[jyotirmoy]

As you approach the crossing of Kamala Nagar Road and Grand Trunk Road in north Delhi you come to a vast garden known as Roshanara Bagh. This beautiful mughal garden had attracted the Brits and they had set up an elite club called the Roshanara club. Today Delhi’s elite still gathers here, many of them quite unaware of the fact that here lies one of the most beautiful and powerful Begums of the Mughal dynasty.

Roshanara Begum was the second daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. She was born in the year 1617 on September 3. She along with her elder sister was quite influential during the reigns of Shahjahan and Aurangzeb. When the battle for succession started among the sons of Shahjahan, she took the side of Aurangzeb. It was she who had set up a network of spies all over the palace as well as far flung outposts so that every thing that took place was reported to her in no time.
In the bitter & violent fight for succession Aurangzeb with the aid of her defeated his brothers. Shahjahan’s favourite son Dara was arrested and paraded wearing beggar’s clothes at Chandni Chowk.

Francois Bernier reported, “A second council was consequently convened, and the question was discussed, whether it was more expedient to conduct Dara to Goüaleor(Gwalior)…… At this meeting Rauchenara- Begum betrayed all her enmity against her hapless brother, combating the arguments of Danesh-Mand, and exciting Aurengzeb to this foul and unnatural murder.”

So after this humiliating parade Dara was beheaded. Roshanara got Dara’s head packed in a gilded box and wrapped in silk and arranged to send the package by her chief eunuch to Shahjahan who was held captive at Agra fort. The eunuch reached Agra in the evening & waited for Shahjahan to sit down for dinner. The eunuch presented Shahjahan this package as if it was a loving gift from Aurangzeb and Roshanara. Shahjahan after thanking Allah opened the packet to find Dara’s head and with a loud wail fell unconscious on the dinner plate breaking three teeth.

After Aurangzeb’s succession to the throne Roshanara became very powerful and her brother consulted her on important matters of the state. In Agra she patronized the construction of the Jama Masjid, which has a unique zigzag pattern created by inlay of white marble in red sandstone background on the three main domes. A locality near this Friday mosque in Agra is named after her, the Roshan Mohalla. Forced spinsterhood found an outlet in poetry and both Jehanara and Roshanara gave vent to their feelings in verse.

Although Aurangzeb was deeply indebted to his sister he was weary of Roshanara’s escapades. She had inherited her lust from her father.
Towards the later part Aurangzeb became totally occupied with fighting in the Deccan and spent most of his time at Aurangabad. In his absence Roshanara managed the affairs in Delhi. Hearing the rumour that Aurangzeb has been mortally wounded Roshanara committed an act of forgery.
Up on his arrival in Delhi Aurangzeb found out about this forgery and much of Roshanara’s powers were curbed. On one fateful after noon Aurangzeb’s spies caught Roshanara red handed with her lovers in a recess of her palace. She was held captive and by the orders of Aurangzeb, a stern puritan she was slowly poisoned. The poison made her face, limbs and feet swell. Bloated beyond recognition beautiful Roshanara Begum died in Delhi in 1671. As her stars changed positions so did her year of birth & death. Born in 17 and dead in 71.

Roshanara had built a garden of her own. A raised canal passed through it, lined on both sides by flowering plants. The garden was dark and mysterious and deeply loved by the princess. Now she lies buried inside it, in a raised pavilion built in white marble. Hardly any body visits her tomb where as many visit the humble tomb of her elder sister Jahanara in Nizamuddin.

[Shashank]

Thanks for this Dada...was not aware about this chapter of history.!!

[dzibead]

Shanshank, if you search through Jyoti Da's posts here, you'll find many, many historical gems like this!  I'm collecting them into one document to use as my personal guide book for my next visit to Delhi!

[Hippie at Heart]

Vanity thy name is History.

[jyotirmoy]

Hippie at Heart, on Nov 26 2007, 08:36 PM, said:

Vanity thy name is History.

Life with out vanity is like boiled egg with out salt

[jyotirmoy]

dzibead, on Nov 26 2007, 07:37 PM, said:

Shanshank, if you search through Jyoti Da's posts here, you'll find many, many historical gems like this!  I'm collecting them into one document to use as my personal guide book for my next visit to Delhi!

