The Twentieth wife
By Indu Sunderesan
363 pp. Pocket books – a division of Simon and Schuster
US $24.00

In the early hours of a quiet dawn, Anarkali, one of the leading imperial consorts, was entombed alive on the orders of the Emperor, Abul Fatah Jalaluddin Akbar Ghazi Badshah, Zill-e-Elah. What led the Emperor to take drastic action against a woman, whom many believed to be among his favourite concubines.was speculated. It was rumored that Prince Salim,his own son had formed an attachment to her. This is the story that many of us have heard in Indian movies but ‘The Twentieth Wife’ introduces us to Jahangir’s ardent devotion for another woman called Mehrunnissa who later earned the title of Nur Jehan and their passionate love story .

For a woman who rose to so much fame, Nur Jehan’s origins were humble. Named Meherunnisa at birth, the future Empress traveled across Persia to India with her parents while still a child. It was only later that her father, Mirza Ghyas Beg or Aitamad-ud-Daula as he became known, rose to become Emperor Akbar’s Administrator and Treasurer. The Empress was first married to Sher Afgan and when he died, she became lady-in-waiting to Ruqayya Begum, Emperor Jehangir’s stepmother. It was in Ruqayya Begum’s palace that the Emperor fell in love with Nur Jehan.

Their first meeting is almost dramatic in Indu Sudersan novel. PrinceSalim is enraptured and smitten at the sight of Mehrunnisa “. “Ya Allah” was he in Paradise? Words from the holy book came unbidden to his mind. “The believers shall find themselves reclining upon couches lined with brocade,the fruits of the garden nigh to gather;and will find therein maidens restraining their glances, untouched before them by any man or Jinn ,lovely as rubies,beautiful as coral.

However fate has ruled otherwise. Mehrunnisa is already bethrothed to Ali Quli, who later earns the title of Sher Afghan. It is a loveless unison and after several miscarriages, a baby girl is born to her. But Mehrunnisa never gives up hope. Twenty six years later after she first laid eyes on him, she reigns alongside Emperor Jahangir as his 20th and most prized possession, Empress Nur Jahan

Indu Sunderesan trained as an economist and has written short fiction in the Vincent Brothers Review and ivillage.com.She lives in the Seattle ,Washington area.
'A romantic tale , engrossing historical fiction, captivating film script for a spectacular movie and a thirst for the sequel of “The Twentieth wife’ are my impressions after reading Indu Sunderesan debut novel.

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