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Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire
In 1526 a Timurid warrior-scholar rides into Delhi to build an empire. With him ride his wives, his sisters, his daughters, his aunts and his distant female relatives. Unhindered by a relatively recent conversion to Islam, these women will help found a culture of such magnificence and beauty that it will become a by-word for opulence in the world. These Mughal women of Hindustan—unmarried daughters, eccentric sisters, fiery milk-mothers and beautiful wives, will contribute to the great syncretic culture of the Mughals by writing biographies, building monuments, engaging in diplomacy, and patronizing the arts. And even as the zenana changes from the earlier nomadic, tented spaces to the later more sequestered grandeur within the high stone walls of mighty qilas, the influence of the women remains visible and unquestioned. This book looks at the lives of these Mughal women, and the enigma of their disappearance, except as objects of curiosity, from our collective memory.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 206 reviews
November 3, 2018
English traveller and writer Thomas Coryat, visiting India during the reign of Jahangir, wrote: “The king keepeth a thousand women for his own body”. Gross exaggeration, of course, but wild assertions such as this, along with those of other Europeans writing about the Mughals—Manucci, Bernier, Tavernier—was to create an image of a Mughal harem that was little more than a glorified giant bedchamber for the Emperor. A place of perfumed beauties, of lust and sexual intrigue, and of hundreds of women catering to the desire of one man.
It is this myth that Ira Mukhoty attempts to explode in Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire. Realizing the “…casual negligence with which we regard our history in India and the sometimes benign largesse with which we assimilate inaccuracy and fallacy as received wisdom”, she sets out to show what the Mughal harem really was. Of course the home for the wives and concubines of the Emperors, but also a refuge for hundreds of female relatives and dependants—even the widows and daughters of loyal and highly esteemed courtiers. A place of opulence and elegance, but also a place of industry, of literature and learning. Of power.
Mukhoty restricts her book to the reigns of the first six Mughal Emperors, tracing the trajectories of their rule, and simultaneously tracing the lives of the prominent Mughal women of each period. Here, from the matriarchs—like the intrepid Khanzada, elder sister of Babur—to princesses like Roshanara, are women of every stamp. There are the nomadic Timurid women of the early years, who rode alongside the Emperor, rarely in purdah and as used to a life on the march as their men. There are the accomplished and hard-headed businesswomen, like Maryam-uz-Zamani and Noorjehan, who wield power, both political and commercial. There is Jahanara, with her Sufi bent of mind, and the political machinations that were to end in her downfall.
What makes this book so valuable is that it is both immensely readable as well as very informative—especially when it comes to the more elusive of the Mughal women. Noorjehan, Jahanara, and (to some extent) Mumtaz Mahal: these are the women of whom most people know something. But women like Khanzada, Gulbadan, Harkha Bai, Maham Anga and Salima Sultan Begum, mostly from the earlier years of the Mughal dynasty, are rarely talked about. And these are the women whose lives, explored by Mukhoty, especially come alive in Daughters of the Sun. There are the later luminaries of the court, of course, but their predecessors are the ones who are truly the heroines of the book.
The depth and width of Mukhoty’s research shows through. There is detail aplenty here, culled from the writings of everybody from Manucci and his like to official chroniclers like Abul Fazl (who wrote the Akbarnama) and, most importantly, some of the women themselves: Gulbadan’s memoirs, in the form of the Humayunnama, and Jahanara’s writings. There are descriptions of everything from the gardens at the Red Fort to the clothing of the women; important events and small but interesting anecdotes; the women’s impact on, and involvement in architecture, literature, religion, social life, and—of course, given the stature of these women—the state.
At times humorous, sometimes almost lyrical in its descriptions, Daughters of the Sun goes deep into the lives of the padshah begums (as most of these women—including Khanzada, Gulbadan, Noorjehan, and Jahanara—were titled). Their courage, their fire and their personalities come through vividly. From Aisan Daulat Begum’s murder of a ‘husband’ who was being forced onto her, to Maryam-uz-Zamani’s role in the suppression of Portuguese ambitions in India, it makes for an engrossing read. If there is a shortcoming, it is in the less-than-diligent editing and proofreading. The occasional typographical error aside, there is a certain amount of repetition, with events, details and even quotations being repeated, which can be sometimes tedious.
That aside, a good book. Vastly more women-centric than most books on the Mughals; better-researched and wider in scope than Rumer Godden’s biography of Gulbadan, and more readable than Rekha Misra’s Women in Mughal India. A book that is a worthy tribute to the women it is about.
(From my review for The Indian Express, November 3, 2018: https://indianexpress.com/article/lif...)
It is this myth that Ira Mukhoty attempts to explode in Daughters of the Sun: Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire. Realizing the “…casual negligence with which we regard our history in India and the sometimes benign largesse with which we assimilate inaccuracy and fallacy as received wisdom”, she sets out to show what the Mughal harem really was. Of course the home for the wives and concubines of the Emperors, but also a refuge for hundreds of female relatives and dependants—even the widows and daughters of loyal and highly esteemed courtiers. A place of opulence and elegance, but also a place of industry, of literature and learning. Of power.
Mukhoty restricts her book to the reigns of the first six Mughal Emperors, tracing the trajectories of their rule, and simultaneously tracing the lives of the prominent Mughal women of each period. Here, from the matriarchs—like the intrepid Khanzada, elder sister of Babur—to princesses like Roshanara, are women of every stamp. There are the nomadic Timurid women of the early years, who rode alongside the Emperor, rarely in purdah and as used to a life on the march as their men. There are the accomplished and hard-headed businesswomen, like Maryam-uz-Zamani and Noorjehan, who wield power, both political and commercial. There is Jahanara, with her Sufi bent of mind, and the political machinations that were to end in her downfall.
What makes this book so valuable is that it is both immensely readable as well as very informative—especially when it comes to the more elusive of the Mughal women. Noorjehan, Jahanara, and (to some extent) Mumtaz Mahal: these are the women of whom most people know something. But women like Khanzada, Gulbadan, Harkha Bai, Maham Anga and Salima Sultan Begum, mostly from the earlier years of the Mughal dynasty, are rarely talked about. And these are the women whose lives, explored by Mukhoty, especially come alive in Daughters of the Sun. There are the later luminaries of the court, of course, but their predecessors are the ones who are truly the heroines of the book.
The depth and width of Mukhoty’s research shows through. There is detail aplenty here, culled from the writings of everybody from Manucci and his like to official chroniclers like Abul Fazl (who wrote the Akbarnama) and, most importantly, some of the women themselves: Gulbadan’s memoirs, in the form of the Humayunnama, and Jahanara’s writings. There are descriptions of everything from the gardens at the Red Fort to the clothing of the women; important events and small but interesting anecdotes; the women’s impact on, and involvement in architecture, literature, religion, social life, and—of course, given the stature of these women—the state.
At times humorous, sometimes almost lyrical in its descriptions, Daughters of the Sun goes deep into the lives of the padshah begums (as most of these women—including Khanzada, Gulbadan, Noorjehan, and Jahanara—were titled). Their courage, their fire and their personalities come through vividly. From Aisan Daulat Begum’s murder of a ‘husband’ who was being forced onto her, to Maryam-uz-Zamani’s role in the suppression of Portuguese ambitions in India, it makes for an engrossing read. If there is a shortcoming, it is in the less-than-diligent editing and proofreading. The occasional typographical error aside, there is a certain amount of repetition, with events, details and even quotations being repeated, which can be sometimes tedious.
