What do you think?
Rate this book
Gulbadan
Beautifully illustrated with miniature Indian and Persian paintings, this is the vivid life story of Gulbadan Degam, or Princess Rosebody, and her life in the 16th century Mughal royal family in India. Drawn from her own memoirs and two other chronicles from the time, her keen observations begin as a young girl watching her father ride off with his army to conquer Hindustan and ends with her death at age 80. In between, she describes life in the harem, her pilgrimage to Mecca, and the many battles and close escapes that occured under the reign of three emperors across her remarkable life.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
8 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Rumer Godden
153 books557 followersMargaret Rumer Godden was an English author of more than 60 fiction and non-fiction books. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably Black Narcissus in 1947 and The River in 1951.
A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.
A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 31, 2020
Portrait of Babur's ladies of Kabul and their peripatetic life through the eyes of his daughter, GulBadan, who lived to see the magnificence of three Mughal emperors; Rough, tough, adventurous Babur who loved poetry, gardens and fountains, soft-hearted, opium-addicted, Humayun and Akbar, the great Mughal, known for his religious tolerance and love for learning. Basically, this is a critical analysis of 'Humayun Nama'. The best thing about this book is a plethora of Mughal miniature paintings imbued with Persian verses (the sight of which re-invoked an old goal of learning Persian language.)
December 5, 2016
In about 1587 CE, the third Mughal Emperor, Akbar, commissioned his courtier, Abul Fazl, to write a chronicle of the reign of Akbar. At the same time, he asked another person—one not quite so familiar a name as Abul Fazl—to write a history, too. Gulbadan Begum, daughter of Babar, sister to Humayun and aunt to Akbar, was by then over sixty years old. She had, as an infant, come to Hindustan as part of her conquering father’s entourage. She had lived in this land; she had seen the Mughal dynasty grow from a mere idea to one which saw its zenith under Akbar. She was certainly well-placed, as a royal lady, to write of what she had witnessed.
‘There had been an order issued,’ wrote Gulbadan in her work, ‘Write down whatever you know of the doings of Firdous Makaani [Babar] and Jannat Aashyaani [Humayun]. At this time when His Majesty Firdous Makaani passed away from this perishable world to the everlasting home, I, this lowly one, was eight years old, so it may well be that I do not remember much. However, in obedience to the royal command, I set down whatever there is that I have heard and remember.’
Gulbadan’s history (which traces the reigns of Babar and Humayun, up to about 1522 CE) was named the Humayunnama. Compared to the more famous Babarnama, Akbarnama, and Jahangirnama, it is an unassuming, unostentatious and brief history—also a very personal history, and one which reveals the world of the early Mughals from an unusual perspective: that of a woman.
In her book about Gulbadan, Rumer Godden draws not just upon the Humayunnama to recreate the early years of the Mughals in India, but also uses varied sources to flesh out the background. From Abul Fazl’s Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari, to the accounts of European travellers like Francisco Pelsaert and Niccolao Manucci, to books by more contemporary historians like Bamber Gascoigne: all are incorporated skillfully into the narrative to make it a good introduction to the period. The result is an interesting book, one that uses Gulbadan’s work as a basis, but also enhances it with more. There are descriptions of everything from gardens and garden parties to how the harem travelled; there are excerpts from Rumi. Babar’s own observations of life in a strange new land, the traditions and customs of medieval northern India, the rituals of Islam. What it was like to be a Timurid princess.
Rumer Godden, however, while both a novelist as well as a writer of non-fiction, was no historian; and this shows, every now and then, in the occasional gaffe. While a mention of cocoanuts growing in Punjab may be forgivable, the description of the ‘bright blue tiled dome’ of Humayun’s Tomb is embarrassing, given that this spectacular white-marbled dome was never been any other colour. One wonders if Ms Godden was mixing it up with the Sabz Burj just outside the grand tomb complex. Similarly, the translation of Gulnar (‘pomegranate flower’) as ‘red red rose’ suggests more of a reliance on second-hand research than on an actual (and deep) knowledge of the subject.
