1/n
Ever heard the song “Kajra mohabbat wala …” where the lyrics go “Chadhti javani ki ye, Pehli bahar le ke, Dilli sheher ka sara Meena bazaar le ke” Do you know the history of the real Meena Bazaar & its connection to Akbar the “Great”?
Ever heard the song “Kajra mohabbat wala …” where the lyrics go “Chadhti javani ki ye, Pehli bahar le ke, Dilli sheher ka sara Meena bazaar le ke” Do you know the history of the real Meena Bazaar & its connection to Akbar the “Great”?
2/n
Col. Tod describes that Akbar held it every year on “Nav Roz” , a Persian festival started by Humayun. The fair was held for 9 days in the bazaar of Agra fort where Rajput ladies, nobles and harem girls set up stalls of fabrics, handicrafts & jewelry from their native lands.
Col. Tod describes that Akbar held it every year on “Nav Roz” , a Persian festival started by Humayun. The fair was held for 9 days in the bazaar of Agra fort where Rajput ladies, nobles and harem girls set up stalls of fabrics, handicrafts & jewelry from their native lands.
3/n
It was by Akbar's rule that no man could enter these fair grounds, except for the Emperor himself. 30,000 women visited the fair every year inside the Agra fort. The entire purpose of the festival was to pick out & force women into Akbar’s harem.
It was by Akbar's rule that no man could enter these fair grounds, except for the Emperor himself. 30,000 women visited the fair every year inside the Agra fort. The entire purpose of the festival was to pick out & force women into Akbar’s harem.
4/n
Niccolao Manucci, who visited India during Akbar’s era (1658 CE), described Meena Bazaar as a platform to select women for the harem. Thomas Coryat, an English traveller commented “Jahangir also held Meena Bazar to catch the sight of pretty ladies of the town”
Niccolao Manucci, who visited India during Akbar’s era (1658 CE), described Meena Bazaar as a platform to select women for the harem. Thomas Coryat, an English traveller commented “Jahangir also held Meena Bazar to catch the sight of pretty ladies of the town”
5/n
Mughal chroniclers camouflaged it as a way to collect earnings for charity. Akbar gave it the name “Khushroz” to signify the “Days of Pleasure”. He would visit the fair in disguise - supposedly to learn value of merchandise & what common people thought of his reign.
Mughal chroniclers camouflaged it as a way to collect earnings for charity. Akbar gave it the name “Khushroz” to signify the “Days of Pleasure”. He would visit the fair in disguise - supposedly to learn value of merchandise & what common people thought of his reign.
6/n
The reality was it served as a disguise for a predator to mark sexual prey. He would select the choicest beauties in the fair to take into his harem later. He particularly had an eye for the most beautiful Rajput women. "Khushroz" became a festival of humiliation for Rajputs.
The reality was it served as a disguise for a predator to mark sexual prey. He would select the choicest beauties in the fair to take into his harem later. He particularly had an eye for the most beautiful Rajput women. "Khushroz" became a festival of humiliation for Rajputs.
7/n
Abu-Fazl, author of Akbarnama, describes Akbar praising the beauty of Rajput women at Meena Bazaar. Once, Akbar was dazzled by the beauty of Baisa Jaswande, wife of Prithviraj Rathore. He was so attracted to her that he could not control his lust & attempted to molest her.
Abu-Fazl, author of Akbarnama, describes Akbar praising the beauty of Rajput women at Meena Bazaar. Once, Akbar was dazzled by the beauty of Baisa Jaswande, wife of Prithviraj Rathore. He was so attracted to her that he could not control his lust & attempted to molest her.
8/n
He physically cornered her & blocked her escape . But Baisa Jaswande refused & did what any full blooded Hindu Rajput woman would do. She pulled out a dagger & held it to his throat. When the guards pulled her back & informed him of her identity, Akbar let her go.
He physically cornered her & blocked her escape . But Baisa Jaswande refused & did what any full blooded Hindu Rajput woman would do. She pulled out a dagger & held it to his throat. When the guards pulled her back & informed him of her identity, Akbar let her go.
9/n
Col. James Tod refers to this incident in the famous poetic exchange between Rana Pratap & Prithviraj, where he laments at how Rajput honor was compromised during the nine days of Nav Roz. Though his wife escaped, many Rajput women did not & became victims of Akbar's lust.
