Aurangzeb
in love!!!.One
would be surprised to come across love story which hardly matched his
personality.This is about love affair of one of the most prominent Mughal
Emperors, Aurangzeb (1618-1707) who ruled over India for 49 years
(1658-1707).Aurangzeb fell in love at first sight with Hira Bai.
in love!!!.One
would be surprised to come across love story which hardly matched his
personality.This is about love affair of one of the most prominent Mughal
Emperors, Aurangzeb (1618-1707) who ruled over India for 49 years
(1658-1707).Aurangzeb fell in love at first sight with Hira Bai.
The
Story goes on as……
Story goes on as……
Emperor Shah Jahan had personally
led his forces to Deccan in 1631. During this campaign, his wife Mumtaz Mahal
died at Burhanpur. She was temporarily buried in the city before her mortal
remains were moved (1648) to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Shahjahan the Emperor was
in deep mourning due to her death.
led his forces to Deccan in 1631. During this campaign, his wife Mumtaz Mahal
died at Burhanpur. She was temporarily buried in the city before her mortal
remains were moved (1648) to the Taj Mahal in Agra. Shahjahan the Emperor was
in deep mourning due to her death.
 |
Aurangzeb in his court |
While retiring from the area in
grief, he appointed Aurangzeb, then Prince Muhi-ud-Din only fourteen years of
age, as governor of Deccan. The Prince set up court at Kirki at 220 km south
east of Burhanpur on the right bank of river Tapti, later (1653) he
renamed it Aurangabad.
grief, he appointed Aurangzeb, then Prince Muhi-ud-Din only fourteen years of
age, as governor of Deccan. The Prince set up court at Kirki at 220 km south
east of Burhanpur on the right bank of river Tapti, later (1653) he
renamed it Aurangabad.
In 1636, Aurangzeb was travelling to
Kirki, the place of his court (now known as Aurangabad) from Delhi and
decided to make a stop at Burhanpur to pay respect to his maternal aunt, Salah
Bano, sister of Mumtaz Mahal. His aunt was married to Khan-e-Zaman Saif
Khan, Subedar of Burhanpur, Commander of Artillery.
Kirki, the place of his court (now known as Aurangabad) from Delhi and
decided to make a stop at Burhanpur to pay respect to his maternal aunt, Salah
Bano, sister of Mumtaz Mahal. His aunt was married to Khan-e-Zaman Saif
Khan, Subedar of Burhanpur, Commander of Artillery.
There in the garden,
Aurangzeb’s eyes locked on to one girl who was holding a branch of a tree and
humming a tune…
Aurangzeb’s eyes locked on to one girl who was holding a branch of a tree and
humming a tune…
“Since Aurangzeb was a
member of the family, the ladies of the harem of the Subedar were not in
total seclusion.There in the garden, Aurangzeb’s eyes locked on to one
girl who was holding a branch of a tree and humming a tune.
member of the family, the ladies of the harem of the Subedar were not in
total seclusion.There in the garden, Aurangzeb’s eyes locked on to one
girl who was holding a branch of a tree and humming a tune.
Aurangzeb was mesmerized and
dazzled by the sweet melody and striking beauty of the girl. He sank to the
ground and then, visibly disoriented, lay down, unable to stand on his
feet.”
dazzled by the sweet melody and striking beauty of the girl. He sank to the
ground and then, visibly disoriented, lay down, unable to stand on his
feet.”
 |
| Hira Bai–Love of Aurangzeb |
When her aunt was informed about his
condition, she was perturbed and came running bare footed. She sat down beside
her nephew trying to revive him. After a little while, he regained his
bearings. Despite her urging, he didn’t disclose the reason for his
discomfiture.A despondent and grief-stricken feeling prevailed in the house and
the feast was disrupted.
condition, she was perturbed and came running bare footed. She sat down beside
her nephew trying to revive him. After a little while, he regained his
bearings. Despite her urging, he didn’t disclose the reason for his
discomfiture.A despondent and grief-stricken feeling prevailed in the house and
the feast was disrupted.
Around midnight, when Aurangzeb was
composed enough, he went over to his aunt and told her the reason for his
affliction. On hearing about the girl, she became tormented and distraught. She
told him that the girl is a dancer and signer by the name of Hira Bai and was
called Zainabadi for belonging to a local village of that name.
composed enough, he went over to his aunt and told her the reason for his
affliction. On hearing about the girl, she became tormented and distraught. She
told him that the girl is a dancer and signer by the name of Hira Bai and was
called Zainabadi for belonging to a local village of that name.
