Paragon of passion

Peep into the past

Taj Mahal, the most famous of them all, was built by Shah Jahan for his queen Mumtaz in Agra. Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb, built Bibi ka Maqbara in Aurangabad as a tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begum. Baz Bahadur built a pavilion for his Hindu queen Roopmati in Mandu. And Ghiyasuddin Khilji built the Jahaz Mahal, also in Mandu, for his countless paramours. 

The character of Ghiyasuddin Khilji has always intrigued me. The eldest son and right hand man of Mahmud Khilji, he did not lack courage. But having spent most of his time in battlefields, he refused to touch the sword after he was crowned king. Instead, he authorised his eldest son Nasir-uddin, the heir-apparent, to reign on his behalf. 

Ghiyasuddin was ardently religious and never missed his prayers. He even prayed at midnight and ordered his attendents to throw him out of bed if he did not wake up!
He also had great affection for animals and birds. One day, he discovered a mouse in his bedroom. But, instead of ordering it to be killed, he told the attendents to feed it regularly. He treated the pigeons and parrots who strayed into the palace the same way.  
Unlike other kings, Ghiyasuddin never touched wine or any other intoxicant. There are many amusing stories in the Wakiat-I-Mushtaki about it. Once when Ghiyasuddin fell ill, the royal physician made up a special medicine for him. But Ghiyasuddin refused to touch it without knowing what the ingredients were. So the physician read out the entire list comprising 300 components which included poppy seeds. A shocked Ghiyasuddin ordered the medicine to be thrown away immediately.

“But the ingredients cost me almost a lakh of rupees” cried the royal physician.“That cannot be helped” said Ghiyasuddin, “I cannot forsake my principle for the sake of money.” “Then please allow me to give it to other patients who cannot afford it,” pleaded the physician. “Never!” cried Ghiyasuddin, “What the king cannot have will not be given to another living soul!”

The biggest passion in Ghiyasuddin’s life, however, were women. All biographers agree that he was practically obsessed with the fair sex. He had countless beautiful women in his harem for whom he built the Jahaz Mahal and the Hindola Mahal. Thousands among them were “in his service”. This is how historian Firishta describes it: “Among them (women) were school teachers, musicians, dancers, embroiderers, women to read prayers and women of all trades and professions. 500 young turkish girls in uniform, armed with bows and arrows which they could use, stood on his right. On his left stood 500 Abyssinian girls with fire arms.”

Jahangir also writes in his Memoirs: “He (Ghiyasuddin) had a whole city of women comprising soldiers, magistrates, qazis, kotwals and whatever else is necessary for the administration of a town. He taught the women all kinds of arts and crafts including hunting and took some of them along when he went to hunt deer.”

Ghiyasuddin reigned for 31 years. His death is one of the most brutal and pathetic episodes in the history of Mandu. Although Nasiruddin enjoyed all the powers of a king, he bitterly resented the presence of his father, now getting on in years. Crazy to sit on his father’s throne, he tried to poison him twice. But his attempt failed because Ghiyasuddin always carried a zahar muhra (poison antidote). Moreover, Nasir’s hatred was so obvious that Ghiyasuddin realised what he was after and threw away the poisoned sherbet on both occasions. Finally, Nasir-ud-din decided to take destiny into his own hands and carried the cup of poison himself and ordered him to drink it.

Ghiyasuddin looked at his son and read the greed and ambition in his eyes. He took the cup from him and took off the zahar muhra from his arm and threw it on the floor. He knelt down for the last time and breathed his last prayer to God: “Oh Lord Almighty! My time has arrived and I have passed my years in prosperity and happiness rarely attained by any king. Now, since this is my last prayer, I beg on my knees that thou shalt not blame my son Nasir as my murderer; that thou shalt take my death as something destined by thee.” 

Then he drank the poisoned cup of sherbet at a gulp and delivered his soul to his creator. This episode occurs in the Memoirs of Jahangir who keenly felt the pathos of the situation. He also writes about how Sher Afghan felt about it: “When Sher Afghan came to the tomb of Nasir-ud-din during his reign, he ordered the tomb to be beaten up with sticks because of what Nasir did to his father.” Jahangir, who loved his own father dearly, adds: “When I went to Nasir’s tomb, I too gave it several kicks.”

Nasir-ud-din is said to have had a miserable time attending to domestic feuds galore and  finally died of a painful disease. 

Jahaz Mahal, Ghiyasuddin’s magnificent creation, remains as beautiful as ever, attracting tourists throughout the year.