This, along with the errors in proofing that dot the book, take away somewhat from the enjoyment of Gulbadan: Portrait of a Princess at the Mughal Court. Despite that, though, it still remains a highly readable and interesting book about the early Mughals.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
‘There had been an order issued,’ wrote Gulbadan in her work, ‘Write down whatever you know of the doings of Firdous Makaani [Babar] and Jannat Aashyaani [Humayun]. At this time when His Majesty Firdous Makaani passed away from this perishable world to the everlasting home, I, this lowly one, was eight years old, so it may well be that I do not remember much. However, in obedience to the royal command, I set down whatever there is that I have heard and remember.’
Gulbadan’s history (which traces the reigns of Babar and Humayun, up to about 1522 CE) was named the Humayunnama. Compared to the more famous Babarnama, Akbarnama, and Jahangirnama, it is an unassuming, unostentatious and brief history—also a very personal history, and one which reveals the world of the early Mughals from an unusual perspective: that of a woman.
In her book about Gulbadan, Rumer Godden draws not just upon the Humayunnama to recreate the early years of the Mughals in India, but also uses varied sources to flesh out the background. From Abul Fazl’s Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari, to the accounts of European travellers like Francisco Pelsaert and Niccolao Manucci, to books by more contemporary historians like Bamber Gascoigne: all are incorporated skillfully into the narrative to make it a good introduction to the period. The result is an interesting book, one that uses Gulbadan’s work as a basis, but also enhances it with more. There are descriptions of everything from gardens and garden parties to how the harem travelled; there are excerpts from Rumi. Babar’s own observations of life in a strange new land, the traditions and customs of medieval northern India, the rituals of Islam. What it was like to be a Timurid princess.
Rumer Godden, however, while both a novelist as well as a writer of non-fiction, was no historian; and this shows, every now and then, in the occasional gaffe. While a mention of cocoanuts growing in Punjab may be forgivable, the description of the ‘bright blue tiled dome’ of Humayun’s Tomb is embarrassing, given that this spectacular white-marbled dome was never been any other colour. One wonders if Ms Godden was mixing it up with the Sabz Burj just outside the grand tomb complex. Similarly, the translation of Gulnar (‘pomegranate flower’) as ‘red red rose’ suggests more of a reliance on second-hand research than on an actual (and deep) knowledge of the subject.
This, along with the errors in proofing that dot the book, take away somewhat from the enjoyment of Gulbadan: Portrait of a Princess at the Mughal Court. Despite that, though, it still remains a highly readable and interesting book about the early Mughals.
(From my review for The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
May 23, 2020
So. Much. Orientalism.
January 19, 2022
Probably the most orientalist and poorly researched work I've ever read
February 16, 2014
Rumer Godden is a good writer and not many are aware of her books ( many set in India where she spent her childhood ). This book based on Gulbadan Begum's account of the Mughal empire in the 16th century. Gulbadan Begum was the last daughter of Babur and in her lifetime witnessed the rules of her father Babur, brother Humayun and nephew Akbar. Rumer Godden's book is based on the life of this Mughal princess ( who wrote the Humayun Nama ). Beautiful Indian and Persian miniature paintings are an added attraction. Those who love history will find this book a welcome read.
June 19, 2025
Good read, short and sweet. One gets to learn about the reigning tenures of Babur, Humayun and Akbar, as viewed through the screens of the harem by Gulbadan Begum who was the daughter, sister and aunt of the first three Mughal Emperors of Hindustan respectively.
While the book is based on the writings of the Mughal Princess, it is not a direct translation of her writings.
We also in turn learn of the reverence Gulbadan had for her Emperors, no matter if her own son came in conflict with them. Interesting how despite being a princess she employs ‘this insignificant person’ as a qualifier for herself. The humility with which she responds and approaches life speaks of the position of women back in the days. However, it must be recognised they also had the power to subtly influence the royal decisions if need be.
Gulbadan’s account is important because it reports quite plain and blank the affairs of the times, as opposed to the flowery, eulogistic writings of the court poets and writers such as Abul Fazl. She also mentions that her father Babur approved of her writing over his son and crown prince Humayun’s who had taken fancy to embellished style of writing which often missed on reporting the objective details (which he thought was quite akin to his own style of writing). Babur wrote his own autobiography in Turki: Baburnama; Humayun could read and write but preferred mostly to read than write: so much so that he died in his library and Gulbadan authored his biography, Humayunanama and finally, Akbar though familiar with literature as he had people read out exemplary works to him, was in fact illiterate and had courtiers write Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari for him.
