You must have heard about the harem during the Mughal period. The harem was the place where the king kept his many queens. Whatever girl he liked, he kept her in his harem. There were not only queens here but there were thousands of queens, maids and other women. The life of the queens in the harem was extremely complex and competitive. The word harem, derived from the Arabic language, means sacred or private place, and it was accessible only to the emperor. This secrecy has made it a subject of curiosity for historians.
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Author Prananath Chopra writes in his book 'Some Aspects of Social Life during the Mughal Era' that women of different religions and cultures lived in the harem. These women also served the needs of the emperor and his family. But they lived completely behind the scenes, some spent their entire lives without seeing the emperor.
The harem had separate quarters for queens, maids, and concubines. There were even designated areas for the emperor's favorite and least favorite women. Each woman had her own duties, such as tending the gardens, overseeing decorations, and lighting fountains and candles.
Security within the harem was also unique, managed by strong, foreign women unfamiliar with the local languages to ensure their secrecy and loyalty.
He received more gifts than his salary
Women in the harem were paid a lot of money. High-ranking maids earned up to ₹1,600 per month, which was a huge amount in those days. The price of gold was ₹10 per tola in those days. They also received lavish gifts like jewellery and gold coins.
However, there were strict rules on entry into the harem. The women had to take an oath of loyalty and observe secrecy. They could refuse entry to any outsider, and even royal orders were delivered through maids.
