Anarkali: The Courtesan, the Pawn and the Queen

De: Harshali Singh

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

A woman loved by many but understood by none. Was Anarkali a pawn in the hands of a controlling monarch, or was she the knight? Anarkali’s dream of becoming a celebrated courtesan in Emperor Akbar’s harem in 16th-century Hindustan is realised. But soon life at Lahore’s Shahi Mahal becomes mundane for the free-spirited girl. In the midst of this ennui, Anarkali is pulled into a taboo relationship with the childlike Salim, Akbar-e-Azam’s heir apparent and favourite son. Marooned amid relationships that shatter her heart and threaten her life, Anarkali traverses the intrigues of the royal harem using her wiles to survive while skirting passion, danger and violence. She uses her charms, knowing men only want parts of her and never the whole—until she makes the ultimate mistake of raising her voice against powerful men. Was she purposefully erased from the annals of history for questioning free will? And yet, her story resonates even today, its myriad connotations catching our imagination, resulting in a rainbow of possibilities and hope.