Coming back to Gulbadan’s writing, it gives an insider’s peak into the splendour of royal life of the women folk and also how gendered the spaces were. It also briefly alludes to the coming of the Europeans: Gulbadan and other women who were headed to Mecca for Haj had to wait it out for a year in Surat before crossing the Arabian Sea in late-mid 1500s to obtain a pass from the Portuguese who had established their control on the Western ports of India.
Next I am going to read Ruby Lal’s work on Gulbadan and compare the books.
While the book is based on the writings of the Mughal Princess, it is not a direct translation of her writings.
We also in turn learn of the reverence Gulbadan had for her Emperors, no matter if her own son came in conflict with them. Interesting how despite being a princess she employs ‘this insignificant person’ as a qualifier for herself. The humility with which she responds and approaches life speaks of the position of women back in the days. However, it must be recognised they also had the power to subtly influence the royal decisions if need be.
Gulbadan’s account is important because it reports quite plain and blank the affairs of the times, as opposed to the flowery, eulogistic writings of the court poets and writers such as Abul Fazl. She also mentions that her father Babur approved of her writing over his son and crown prince Humayun’s who had taken fancy to embellished style of writing which often missed on reporting the objective details (which he thought was quite akin to his own style of writing). Babur wrote his own autobiography in Turki: Baburnama; Humayun could read and write but preferred mostly to read than write: so much so that he died in his library and Gulbadan authored his biography, Humayunanama and finally, Akbar though familiar with literature as he had people read out exemplary works to him, was in fact illiterate and had courtiers write Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari for him.
Coming back to Gulbadan’s writing, it gives an insider’s peak into the splendour of royal life of the women folk and also how gendered the spaces were. It also briefly alludes to the coming of the Europeans: Gulbadan and other women who were headed to Mecca for Haj had to wait it out for a year in Surat before crossing the Arabian Sea in late-mid 1500s to obtain a pass from the Portuguese who had established their control on the Western ports of India.
Next I am going to read Ruby Lal’s work on Gulbadan and compare the books.
February 28, 2018
This book is based on the memories of Gulbadan Begam (and other contemporary accounts) of the lives and times of the first three Moghul emperors.
Babur’s youngest daughter, Humayun’s half-sister and Akbar’s aunt, “Princess Rosebody” was supremely qualified to fulfil Akbar’s order to write down what she remembered to help with his own biography.
In straightforward, simple language Rumer Godden fleshes out the accounts and paints a fascinating picture of the Moghul court, the vast riches, glorious palaces, harems, tent cities and tombs, priceless jewels and opulent feasts, the tough life during campaigns, the epic battles, grand conquests, foul murders, cruel betrayals, passionate loves and arranged marriages. It describes in detail the role of women and that of Islam at that time and gives us impressions of the personalities of those three rulers : rough, tough, adventurous Babur descended from Jenghiz Khan and Tamerlane, who loved poetry, gardens and fountains ; soft-hearted, opium-addicted, dithering Humayun and Akbar, the greatest of them all, who hugely expanded the Moghul empire and who is known for his love of learning and his great tolerance of other religions, going so far as to marry a Hindu princess, much to the disgust of Gulbadan, a devout Sunni who believed that infidels were for slaying, not for marrying.
In her memories Gulbadan tells us next to nothing about her private life, hardly mentions her husband and children, and it becomes clear that for her the royal line was more important than her own family. She died at the age of 80 after an extraordinarily long and eventful life.
The icing on the cake of this edition are the many delicate and colourful Moghul and Persian miniatures, well chosen to fit the respective passages in the book.
For a more extensive account of the Moghul empire I can highly recommend Diana and Michael Preston's "A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time" (alternative title : "Taj Mahal - Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire").
Babur’s youngest daughter, Humayun’s half-sister and Akbar’s aunt, “Princess Rosebody” was supremely qualified to fulfil Akbar’s order to write down what she remembered to help with his own biography.
