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Mahlaqabai Chanda: a legend of the moon
The word mahlaqa means visage of the moon. This was the epithet accorded by the Nizam II to a beautiful girl Chanda, who became daughter by adoption and grew up at Nawab Ruknudowlah's palace, the Prime-minister's residence.
Chandabibi had been born at Aurangabad in 1767 to Meda (also known as Raj Kunwar) and Basolat Khan Bakshi-e-Awwal, a descendant of Mirza Sultan Nasr, a nobleman of Balkh (now in northern Afghanistan), who came to India during Mughal emperor Shahjehan’s reign and was in his administration. Her mother Meda had two daughters, one from her first husband Haakim of Dewalha. She had a daughter Mehtaab with him who had got married to Nawab Ruknudowlah, Prime minister of Hyderabad. Since she was childless, Meda gave her second daughter Chanda to her.
Chanda grew up to be a celebrated courtesan, adept at dancing, at the Asaf Jahi court of Nizam Ali Khan, Nizam II and Sikandar Jah,Nizam III. Nizam Ali Khan, Nizam II used to take her along with her companions to battles at Kolar, Nirmal and Panugal. Chandabibi had learnt horse riding and archery He likened her to the moon and gave her the name Mahlaqa or visage of the moon to her. Chandabai was given the status of a nobleman by the Nizam and appointed to the umrah (the highest nobility). She also wrote poetry and had trained under Sher Mohammed Khan Iman; Khushal Khan, a descendant of Tansen and Panna Maharaj who had trained her in music and dance. She was an ardent devotee of Hazrat Ali and has composed many verses in praise of him. Prime Minister Mir Alam of Hyderabad had also tutored her. Mahalaqa Bai did not get married but was close to Raja Rambha Rao, a Maratha General and was an admirer of Captain John Malcolm, an assistant of James Achilles Kirkpatrick, British Resident at Hyderabad. She even presented her diwan to him which is now at the British Museum, London.
She has written in both Persian and Urdu, but her Persian works are not traceable. Her Urdu works are there in some libraries.
Her works have been put together as a diwan or a collection. She is also remembered for her quick wit and gift of repartee. He pen-name was Chanda. Her poetry is well read and is available on rekhta.org.
Chandabibi used to hold an annual fair or urs at Bagh Lingampally where many holy men and ascetics or fakirs, men of literary repute, artisans would gather and interact; she would sponsor the event and honour them for seven days. Her mother's mausoleum is at the foothill of a hillock at Maula Ali at Hyderabad She had got it constructed herself in Mughal-Rajput style. She too is buried at Maula Ali next to her mother's grave when she died in 1824 at the age of 57. She had also got constructed a step well at Tarnaka to ensure drinking water to the people in her jagirs (lands) which she had received; Hyderguda, Tarnaka, Adikmet and also Nampally. She also is responsible for Ashur -Khana Chandabibi.
Chandabibi had been born at Aurangabad in 1767 to Meda (also known as Raj Kunwar) and Basolat Khan Bakshi-e-Awwal, a descendant of Mirza Sultan Nasr, a nobleman of Balkh (now in northern Afghanistan), who came to India during Mughal emperor Shahjehan’s reign and was in his administration. Her mother Meda had two daughters, one from her first husband Haakim of Dewalha. She had a daughter Mehtaab with him who had got married to Nawab Ruknudowlah, Prime minister of Hyderabad. Since she was childless, Meda gave her second daughter Chanda to her.
Mahlaqabai Chanda, image.
Source: Deccan Chronicle.
Chanda grew up to be a celebrated courtesan, adept at dancing, at the Asaf Jahi court of Nizam Ali Khan, Nizam II and Sikandar Jah,Nizam III. Nizam Ali Khan, Nizam II used to take her along with her companions to battles at Kolar, Nirmal and Panugal. Chandabibi had learnt horse riding and archery He likened her to the moon and gave her the name Mahlaqa or visage of the moon to her. Chandabai was given the status of a nobleman by the Nizam and appointed to the umrah (the highest nobility). She also wrote poetry and had trained under Sher Mohammed Khan Iman; Khushal Khan, a descendant of Tansen and Panna Maharaj who had trained her in music and dance. She was an ardent devotee of Hazrat Ali and has composed many verses in praise of him. Prime Minister Mir Alam of Hyderabad had also tutored her. Mahalaqa Bai did not get married but was close to Raja Rambha Rao, a Maratha General and was an admirer of Captain John Malcolm, an assistant of James Achilles Kirkpatrick, British Resident at Hyderabad. She even presented her diwan to him which is now at the British Museum, London.
Mahlaqa Bai dancing in the court of Raja Rao Rambha Bahadur ,
behind him is Mir Alam, Ragamala manuscript, 1799.
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
She has written in both Persian and Urdu, but her Persian works are not traceable. Her Urdu works are there in some libraries.
Her works have been put together as a diwan or a collection. She is also remembered for her quick wit and gift of repartee. He pen-name was Chanda. Her poetry is well read and is available on rekhta.org.
Page from her diwan.
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Chandabibi used to hold an annual fair or urs at Bagh Lingampally where many holy men and ascetics or fakirs, men of literary repute, artisans would gather and interact; she would sponsor the event and honour them for seven days. Her mother's mausoleum is at the foothill of a hillock at Maula Ali at Hyderabad She had got it constructed herself in Mughal-Rajput style. She too is buried at Maula Ali next to her mother's grave when she died in 1824 at the age of 57. She had also got constructed a step well at Tarnaka to ensure drinking water to the people in her jagirs (lands) which she had received; Hyderguda, Tarnaka, Adikmet and also Nampally. She also is responsible for Ashur -Khana Chandabibi.
Her biography Hayat-e-Mahlaqa has been written by Ghulam Samdani Khan. She remains in memory as an outstanding persona of the Deccan who had admirers; two rulers, peshwas, prime ministers, noblemen and poets. She was intelligent and consulted by the Nizam as she was part of the umrah. She strongly believed that women should be educated and opened a school for 300 girls at Nampally in Hyderabad. She had also adopted two girls and a boy with the names Husn Afza Bano, Haseen Laqa Bano and Mohammed Maqbool. She had built a huge library during her lifetime and had commissioned the Mah-nama, a history of the Deccan.
Raja Rao Rambha Bahadur on elephant, with Khushhal Khan below and soldiers, led by another elephant with orange banner.
www.flickr.com/photos/bibliodyssey/5247473984
www.flickr.com/photos/bibliodyssey/5247473984
Raja Rao Rambha Bahadur and Mahlaqabai Chanda singing, manuscript painting.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bibliodyssey/5247477868
Tomb of Mahlaqabai Chanda, Maula Ali, Hyderabad.
Image Courtesy : Abhishek Patel
Mahalaqa passed away long back but her legend lives on. A Girls' college is run at the house where she lived. Her life has been presented in dance-drama on stage many times and people are ever eager to know more about this fascinating woman of the Deccan.
References :
- Salar Jung Museum Bi-annual research journal, Vol. XXVII-XXVIII, 1990-1991, Hyderabad : Salar Jung Museum.
- White Mughals/Dalrymple, William, New Delhi : Viking,2002.
- Forgotten/Bilkees Lateef, New Delhi : Penguin Books, 2010.
- INTACH Hyderabad Chapter - Heritage annual 2012/Reddy, Anuradha ed., Hyderabad : INTACH,2012
- wikipedia.org
Posted by :
Soma Ghosh
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