ANARKALI:– THE FACT & FOLKLORE
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
The most popular account of ANARKALI’s death involves her being entombed alive to save Prince Salim, according to a popular legend, and depicted in more than one Film.
However, historical accounts suggest she died of natural causes during Akbar’s Deccan campaign. One account, Tahqiqat–e–Chishti, mentioned her as Emperor Akbar’s favourite concubine and that she died during that campaign.
Anarkali, known as Sherif -Un- Nisa or Nadira Begum was a courtesan in Akbar’s court. Her father was a Mansabdar (nobleman) who worked in Akbar’s court. Salim or Jahangir, son of Akbar got infatuated with Anarkali and she probably also expressed love for him. But Akbar himself was wanting her as her Concubine in his private HAREM.
So, Akbar hatched a plot.
He ordered to kill Anarkali by building an enclosed room (TOMB) around her to kill her inside. This Akbar did to make see the world that he sentenced to death Anarkali for her crime of loving the Prince Salim.
But the reality was, he built the Tomb with an escape route, and made her to escape through a secret way from Tomb to outside the city, and took to Fatehpur Sikri and in this way she and her father escapes from the Agra Fort. The opening was closed, and Akbar declared that Anarkali was dead.
Later, he took her in his private Harem.
Salim, however, knew Anarkali is dead, and he reconciled.
The love affair with Salim, depicted in folklore and film, is largely considered fictional.
Tahqiqat–e–Chishti, a historical chronicle, by Nur Ahmed Chisty described Anarkali died naturally during Akbar’s Deccan campaign. The chronicle also noted her as Emperor Akbar’s favourite concubine.
Akbar built a Mausoleum for Anarkali. This may have been built after his return from the Deccan campaign. People think it was built by Salim, after he became Emperor Jahangir.
I have attached two Images:
- The escape route of Anarkali. You may still see it in Agra Fort.
- Her Mausoleum.
SALIM soon fell in love, and brought widow Mehr-un-Nissa in his Harem, forgot Anarkali, and married her and re-named her as NUR-JEHAN.
Bibliography:
Title Tahqiqat-e Chishti
Author Nūr Ahmad Chishti Lahori (Maulvi. ue.)
Publisher not identified, 1867
