Taj

by Colin de Silva

Taj an unforgettable epic of love and war, power and passion set against the panoramic background of seventeenth century India, from the snowcapped mountains of Kashmir to the deserts of the Deccan.

Colin de Silva has written a compelling, exotic and dramatic saga that surpasses his earlier bestsellers, the Sinhala quartet. It is the moving story of the love of the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz, in whose memory he created the exquisite Taj Mahal, the Eighth Wonder of the World.

It is also the story of ambition, greed and lust for power — sons against fathers, Muslim Moghuls against Hindu Rajputs, scheming adventuress against devoted bride. There are scenes of incredible magnificence, jewels so heavy their wearer has to be supported to his throne, fountains of perfume, rivers of wine. In contrast there is widespread degradation, poverty, and slaughter on battlefields where contenders vie for vast wealth and supreme power.

The passions, intrigues and treachery of the Moghul court, its jewelled splendour, its love of poetry and its legendary architecture, contrasting with the devastation of battle, are brought to vibrant life in this rich and colourful novel.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

752 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 1990

Reviews

[Baron Olshevri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I wanted to take away one star for the truly laughable sex scenes, I had to add one for poignant and moving passages, especially towards the end.

[L.A. Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history of the Emperor who fought his way into power and had the Taj Mahal built as a love tribute to his dead wife. I wish I could give this book 3 1/2 stars because the detail of the research is impressive. However there is too much detail for my taste making a labour of love to read.

[Manu · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than the Taj itself, the book's focus is on the man who built it, or rather had it built - Shah Jahan. In tracing his life and highlighting the love of his life - Mumtaz Mahal, the book touches upon four generations of Moghul rule, starting with Akbar and ending with Aurangzeb. While Taj remains a work of fiction, it borrows heavily from history, and well known characters like Nur Jehan and Jehangir have important roles to play.

The story focuses on the intrigue that was part of the Mughal court and its machinations, and the impact that it had on determining the emperor of India. It follows the life of Shah Jahan, from the time he was a young prince, to his death, as an emperor deposed by his own son.

Perhaps the tale is best summarised by the words of one of the characters in the book, and which would best represent the lives of each of the characters - "With any human being, an aim becomes an ambition, an ambition, a compulsion, a compulsion an obsession, which can only destroy the human being". While, for most of the characters, the aim was the Moghul throne, for Shah Jahan, there was an additional one - The Taj.

In essence, a good book to read to get a glimpse of what life must have been during the days of the dynasty that defined Indian history for quite a few centuries. If interested in more historical accuracy, i would suggest 'Emperors of the Peacock Throne' by Abraham Eraly.

[Asha KRISHNA · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about mughal period and the treachery and violence that makes it a great story.

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