Historical Tracks for Jodha Akbar Show

Hi all,

This is a different post from the ones normally made on this blog. Neither this is completely historical, nor this is an episode related post. Here, I am listing some 'possible' tracks which could have been and which can be depicted in the show Jodha Akbar.

Since, the show is not following timelines in complete regard, i am listing some historical events, dealing with Jodha and Akbar ONLY, along with the actual timeline, where it is possible. The tracks which are considered better can prove to be a good bet.

Please note that in this post, Jodha means Harka Bai. 
Here we go:

1. Marriage of Jodha and Akbar > 6th February 1562 in Sambhar in Rajputana. 

2. Same year , the Battle of Paronkh happened in October 1562, in which Raja Bhagwan Das saved Akbar’s life by taking an arrow shot on Akbar on his own chest, and offered water from his own supply to Akbar, while the latter was looking for water in the war-field.

3. Adham Khan, Atga Khan and Maham Anga died in 1562. Though, some Mughal records put these incidents in 1563. 

4. Abolition of Pilgrim Tax > 1562-63. Abolition of Jaziya > 1564

5. Birth and Death of Twins > 19th October 1564 and 27th October/5th November 1564

6. Sharif-ud-din's Dad arrives in Agra, and is welcomed by Akbar > 1563-64

7. Flight of Sharif-ud-din > 1564

8. War with Sharif-ud-din > 1564

9. Sujamal dies in this war. Jodha accompanies Akbar in the war.

10. On returning, they went to Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti in Agra in 1564.

Historically, Akbar did NOT FALL out with Harka Bai, after the demise of twins. He supported her, and took her with him to the war and pilgrimage just after the twins demise. This speaks VOLUMES about her and Akbar's relation.

Post : Children of Akbar and Mariam-Uz-Zamani Begum

11. Mahachuchak Begum is stabbed by Abu'l Maali in Kabul, and later, Mirza Hakim, orders for his hanging. This also happened in 1564. It was a series of murders which started at the behest of Mahachuchak Begum, and she was the ultimate victim of it. A separate topic will be posted soon on Mahachuchak Begum.

 

12. Mirza Hakim, son of Mahachuchak Begum invaded Lahore, Punjab in 1566 during the Uzbek rebellion. But retreated back when Akbar personally advanced and a face-off was avoided.

13. Birth of a daughter, in 1566-67 to Akbar and Harka Bai, who passed away. BOTH, went to Ajmer Sharif BAREFOOT, for pilgrimage. 

This pilgrimage was VERY different from the ones, which Akbar did earlier, or the ones which he did earlier with his wife. It is special for some special reasons, and that would require a separate post, for the details are too big to be mentioned in this post itself..!!

14. The war of Chittor, from 23rd October 1567 to 23rd Februray, 1568.

Historically, this war happened after 3 years after the demise of Kids. As shown in the serial, Jodha Akbar, Akbar NEVER stopped talking to Harka Bai, till this period. The show did a blunder in the name of 'Natkiya Rupanter' , during this period. They have destroyed the essence of their relationship. During the time, in which the creatives should have shown these trips to Dargahs, they gave a strong blow by showing that Akbar was not on good terms with Harka Bai. They skipped showing their daughter also. The CORE events of history were massacred.!!.
Post : Why did Akbar attack Chittor ? | Marathon Series Part-1

15. Akbar had vowed that if he wins this war, he will pay a trip to Ajmer Sharif. Hence, after the war he went straight to Ajmer Sharif. 

Note that, by now the Navratans - Birbal, Tansen, TodarMal, Raja Man Singh, Faizi and Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana were already present in Agra Court. Faizi joined the court just before the beginning of Battle of Chittor.

 
 16. Harka Bai is sent to Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chisti in Sikri, by Akbar, after it is found that she is pregnant. She stays in the Rang Mahal(a separate palace for her) during her pregnancy. At the time of delivery, she is sent to the modest dwelling of Salim Chisti. Here Salim is born on 30th August 1569.  Akbar used to visit her from Agra during the period of her stay in Sikri.  Post : Children of Akbar and Mariam-Uz-Zamani Begum

 
17. Akbar gifts her "Naulakha", valuing over one lakh gold coins. !!!! And a pat on her head. She comes back to Agra.

 
18. Birth of his second son Murad to Harka Bai quite soon in 1570. Again she is sent to Sikri. The kid born was weak and is said to be premature, he started his formal learning at the age of 8, while his siblings started it by the age of 5. The verses in the Akbarnama, the Persian chronogram present in the Munthakhab-ut-Tawarikh, and another historical account of Akbar's chronicler, clearly mention the origin womb of Salim and Murad to be same. Along with this, the treatises written on Fathepur Sikri, clearly mention her as the mother of both the princes of Akbar, born in Fatehpur Sikri. Post : Children of Akbar and Mariam-Uz-Zamani Begum

 
19. Since Akbar considered Sikri auspicious, Akbar moved his capital to Sikri by 1571. The palace of Mariam-Uz-Zamani(today it is called Jodh Bai palace, locally) was built there. The construction had already started earlier. This palace was originally connected to the palace of Akbar, i.e., his Khwabgah.

