September 26 2014 Jodha Akbar | 339 - Battle of the Begums..!!

Jaziya Abolished...Birbal Proves Himself to AkDha..

Twins  Separated..!!

Friends,

What a beautiful episode!!! Just saw it and am still feeling dazed by the intensity of the AkDha scenes we got today. Oh My God!!! Yesterday, we were so sad that there were no warm and intimate AkDha family moments with their babies…Today’s episode was filled with this adorable and elegant royal family and what a treat it was!!

The Creatives have introduced the Abolition of Jaziya track, which was a poll tax levied by the state on Non-Muslims. Either they had to pay this tax or convert to Islam. It was not only an economic burden on the poor but also an instrument of humiliation as the people had to pay the tax personally while acknowledging their inferior status. No wonder Jodha referred to herself as “Hare hue Hindu” yesterday, while paying the tax. The Jaziya tax was removed by Akbar in 1564 A.D.

Side Note: Anyone noticed that every time Jodha pays any tax to Ruqaiyya, that tax gets repealed?!  ;)  


The episode opens in the DEK. To me, it appeared as if Akbar and Jodha were both aware of their moves and played their parts perfectly in a staged drama intended to make Ruqaiyya herself accept abolishment of Jaziya. LOL Do you folks remember the Chess metaphor? Today was the game truly played in the DEK and gosh, Ruqaiyya was well and truly checkmated!! Her expression when Akbar made her realize that she was advocating removal of the tax was to die for.

The scene began with Jalal announcing a discussion on the issue of Jaziya. Ruqaiyya rose at once to remind him that he had agreed not to repeal the tax. Jalal agreed with her, which led to Jodha desiring to make a supplication before him. Jodha declared that her children were Hindus as they were born to a Hindu mother and therefore she would pay the tax on their behalf too.

Ruqaiyya was shaken by this and protested that her child would not pay the tax. For the first time, Jalal reminded Ruqaiyya that incidentally, both the children were his. He espoused Jodha’s cause, saying he fully understood and agreed with Jodha that the children were Hindus and would have to pay the tax, as per Mughal law. He went so far as to say that the children were Hindus at present and that he could not accept them as Mughals till they were older and accepted Islam willingly.  

Ruqaiyya was stunned and declared that in such cases, people would unwillingly accept Islam just to escape the tax. Akbar was waiting for just this chance and he wasted no time in seizing it with both hands. He at once declared that this was what he had been saying all along that he could not accept people converting to Islam unwillingly just to escape taxation. And without giving anyone a moment to digest this and object, he announced the abolition of Jaziya throughout the Mughal Sultanat and stated that Muslims and Hindus would henceforth be treated at par.

As expected, the ulema protested saying the two communities could not be treated at par as they were totally different. At this, Mahesh Das / Birbal answered on behalf of Jalal that for God, all humans were the same and that Jalal, being the shadow of God on earth, had to treat everyone equally. JJ beamed in happiness while Ruqaiyya’s face darkened ominously. A storm had started brewing in her mind already looking at the happy face of Jodha.          

I loved how Jodha acknowledged and thanked Birbal through a simple glance and a smile.

First Beautiful Scene:

Jodha was rocking the babies to sleep when Jalal came to her hojra and asked her the reason for her happiness. She thanked him for abolishing the tax and, as usual, Jalal complimented her for helping him in taking another momentous decision. Jodha then began teasing Jalal by praising Birbal for coming up with such a brilliant plan and giving him all the credit for the far-reaching judgment. Jalal was a study in suppressed jealousy. He was driven to such a jealous rage, watching Jodha gushing about Birbal’s intelligence and his ability to keep her happy that he rose to leave immediately. Teasingly, Jodha held him back, professing her love for him and declaring how no one could ever take his place in her life. At this, Jalal drew her closer and told her that he could not even bear the thought of his children coming between him and Jodha.    

Side Note:  Many people felt that there was no scope for Jodha in the Akbar-Birbal interactions. Today’s episode proved them utterly wrong. ;) The three musketeers had the last laugh, as they joined hands to beat Ruqaiyya at her own game.

What followed was a tender scene in which both cuddle a crying baby each, trying to make them calm. Touch wood..what adorable babies..and the scene was pure delight to watch. J As the babies quietened and slept off, JJ prayed that their happiness should never be eclipsed by any negativity.

In the next scene, Ruqaiyya approaches Hamida Bano and argues to be given her baby immediately because she fears that the baby may become too attached to Jodha and Jodha may refuse to part with the child later out of motherly bonding. Hamida tried to make her see sense by stating that the babies had been born prematurely and needed their mother to become strong. But to no avail. Ruqaiyya remained adamant till Hamida gave in.

Second Beautiful Scene:

Jalal, who overheard this conversation, went over to Jodha’s hojra. She was happily enjoying the antics of her babies, as only a mother can, when Jalal asked her, with a catch in his throat, if she remembered that only one of the babies was hers. It was as if a huge bolt of lightning had struck Jodha. She teetered, but being the ever-graceful queen, did not flinch from reality. Jalal was just beginning to console her when Ruqaiyya marched in, oblivious to their need for privacy and demanded her child. Jalal could barely look at Jodha, whilst she had to steel herself to give away a part of her.

How I hated Ruqaiyya at that moment!! How can a woman be so insensitive to the needs of a mother and a new-born baby? For the first time, since the Ruqaiyya Downfall track started, she accepted to herself that she was taking away from Jodha not just  a child, but someone  she loved the most, just the way Jodha had taken Jalal away from her a few months back (in her twisted logic manner).     

Jodha just melted into Jalal’s arms at that moment, beseeching him not to say a word, for words were insufficient to describe just how she felt at that moment.  

I was upset with the Creatives for giving one child away to Ruqaiyya. It was heart-wrenching to see not just a mother-child being separated, but also twins being separated. I feel JJ are beginning to realize the true colors of Ruqaiyya. That why she had insisted on adopting one child of Jodha, instead of just sharing the responsibility of bringing up the twins.

Precap:

Jodha requests Ruqaiyya to let her be the nursing mother to Hussein. But Ruqaiyya shoots down her request and says that she would not even let the shadow of Jodha fall upon her child, leave alone allow her to nurse him. Jalal is watching silently but with a feeling of embitterment. It seems he cannot believe that Ruqaiyya can stoop so low.

From today’s episode, I felt that Ruqaiyya had 3 reasons to take away Hussein immediately today:

1.       She wanted to hit Jodha where it would hurt the most, by taking away her child and not letting her near him.

2.       She didn’t want the  child to be raised as a Hindu.

3.       She wanted to avenge the insult she felt in the DEK. (Well, she had insulted Jalal in the DEK and now the tables were turned on her!)  

Extra Scene of the Day:

Birbal and his wife! It was funny enough, with Birbal wondering how Jalal managed to keep so many begums happy, while his hands were literally full with just one wife. LOL This scene reminded me of an old post of Abhay. He explained howAkbar had once said that a man should take only as many wives as he could afford to keep happy.

Last Post:  September 25 2014 Jodha Akbar | 338 - Back to State Politics..!! !


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This article has been posted under the  Jodha-Akbar section of  history_geek's BLOG.