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Book: The Twentieth Wife
Author: Indu Sundaresan
The Book is a seventeenth century novel that chronicles the life of Mehrunissa (Nur Jahan).
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Indu Sundaresan seems to have woven magic with her words and creating majestic forts, its mardanasand zenanas, the Imperial harem, its rules and etiquettes, for the readers that linger in the minds even after the book is read over.
The book wonderfully tells the story of a baby girl abandoned by her father. Named Mehrunissa – ‘the sun among women’ this is the story of how she lives true to her name.
With spellbinding beauty and strong determination and intellectually astute, she finds her way into the Imperial harem. The book beautifully builds up the narrative by portraying how after several difficulties destiny unites her with her father even after differences between them.
As a young girl, Mehrunnissa’s unmatched beauty coupled with an ambition in her eyes makes her distinct from all the girls of her age. Chosen by Ruqaiya Begum, the then Padshah Begum (Empress) she enters the imperial harem.
The book creates a few magical moments like the first encounter of Jahangir and Mehrunnisa in the royal gardens, their meetings in the royal Meena Bazaar and Ruqaiya Begum’s palace. Her marriage to Ali Quli, her life and relationship with him has been wonderfully depicted.
Indu Sundaresan seems to captivate the interest of the readers by recreating history in her own exquisite style through vivid descriptions that almost help the readers to escape reality and for once beat time and join the Mughal entourage.
Delving into an era conspicuous of hatred, jealousy, wonders and battles it’s the tale of a girl who becomes the twentieth wife of Jahangir but the first Mughal empress to mint her name on the coins. In a nutshell it’s an enchanting and magical experience.
(Coordinator, Class XI, St Josephs Convent, Chandannagar)
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