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This article is about a book. For the institution, see Mughal Harem.

The Mughal Harem is a book by historian K.S. Lal published in 1988 about the Mughal Harem.[1] Scholars perceive the work as communal propaganda, intended to exoticize the harem.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Kishori Saran Lal's book on the institution of the harem in the Mughal Empire. This subject matter is of paramount importance but has been explored by only a handful of authors, each offering distinct perspectives. The review will delve into the author's background and expertise before summarizing the book's contents chapter by chapter. Additionally, it will analyze the book's arguments and incorporate insights from other scholars who have explored this topic.

Contents

Based on contemporary sources, Lal studies queens, princesses, dancing girls, and slaves who belonged to Mughal harem from 15th to 18th century.[2] The political roles of Nur Jahan, Jahanara and Roshanara are described in detail.[2] The ladies were kept beside lawfully wedded wives for the sole purpose of sexual enjoyment by the Mughal emperors.[3] Moreover, no one was allowed to enter the harem except the emperor himself which primarily created the dearth of physical evidence.[4] Women played a vital role in the Mughal dynasty due to the diverse religio-political society of India.[5] Additionlly, women were used to exchange as a gift by the Mughal emperors.[6]

Title and introduction

"The Mughal Harem," authored by Kishori Saran Lal in 1988, offers a perspective on an often overlooked aspect of the Mughal empire: the harem of Mughal emperors[7]. Kishori Saran Lal, an esteemed historian who earned his doctorate from the University of Allahabad in 1945, has contributed significantly to the field through numerous research articles and books.

In this seminal work, Lal meticulously explores the intricacies of the Mughal harem across eleven insightful chapters[8]. Delving into various aspects of this institution under different Mughal emperors, he chronicles its institutionalization, evolution, and functioning. The initial chapters provide a comprehensive overview, detailing the establishment and operational mechanisms of the harem[9].

One of Lal's key contributions lies in his examination of the sources underpinning his research, a topic addressed in the first chapter[10]. Subsequent chapters delve into the composition of the harems, including discussions on the inhabitants, their security measures, living arrangements, as well as the acquisition and management of women, wives, and concubines[7]. Lal also delves into their socioeconomic status and influence within the empire, highlighting how the burgeoning harem culture contributed to the moral decline of the Mughal dynasty.

Through meticulous analysis and scholarly rigor, "The Mughal Harem" sheds light on this fascinating yet often overlooked facet of Mughal history, enriching our understanding of the empire's social and cultural dynamics.

Summary

The book commences with a thorough examination of the diverse array of sources utilized to conduct a detailed analysis of the Mughal harem across different reigns. These sources, ranging from memoirs penned by contemporary writers and visitors of the Mughal court to artworks of the era, provide primary insights into the workings of this institution[11]. They originate from both native Indian and European perspectives, enriching our understanding of the Mughal period.

Moving forward, the second chapter delves into the establishment of the harem by Akbar and its subsequent perpetuation under his successors[12]. Subsequent chapters center on the opulent palaces inhabited by the harem members, detailing the lavish accommodations and amenities at their disposal[13]. These women enjoyed luxurious dwellings and round-the-clock service from attendants. Emperors would visit the harem at their discretion, where they were entertained by the residents[13].

Furthermore, the book explores the recruitment process of these women into the harem, their influence on cultural affairs within the palaces, and their impact on the lives of princes and princesses. It also discusses the elaborate garden parties organized by these women and their significant wealth and sway over various Mughal rulers, underscoring their profound influence throughout different epochs of the empire[14].

In later chapters, the book examines the indulgent lifestyle pursued by Mughal emperors and the harem residents, emphasizing their involvement in pleasure-seeking activities. Finally, the narrative culminates in an exploration of the moral deterioration precipitated by this institution and its role in the eventual downfall of the Mughal empire. The internal strife among princes, fueled by the influence of these women, is highlighted as a major contributing factor to the empire's decline[15].

Reception

"The Mughal Harem" stands as a significant contribution to understanding the institution within the Mughal Empire, shedding light on previously overlooked aspects. It is lauded as a seminal work for its comprehensive exploration of the harem's dynamics, which had been marginalized in historical discourse. However, criticisms have emerged, accusing the book of being biased and propagandist against Muslim rule in India[16]. however, it has been concluded from the primary sources by many researchers that Mughal emperors used women as gifts for their counterparts and important people for the sake of their support to the throne[17]. Many scholars contend that this book diminishes the role women played in the empire to merely that of concubines, despite their substantial contributions in various positions[18].

A. Jan Qaiser of Aligarh Muslim University was very dismissive of the book.[19] Ruby Lal noted Lal's work to be one of the few academic accounts on the topic but laden with oriental tropes of sexuality and seclusion.[20] Karuna Sharma shared Ruby Lal's concerns; K. S. Lal's was the first comprehensive study of the subject but it exoticized the Harem and failed to account for members, who did not have any sexual role.[21] Gianna Carotenuto found the work to be laced with "salacious tales and the sexy exploits of mythic heroes and heroines"; Lal's approach was intended to reinforce the oriental reputation of harem as a haven of sexual extremes and intrigues, and his laments about the evils of Harem being siphoned onto the society were reflective of personal and political agendas.[1]

Indrani Chatterjee remarked of Lal to have treated of Muslims as a "hermetically sealed" category, thereby producing a communalised historiography in pursuit of a political agenda.[22] Harbans Mukhia found Lal's account descriptive but stereotypical.[23] In a review of another work of Lal for the Bulletin of the School of Oriental & African Studies, A. A. Powell noted his conclusion about the Mughals being responsible for religious persecution and socioeconomic exploitation of Hindus to have been in tune with his recent publications including The Mughal Harem.[24] Irfan Habib concured with the assessment of Chatterjee and Powell.