Col. James Tod refers to this incident in the famous poetic exchange between Rana Pratap & Prithviraj, where he laments at how Rajput honor was compromised during the nine days of Nav Roz. Though his wife escaped, many Rajput women did not & became victims of Akbar's lust.
10/n
Akbar's lechery was evident in his court, where he bribed & forced subjects to parade their women. His courtiers bought favors from the Emperor by requesting to “present” their wives or relatives for his pleasure, so that they could enter his Harem in exchange for riches.
Akbar's lechery was evident in his court, where he bribed & forced subjects to parade their women. His courtiers bought favors from the Emperor by requesting to “present” their wives or relatives for his pleasure, so that they could enter his Harem in exchange for riches.
11/n
During such exhibitions, Akbar held special drinking parties. His favorite was a very heady toddy & a spiced infusion of opium. He followed the tradition of his family for many generations in consuming both strong drink and opium in excess to heighten his excitement.
During such exhibitions, Akbar held special drinking parties. His favorite was a very heady toddy & a spiced infusion of opium. He followed the tradition of his family for many generations in consuming both strong drink and opium in excess to heighten his excitement.
12/n
One horrifying facet of his legacy was the practice of forcing Hindus acquired as war booty into sexual slavery & prostitution. In Mughal chronicles the word "prostitutes" connotes Hindu women & boys who were dragged into such depravity after male relatives were massacred.
One horrifying facet of his legacy was the practice of forcing Hindus acquired as war booty into sexual slavery & prostitution. In Mughal chronicles the word "prostitutes" connotes Hindu women & boys who were dragged into such depravity after male relatives were massacred.
13/n
Enslaved Hindu women & young boy held captive were used as prostitutes in several brothels managed by the Emperor’s court itself. At one point there were so many of these sexual victims that prostitution was one of the biggest sources of income for Akbar’s court.
Enslaved Hindu women & young boy held captive were used as prostitutes in several brothels managed by the Emperor’s court itself. At one point there were so many of these sexual victims that prostitution was one of the biggest sources of income for Akbar’s court.
14/n
Abul Fazal mentions Akbar maintained a massive brothel next to his palace in Agra & kept a tight account of activities there. He visited the brothel often & investigated if any virgin cargo was compromised. If any courtier wanted a virgin, they needed Akbar’s permission.
Abul Fazal mentions Akbar maintained a massive brothel next to his palace in Agra & kept a tight account of activities there. He visited the brothel often & investigated if any virgin cargo was compromised. If any courtier wanted a virgin, they needed Akbar’s permission.
15/n
Besides women slaves, young pre pubescent boys were popular among Mughals. Massive sums were charged to courtiers who wanted to deflower the most attractive virgins. Akbar’s greatest accomplishment thus, was to pimp out captured Hindus as sexual slaves to fill his treasury.
Besides women slaves, young pre pubescent boys were popular among Mughals. Massive sums were charged to courtiers who wanted to deflower the most attractive virgins. Akbar’s greatest accomplishment thus, was to pimp out captured Hindus as sexual slaves to fill his treasury.
16/n
Mughal court chronicles, European & Rajput accounts all reveal a cruel sexual deviant, merciless tyrant & violent abuser of Hindus as the real face of Akbar. It’s high time the myth of "Akbar the Great" secular role model is replaced with the reality of Akbar the Despicable.
Mughal court chronicles, European & Rajput accounts all reveal a cruel sexual deviant, merciless tyrant & violent abuser of Hindus as the real face of Akbar. It’s high time the myth of "Akbar the Great" secular role model is replaced with the reality of Akbar the Despicable.
17/n
Refs:
Vincent Smith - Akbar the Great Mogul
Muntakhabut Tawarikh by Al Badayuni - Translation by George S.A. Ranking
Akbar the Great - Dr. Ashirbadi L Shrivastava
Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan - Lt. Colonel James Tod
Ain-I-Akbari - Abul Fazal translated by H. Blochmann
Refs:
Vincent Smith - Akbar the Great Mogul
Muntakhabut Tawarikh by Al Badayuni - Translation by George S.A. Ranking
Akbar the Great - Dr. Ashirbadi L Shrivastava
Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan - Lt. Colonel James Tod
Ain-I-Akbari - Abul Fazal translated by H. Blochmann
Correction - Manucci was present during Aurangzeb’s era not Akbar’s. Typographical Error is regretted. 🙏
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