arjumand remained the dancing queen of his heart.
Thus, at 20 years of age, with his family’s approval, the prince married Arjumand on 10 May 1612. In time, he ascended the specially made Peacock Throne, and became the 5th Emperor of India, Shah Jahan 1, and she the Queen.

Mumtaz
Arjumand was the third wife in the harem, and was given a royal name, “Mumtaz Mahal”
(translation = beloved ornament of the palace!). Mumtaz quickly became the principal wife, and led a deep and loving marriage with Shah J.

Busy Bee The days of Arjumand the Persian dancer were over. Mumtaz danced to a different tune. She produced 14 children over the next 18 years, spending 60% of her life pregnant. As happened in those times, 6 children died before 7 years old, and one was killed by his brother. The rest went on to long full lives.
Mumtaz also went everywhere with Shah J. Political meetings, courts, tours, martial arts displays, and even military campaigns. She gave wise counsel to the Emperor on many occasions, and always interceded for the poor and disadvantaged people of the realm. She helped make many good rules for the kingdom.
Shah J trusted Mumtaz so much that he gave her his Imperial Seal, (the equivalent of giving your wife an open cheque), she could have done anything!

Golden Age. The Empire reached its peak of cultural splendour and Indian-Islamic architecture under Shah & Mumtaz’s rule. There was equitable taxation, strong trade, and religious tolerance amongst the peoples over a vast empire.

Tragedy A week after birthing her 14th child, Mumtaz sickened and died, aged 38, on 17 June 1631. Her last wish to Shah was for a monument to their love. The Emperor was devastated with grief and went into seclusion for some months. He turned white, wizened and bent, and was never the same again. Without her, the golden age of empire was over.

Monument Shah Janin 1 did indeed build a monument. He “took over” a 200yr old Hindu temple in Agra, and had it renovated with whitest of marble, jewels, engravings, landscape gardens etc, by the best architects and engineers he could find. It cost a super extraordinary amount for those days, and drained the treasury (which displeased his sons no end).
Some 20,000 men, and 1000 elephants, laboured nearly 20 years to produce the most beautiful building in the world. Completed 1648, the Taj Mahal. The ultimate monument to love, beauty, and life of a very special woman.

Sunset. The Emperor was deposed by his son, and jailed for 8 years. Work on another monument for himself (the Black Palace) was scrapped. Shah Janin 1 died in misery, and was buried in the Taj beside his beloved Mumtaz.
Their souls now dance forever together in heaven.

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Post Script. The new Emperor, son of the beautiful Mumtaz & Shah, became a treacherous aggressive tyrant. He murdered his 3 brothers, suppressed religious tolerance, and waged war on neighbouring kingdoms. He was killed in exile after a terrible 50 year reign. He had plunged the empire into political and authoritative chaos from which it never recovered. Persians invaded, plundered Delhi, and stole the fabulous Peacock Throne.
By 1764 the Empire was toothless, and gradually fell into British control.

Fabulous Peacock Throne of India
Made for Shah Janin and Mumtaz in 1620AD. It was the size of a double bed,
4 gold legs, silver steps, 12 columns with canopy, all was studded with precious jewellery including 108 rubies, 116 emeralds. Atop the throne was a peacock tail
of sapphires.
Overhead was the largest diamond in the world (Koh-e-Noor, 191 carat).
The throne was the largest and most expensive creation of jewellery ever undertaken in the world, cost twice as much as the Taj Mahal, and was famous thru-out the old world.
Persian raiders stole the throne in 1739, took it to Tehran, where it ultimately disappeared forever. The Great Diamond which had enjoyed 500 years of Indian care, was finally “taken” by the British, and CUT up for Queen Victoria’s Crown jewels!

A. M. Cole 2006

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