The Princess Diaries from Humayun’s Court

Humayun and Hamida Banu Begam’s wedding celebrations in 1541 in Rohri [in today’s Pakistan]. The bride (green and white)and groom (blue) are seated in the centre

My lady, who was [Gulbadan Begam's stepmother] Maham Begam, had a great longing and desire to see a son of HumāyÅ«n. Wherever there was a good-looking and nice girl, she used to bring her into his service. Maywa-jān, a daughter of Khadang (? Khazang), the chamberlain (yasāwal), was in my employ. One day (after) the death of his Majesty FirdausmakānÄ« (in reference to Babur, translates to ‘one who is in paradise'), my lady said: "HumāyÅ«n, Maywa-jān is not bad. Why do you not take her into your service?" So, at her word, HumāyÅ«n married and took her that very night.

Three days later [Humayun's senior-most wife] Bega Begam came from Kābul. She became in the family way. In due time, she had a daughter, whom they named Aqīqa. Maywa-jān said to Lady (Aka) Māham Begam, "I am in the family way, too." Then my lady got ready two sets of weapons, and said: "Whichever of you bears a son, I will give him good arms."

Annette Akroyd translated The Humayun Nama in 1902

Then she packed up the arms, and got ready gold and silver walnuts. She procured also the (special) arms of a Mughal commander, and was very happy, and kept saying: "Perhaps one of them will have a son." She kept watch till Bega Begam's Aqīqa was born. Then she kept an eye on Maywa-jān. Ten months went by. The eleventh also passed. Maywa-jān said: "My maternal aunt was in Mīrzā Ulugh Beg's haram [harem]. She had a son in the twelfth month; perhaps I am like her." So they sewed tents and filled pillows. But in the end everyone knew she was a fraud.

• • •

The Emperor [Humayun] came to see her Highness, my mother [Dildar Begam, who then threw a banquet in his honour].

Painted around 1800, this miniature shows Gulbadan Begam smoking a hookah. She was a trailblazer in many ways, including leading India's first cohort of women on Haj in 1576. Pics/Wikimedia Commons

The mīrzā's (refers to Prince Hindal, Humayun's half-brother) haram and all his people paid their respects to his Majesty at this meeting, Concerning Hamīda-bānū Begam [who would go on to become his wife and the mother of Akbar], his Majesty asked: "Who is this?" They said: "The daughter of Mīr Bābā Dost [a Persian sufi who was Hindal's spiritual instructor]." (Hamida Begam's half-brother) Khwaja Mu'azzam was standing opposite his Majesty, who said: "This boy will be one of my kinsmen [too?]." Of Hamīda-bānū he said:"She, too, is related to me."

In those days Hamīda-bānū Begam was often in the mīrzā's residence (mahall). Another day, when his Majesty came to see her Highness my mother, he remarked: "Mīr Bābā Dost is related to us. It is fitting that you should give me his daughter in marriage."

A page from Gulbadan Begam's Persian manuscript

Mīrzā Hindāl kept on making objections, and said: "I look on this girl as a sister and child of my own. Your Majesty is a king. Heaven forbid there should not be a proper alimony, and that so a cause of annoyance should arise [At the time Humayun was on the run and Hindal was concerned he may not have enough funds for the alimony]."

His Majesty got angry, and rose and went away. Then my mother wrote and sent a letter, saying: "The girl's mother has even before this been using persuasion.

It is astonishing that you should go away in anger over a few words." He wrote in reply: "Your story is very welcome to me. Whatever persuasion you may use, by my head and eyes, I will agree to it. As for what they have written about alimony, please Heaven, what they ask will be done. My waiting eye is on the road." My mother fetched his Majesty, and on that day she gave a party. When it was over, he went to his own quarters.

On another day he came to my mother, and said: "Send someone to call HamÄ«dā-bānÅ« Begam here." When she sent, the begam did not come, but said: "If it is to pay my respects, I was exalted by paying my respects the other day. Why should I come again?" Another time his Majesty sent Subhān QulÄ«, and said: "Go to MÄ«rzā Hindāl, and tell him to send the begam." The mÄ«rzā said: "Whatever I may say, she will not go. Go yourself and tell her." When Subhān QulÄ« went and spoke, the begam replied: ‘To see kings once is lawful; a second time it is forbidden. I shall not come." On this Subhān QulÄ« went and represented what she had said. His Majesty remarked: "If she is not a consort [nā mahram], we will make her a consort [mahram]."

To cut the story short: For forty days the begam resisted and discussed and disagreed. At last her highness my mother, Dil-dār Begam, advised her, saving: "After all you will marry someone. Better than a king, who is there?" The begam said: "Oh yes, I shall marry someone; but he shall be a man whose collar my hand can touch, and not one whose skirt it does not reach." Then my mother again gave her much advice.

At last, after forty days (discussion), at mid-day on Monday Jumīdu-l-awwal (sic) 948H (September, 1541), and in Pātr (sic), his Majesty took the astrolabe into his own blessed hand and, having chosen a propitious hour, summoned Mīr Abū'l-baqā and ordered him to make fast the marriage bond. He gave the mīr two laks (sic) of ready money for the dower (nikāhāna), and having stayed three days after the wedding in Pātr, he set out and went by boat to Bhakkar.

Excerpted with permission from The Humayun Nama by Gulbadan Begum, translated from Persian by Annette Susannah Beveridge, with an introduction by Ruby Lal, published by Juggernaut

The women behind the book

Written in the 16th century by Gulbadan Begam - daughter of Babur, sister of Humayun, and aunt of Akbar - the Humayun Nama is the only surviving history of the Mughal world authored by a woman. The chronicles give a glimpse into the lives of noble women who were so long behind a veil, hidden even to history. Centuries later, in 1902, it was again a woman, Annette Akroyd from England, who uncovered this forgotten Persian manuscript and painstakingly translated it to English. And still more decades on, it is historian and author Ruby Lal who brings these twin achievements back into public consciousness with
a new edition of the priceless manuscript.