Imtiaz Mahal
| Imtiaz Mahal امتیاز محل | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Lal Kunwar by Indian School of the 18th century | |
| Empress consort of Mughal | |
| Tenure | 27 February 1712 - 12 February 1713 |
| Born |
Lal Kunwar 17th century |
| Died | 18th century |
| Spouse | Jahandar Shah |
| Dynasty | Timurid (by marriage) |
| Father | Khasusiyat Khan |
| Religion | Islam |
Imtiaz Mahal (Persian: امتیاز محل; meaning "distinguished one of the palace") better known by her birth name Lal Kunwar (Hindi: लाल कुंवर) was the Empress of the Mughal Empire as the wife of Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah. She was a former dancing girl who exercised supreme influence over the Emperor, encouraged frivolity and pleasure which eventually led to his ignominious downfall.
Family and linage
Imtiaz Mahal was born as Lal Kunwar, the daughter of Khasusiyat Khan. She came from the class of people called kalawani or professional musicians. Her father was a descendant of Mian Tansen, a celebrated musician during the reign of Emperor Akbar. She had four brothers, Naimat Khan, Namdar Khan, Khanzad Khan, and Khushhal Khan.
As Empress
Upon Jahandar Shah's accession, Lal Kunwar was dignified with the title of Imtiza Mahal and immense treasures, the spoils from Azim ush-shan's and Jahandar Shah's camps, were made over to her. She also came to be known as the "Singing Empress". Her whole family was ennobled, father, brother, and brother-in-laws. Her middle brother was most oppressive of all to the people. All the brothers were granted the naubat, or the right to play the music at stated intervals, and the use of kettle drums when on the march. Their titles were Naimat Khan, Namdar Khan and Khanzad Khan. Some of the finest confiscated mansions were given to them.
Gifts were shown upon Lal Kunwar and her friends. It is said that an annual allowance of two crore of Rupees (about 2,000,000 pounds sterling) was made for her household expenses, exclusive of clothes and jewels. She was allowed to display the imperial umbrella and, to march with drums beating, as if she was the Emperor in person. One writer says the days of Nur Jahan Begum were revived for her; that coins were issued in her name as they had been that of Jahangir's favourite wife. Such coins of Lal Kunwar, if ever issued, not have been found yet. Low persons, such as Zuhara, a woman who kept a vegetable stall, were promoted to high rank and received valuable jagirs.
She was a constant companion of the Emperor, and became another avenue for those seeking imperial favour. This was annoying to the vizier who lost perquisites because every job seeker had to give him a commission and presents. The vizier did not permit any of Lal Kunwar's brothers to hold posts as governorships on the ground that it would lead to discontent among the old nobles. On another occasion, Khushhal Khan, a brother of Lal Kunwar, was arrested by the order of the vizier on the charge of molesting a married woman. His property was confiscated and he was sent to the fortress prison of Samurgurh. Lal Kunwar was powerless to intervene.
Imtiaz Mahal was the cause of an estrangement between the Emperor and his aunt Zinat un-Nissa Begum, daughter of Aurangzeb. The Princess refused to visit or acknowledge Jahandar's new favourite, who in her rage loaded the royal lady with the most opprobrious epithets. As his mistress instigation the Emperor ceased to visit his aunt, and refused her invitation to an entertainment, because Imtiaz Mahal had not been asked to it. She did not liked the Emperor's two younger sons Azz ud-Daulah and Muiz ud-Daulah, their father refused to see them and sent them to prison. She had a childish fondness for festivities and illuminations.
Jahandar Shah and Imtiaz Mahal, in defense of etiquette, often visited the markets together, seated in a bullock carriage, making at the shops such purchases as took their fancy. One night after a day spent in debauchery and in visits to various gardens round the city, they entered the house of a spirit-seller, a friend of Lal Kunwar. There they drank till they were intoxicated. On their leaving, the woman owning the shop was rewarded with a sum of money and a grant of the revenue of a village. During the journey home they both fell asleep, and, on reaching the palace, Lal Kunwar was taken out by her women and carried to her room. The driver of the rath who had also shared in the carouse, made no inspection of it and left it at the stable. The Emperors absence began to cause alarm to the officers of the palace. He was not to be found in Lal Kunwar's apartments, and on her direction the rath was examined. There the Emperor was found fast asleep, nearly two miles from the palace.
Nightly the low musicians gathered at the palace to drink in the Emperor's company. When these men became drunk they would kick and cuff Jahandar Shah and shout in a drunken way. Jahandar Shah, in spite of his long experience of the world, and all the training he had received from his grand- father and father, bore with these insults for fear of offending Lal Kunwar.
Jahandar Shah's death
On 11 February 1713 that saw the end of Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung, Saifullah Khan was sent to the citadel with a letter in Farukhsiyar's own handwriting addressed to Muhammad Yar Khan. The nazim although sorrow at Jahandar Shah's fate, compiled with the order and admitted the messengers. When the group of men entered the prison room, Imtiaz Mahal shrieked, clasped her husband round the neck, and refused to go. Violently forcing them apart, the men dragged her down the stairs. Then laying hands on Jahandar Shah, they tried to strangle him. As he did not die at once, a Mughal with, with his heavy heeled shoes, kicked him several times in a vulnerable place and finished him off. Word was sent to the nazim that life was extinct, that an executioner was needed to cut off the head. Muhammad Yar Khan, who, was standing down below, bathed in cold prespiration, answered "What is left for an executioner to do? Cut off his head, and carry it to His Majesty." They cut it off. The body was then thrown into an open litter (miyana) and the head placed on a tray (Khwan). Half an hour after nightfall, they reached the camp with the lifeless head and trunk and laid them to the entrance to the Emperor's tents, alongside the body of Zulfiqar Khan.
Last years
Lal Kunwar was sent to the settlement of Suhagpura, where the widows and families of decreased Emperors lived in retirement, where she lived until her death.
In popular culture
Empress Imtiaz Mahal Begum is a character in Swapna Dutta's historical novel, The story of the Red Fort .
References
Bibliography
- Irvine, William, 1840-1911 (1922). Later Mughals. London, Luzac.