#bibi mubarika

[nellygwyn]

Babur had professed friendship for the Yusufzai clan but turned against them due to the overtures made by the Dilazak in whose camp Mubarika presently sat. In consort with the Dilazak clansmen, Babur invited Malik Ahmad, the Yusufzai head, to Kabul. Babur’s real object was to kill Ahmad but, impressed with his courtesy and valor, Babur took off his robe and gave it to him, a sign of respect. Ahmad declined a second invitation to Kabul and sent his brother Shah Mansur, Mubarika’s father, in his stead. When Mansur came back, he advised his tribesmen that they must retire to the mountains and strengthen themselves. He feared an invasion. Soon Babur led an expedition to conquer the Yusufzai lands. He invaded the region near Swat and adjoining areas, devastating lands as he moved along. But he could not enter the Yusufzai fort. To get more information on the Yusufzai strongholds, Babur disguised himself as a qalandar, a sufi, and went with some friends one dark night to the Mahura hills.

At the back of the Mahura hills, known then as Shah Mansur’s throne, a feast was being held in honour of ‘Id celebrations. Masked, Babur stood among the crowds in the courtyard. As the servants went about, Babur asked questions about the family. They responded to the seemingly casual inquiries. In the Yusufzai women’s tent that faced the courtyard where Babur and the crowd stood, Bibi Mubarika was sitting with other women. She looked out and her eye fell on the qalandar. She asked a woman servant to take him some cooked meat folded between two loaves, as people did for the holy and ascetics. When the woman brought the food to Babur, he asked who had sent it. Bibi Mubarika, Shah Mansur’s daughter, she said. As Babur looked in her direction, he was entranced by just a glimpse of Mubarika from afar. He asked the servant whether Mubarika was betrothed. She sang praises of her mistress, extolled her beauty, and said that Mubarika was not yet affianced. Babur then went behind the house, hid between two stones the food that Mubarika sent him, and left.

Overcome by longing, Babur returned to his camp, not knowing what to do. He couldn’t take the fort, and he couldn’t return to Kabul with nothing in hand. And so he wrote a letter to the older Yusufzai and asked for the hand of his niece. There was no daughter to give in marriage, he [Malik Ahmad] wrote. Babur replied, telling them about his disguised visit, and as a token of the truth of having seen Mubarika, he asked them to search for the food he had hidden. They found it. Ahmad and Mansur were not in favour of giving Mubarika in marriage to Babur, but the tribesmen reasoned with them, saying that the marital alliance would save the tribe from Babur’s wrath.

The drums were beaten, and Babur’s men began to make preparations to receive Mubarika. A few select men, carrying Babur’s sword, went to receive Mubarika. With her father and uncle, and Runa, the head of the Mansur’s household, two other women assistants, and several male and female servants, Mubarika crossed the river at Chakdara near the Khyber Pass. They took a narrow road between the hills and met Babur’s escort. Mubarika went toward the royal camp, Babur’s men leading the way. At the Mughal camp, the bride was welcomed with all due honour.

After midday prayers on the second day, Babur came to her tent. When her servants announced Babur’s arrival, she got up from her divan and stood in the centre of the carpet with folded hands. Babur entered and she bowed. Her face was fully covered. Babur sat on the divan and said ‘Come, Afghaniya, be seated.’ She bowed again and kept standing. A second time he asked her to be seated next to him. Again she bowed, came nearer, but still stood. Then Babur removed her veil. Looking at her, he was struck again by her gorgeousness. She bowed once more and said that she had a petition to make. Babur asked her to speak. With both her hands, she took up her dress and said: ‘Think that the whole Yusufzai tribe is enfolded in my skirt and pardon their offences for my sake.’ Babur assured her he would: ‘I forgive the Yusufzai all their offences in thy presence and cast them all into thy skirt. Hereafter I shall have no ill-feeling to the Yusufzai.’ Babur then took her hand and led her to the divan.

~ The meeting of Babur, the first Mughal Emperor, and his youngest, beloved wife Bibi Mubarika Yusufzai (known as 'Afghani Aghacha/'The Afghan Lady') in c. 1519. Related in the Baburnama, and quoted in 'Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan' by Ruby Lal

[bibliobibuli25]

I love women.

Bibi Mubarika was one of the few remaining wives of the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, Babur. This excerpt is from the book 'Daughters of the Sun' by Ira Mukhoty. In this very specific paragraph, it recounts the time when Humayun, son of Babur and second Emperor of the Mughal Empire, was first defeated by Sher Shah Suri. After facing a horrible defeat at the hands of the Afghan leader, Humayun fled along with his haraman and remaining troops.

Bibi Mubarika was part of the haraman that was travelling with Humayun. But she decided to stay back in Agra when the others had decided to go other ways. Her courage saved her husband's grave from defilement at the hands of the enemy.

She lived through Humayun's reign and died early when her grandson and Humayun's son, Akbar became Emperor.