Ramayana

I went on a trip to England and Doha last week. I visited many museums, libraries and churches. I saw more beautiful books in the last week than I hope to see in a lifetime. From Guttenberg's Bible to Flemish masters to original Shakespeare to Leonardo's manuscripts.

But the best one I saw on the last day of my trip. It is a richly illuminated Farsi translation of the Ramayana. Look at all the details in the picture. On the top right panel, you can see through the arch a horseman with his dog riding up the road. Parrots on the roof of the building. In the second panel, you can see a perfume stand and pan holder. The richly decorated mosaic, and colourful garments. The monk with the beads has central Asian features. The princes all look like Mughal princes.
Where did I see this manuscript? In the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, an unlikely place to find a Ramayana.

This lavishly illustrated manuscript of the Ramayana was commissioned by the Mughal queen Hamida Banu Begum (1527-1604 CE), wife of the second Mughal emperor, Humayun. Hamida Banu, and later Mughal queens and princes were great patrons of art, literature and architecture. Notables are Nur Jahan, Jahanara, Mumtaj Mahal. Many were also accomplished poets and fashion designers. Some of them took active participation in court politics, hunting and even wars.

We celebrate the life of Madame de Pompadour, and rightly so, for her patronage of art and literature, particularly for her help with the publication of the first-ever Encyclopedia. But we do not remember Hamida Banu. We Indians have a general amnesia for our history. In a way it is good. We tend to forget the past and focus on the future.

Hamida Banu was 16 years old when Humayun first saw her and fell in love. He wanted to marry her even though she was a Shia Muslim. But she flatly refused saying that she did not want to marry someone whom she had to salute every time she saw him. She wants to marry a commoner whose hand she can hold. Humayun immediately decreed a Farman that henceforth Hamida need not salute the emperor. These were not normal things in those days of strict obedience to the Emperor. Hamida also wanted to have a big dowry, because her father was not wealthy. Humayun at that time had lost his kingdom and was on the run. He did not have any money to furnish the dowry. The king of Multan loaned Humayun one lakh rupee to raise an army and recover his kingdom. Humayun used the money as Hamida’s dowry and married her. On the night of his marriage, Humayun, who was also an accomplished poet, wanted to read his new poem to his bride. He asked Hamida to listen to the reciting. Hamid said she was tired. She turned to the other side and slept. Poor Humayun read the poem to his sleeping wife. When he was done reading, Hamida turned back and told Humayun “You are a weak king but a strong poet.”

Humayun eventually recovered his kingdom. Till the end, he was devoted to Hamida. Their son Akbar became one of the greatest emperors of Hindustan, uniting the country and ushering in an era of unprecedented prosperity. When Humayun died, grief-stricken Hamida commissioned a magnificent tomb for her beloved husband. Do visit Humayun’s tomb in Delhi if you get a chance.