Muslim Slave System in Medieval India c16.41

c16.41

On the other extreme were women of unquestioned fidelity. Akbar was told that because of the practise of monogamy among Christians, fidelity of their women was taken for granted. The extraordinary thing is, he said to the Christian Fathers in retort, that it occurs among those of the Brahman (i.e. the Hindu) religion. There are numerous concubines, and many of them are neglected and unappreciated and spend their days unfructuously in the private chamber of chastity, yet in spite of such bitterness of life they are flaming torches of love and fellowship. On hearing about such noble souls the seekers after wisdom were filled with surprise in the august assemblage.⁶² Devotion of such women was well known. Jahangir narrates the story of Lal Kalawant - the singer also know as Miyan Lal⁶³ who from his childhood had grown up in my fathers service (He) died in the 65th or 70th year of his age. One of his girls (concubines) ate opium on this event and killed herself. Few women among the Musalmans have shown such fidelity.⁶⁴ Rupmati of Sarangpur, because of her love for her paramour Baz Bahadur bravely quaffed the cup of deadly poison and carried her honour to the hidden chambers of annihilation,⁶⁵ rather than be captured by Adham Khan. Before her, Deval Rani, though not so lucky, was an equally determined character. Loyalty of Hindu concubines was proverbial, but Muslim ones were not devoid of it. Akbarabadi-Mahall and Fatehpuri-Mahall, shared Shahjahans captivity in the Agra Fort and they were present by his beside when he breathed his last in January, 1666. Rana-i-Dil was originally a dancing girl before she became a favourite concubine of Prince Dara Shukoh. After his execution, Aurangzeb desired to possess her, but she refused.⁶⁶