That aside, a good book. Vastly more women-centric than most books on the Mughals; better-researched and wider in scope than Rumer Godden’s biography of Gulbadan, and more readable than Rekha Misra’s Women in Mughal India. A book that is a worthy tribute to the women it is about.
(From my review for The Indian Express, November 3, 2018: https://indianexpress.com/article/lif...)
August 28, 2020
This is an interesting book about the women related to the Mughal emperors. I wound up disenchanted with it and think that its reception so far has been perhaps a bit too glowing, but I did learn some interesting things from it.
Essentially, this is a history of a little over 200 years of the Mughal empire in India, from just before their arrival at the beginning of the 16th century, to just after the death of Aurangzeb at the beginning of the 18th. The focus is on the women of the dynasty, who played far more powerful and active roles than western stereotypes would have it. Also, the “harem” (the correct term for the women’s quarters is a zenana) wasn’t exactly teeming with wives and concubines of the emperor; any woman related to him or to his loyal retainers could show up to live there and many did, along with their own entourages and servants.
Particularly in the early years, these women were hardly in purdah: they accompanied the emperor as he traveled around, even to war or on daring escapes across mountains from pursuing armies (this sometimes resulted in wives and children being captured or killed); they traveled from city to city at their own whim; they went on hajj. Even later on, once the zenana became more separate, the women there still wielded considerable power, as they often had independent fortunes, owned trading ships, commissioned monumental buildings, and weighed in with the emperor on issues of public policy. Maham Anaga was essentially regent of part of India for awhile, while Noor Jahan coined her own money and had the authority to issue edicts under her name and with her own seal.
All of which is fascinating, and I’m glad to have learned about these women, but the execution let me down a bit. First, the author covers more than 200 years and a ton of women in just 246 pages of text, which means it’s rushed and often doesn’t get much past generalities. Second, the first third is definitely the best because Mukhoty can rely on the memoirs of Gulbadan, daughter of Babur and relative of the later emperors, which bring a lovely personal touch to the story. In the later portions we don’t have that and so it becomes more distant. It might also be that the earlier women are just more interesting, as many of them led quite dramatic lives while the later ones seem to have mostly stayed behind walls amassing wealth and commissioning buildings in their names.
Third, the author seems to glorify the Mughals overmuch, in a way that comes across as colonialist. We may not think of the Mughals as colonizers because they weren’t European and, unlike the British, at least they kept India’s wealth in the country and acculturated themselves to the place. But still, they rode in from Afghanistan and killed a ton of people to conquer territory for their own power and glory, and continued to do so throughout the existence of the empire. Mukhoty mostly elides the fact that their wars consisted of naked land grabs, and there’s a weird “oh, those Hindus and their barbaric customs” vibe that comes close to suggesting the Hindus needed the Mughals to save them from themselves.
Finally, the book just doesn’t come across as very historically rigorous. Mukhoty’s decision to write the entire history in the present tense is weird and distracting. There’s also a tendency to use the same evocative generalities over and over again; the author is always talking about someone’s glittering, blistering, blinding, incandescent, etc., etc., ambition, which is a fancy way of saying the Mughals loved conquering people and imposing architecture. There are endnotes (though frustratingly, no index) and the author seems to have used at least some primary sources. She also doesn’t run rampant speculating on thoughts and feelings (lack of source material is perhaps why the book covers so many people in so few pages). But I would have appreciated more facts and less editorializing.
In the end, interesting book that opened my eyes to a part of history I didn’t know much about. Could be worthwhile reading if you’re interested in the subject, but ultimately it was frustrating for me because it could have been better.
Essentially, this is a history of a little over 200 years of the Mughal empire in India, from just before their arrival at the beginning of the 16th century, to just after the death of Aurangzeb at the beginning of the 18th. The focus is on the women of the dynasty, who played far more powerful and active roles than western stereotypes would have it. Also, the “harem” (the correct term for the women’s quarters is a zenana) wasn’t exactly teeming with wives and concubines of the emperor; any woman related to him or to his loyal retainers could show up to live there and many did, along with their own entourages and servants.
Particularly in the early years, these women were hardly in purdah: they accompanied the emperor as he traveled around, even to war or on daring escapes across mountains from pursuing armies (this sometimes resulted in wives and children being captured or killed); they traveled from city to city at their own whim; they went on hajj. Even later on, once the zenana became more separate, the women there still wielded considerable power, as they often had independent fortunes, owned trading ships, commissioned monumental buildings, and weighed in with the emperor on issues of public policy. Maham Anaga was essentially regent of part of India for awhile, while Noor Jahan coined her own money and had the authority to issue edicts under her name and with her own seal.
All of which is fascinating, and I’m glad to have learned about these women, but the execution let me down a bit. First, the author covers more than 200 years and a ton of women in just 246 pages of text, which means it’s rushed and often doesn’t get much past generalities. Second, the first third is definitely the best because Mukhoty can rely on the memoirs of Gulbadan, daughter of Babur and relative of the later emperors, which bring a lovely personal touch to the story. In the later portions we don’t have that and so it becomes more distant. It might also be that the earlier women are just more interesting, as many of them led quite dramatic lives while the later ones seem to have mostly stayed behind walls amassing wealth and commissioning buildings in their names.
Third, the author seems to glorify the Mughals overmuch, in a way that comes across as colonialist. We may not think of the Mughals as colonizers because they weren’t European and, unlike the British, at least they kept India’s wealth in the country and acculturated themselves to the place. But still, they rode in from Afghanistan and killed a ton of people to conquer territory for their own power and glory, and continued to do so throughout the existence of the empire. Mukhoty mostly elides the fact that their wars consisted of naked land grabs, and there’s a weird “oh, those Hindus and their barbaric customs” vibe that comes close to suggesting the Hindus needed the Mughals to save them from themselves.
Finally, the book just doesn’t come across as very historically rigorous. Mukhoty’s decision to write the entire history in the present tense is weird and distracting. There’s also a tendency to use the same evocative generalities over and over again; the author is always talking about someone’s glittering, blistering, blinding, incandescent, etc., etc., ambition, which is a fancy way of saying the Mughals loved conquering people and imposing architecture. There are endnotes (though frustratingly, no index) and the author seems to have used at least some primary sources. She also doesn’t run rampant speculating on thoughts and feelings (lack of source material is perhaps why the book covers so many people in so few pages). But I would have appreciated more facts and less editorializing.
In the end, interesting book that opened my eyes to a part of history I didn’t know much about. Could be worthwhile reading if you’re interested in the subject, but ultimately it was frustrating for me because it could have been better.
August 26, 2018
After reading lot of books on Mughal history, I was not willing to invest my time on another book about Mughals. Generally, it is a boring experience, as you come across same stories and details. However, the topic, some reviews and interviews of the author made me read this book and it turned out to be an enjoyable experience all along.
The book covers the history of Mughals from the ladies perspective. How they lived their lives, influenced the influential and their contribution to the overall path of history. Some of the positives for me were:
(i) Though the book is highly researched from different sources, this does not affect flow of the book due to pleasant style followed by the author. You feel like living in that era.
(ii) The initial chapters of the book dealing with Babur and Humayun, mainly based on Humayun-nama by Babur's daughter Gulbadan Begum, not only give details about Mughal ladies of that time, but also provide you some perspective about writing style of Gulbadan. When I originally read Urdu translation of 'Humayun-nama', I did not enjoy some parts, especially those dealing with distribution of prizes in zenana by Babur after his conquest of India. For me 'who got what' was quite boring detail. This book tells why she was to write such details as Mughals were very particular to show their power, wealth and pompousness.