There are three Delhi's. There is the one where the tourist bus will take you, there is the second one where the bus won't take you and the third is the make believe Delhi where the upwardly mobiles live.
It is the second one that had always drawn me since I came to live in Delhi. The Shajahanabad.... once the most vibrant and rich city of the world where people from far off lands came in search of fame & fortune. They brought with them their art & culture. A grand refined society took its birth in the grand havelis of this city. Every nook & corner, every lane & bylane of this city is seeped in history. At places life goes on as it went in the past, the manners & etiquettes of the past......

The best way to savour the second Delhi is to be on your own. Get a good map and mark out the places. Arm yourself with a history book and hit the road. Go to these places, hardly any crowd there, sit down under a winter sun and read. Often I have felt as if the place has become alive with the characters that leap out of the pages of history. Roam around in the narrow lanes with the remains of the ancient havelis. Watch the day pass and as evening falls the mists of Delhi begins to gather around you and the Dijnns of Shajahanabad wake up........

[Shashank]

very well said Jyoti Da..

For people like me born and brought up here, our eyes have become so used to see those things that they have become part of our daily life...

Till few years back I never knew that Humayun's tomb was such an important site on India's Map..I have passed from there numerous times...however I am yet to enter it...

There are loads of things that we take for granted ...however the kind of history this city has seen, I don't think any other city would have seen in the world..

[jyotirmoy]

I am sure Bhai Shashank that you have driven past the Purana Quilla(Old Fort), there situated on the left rear side is the library & observatory of Humayun. While deeply engrossed in observing the stars one night Humayun a religious person heard the call for the prayers. Hurrying down the steps he fell down and died from the injury sustained.
Humayun's tomb is a beautiful structure and one of the most well maintained monuments of our Delhi. You should visit the gardens around this tomb in late February or early March, they are a riot of colours.

[dzibead]

Shashank, on Nov 26 2007, 10:53 PM, said:

Till few years back I never knew that Humayun's tomb was such an important site on India's Map..I have passed from there numerous times...however I am yet to enter it...

Humayun's Tomb was the first place I visited in Delhi.

But I know what you mean about familiarity breeding, if not contempt then at least, indifference:  I lived in the San Francisco area for 8 years before I ever went to Alcatraz -- and, in fact, I might still never have gone there, except my sister and her husband came for a visit and wanted to see it!

[Shashank]

All the local visits were in form of family picnics when I was a kid..but after that nothing...Delhi Zoo, Qutab Minar Complex, Old Fort, Red Fort, India Gate, all the gardens, Children's Park, Rajghat, Indira Gandhi's House..Tin Murti Bhawan..Lotus Temple.....etc etc..

I still remember school picnics to Doll Museum, national Museaum, Lodhi Garden, Nehru park, Nehru Planetarium..

Now when I recall these things, I realize how mcuh is there to Delhi...its difficult to even count !!

But Now..I have time to explore the country but not my city...as dzibead said familiarity is what keeps us away...

[Hyderabadi]

jyotirmoy, on Nov 27 2007, 02:04 AM, said:

Humayun's tomb is a beautiful structure and one of the most well maintained monuments of our Delhi. You should visit the gardens around this tomb in late February or early March, they are a riot of colours.

dzibead, on Nov 27 2007, 02:42 AM, said:

Humayun's Tomb was the first place I visited in Delhi.

Here are a couple of pictures from my visit to Delhi last year:

[Shashank]

you have captured it beautifully..the cloud cover visible in second pic is adding to the glory !!

[Hyderabadi]

Shashank, on Nov 27 2007, 11:47 AM, said:

you have captured it beautifully..the cloud cover visible in second pic is adding to the glory !!

Thank you!

Now, I hope you find the time to visit it Shashank.

From inside:

[noflylist]

Them conservative Islamic types in Moghul empire certainly did not lack from sexual adventures!

[jyotirmoy]

!Noflylist, on Nov 27 2007, 08:00 PM, said:

Them conservative Islamic types in Moghul empire certainly did not lack from sexual adventures!

The ladies of the royal families were forced to live the life of spinsterhood as no men were considered equal to their social status. Under such circustances the only option they had was secret escapades. It is said that during her journey to Kashmir Roshanara begum had a male companion who dressed as a woman.

[jyotirmoy]

Wonderful photos Hyderabadi, thanks a lot.

[batistuta]

Hyderabadi, Great Pics, as ever.

Thanks.