Mariam-Uz-Zamani, Palace at Fatehpur Sikri.

 

AKBAR THE GREAT-7

एक दुखी परिवार – २7

In the beginning of 1569, Akbar was gladdened by the news that his first Hindu consort, Heer Kunwari was expecting a child, and that he might hope for the first of the three sons promised by Sheikh Salim Chisti, a reputed holy man who lived at Sikri. An expectant Heer was sent to Sheikh's humble dwelling at Sikri during the period of her pregnancy. 

On August 30, 1569, the boy was born and received the name Salim, after Salim Chisti, in acknowledgement of his father's faith in the efficacy of Salim Chisti,  the holy man's prayers.

Her title, Mariam-uz-zamani, 'the Mary of the Age', has been mistaken sometimes with Akbar's mother, whose title was Mariam-makani, 'dwelling with Mary'. 

Apart from the title of Mariam-use-Zamani, Heer also held the titles of Mallika-e-Hind(Hindustan) and Wali Nimat Begam which literally means the Gift of God. She held this title throughout her lifetime and even issued farmans (official documents) using the title of Wali Nimat Mariam-uz-Zamani Begum.

Akbar's marriage with Hindu princess Heer Kunwari produced important effects on both , on his personal rule of life and on his public policy. 

She was also known as Akbar's first and last love. The custom of Hindu rulers offering their daughters for marriage to Muslim rulers, though not common, had been prevalent from before perhaps. Yet Akbar's marriage to princess of Amber/Amer is significant, as an early indication of his evolving policy of religious eclecticism. 

It may be stated at the cost of repetition that the term secularism , as such, had not evolved in the shape it presently is, but religious eclecticism might be a concept quite close to the definition of secularism of this day. It may be Akbar's political pretence rather than anything intrinsically real.

The marriage with the Amer princess secured the powerful support of her family throughout the reign, and offered a proof manifest to all the world that Akbar had decided to be the Badshah or Shahenshah of his whole people i.e. Hindus as well as Muslims.the Hindu subjects especially had been wary of the invader tag that the Mughal emperors and his predecessor Muslim emperors had carried. Akbar's approach on this kind was a successful design to assuage the hurt Hindu sentiments which stood confused whether to countenance Akbar's marital policies or to accept its benign fall out , effecting easing of tangles with the fragmented Hindu kingdoms of Rajputana that were all the time at loggerheads with the Mughals and its predecessors. 

The peace which the Hindu subjects ultimately were able to thereby buy, might be an oblique reason for Akbar's general acceptance among the cross section as a subject-friendly emperor. 

(Cont.    .)