She lamented that her husband was
very harsh. She feared that on hearing that Aurangzeb was interested in his
concubine, he might respond violently.
very harsh. She feared that on hearing that Aurangzeb was interested in his
concubine, he might respond violently.
 |
| Young Aurangzeb |
Since Saif Khan knew about the
harem of Aurangzeb, he wanted Chattar Bai, a concubine of Aurangzeb in
exchange. Salah Bano went to Aurangzeb and conveyed the message which was
agreeable to the Prince.
harem of Aurangzeb, he wanted Chattar Bai, a concubine of Aurangzeb in
exchange. Salah Bano went to Aurangzeb and conveyed the message which was
agreeable to the Prince.
Certainly, Aurangzeb had
started enjoying music and dance during that time.
started enjoying music and dance during that time.
It
is recorded in contemporary resources that Aurangzeb was extremely pleased and
merry in the company of his love. He even lost some of his extremist or
puritanical leanings. Hirabai’s looks, combined
with her musical accomplishments, proved irresistible for the prince.
is recorded in contemporary resources that Aurangzeb was extremely pleased and
merry in the company of his love. He even lost some of his extremist or
puritanical leanings. Hirabai’s looks, combined
with her musical accomplishments, proved irresistible for the prince.
Once Hira Bai wanted to test
Aurangzeb’s love for her, she offered him a glass of wine and when he was
about to drink, Hira Bai took it away. Another version is Aurangzeb
started drinking with her and enjoyed music and dance in her company.
Aurangzeb’s love for her, she offered him a glass of wine and when he was
about to drink, Hira Bai took it away. Another version is Aurangzeb
started drinking with her and enjoyed music and dance in her company.
Alas,
this love was not to last. Hira Bai soon fell sick and died. She is buried in
Aurangabad. Aurangzeb gave up music and wine after her death. Aurangzeb
built masjid and Mala in her name. Zainabad is in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
this love was not to last. Hira Bai soon fell sick and died. She is buried in
Aurangabad. Aurangzeb gave up music and wine after her death. Aurangzeb
built masjid and Mala in her name. Zainabad is in Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Aurangzeb made a vow never to drink
wine, nor to listen to music again. In later days he was accustomed to say that
God had been very gracious to him by putting an end to that dancing-girl’s
life, by reason of which he had committed so many iniquities. Perhaps his heart
died with the passing away of his one true love – Hira Bai Zainabadi.
wine, nor to listen to music again. In later days he was accustomed to say that
God had been very gracious to him by putting an end to that dancing-girl’s
life, by reason of which he had committed so many iniquities. Perhaps his heart
died with the passing away of his one true love – Hira Bai Zainabadi.
Tomb
of Aurangzeb in Ahmadnagar
of Aurangzeb in Ahmadnagar
Aurangzeb died in 1707 at Ahmednagar. His body was then carried to Khuldabad .There is a platform
over the tomb made of red stone, less than three yards in length. There is also
a “cavity” in the middle which measures a “few fingers”.
The tomb has been covered with soil on which herbs grow.
over the tomb made of red stone, less than three yards in length. There is also
a “cavity” in the middle which measures a “few fingers”.
The tomb has been covered with soil on which herbs grow.
Lord
Curzon later covered the site with marble and surrounded it
with a “pierced marble screen”. The tomb is roofed by “the vault
of the sky”.The gateway and the domed porch was added in 1760.
Curzon later covered the site with marble and surrounded it
with a “pierced marble screen”. The tomb is roofed by “the vault
of the sky”.The gateway and the domed porch was added in 1760.
 |
Tomb of Aurangzeb (From Wikipedia with Thanks) |
It is said that Aurangzeb paid for his burial place by stitching
caps during his last years and that it cost only 14 rupees and 12 annas. The
tomb is “remarkably simple in keeping with Aurangzeb’s own wishes”.
Aurangzeb’s full name is written on a marble plate located in one of the
corners of the tomb.(From Wikipedia)
This ended the love story of
Aurangzeb who as Mughal prince fell in love and later a ruthless Mughal emperor
on a sober note.
caps during his last years and that it cost only 14 rupees and 12 annas. The
tomb is “remarkably simple in keeping with Aurangzeb’s own wishes”.
Aurangzeb’s full name is written on a marble plate located in one of the
corners of the tomb.(From Wikipedia)
This ended the love story of
Aurangzeb who as Mughal prince fell in love and later a ruthless Mughal emperor
on a sober note.
This
Love Story of Aurangzeb and Hira Bai Zainabadi has been compiled with help of materials and photos available on net and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram.
Love Story of Aurangzeb and Hira Bai Zainabadi has been compiled with help of materials and photos available on net and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram.
