Plum! A great Mughal king must not hop. He must not skip. He must not high-five. A great Mughal king ought to be a proper fellow with a proper royal stride. Even if it is the Great Mughal, Emperor Shah Jahan, walking to drumbeats in the Agra Fort. And even if he is going to see something super-special that has taken seven long years to make. Emperor Shah Jahan had leapt out of bed at dawn. He had bathed quickly, finished his prayers and had taken super-extra care with his dressing. His pink and gold long tunic his royal qaba shimmered over his tight-fitting silk pyjamas. It was a little hard to breathe but what was a bit of air when it came to looking good! His numerous
rings had been rubbed till they shone like stars. His neck leaned forward slightly since there were five strings of rock-sized pearls, emeralds and diamonds hanging on it, all the way down to his belly button. His turban had a super-sized emerald and diamond brooch pinned to its front with feathers pluming above it. What a handsome fellow! Truly a peacock! said Shah Jahan to himself as he looked in the mirror. Just as he did each morning, Shah Jahan had shown his face through a window set high in the walls of the fort for the Jharokha Darshan. The Great Mughal looks shiny this morning! said a man in the crowd gathered below to catch a glimpse of the king. He has not looked so happy since his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal s death. I d be sparkly too if I was getting a new chair as sparkly as his. I ve heard there isn t another like it in the whole world, remarked another. Now, as Shah Jahan walked (with a proper royal stride) to the Diwan-i-Aam, his heartbeat matched the booming of the drums through the fort. Dha-dham! Dha-dham! Dha-dham! 2
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The entire court bent low. Drops of fragrant rose water sprinkled down on them, covering up stinky smells. Shah Jahan brushed the curtain aside and stepped onto the balcony overhanging the great hall, his face breaking into a smile. For before him stood the greatest, the grandest, the most glorious throne in the whole world his brand new Jewelled Throne. There it stood, awaiting Shah Jahan s bottom for the very first time. This day, 22 March 1635, a special day in both the Persian and Mughal calenders, a day of two festivals, Eid and Nowroz... This glorious day, Padshah Shah Jahan claims his place on the wonder-of-wonders, the wondrous and most wonderful Jewelled Throne, the Takht Murassa! yelled out the court announcer as Shah Jahan walked up the three glittering, jewel-studded steps of the gigantic bed-sized throne that was held up on four gold claws. Shah Jahan placed his royal bottom in the centre of the throne, and looked around at the superblingy wonder that his goldsmiths had created. Shah Jahan nodded at his sons, standing to the side. His oldest son, Dara Shikoh, twenty years 4
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old, stood closest to the throne. Shah Jahan s third child, Shah Shuja was next, rubbing his eyes while stifling a yawn. Then his fifth, seventeen-year-old Aurangzeb, his back as straight as a rod. The sixth, eleven-year-old Murad Baksh stood last, as still as an eleven-year-old could be. Beside them stood Asaf Khan, the children s grandfather and Shah Jahan s Prime Minister. Shah Jahan looked towards the screens on the other side. Behind them, hidden from view of the court, sat his daughters Jahanara, Roshanara and the baby Gauharara, along with the other royal women. Seven years ago, as I stood in my treasury, overflowing with the grandest jewels in the world, I knew I must share this beauty with all of you, said Shah Jahan. I could share their beauty by wearing necklaces around my neck but how many necklaces could I wear? How many rings? It was then that I knew I must have a jewel-studded throne so that we can admire the wealth of our Mughal Empire together! A throne fit for the Great Mughal! The courtiers cheered and clapped. Said Gilani! Come forward! bellowed the announcer. The head of the goldsmiths stepped forward 6
and bowed in taslim before the emperor. The throne had been made under his watchful eyes. Wonderful work! exclaimed Shah Jahan, waving his hand around at the throne. I hereby give you the title of Bebadal Khan the peerless, unmatched master, and gift you gold equal to your weight! As the court broke into applause again, Shah Jahan leaned back on the gem-studded bolster and looked at the twelve gold pillars completely covered in emeralds and pearls. He thought of the gigantic jewel-studded peacocks on the top of this dome that looked out at his court with the Kohinoor Diamond glittering amidst them. Poems by his favourite poet were written on the inside of the dome. He flicked the fringe of precious rubies and pearls that hung off the edge before focussing on the other super-special jewels that had been placed at the centre of the throne. The Afghani Diamond, the Timur Ru plum Wait! What? A PLUM? 7