The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c9.s2.1

c9.s2.1

Their high salaries and emoluments introduced into the lives of the Umara all the uses and abuses of luxury. They lived with such ostentation that it was not to be seen elsewhere in the world, and the most sumptuous of European courts cannot compare in richness and magnificence with the lustre beheld in Indian courts.¹⁴ Their splendid life-style may be studied in its two aspects - private inside the harem and public outside of it. They lived in magnificent mansions some costing four to six thousand gold *tankahs* (*dinars*) and provided with all amenities.¹⁵ By the seventeenth century the Mahals of the nobles had gained in architectural excellence and constructional designs. At Agra, on the banks of the Jumna, many persons have erected buildings of three or four storeys, writes emperor Jahangir¹⁶ Asaf Khans palace had a fair Diwan Khana which was flanked by diverse lodgings for his women neatly contrived with galleries and walks.¹⁷ Asaf Khans palace was exceedingly handsome and costly,¹⁸ but the others were equally elegant.¹⁹ The basic pattern of the mansions of the nobles was the same. One portion of the building was the Diwan Khana or the mens quarters but the greater portion was occupied by their ladies and was called Zenan Khana.²⁰ In the houses of the nobles the womens apartments are in the centre, and it is generally necessary to traverse two or three large courts and a garden or two before reaching there.²¹ Berniers observations about the houses of nobles of Delhi are similar to those of Pelsaert at Agra. They were spacious and along with courtyards, gardens, trees, basins of water, small *jets deau* in the hall or at the entrance, and handsome subterraneous apartments which are furnished with large fans.²² While encamping, their tents were made equally magnificient. All the arcades and galleries were covered from top to bottom with brocade, and (even) the pavement with rich carpets.²³