Slaves, Mughals, Qalqqanis: Women employees of the royal palace

 

    Their men were also employed. They were responsible for the work outside the Haram. In the Mughal dynasty, women were highly respected as the consorts of kings and princes who were called 'Inga' and their family was called 'Kal Tash'. In a way, they became part of the Mughal family. Akbar took great care of his brother Aziz Khan Koka and forgave his insolence by saying that a stream of milk was flowing between him and me. Abul Fazl has also mentioned Mahim Anna and GG Inga in Akbar Nama. These employed women were known for their specific work. 

    There were slave girls who were sold by the poor to slave traders who came to the harem of kings and princes after sale. These working women used to stay in the Haram Sara and perform their services all their lives. Gifts were also given from time to time in connection with his services.

Qalamqanis were very important in the royal palace. They guarded the shrine in the form of armed forces. When Shah Jahan was in captivity, he wanted to meet Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb was also ready to go. But he was informed by informants that a conspiracy had been hatched against him that he would be executed by means of pens when he entered the palace. At this Aurangzeb cancelled his intention and father and son never met again.

    When Nadir Shah invaded Delhi, someone from Chandu Khana spread the rumor that wow Muhammad Shah had killed Nadir Shah with the pens of the palace. On this news, the people of Delhi first started killing Nadir Shah's soldiers. Nadir Shah then ordered his troops to kill the people of Delhi and the commotion ended after a great bloodbath.

    The duties and services of women employees in the Mughal dynasty continued till the last Mughal emperor. Munshi Faiz-ud-Din in his book 'Bazm-e-Akhar' has beautifully described the situation of these working women and their duties.

Night

Behold, the king rejoices in the palace. The secret ones are hiding. A storyteller is sitting outside telling a story. The porches are busy. Inside, Abyssinians, Turks, and Qalamqanis are guarding. When the king wakes up in the morning, there is a large number of women servants to serve him. This is also mentioned at the end of Bazm.

Morning

The people of Chalmchi Aftab put the Champachi Aftab under their feet. Handkerchief holders stand for handkerchiefs. The king woke up, and everyone shouted. Congratulations. Tasht went to the check post, then performed Wudhu, offered prayers, offered Wazifa. In the meantime, the women in the closet came with a handkerchief and changed their clothes. You see, Jasol is begging for literature with her hands tied.

       This tradition of the Mughal dynasty continued in other states as well. For example, there was a large number of women in the harem of Oudh, in addition to their wives, there were also women dancers, musicians and poets. Wajid Ali Shah has mentioned his wives in his book 'Pari Khana'.

    When the kingdom of Oudh came to an end in 1856, 80,000 employees of the Haram became unemployed. They had a large number of female employees for whom it was impossible to find another job. When the riots against the British broke out in 1857, after the capture of Delhi, the Mughal dynasty also came to an end and the women servants of the palace became helpless.

    The social changes that took place in Oudh and Delhi after 1856 and 1857 also changed the lives of working women. Now they worked in the houses of the elite, but their privileges in the royal family were gone.

    When the British families came to India permanently, it was the mothers in their homes who were especially important to take care of their children. Middle-class women employed cooking, cleaning, and laundry. His social status had fallen in the changing environment and the peace and contentment he had in the royal service was no more.