20. The birth of a daughter Shakrunissa Begum, took place in 1571.

21. Birth of a son, Daniyal to her in 1572. He was born in Ajmer, in the house of a saint, Sheikh Daniyal, hence the name. He was sent to be brought up by the wife of Raja Bharmal in Amer.

But, in the serial Jodha Akbar, this fact has been distorted. The makers have shown Daniyal staying in Agra, and that too, as a son of some other wife of Akbar.!!. This was plain distortion of history. He should have been present in Amer with the Rajput relatives of Akbar, but this aspect of history has been changed. This act depicted his closeness with the Royal Family of Amer.

22. In the same year, while proceeding on a war towards Gujarat in 1572-73, the Imperial Harem of Agra, where all the Royal Mughal Ladies were residing, was placed under the charge of Raja Bharmal for protection. This was a RARE honor, of which I have not heard, to be given to someone else by Akbar.  In this war, Bhagwan Das and Raja Man Singh were his close associates.

23. In the war in Gujarat in 1572, a brother of Mariam-Uz-Zamani, Bhopat was killed, while fighting on side of Akbar. To offer the condolences, Akbar sent Mariam-Uz-Zamani to Amer. This FREEDOM which Akbar gave to his wife was bitterly opposed by the orthodox clergy, and denounced this move, but Akbar allowed her to go to Amer.

Guys, note that, this was a very important step. The significance of this event is that it shows the freedom assigned to his wife despite the opposition of clergy.

24. Death of Raja Bharmal on 27^th January, 1574. He passed away in Agra.

25. Around mid-1570's, when Akbar marched for war towards Bengal, he took the young kids Salim and Murad and the selected ladies of his Harem with him. Obviously, his wife Mariam-Uz-Zamani, might also have been there. Till now, I have not been able to find out the names of ladies present there. Special flotillas were arranged for the ladies. This was a journey via river through the area of present day Bihar towards Bengal.

Shortly before this journey, Abu’l Fazl had joined Mughal Court. His brother Faizi joined the court earlier in 1567.

26. Gulbadan Begum and Salima Begum, and other ladies left for Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1575, and returned to Agra in 1582, after a span of 7 years..!!!!

Some sources mention that, Hamida Bano Begum also went for Haj pilgrimage, but the year is not clear. It is uncertain that she went with the above mentioned ladies as she was present in Agra in 1577-78. Hence, this claim is uncertain. One of the texts encountered, mentioned that she went to pilgrimage in 1571 and returned around 1575, though I am NOT sure about this claim.

An interesting fact, which can be seen here is that -. Murad was ONLY given for initial upbringing to Salima Begum, as he was very weak at the time of his birth, and required special dedicated attention, because Salim was born recently to Mariam-Uz-Zamani. It is not possible that, Salima Begum would have left Murad in Agra, away from her, that too for a period of 7 years, had he been her biological son. A point to ponder upon..!!. Which mother would leave her 5 year old son for 7 years in a place like Harem which was full of palace conspiracies ?

27. Shortly afterwards, Mirza Aziz Koka, who had been showing ‘signs of rebellion’ was put under ‘veiled house arrest’ in Agra(not Fatehpur Sikri) for some time.

The readers who wanted some historical track ideas can get some of them from here. Since, the show is not following chronology correctly, hence some of the tracks can be taken from among these..

More events will be updated soon…Keep reading... 

Note:

A painting shared on the blog by Radhika.


This is a famous Mughal miniature painting made in the 17th century by the court painter of Jahangir, Bichitr. It shows the Emperor (Jahangir), a Sufi sheikh, an Ottoman Sultan, an English king, and the artist himself. The painting is candidly titled "Jehangir preferring a Sufi Sheikh to Kings". It is presently in the Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC. (All US friends can view it. :) )

The Sufi Sheikh in the painting is Sheikh Hussein, a descendant of Shaikh Salim Chisti and the keeper of his shrine. The English King is King James I of England.

Last Post:  November 9 2014  | Jodha Akbar - The Miasmatic {Step} Mother

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