In straightforward, simple language Rumer Godden fleshes out the accounts and paints a fascinating picture of the Moghul court, the vast riches, glorious palaces, harems, tent cities and tombs, priceless jewels and opulent feasts, the tough life during campaigns, the epic battles, grand conquests, foul murders, cruel betrayals, passionate loves and arranged marriages. It describes in detail the role of women and that of Islam at that time and gives us impressions of the personalities of those three rulers : rough, tough, adventurous Babur descended from Jenghiz Khan and Tamerlane, who loved poetry, gardens and fountains ; soft-hearted, opium-addicted, dithering Humayun and Akbar, the greatest of them all, who hugely expanded the Moghul empire and who is known for his love of learning and his great tolerance of other religions, going so far as to marry a Hindu princess, much to the disgust of Gulbadan, a devout Sunni who believed that infidels were for slaying, not for marrying.
In her memories Gulbadan tells us next to nothing about her private life, hardly mentions her husband and children, and it becomes clear that for her the royal line was more important than her own family. She died at the age of 80 after an extraordinarily long and eventful life.
The icing on the cake of this edition are the many delicate and colourful Moghul and Persian miniatures, well chosen to fit the respective passages in the book.
For a more extensive account of the Moghul empire I can highly recommend Diana and Michael Preston's "A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time" (alternative title : "Taj Mahal - Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire").
February 25, 2018
At one level, history is about empires,wars and conquests. At another, its about how the rulers of the day ruled, the personal nature of those rulers and the culture/customs of the times.
Through Gulbadan, Rummer Goden focusses on history of the second kind. She paints an engaging portrait of the three Mughal Emperors - Babur, Humayun and Akbar. Babur's indomitable courage,his ability to inspire his soldiers, his deeply religious nature are brought out through fine examples. Similarly, Humayun's ever forgiving nature, his superstitious side, his ability to leave things for the last moment is brought out by quoting examples from Gulbadan's accounts.
Not only the emperors, we also get a glimpse of the role played by ladies of the times - Maham (Babur's wife), Hamida (Humayun's wife), Khanzada. And of course, there is the detailed portrait of Gulbadan, which the author seeks to build through Gulbadan's writings as well as her own imagination.
The book is rich in imagery and vivid descriptions. I particularly liked reading the description of Kabul, the royal journey from Kabul to Agra, life in the Harem, the grand feasts, the narrow escapes which Babur/Humayun had at times and Gulbadan's pilgrimage to Mecca.
Though labelled Gulbadan's biography, I believe that it is not just about Gulbadan. It is as much about the three Mughal emperors and the other royal ladies in their lives. While reading the book, one gets a flavour of how much history is shaped by the personal nature of rulers and the chance events that happen.
I would recommend this book if you are fascinated by the Mughal empire and would like to read a more personalised account about the rulers, complete with all their idiosyncrasies.
Through Gulbadan, Rummer Goden focusses on history of the second kind. She paints an engaging portrait of the three Mughal Emperors - Babur, Humayun and Akbar. Babur's indomitable courage,his ability to inspire his soldiers, his deeply religious nature are brought out through fine examples. Similarly, Humayun's ever forgiving nature, his superstitious side, his ability to leave things for the last moment is brought out by quoting examples from Gulbadan's accounts.
Not only the emperors, we also get a glimpse of the role played by ladies of the times - Maham (Babur's wife), Hamida (Humayun's wife), Khanzada. And of course, there is the detailed portrait of Gulbadan, which the author seeks to build through Gulbadan's writings as well as her own imagination.
The book is rich in imagery and vivid descriptions. I particularly liked reading the description of Kabul, the royal journey from Kabul to Agra, life in the Harem, the grand feasts, the narrow escapes which Babur/Humayun had at times and Gulbadan's pilgrimage to Mecca.
Though labelled Gulbadan's biography, I believe that it is not just about Gulbadan. It is as much about the three Mughal emperors and the other royal ladies in their lives. While reading the book, one gets a flavour of how much history is shaped by the personal nature of rulers and the chance events that happen.
I would recommend this book if you are fascinated by the Mughal empire and would like to read a more personalised account about the rulers, complete with all their idiosyncrasies.
February 27, 2020
This was about Gulbadan Begam ,the younger daughter of Babur,first Mughal emperor of India ,she was not only Bbabur's daughter ,she was Humayun's sister and Akbar's aunt next and most famous ruler of Mughal empire.