Despite these criticisms, the claims made in the book have been corroborated by other scholars, lending credibility to its assertions[25][26]. Notably, the book establishes that the Mughal harem was indeed instituted by Emperor Akbar, a detail that has been verified by various historians and scholars.[16] However, the strangers and European travelers are not authentic or credible sources due to their little understanding of the cultural aspects of India and Muslims[16].

Furthermore, numerous other scholars have contributed to the discourse by critically examining the perspectives of historians and travelers who documented their encounters with the Mughal emperors and their empires[27]. Additionally, an essential aspect of this debate involves exploring the cultural and religious comprehension of Islam by those who have studied the institution of the harem[25].

References

  1. ^ a b Carotenuto, Gianna M. (2009). Domesticating the harem: Reconsidering the zenana and representations of elite Indian women in colonial painting and photography of India, 1830–1920 (Thesis). University of California, Los Angeles. p. 59, 61-62.
  2. ^ a b Tahera Aftab (2008). Inscribing South Asian Muslim Women: An Annotated Bibliography & Research Guide. BRILL. p. 45. ISBN 978-90-04-15849-8.
  3. ^ Bano, Shadab (1999). "Marriage and Concubinage in the Mughal Imperial Family". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 60: 353–362. ISSN 2249-1937.
  4. ^ Parveen, Layma (November 2023). "The Two Shades Of Mughal Harem: Chastity And Debauchery" (PDF). International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts. 11 (11).
  5. ^ Waheed, Usman; Numan, Muhammad (2024-03-30). "From Harems to Thrones: The Ascendancy of Women in Mughal Royalty" (PDF). Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 4 (3): 107–126. doi:10.47760/cognizance.2024.v04i03.011.
  6. ^ Lal, Ruby (2004). "Historicizing the Harem: The Challenge of a Princess's Memoir". Feminist Studies. 30 (3): 590–616. doi:10.2307/20458986. ISSN 0046-3663.
  7. ^ a b Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–207. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–207. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–50. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  10. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–18. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  11. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–18. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–50. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  13. ^ a b Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–207. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 01–207. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  15. ^ Lal, Kishori Saran (April 1, 1988). The Mughal Harem (1st ed.). India: Aditya Prakashan. pp. 193–207. ISBN 9788185179032.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  16. ^ a b c Anjum, Faraz. "Strangers' Gaze: Mughal Harem and European Travellers of the Seventeenth Century" (PDF). Pakistan Vision. 12 (1).
  17. ^ Lal, Ruby (2004). "Historicizing the Harem: The Challenge of a Princess's Memoir". Feminist Studies. 30 (3): 590–616. doi:10.2307/20458986. ISSN 0046-3663.
  18. ^ Waheed, Usman; Numan, Muhammad (2024-03-30). "From Harems to Thrones: The Ascendancy of Women in Mughal Royalty". Cognizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 4 (3): 107–126. doi:10.47760/cognizance.2024.v04i03.011. ISSN 0976-7797.
  19. ^ Indian Historical Review, New Delhi, 1991
  20. ^ Lal, Ruby (2004). "Historicizing the Harem: The Challenge of a Princess's Memoir". Feminist Studies. 30 (3): 592. doi:10.2307/20458986. ISSN 0046-3663. JSTOR 20458986.
  21. ^ Sharma, Karuna (2009-07-10). "A Visit to the Mughal Harem: Lives of Royal Women". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 32 (2): 156. doi:10.1080/00856400903049457. S2CID 144568032.
  22. ^ Chatterjee, Indrani (1996). Slavery and the household in Bengal, 1770-1880 (Thesis). School of Oriental and African Studies. p. 24.
  23. ^ Harbans, Mukhia (2004), "Select Bibliography", The Mughals of India, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, p. 188, doi:10.1002/9780470758304.biblio, ISBN 978-0-470-75830-4
  24. ^ Powell, A. A. (June 1995). "K. S. Lal: The legacy of Muslim rule in India, vi, 406 pp. New Delhi, Aditya Prakashan, 1992". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 58 (2): 397–398. doi:10.1017/S0041977X0001123X. ISSN 1474-0699. S2CID 161966133.
  25. ^ a b Bano, Shadab (1999). "Marriage and Concubinage in the Mughal Imperial Family". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 60: 353–362. ISSN 2249-1937.
  26. ^ Parveen, Layma (November 2023). "The Two Shades Of Mughal Harem: Chastity And Debauchery" (PDF). International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT). 11 (11): 545–553 – via IJCRT.
  27. ^ 1 Kaur; 2 Ananya; 3 Mishra, 1 Dr. Daljit; 2 Shubhanshi (April 2022). "Mughal Harems: An Intricate Affair" (PDF). International Journal of Novel Research and Development. 7 (4): 993–999 – via IJNRD.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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