(iii) Other books on Mughals don't cover (in detail) participation of Mughal ladies in trade and their owning trade ships. This book provides details about such ships and revenue earned by Mughal ladies from such trade. The book also contain a chapter on Hajj performed by Gulbadan Begum alongwith other ladies in an interesting way.
(iv) The book starts from Kabul (Babur's early age), mentioning some heroic actions by his maternal grandmother till the deteriorated status of Mughals (including the ladies) after 1857 war and provides a panoramic view of Mughal history in just 250 pages.
If you want to have a quick and interesting read on Mughal history, exploring cultural aspects, this is highly recommended.
The book covers the history of Mughals from the ladies perspective. How they lived their lives, influenced the influential and their contribution to the overall path of history. Some of the positives for me were:
(i) Though the book is highly researched from different sources, this does not affect flow of the book due to pleasant style followed by the author. You feel like living in that era.
(ii) The initial chapters of the book dealing with Babur and Humayun, mainly based on Humayun-nama by Babur's daughter Gulbadan Begum, not only give details about Mughal ladies of that time, but also provide you some perspective about writing style of Gulbadan. When I originally read Urdu translation of 'Humayun-nama', I did not enjoy some parts, especially those dealing with distribution of prizes in zenana by Babur after his conquest of India. For me 'who got what' was quite boring detail. This book tells why she was to write such details as Mughals were very particular to show their power, wealth and pompousness.
(iii) Other books on Mughals don't cover (in detail) participation of Mughal ladies in trade and their owning trade ships. This book provides details about such ships and revenue earned by Mughal ladies from such trade. The book also contain a chapter on Hajj performed by Gulbadan Begum alongwith other ladies in an interesting way.
(iv) The book starts from Kabul (Babur's early age), mentioning some heroic actions by his maternal grandmother till the deteriorated status of Mughals (including the ladies) after 1857 war and provides a panoramic view of Mughal history in just 250 pages.
If you want to have a quick and interesting read on Mughal history, exploring cultural aspects, this is highly recommended.
January 19, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it can't be read as a standalone - if you aren't already familiar with Mughal history, this one will leave you scratching your head. On the other hand, having just read Abraham Eraly's book LAST SPRING, this one felt like it was rehashing a lot of familiar ground without adding a huge amount that's new. That said, there was quite a bit of new material in this one, and I really enjoyed learning how the lives of Mughal women transformed from the relative freedom of the early Turkic years to the more rigidly sequestered conditions of the Rajput-influenced zenana. Mukhoty is particularly insistent in presenting a picture of the imperial Mughal zenana as its own parallel world inhabited by a diverse range of women who spent their time studying, writing, trading, ruling, building, guarding, and so on, most of whom were *not* sexually available to the emperor. So, this book contributed some fascinating new dimensions to the picture I got from Eraly.
I also feel some reservations about the way the book is framed with no discussion of the lives of the poor in the Mughal empire. Mukhoty wants us to know that women of the imperial zenana were highly influential in the empire, took a hand in ruling it, were given or inherited vast fortunes which they were free to dispose of as they liked, often in trade or architectural projects. While I had trouble staying awake through the chapters Eraly devoted to taxation and the Mughal economy, Mukhoty includes Eraly's book in her bibliography and should certainly be aware of the crushing burden all this obscene wealth constituted upon the vast masses of the empire. She certainly never mentions it. So, I spent much of the book wondering if Mukhoty was trying to you-go-girl her way past the bleak facts of the Mughal economic devastation.
I also feel some reservations about the way the book is framed with no discussion of the lives of the poor in the Mughal empire. Mukhoty wants us to know that women of the imperial zenana were highly influential in the empire, took a hand in ruling it, were given or inherited vast fortunes which they were free to dispose of as they liked, often in trade or architectural projects. While I had trouble staying awake through the chapters Eraly devoted to taxation and the Mughal economy, Mukhoty includes Eraly's book in her bibliography and should certainly be aware of the crushing burden all this obscene wealth constituted upon the vast masses of the empire. She certainly never mentions it. So, I spent much of the book wondering if Mukhoty was trying to you-go-girl her way past the bleak facts of the Mughal economic devastation.
November 14, 2021
This book changed my perception of the Mughal society. The stories on their own are extremely interesting and amusing. But the vivid writing adds another dimension to these stories.
Through the stories about the women of the Mughal empire, we get a very vivid description of different aspects of the Mughal society such as the food, art and travels of the royal courts.
Highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in history.
Through the stories about the women of the Mughal empire, we get a very vivid description of different aspects of the Mughal society such as the food, art and travels of the royal courts.
Highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in history.
January 2, 2021
At start I didn't want to read this book because I had read/watched about so much on mughals.. i was like ahh another book on mughals, do I really need to read this. However the title of the book intrigued me, it is on mughal women. I ask myself how much i knew about the matriarchal side of mughal empire. I hardly come up with Noor jahan, Mumtaj mahal and Mariam uz zamani names. So I wanted to try this .Early mughal women were timurid nomadics and they actively took part in the politics, war, businesses of the empire as their counterpart mughal men like when the need arose these women could ride into battle with their husbands (like Hamida Begum), or engage in diplomacy (like Khanzada Begum), write family histories (like Gulbadan Begum), or pen Sufi treatises (like Jahanara). Ira Mukhoty completely shatters oriental notion on the harem/Zenana "which was a fantastical mix of bazaar gossip, stray gleanings of fact and sexual fantasy.” Those looking for scheming wives, languorous concubines, unfulfilled princesses of royal blood will be disappointed here; In Mukhoty’s telling the Mughal zenana is “a place where accomplished, educated women were prized; well-spoken, articulate and cultured women most likely to advance.” It was a fun read and I glad ,I didn't let it pass. If you ask me who is my most favorite Mughal empress " the most powerful and flamboyant Noor-jahan who has coins issued in her name and is allowed to issue farmans — both kingly prerogatives"!!. These women truly are role models.
September 25, 2020
The book provides a rare and detailed insight into the world of the Mughal zenena, but with some wearisome repetition.
I cannot help but compare this book to "Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From" by Tony Joseph. Although the subject matter is vastly different, both aim to uncover a relatively unknown portion of Indian History/Prehistory. While Tony Joseph uses repetition as a form of revision for the reader, to refresh one's memory with topics and details that will help understand the current chapter better, the repetition of the fact that Mughal women were not sex slaves and were powerful and respected seems rather melodramatic - a sort of plea to the reader to not forget this fact even for a second.
Apart from this small gripe, it was a thoroughly eye-opening read. It felt like I was finally able to piece together the Mughal Empire, the line of succession, the relationship among the various other dynasties with the Mughals and finally the actual roles women played in this society and the power they wielded even though there was never a female Mughal ruler. The barebones knowledge that we had of this dynasty was from history lessons at school and this was the gist of it:
Babur - Founder of the empire
Humayun - Father of Akbar
Akbar - Greatest Mughal ever who had a Hindu wife - Jodha Bai
Jahangir - Son of Akbar and father of Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan - Cruel emperor who killed all his brothers but built the Taj Mahal (No, the workers' thumbs were not cut off - contrary to the myth there is no evidence of this happening. Shah Jahan would not mutilate his workers when he needed them for all his other projects.)
Aurangzeb - Son of Shah Jahan who inherited his cruelty and led to the decline of the dynasty.
As you have noticed, there wasn't more than a phrase about the women of this empire. They were all referred to as inconsequential wives, concubines, slaves - whose jobs were to bear children or rear them. Only while reading Daughters of the Sun did I come across the hardships, trade, politics, law and arts that women like Noor Jahan, Harkha Bai and Jahanara were involved in. In fact, this is the first time I have come across a detailed description of Humayun's sister - Gulbadan Begum and her immense contribution to Mughal literature.
I greatly appreciate that the author added details of other, less well-known and never-heard-of-before, wives, sisters, nannies, etc. of the various kings. With this book Ira Mukhoty has explained how the zenana or "harem" of Mughal Kings was a constantly evolving social structure that consisted of thousands of women where only a small fraction consisted of the King's wives as compared to the euro-centric view that the harem was full of women to entertain the King's debauchery. The royal Mughal women were far better educated and richer than their European counterparts and had a far greater impact on their kingdoms.
This book is also a great source of information on the religious outlook of the different padshahs, the pragmatic approach to their life and the various political and familial dynamics that affected the kings as well as their zenana. I look forward to reading the other books written and referenced by Ira Mukhoty.
I cannot help but compare this book to "Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From" by Tony Joseph. Although the subject matter is vastly different, both aim to uncover a relatively unknown portion of Indian History/Prehistory. While Tony Joseph uses repetition as a form of revision for the reader, to refresh one's memory with topics and details that will help understand the current chapter better, the repetition of the fact that Mughal women were not sex slaves and were powerful and respected seems rather melodramatic - a sort of plea to the reader to not forget this fact even for a second.
Apart from this small gripe, it was a thoroughly eye-opening read. It felt like I was finally able to piece together the Mughal Empire, the line of succession, the relationship among the various other dynasties with the Mughals and finally the actual roles women played in this society and the power they wielded even though there was never a female Mughal ruler. The barebones knowledge that we had of this dynasty was from history lessons at school and this was the gist of it:
Babur - Founder of the empire
Humayun - Father of Akbar
Akbar - Greatest Mughal ever who had a Hindu wife - Jodha Bai
Jahangir - Son of Akbar and father of Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan - Cruel emperor who killed all his brothers but built the Taj Mahal (No, the workers' thumbs were not cut off - contrary to the myth there is no evidence of this happening. Shah Jahan would not mutilate his workers when he needed them for all his other projects.)
Aurangzeb - Son of Shah Jahan who inherited his cruelty and led to the decline of the dynasty.
As you have noticed, there wasn't more than a phrase about the women of this empire. They were all referred to as inconsequential wives, concubines, slaves - whose jobs were to bear children or rear them. Only while reading Daughters of the Sun did I come across the hardships, trade, politics, law and arts that women like Noor Jahan, Harkha Bai and Jahanara were involved in. In fact, this is the first time I have come across a detailed description of Humayun's sister - Gulbadan Begum and her immense contribution to Mughal literature.
I greatly appreciate that the author added details of other, less well-known and never-heard-of-before, wives, sisters, nannies, etc. of the various kings. With this book Ira Mukhoty has explained how the zenana or "harem" of Mughal Kings was a constantly evolving social structure that consisted of thousands of women where only a small fraction consisted of the King's wives as compared to the euro-centric view that the harem was full of women to entertain the King's debauchery. The royal Mughal women were far better educated and richer than their European counterparts and had a far greater impact on their kingdoms.
This book is also a great source of information on the religious outlook of the different padshahs, the pragmatic approach to their life and the various political and familial dynamics that affected the kings as well as their zenana. I look forward to reading the other books written and referenced by Ira Mukhoty.
August 6, 2020
I have LOVED this book! To the core! I have time travelled, I have grown richer in my knowledge of history and I have wept at the loss of history denied to us by fanatics and blind copiers of the Imperial Version of Mughal History.
And I am an Archaeologist!
This is the second time I have read something and felt that it's not the book we need but the book we deserve ! It is a book about voices muted by the Colonialists, of the history we were robbed of and the facts that we live in sheer ignorance of.
Yes, Ira Mukhoty repeats herself here and there and yes, it gets to you sometimes but that alone cannot rob this book of the merits it has.
If you didn't know the Mughals were actually called and identified as the Gurkanis, go pick this book up, now!
And I am an Archaeologist!
This is the second time I have read something and felt that it's not the book we need but the book we deserve ! It is a book about voices muted by the Colonialists, of the history we were robbed of and the facts that we live in sheer ignorance of.
Yes, Ira Mukhoty repeats herself here and there and yes, it gets to you sometimes but that alone cannot rob this book of the merits it has.
If you didn't know the Mughals were actually called and identified as the Gurkanis, go pick this book up, now!
November 28, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daughters of the sun, and learnt a lot about a subject about which already a lot has been written, and represented in the popular culture. Bringing the female gaze to history, especially through first person voices of educated royal Timurid ladies makes the reader re-evaluate what they know of the power dynamics during the Mughal era and the zenana. It feels like a drag in some places but as far as a non-fictional historical book goes, this is a gripping read.
July 12, 2024
Royal reads 2024
January 18, 2021
A wonderful and necessary account - a parallel history infact - of the women who shaped, in so many enriching ways, not just the destinies of the Mughal Padshahs of India, but also its culture, food, literature, clothing, arts, crafts and surprisingly but momentously, its architecture - which is what keeps the memory of this dynasty's legacy alive to this day and continues to remain the most visible and present link to our rich heritage and history.
I read it completely on audio and really enjoyed Shehnaz Patel's narration.
One had only ever heard of two Mughal women most prominently - Noor Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The first made infamous, almost for being "too ambitious" and the other only by the monument that was built as a symbol of Shah Jahan's love for her. Stories about even these two women have been casual and superficial, and reading this book brought in so much more nuance and background.
This is a well written and well researched book. What I really appreciated is how it dispells the myth around the Mughal zenanas and so called harems. And instead brings out a completely different understanding of how empowered these Timurid women were, and how vital their presence was to every Mughal ruler. Not only were they important advisors, allies, peace makers and companions to the men who ruled, they were equally well educated and cultured intellectuals, poets, writers, administrative leaders, tradeswomen, asset owners, farmnan givers and architectural visionaries - be it as queens, mothers, milk-mothers, sisters, aunts or neices.
The Mughal court and lifestyle, infact, was very liberal and allowed women enormous agency, and the women asserted these positions and opportunities, as strongly as the men did. There were instances where the men were more interested in the arts rather than the practicalities of ruling an empire, and it is the women who stepped up and took care of matters, and this worked perfectly wonderfully. Their counsel was much valued and sought after.
I've always loved Mughal architecture and now, knowing more background to their origin and creation and the primary role that women played in it, just adds so much more to their glory and marvel. The Taj Mahal was inspired by the beautiful Idmat-Ud-Daula Tomb, which Noor Jahan built in memory of her late father, and introduced marble as a building material for the first time (moving away from the red sandstone), along with the exquisite inlay work and pietra dura. Shah Jahan felt compelled to make a stronger statement than his step mother, who he also saw a threat to his power and throne.
This book was such a great insight into Mughal women and their lives. It has reinvigorated my interest in these ancient dynasties, and now I'm itching to visit these monuments with this new found knowledge and wonder :)
Clearly I have a lot to say, but then, you may as well just read the book.
I read it completely on audio and really enjoyed Shehnaz Patel's narration.
One had only ever heard of two Mughal women most prominently - Noor Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The first made infamous, almost for being "too ambitious" and the other only by the monument that was built as a symbol of Shah Jahan's love for her. Stories about even these two women have been casual and superficial, and reading this book brought in so much more nuance and background.
This is a well written and well researched book. What I really appreciated is how it dispells the myth around the Mughal zenanas and so called harems. And instead brings out a completely different understanding of how empowered these Timurid women were, and how vital their presence was to every Mughal ruler. Not only were they important advisors, allies, peace makers and companions to the men who ruled, they were equally well educated and cultured intellectuals, poets, writers, administrative leaders, tradeswomen, asset owners, farmnan givers and architectural visionaries - be it as queens, mothers, milk-mothers, sisters, aunts or neices.
The Mughal court and lifestyle, infact, was very liberal and allowed women enormous agency, and the women asserted these positions and opportunities, as strongly as the men did. There were instances where the men were more interested in the arts rather than the practicalities of ruling an empire, and it is the women who stepped up and took care of matters, and this worked perfectly wonderfully. Their counsel was much valued and sought after.
I've always loved Mughal architecture and now, knowing more background to their origin and creation and the primary role that women played in it, just adds so much more to their glory and marvel. The Taj Mahal was inspired by the beautiful Idmat-Ud-Daula Tomb, which Noor Jahan built in memory of her late father, and introduced marble as a building material for the first time (moving away from the red sandstone), along with the exquisite inlay work and pietra dura. Shah Jahan felt compelled to make a stronger statement than his step mother, who he also saw a threat to his power and throne.
This book was such a great insight into Mughal women and their lives. It has reinvigorated my interest in these ancient dynasties, and now I'm itching to visit these monuments with this new found knowledge and wonder :)
Clearly I have a lot to say, but then, you may as well just read the book.
January 28, 2022
I had extremely high expectations from “Daughters of the Sun”, and found it slightly underwhelming. I have heard Ira Mukhoty speak, especially on Akbar’s mother, and perhaps what I expected was the definitive Mughal “Her-story”. What I got instead was a retelling of 200 years of Mughal history which didn’t overlook the royal women like normal history books do.
The expectation mismatch was one of perspective. Like every other book on the period, this too spoke of how Humayun went into exile in the mountains of Afghanistan accompanied by his haram. What I wanted to read, instead, was that the haram accompanied Humayun in his exile, and how they reacted to it. Similarly, I would have liked to hear about the Battle of Chausa from the perspective of Humayun’s wife, Bega Begum, who witnessed the rout and spent a few days in Sher Shah Suri’s captivity before being returned to her husband.
I also subconsciously expected something that fictionalised history to make it more accessible to readers- a story of the people, rather than just the flow of history. This was not that book- this is a purely historical account of the Mughal reign.
Having said that, Ira Mukhoty has done a fabulous job of tracing the evolving consciousness of the Mughal women. From the fiery and independent women who roamed the vales and hills with the rest of the camp, to the growing “Rajastani culture” of women staying behind veils, to the women who chose to leave their mark on history with their buildings and their books.
Though a lot has been written about Jahanara, her sister Roshanara is often relegated to a walk-on part. This is the first time, I was forced to look at Roshanara with empathy- of how she lived her entire life in the shadow of her older sister, and of how despite being loyal to Aurangzeb, he continued to hold Jahanara in highest regard.
Though I was personally a little let down by the book, I still give it 5 stars, because I cannot hold the book hostage to my own expectations.
It is beautifully written- some of the passages are so lyrical, you go back to them just to feel the words wash over you. It is well researched and presented in a manner that makes you feel you are witnessing events as they unfold. It presents 200 years of history in an accessible manner, quite different from the litany of dates and names that we are used to.
And I do hope that someday, Ira Mukhoty writes another book on 200 years of Mughal history told through the perspective of the nine Padshah Begums.
The expectation mismatch was one of perspective. Like every other book on the period, this too spoke of how Humayun went into exile in the mountains of Afghanistan accompanied by his haram. What I wanted to read, instead, was that the haram accompanied Humayun in his exile, and how they reacted to it. Similarly, I would have liked to hear about the Battle of Chausa from the perspective of Humayun’s wife, Bega Begum, who witnessed the rout and spent a few days in Sher Shah Suri’s captivity before being returned to her husband.
I also subconsciously expected something that fictionalised history to make it more accessible to readers- a story of the people, rather than just the flow of history. This was not that book- this is a purely historical account of the Mughal reign.
Having said that, Ira Mukhoty has done a fabulous job of tracing the evolving consciousness of the Mughal women. From the fiery and independent women who roamed the vales and hills with the rest of the camp, to the growing “Rajastani culture” of women staying behind veils, to the women who chose to leave their mark on history with their buildings and their books.
Though a lot has been written about Jahanara, her sister Roshanara is often relegated to a walk-on part. This is the first time, I was forced to look at Roshanara with empathy- of how she lived her entire life in the shadow of her older sister, and of how despite being loyal to Aurangzeb, he continued to hold Jahanara in highest regard.
Though I was personally a little let down by the book, I still give it 5 stars, because I cannot hold the book hostage to my own expectations.
It is beautifully written- some of the passages are so lyrical, you go back to them just to feel the words wash over you. It is well researched and presented in a manner that makes you feel you are witnessing events as they unfold. It presents 200 years of history in an accessible manner, quite different from the litany of dates and names that we are used to.
And I do hope that someday, Ira Mukhoty writes another book on 200 years of Mughal history told through the perspective of the nine Padshah Begums.
June 2, 2019
This is a highly recommendable book for history lovers. It deals with a clan of rulers who can be said to be the most popular in our sub continents imagination, both due to the fact that they are from near past (not very long ago) and also due to the fact that they were glittering rich part of our history. Almost intuitively we think of the Mughal women as veiled individuals, almost invisible in the 'harams' and almost not consequential. But what comes out in this book is a series of proud, independent women, who always stood by their men (Fathers, Husbands, Sons, Nephews etc), even in battlefield; who did independent trade, had ships, minted coins in their own names, built great buildings; they even followed their own religions. Some of the women who stand out are Khanzada Begum, Harka Bai, Gulbadan Begum, Noor Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Jahanara etc. These ladies come out as real people with flesh and blood, with their glories and failings.
A word of caution though, this is not a true history book, reads almost as a story. The author gives such vivid descriptions of various events as if she herself witnessed all the events. She does not give us a detached view, her view is highly coloured. Even her sympathies are very apparent, her soft corner for 'Jahanara' is very apparent.
But this book definitely changes the perception of the reader.
A word of caution though, this is not a true history book, reads almost as a story. The author gives such vivid descriptions of various events as if she herself witnessed all the events. She does not give us a detached view, her view is highly coloured. Even her sympathies are very apparent, her soft corner for 'Jahanara' is very apparent.
But this book definitely changes the perception of the reader.
September 4, 2019
It is a fascinating and gripping account on the Mughal women.
Whatever history records we have of Mughals are primarily male centric and they fail to convey the extraordinary contribution of Mughal women to this magnificent dynasty.
In 1526, when Babur rode to Hindustan, his wives, sisters, daughters, all distant female relatives travelled with him. Humayun travelled with his Zenana with him to the battles. Akbar gave more stability to this nomadic tradition and highly respected the women of his family. He was highly influenced by his mother Hamida Banu and his milk mother's Jiji Anga & Maham Anga.
Noor Jahan, a widow and a mother became the 'Light of the World' and Jahangir's last and favourite wife. ShahJahan's love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal influenced him to build TajMahal. Jahanara, ShahJahan's favourite child became Padshah Begum at the age of 17.
An exceptional masterpiece!!
I loved it so much that i didn't want it to end!!
Definitely must read for all history lovers.
Whatever history records we have of Mughals are primarily male centric and they fail to convey the extraordinary contribution of Mughal women to this magnificent dynasty.
In 1526, when Babur rode to Hindustan, his wives, sisters, daughters, all distant female relatives travelled with him. Humayun travelled with his Zenana with him to the battles. Akbar gave more stability to this nomadic tradition and highly respected the women of his family. He was highly influenced by his mother Hamida Banu and his milk mother's Jiji Anga & Maham Anga.
Noor Jahan, a widow and a mother became the 'Light of the World' and Jahangir's last and favourite wife. ShahJahan's love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal influenced him to build TajMahal. Jahanara, ShahJahan's favourite child became Padshah Begum at the age of 17.
An exceptional masterpiece!!
I loved it so much that i didn't want it to end!!
Definitely must read for all history lovers.
May 1, 2020
I came to this book with only the vaguest understanding of Mughal India. Despite that I found this book accessible and a exciting read. It has a good sense of storytelling and profiles some fascinating women. A balance of well researched feminist corrective about the importance of women in the Mughal empire and just a good yarn about glamorous powerful princesses.
May 9, 2021
An illuminating history of the great Mughal Begums and their achievements in their empire..It's frustrating to know that we may not view their achievements as most of it were scraped and looted by the English
January 29, 2020
#ReadingWomenChallenge 6) A Nonfiction Title by a Woman Historian
As we grow older, there is a strange thing that happens. The subjects that we loathed or discarded thinking that it is so irrelevant to our lives starts to make sense. Even though I cannot say that I hated History completely, there was something lacking in the chosen stories for the school syllabus. As years pass by, with newer experiences and the inevitable perspective shifting, we start paying attention to the untold stories hidden inside the old tales. It is this curiosity that drew me towards this book and I can honestly say that it really did meet my expectation.
When we think about the women of the Mughal Empire, the first names that come to our mind are Mumtaz Mahal and Noor Jahan. Both of them deserve their place in the History with their own accomplishments and not just as the celebrated love of the great kings. But very few know about the matriarchs of Babur's Zenana and their contribution in establishing the Mughal Empire in India. It is where Ira Mukhoty starts the book. It was an eye opener for me when she described the zenana. I always thought it as an establishment where the kings kept their countless women. I never thought of it as a powerful establishment where women are fully in control of their own lives and they participated in the discussions regarding the affairs of the country. It is mainly due to the westernized story telling of our history. Mukhoty bursts such notions at the beginning of the book itself.
It was fascinating to learn about Khanzada Begum (Babur's sister), Hamida Banu and Gulbadan Begum. They truly built a strong foundation for the glorious days of the Mughal Empire. I loved the fact that these women had such a pragmatic approach to life and there was no questioning of their chastity or unnecessary glorification of it like the one described later in the book relating to the Rajputs. It was also amusing to read about Akbar and his fascination with Hinduism in times like these when people are making noise about how the Mughals destroyed the Hindu culture. The explanation for the rumours about the incestuous relationship between Shah Jahan and his daughter Jahanara was very pragmatic. That incest story was again an end result of westernized story telling.
Overall this was a very compelling read. I am looking forward to reading Mukhoty's other books. Before I stop, I would love to quote one of my favourite piece about History from Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing - " We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, whose story I am missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect future."
Note: Listened to this in Audible and Shernaz Patel's narration was excellent.
As we grow older, there is a strange thing that happens. The subjects that we loathed or discarded thinking that it is so irrelevant to our lives starts to make sense. Even though I cannot say that I hated History completely, there was something lacking in the chosen stories for the school syllabus. As years pass by, with newer experiences and the inevitable perspective shifting, we start paying attention to the untold stories hidden inside the old tales. It is this curiosity that drew me towards this book and I can honestly say that it really did meet my expectation.
When we think about the women of the Mughal Empire, the first names that come to our mind are Mumtaz Mahal and Noor Jahan. Both of them deserve their place in the History with their own accomplishments and not just as the celebrated love of the great kings. But very few know about the matriarchs of Babur's Zenana and their contribution in establishing the Mughal Empire in India. It is where Ira Mukhoty starts the book. It was an eye opener for me when she described the zenana. I always thought it as an establishment where the kings kept their countless women. I never thought of it as a powerful establishment where women are fully in control of their own lives and they participated in the discussions regarding the affairs of the country. It is mainly due to the westernized story telling of our history. Mukhoty bursts such notions at the beginning of the book itself.
It was fascinating to learn about Khanzada Begum (Babur's sister), Hamida Banu and Gulbadan Begum. They truly built a strong foundation for the glorious days of the Mughal Empire. I loved the fact that these women had such a pragmatic approach to life and there was no questioning of their chastity or unnecessary glorification of it like the one described later in the book relating to the Rajputs. It was also amusing to read about Akbar and his fascination with Hinduism in times like these when people are making noise about how the Mughals destroyed the Hindu culture. The explanation for the rumours about the incestuous relationship between Shah Jahan and his daughter Jahanara was very pragmatic. That incest story was again an end result of westernized story telling.
Overall this was a very compelling read. I am looking forward to reading Mukhoty's other books. Before I stop, I would love to quote one of my favourite piece about History from Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing - " We believe the one who has the power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, whose story I am missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet still imperfect future."
Note: Listened to this in Audible and Shernaz Patel's narration was excellent.
November 27, 2019
While browsing my grandfather's personal library when I was a child, I found an extremely old, torn and barely readable manuscript on Mughal princesses, and from that day on, I was hooked on reading and learning about Mughal History. Despite all efforts, I couldn't manage to find the author or even the name of that manuscript, but this book by Ira Mukhoty essentially provides all the minute details of the happenings and lives of Mughal women of the time.
Oh, MY HEART!!!!! What a nostalgia, to reminisce the glory of a long-lost past, the foundation of which was laid by Babur. This book contains a slew of accomplished women of the Mughal Harem, and sheds light on their erudition, political acumen, bravery and love for philosophy, poetry, architecture and other finer things in life. An illuminating and gripping history of a little known aspect of the most magnificent dynasty the world has ever known. The role of zenana has been beautifully summarised by Ira Mukhoty:
The haraman, with these women in it, will create a sense of identity and home for Babur, Humayun and even Akbar. Very often, in the padshahs’ endless wanderings and ruinous search for a meaningful space, these women are the Timurid homeland .
Oh, MY HEART!!!!! What a nostalgia, to reminisce the glory of a long-lost past, the foundation of which was laid by Babur. This book contains a slew of accomplished women of the Mughal Harem, and sheds light on their erudition, political acumen, bravery and love for philosophy, poetry, architecture and other finer things in life. An illuminating and gripping history of a little known aspect of the most magnificent dynasty the world has ever known. The role of zenana has been beautifully summarised by Ira Mukhoty:
The haraman, with these women in it, will create a sense of identity and home for Babur, Humayun and even Akbar. Very often, in the padshahs’ endless wanderings and ruinous search for a meaningful space, these women are the Timurid homeland .
February 28, 2022
✨’I hope this book will draw these Mughal women out of the deep well of mis-remembrance they lie in, in the cold waters of prejudice and endlessly biased recordings, to walk once more in the sunlit glory they once so confidently, and foolishly, believed would always be theirs' ✨
there is so much writing on the Mughal era but so little about the lives of the Mughal women.. very little is known about their contributions in shaping the history of the Mughal Empire.. this is what Ira Mukhoty beautifully enlightens in #DaughtersOfTheSun - if you are fascinated by this period, would highly recommend it!
there is so much writing on the Mughal era but so little about the lives of the Mughal women.. very little is known about their contributions in shaping the history of the Mughal Empire.. this is what Ira Mukhoty beautifully enlightens in #DaughtersOfTheSun - if you are fascinated by this period, would highly recommend it!
July 5, 2020
### 4.5 Stars ###
"In reclaiming the past, and the lives of these Mughal women so scalded by beauty, we enrich our present with knowledge and grace so that we may temper our tomorrow"
This line from the book summarizes all you need to know about it.
Definitely worth a read if you like history and want to know more about a part of the Mughal Empire that isn't normally found in widely available accounts - about the watchful but voiceless guardians of an empire that defines recent Indian history.
Very well researched book that has been painstakingly put together.
"In reclaiming the past, and the lives of these Mughal women so scalded by beauty, we enrich our present with knowledge and grace so that we may temper our tomorrow"
This line from the book summarizes all you need to know about it.
Definitely worth a read if you like history and want to know more about a part of the Mughal Empire that isn't normally found in widely available accounts - about the watchful but voiceless guardians of an empire that defines recent Indian history.
Very well researched book that has been painstakingly put together.
August 1, 2019
দুর্দান্ত। মুঘল রাজপরিবারের নারী মাত্রেই অন্তঃপূরবাসিনী যারা মনে করেন, হারেম বা জেনানামহল নিয়ে মশলাদার গল্পকেই যারা বাস্তব মনে করেন, তারা এ বই পড়লে সম্পুর্ন উলটা এক চিত্র দেখতে পারবেন।
ভবিষ্যতে এ বই নিয়ে বড় রিভিউ লেখার ইচ্ছা আছে।
ভবিষ্যতে এ বই নিয়ে বড় রিভিউ লেখার ইচ্ছা আছে।
August 14, 2022
Ever wondered what the life of Mughal women was like? History has always been seen through the lens of men. You will find a short story of some heroic acts of women, but never on the day to day lives and the contribution of them in building empires.
This book digs deep into the everyday lives, court intrigues of Mughal harems. The power and command the women in harem yielded and systematically decimate the narrative of what a harem is.
This book digs deep into the everyday lives, court intrigues of Mughal harems. The power and command the women in harem yielded and systematically decimate the narrative of what a harem is.
July 4, 2023
Introducing us to some of the most powerful women from the Mughal empire, this book was a scintillating read to say the least. How little we know of these shahzaadis, of their economic wealth, decision making skills, their construction of some of the most notable Mughal architectural marvels.
While most of their representations are marred by the male gaze, mostly as the “love interest” of the emperors, this book was a refreshing detour from that narrative. They were so much more than that!
Definitely a must read!
While most of their representations are marred by the male gaze, mostly as the “love interest” of the emperors, this book was a refreshing detour from that narrative. They were so much more than that!
Definitely a must read!
February 28, 2019
This book is a revelation. There's a certain image harboured about the women of the Mughal families, partly because their descendants are what we see and tend to project backwards likewise, and partly because obscurity in the form of non coverage has led us to make some really slanted speculations.
Mukhoty, with her lush prose that is as soothing as a hot water bath after a tiring day, brings these women into the spotlight. One by one, right from Babur till Aurangzeb, she introduces us to the women who influences the lives of these Mughal rulers. Their involvement is valuable, for they hold fort when the men stumble, as also contribute to the rich history that is now a part of India.
This is just one account that I have read about the women of the Mughal era, so I shall take it with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, it has opened an unexplored territory, one that I would want to return to for more.
Mukhoty, with her lush prose that is as soothing as a hot water bath after a tiring day, brings these women into the spotlight. One by one, right from Babur till Aurangzeb, she introduces us to the women who influences the lives of these Mughal rulers. Their involvement is valuable, for they hold fort when the men stumble, as also contribute to the rich history that is now a part of India.
This is just one account that I have read about the women of the Mughal era, so I shall take it with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, it has opened an unexplored territory, one that I would want to return to for more.
May 17, 2020
I was always intrigued by the Mughal history and their love for art and architecture, that can be seen throughout the northern India. And hence on a friend’s recommendation I picked up this book.
The book tells the tale of glorious history of Mughals and a poignant end of their dynasty. The women, whose contributions are, most of the times, comfortably omitted from history and are overlooked as a plain duty towards their fathers, brothers and husbands, take an equal seat here in this book, during the ambitious reign of Mughals. It was fascinating to know about independent and aspiring begums, their ways of wealth accumulation and thus their backstage influence on current and future regimes. The small details from Mughal attires to their foods, and how they mingled with ‘Hindustani’ culture and thus contributing further to its richness added a pictorial charm to it.
The author has done a commendable job in meticulously putting her extensive research into words. Enjoyed the book.
The book tells the tale of glorious history of Mughals and a poignant end of their dynasty. The women, whose contributions are, most of the times, comfortably omitted from history and are overlooked as a plain duty towards their fathers, brothers and husbands, take an equal seat here in this book, during the ambitious reign of Mughals. It was fascinating to know about independent and aspiring begums, their ways of wealth accumulation and thus their backstage influence on current and future regimes. The small details from Mughal attires to their foods, and how they mingled with ‘Hindustani’ culture and thus contributing further to its richness added a pictorial charm to it.
The author has done a commendable job in meticulously putting her extensive research into words. Enjoyed the book.
April 2, 2022
I'm so glad that this extraordinary book has been written. I'm so glad that the rich and textured lives of Mughal imperial women has not been lost to memory-keeping. I'm so glad that we get a peek into the Mughal zenana, from sources narrated by Mughal women themselves, instead of the Eurocentric exotic gaze we often encounter in Mughal histories. Finally, I'm so glad that this book has staked a strong claim for the women of the Mughal empire - Empresses, Queens, and Begums - to a just and honorable place in Indian history.
Ira Mukhoty's alternative history of the Mughal empire evocatively narrates the lives of many of its imperial women between 1526 (marked by Babur's invasion of Panipat) and 1707 (marked by Aurangazeb's death). In doing so, she dispels with various myths about Mughal women, and brings to light their immense hidden contributions.
Women of the Mughal empire were tremendously powerful, wielding extensive influence, money, and respect. They were educated scholars, leaving behind biographies and erudite works of poetry and theological scholarship. They were remarkable builders, commissioning architectural works that the world had never seen the likes of before. They were skilled traders, commanding their own ships and conducting trade (in today's currency worth billions of rupees) within Hindustan and overseas. They were also massively influential in the decisions made in court, being consulted by the emperor on various issues of importance. All of them had financial control over their own wealth. Divorce and remarriage was common and encouraged.
Interestingly, this immense power that royal Mughal women exerted did not come from their sexual availability at all. Many of the women whose lives the book explores were mothers, unmarried sisters, elderly aunts, single daughters, and divorced women.
I found the book's industrious and evolving characterization of the Mughal zenana particularly interesting. While during the rule of earlier Mughal emperors, the haraman was largely mobile due to the peripatetic lives of Mughals who had not yet staked claim to Hindustan, the latter half of the Mughal rule saw the emergence of a separate, private space for royal women. While older Timurid women led lives of startling freedom, it's during this latter time that we also see sanitized notions of chastity gradually arising. This is possibly because of a change in Mughal lifestyle towards a more settled city, as well as marriages with Rajput women (who had stricter notions of honour) to consolidate empire.
Beyond this rich history, Mukhoty's narrative style is beautiful and accessible. Through the pages of the book, she transports readers into a different era, a big feat for a work of non-fiction. She paints a holistic picture of the time, from the elaborate clothing and fashion to the vast cuisines of the time.
My only (minor) complaint with the book is that it lacks a mapped genealogy of Mughal women. Because the book introduces so many women through its pages, it would have helped to reference a genealogy while reading. Thankfully, Mukhoty was kind enough to share her personal notes with me. It would be great to see this included in the next edition.
Unfortunately, very little of the history that this book explores remains to this date, subject to the casual erasure of time and the plundering destruction by the British in the 1850s. That is why I am so glad that this book has been written. And I hope it makes its way into History curricula in place of the male-centric and Euro-centric versions of the Mughal empire we are subjected to today.
Ira Mukhoty's alternative history of the Mughal empire evocatively narrates the lives of many of its imperial women between 1526 (marked by Babur's invasion of Panipat) and 1707 (marked by Aurangazeb's death). In doing so, she dispels with various myths about Mughal women, and brings to light their immense hidden contributions.
Women of the Mughal empire were tremendously powerful, wielding extensive influence, money, and respect. They were educated scholars, leaving behind biographies and erudite works of poetry and theological scholarship. They were remarkable builders, commissioning architectural works that the world had never seen the likes of before. They were skilled traders, commanding their own ships and conducting trade (in today's currency worth billions of rupees) within Hindustan and overseas. They were also massively influential in the decisions made in court, being consulted by the emperor on various issues of importance. All of them had financial control over their own wealth. Divorce and remarriage was common and encouraged.
Interestingly, this immense power that royal Mughal women exerted did not come from their sexual availability at all. Many of the women whose lives the book explores were mothers, unmarried sisters, elderly aunts, single daughters, and divorced women.
I found the book's industrious and evolving characterization of the Mughal zenana particularly interesting. While during the rule of earlier Mughal emperors, the haraman was largely mobile due to the peripatetic lives of Mughals who had not yet staked claim to Hindustan, the latter half of the Mughal rule saw the emergence of a separate, private space for royal women. While older Timurid women led lives of startling freedom, it's during this latter time that we also see sanitized notions of chastity gradually arising. This is possibly because of a change in Mughal lifestyle towards a more settled city, as well as marriages with Rajput women (who had stricter notions of honour) to consolidate empire.
Beyond this rich history, Mukhoty's narrative style is beautiful and accessible. Through the pages of the book, she transports readers into a different era, a big feat for a work of non-fiction. She paints a holistic picture of the time, from the elaborate clothing and fashion to the vast cuisines of the time.
My only (minor) complaint with the book is that it lacks a mapped genealogy of Mughal women. Because the book introduces so many women through its pages, it would have helped to reference a genealogy while reading. Thankfully, Mukhoty was kind enough to share her personal notes with me. It would be great to see this included in the next edition.
Unfortunately, very little of the history that this book explores remains to this date, subject to the casual erasure of time and the plundering destruction by the British in the 1850s. That is why I am so glad that this book has been written. And I hope it makes its way into History curricula in place of the male-centric and Euro-centric versions of the Mughal empire we are subjected to today.
October 9, 2021
Such an interesting eye opener pregnant with the crude power and filthy riches of the women power of the Timurid Mughal women …. The Padshah Begum!!
Never knew about this aspect of the Mughal empresses and princesses as this was never regarded mainstream on the tv screen where male characters in Babur ,Humayun , Akbar …….to Shah jahan ….to Bahadur Shah Zafar are sculptured to immortality disregarding the Begums who actually are the backbone of the vast empire starting with Khanzada Begum( Babur’s sister) ,Haji Begum , Hamida Banu Begum ( Akbar’s mother) , Gulbadan Begum , Jahanara, Roshanara… n many more.Even the milk mothers of Akbar in Maham Anga n Jija anga have been described as very powerful women having the valor to influence and command their will. The fascination for architecture and love for music and poetry flows in the timurid -Persian veins of these Begums and they all leave a few or more signature pieces of their enormous wealth and vigour in the many buildings and monuments they oversee and get fabricated.
For sure my future visits to Agra , Delhi and Kashmir will resonate with the Daughters of the Sun ,much more than the monarchs of that time.
It has been my immense pleasure to get past this wonderful book…
Highly recommended to history lovers!
Never knew about this aspect of the Mughal empresses and princesses as this was never regarded mainstream on the tv screen where male characters in Babur ,Humayun , Akbar …….to Shah jahan ….to Bahadur Shah Zafar are sculptured to immortality disregarding the Begums who actually are the backbone of the vast empire starting with Khanzada Begum( Babur’s sister) ,Haji Begum , Hamida Banu Begum ( Akbar’s mother) , Gulbadan Begum , Jahanara, Roshanara… n many more.Even the milk mothers of Akbar in Maham Anga n Jija anga have been described as very powerful women having the valor to influence and command their will. The fascination for architecture and love for music and poetry flows in the timurid -Persian veins of these Begums and they all leave a few or more signature pieces of their enormous wealth and vigour in the many buildings and monuments they oversee and get fabricated.
For sure my future visits to Agra , Delhi and Kashmir will resonate with the Daughters of the Sun ,much more than the monarchs of that time.
It has been my immense pleasure to get past this wonderful book…
Highly recommended to history lovers!
May 5, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved certain parts of it, but I was also somewhere disappointed with the pace. Daughters of the Sun is a very well researched book by Ira Mukhoty on the queens and other women who occupied the zenana during the Mughal Period. It traces the lineage of Mughal emperors in India starting from Babur to Aurangzeb. For me, the latter part of the book was of much more significance and influence. Learning about Jahanara Begum (daughter of Shah Jahan and sister of Aurangzeb) proved how Timurid women held position in the society, which was of much more importance than what is credited to them. They held property and money, had a big influence in the matters of the court, organised religious pilgrimage, and also had a huge role in negotiation of the successors.
What did not work out for me was the pace of the book somewhere in the middle. I felt some parts were repetitive and could have been excluded. Overall, it is a good read for those who keep an interest in History and have the interest in tracing back cultures.
Overall it is a 3.5 star read for me.
What did not work out for me was the pace of the book somewhere in the middle. I felt some parts were repetitive and could have been excluded. Overall, it is a good read for those who keep an interest in History and have the interest in tracing back cultures.
Overall it is a 3.5 star read for me.
October 13, 2025
Rating - 5 stars
NPS - 10 (Promoter)
This ceremony, a Hindu tradition introduced by Humayun, is carried out twice a year for the padshah’s birthday. For his solar ceremony, the padshah is weighed against twelve articles: gold, quicksilver, silk, perfume, copper, mercury, drugs, ghee, rice-milk, seven kinds of grains, and salt. These articles are then distributed amongst the poor.
This is how history should be written and taught - a great read which is a page turner and researched.
Through this nonfiction work on the women of the Mughal empire, the author sheds light on the women who surrounded the Padshahs - from Babur to Aurangzeb.
The book explores their lives through travelogues, their contribution to the fine arts, literature and poetry - and how they lived colourful lives as women of the zenana and a vital part in the lineage of Timurids.
The book reads like a tabloid at times which is more entertaining.
Highly recommended to get a nuanced perspective.
NPS - 10 (Promoter)
This ceremony, a Hindu tradition introduced by Humayun, is carried out twice a year for the padshah’s birthday. For his solar ceremony, the padshah is weighed against twelve articles: gold, quicksilver, silk, perfume, copper, mercury, drugs, ghee, rice-milk, seven kinds of grains, and salt. These articles are then distributed amongst the poor.
This is how history should be written and taught - a great read which is a page turner and researched.
Through this nonfiction work on the women of the Mughal empire, the author sheds light on the women who surrounded the Padshahs - from Babur to Aurangzeb.
The book explores their lives through travelogues, their contribution to the fine arts, literature and poetry - and how they lived colourful lives as women of the zenana and a vital part in the lineage of Timurids.
The book reads like a tabloid at times which is more entertaining.
Highly recommended to get a nuanced perspective.
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