Rumer has drawn some points from Humayun-nama which was written by Gulbadan Begum.
This is basically a picture of Mughal empire from the percepective of Guldadan begum.she was only female scholor of that time.
She has written about all the periods of her life what she witnessed through her life .How the Mughal empire changes after Babur exchange his life for his son and when Humayun died in freak accident and was succeeded by Akbar who just took Mughal empire to its zenith during his rule.
Rumer has drawn some points from Humayun-nama which was written by Gulbadan Begum.
This is basically a picture of Mughal empire from the percepective of Guldadan begum.she was only female scholor of that time.
She has written about all the periods of her life what she witnessed through her life .How the Mughal empire changes after Babur exchange his life for his son and when Humayun died in freak accident and was succeeded by Akbar who just took Mughal empire to its zenith during his rule.
September 23, 2022
I have been an avid reader of all things Mughal and this has indeed been a very different take on the early years of the Mughal rule, a different perspective. The author is clearly intrigued, fascinated and quite taken by the Rose-body princess. The imagery, the narration and the excerpts from 'Humayan-nama' as well as from Abul-Fazl's works along with remarks and questions raised by the author make it an even more interesting read. The princess's account is modest, precise yet patronising and fiercely loyal to the royal blood.
June 28, 2018
a small but significant account of the mughal period through the eyes of princess gulbadan,daughter of babur,this is quite a good book as it gives a clear insight of the times of the mughals.
there is intrigue,splendor,magnificence and lots of small anecdotes on these times described through the eyes of the princess.
there is intrigue,splendor,magnificence and lots of small anecdotes on these times described through the eyes of the princess.
January 4, 2026
The book uses a very simplified portrayal of the life of the lesser heard Mughal princess through the reign of three Mughal kings. Glad that there are books which take the focus away from the central character and bring to light those whom history has forgotten.
January 25, 2019
It's a good read but it has some factual inaccuracies about islam, which made me think about the accuracy of other things as well
August 7, 2010
A quick read, and unlike the other Rumer Godden books I've read; this one is non-fiction. Tells the story of Gulbadan Begum ("Rosebody Princess"), the daughter of Babur (the first Moghul emperor) who watched the empire evolve over three generations from a front row seat in the Mogul court harem. She lived to be 80, and recorded history for the Akbar-nama (emperor Akbar's biography).
Rumer Godden tells the story of the then-little-known princess in a plain, linear manner, punctuated by relevant full colour prints of miniature paintings from the time. The source material Godden uses & quotes - the Babur-nama, the Akbar-nama, other historical accounts, and Gulbadan's own writings - are not new, but the focus of the book is unique: it is strictly concerned with Gulbadan's life, and tells very little of the surrounding & successive events. Considering the limitedly references Godden had to work with, the end result is an illuminating - albeit not intimately revealing - 'portrait' of an important yet overlooked character of the moghal courts. What gaps there are in the narrative, Rumer Godden supplies with her own inferences and imagination of what 'might have been' or 'probably' occurred. The effect is that the book reads like an admiring, almost dreamy, account of some obscure figure from history. Rumer Godden honouring another nearly forgotten female writer. . .
Rumer Godden tells the story of the then-little-known princess in a plain, linear manner, punctuated by relevant full colour prints of miniature paintings from the time. The source material Godden uses & quotes - the Babur-nama, the Akbar-nama, other historical accounts, and Gulbadan's own writings - are not new, but the focus of the book is unique: it is strictly concerned with Gulbadan's life, and tells very little of the surrounding & successive events. Considering the limitedly references Godden had to work with, the end result is an illuminating - albeit not intimately revealing - 'portrait' of an important yet overlooked character of the moghal courts. What gaps there are in the narrative, Rumer Godden supplies with her own inferences and imagination of what 'might have been' or 'probably' occurred. The effect is that the book reads like an admiring, almost dreamy, account of some obscure figure from history. Rumer Godden honouring another nearly forgotten female writer. . .
October 10, 2016
Agh. This is a lightly-fictionalized biography of Gulbadan, author of the Humayun-nama. Unfortunately, it's too fictionalized for use in any serious research. However, the bibliography is worth the price of the book!
December 8, 2011
Fascinating! Rumer Goden always delivers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews