Amrita Bai

Amrita Bai
Likely depiction of Amrita Bai from a painting of Bahadur Shah I being entertained, c.1710
Born17th century
Kishangarh, Kishangarh State
DiedDelhi, Mughal Empire
SpouseBahadur Shah I
IssueAzim-ush-Shan, Daulat-Afza
HouseRathore (by birth) Timurid (by marriage)
FatherRaja Rup Singh Rathore
ReligionHinduism

Amrit Kanwar, better known by her title Amrita Bai, was a consort of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah I.

Family

By birth, Amrita Bai was a princess of Kishangarh as the daughter of Maharaja Rup Singh of the Rathore clan.

Marriage

Amrita Bai married Bahadur Shah I as part of a political alliance with Kishangarh and entered the imperial harem. The wedding was officiated by the imperial qazi, Abdul Wahhab. Amrita Bai was described as being honest and simple. She was said to possess alertness and reportedly had a great sense of humour, which endeared her to Bahadur Shah and earned her his admiration. Amrita's steadfast devotion and faithfulness gained her significant favour in the imperial harem and she remained the centre of his affection for nearly two decades. She gave birth to two children; Princess Daulat-Afza and Prince Mohammed Azim (Azim-ush-Shan) who she gave birth to in 1664. The favour bestowed upon Amrita Bai and her children made her become the target of envy of the other ladies in the harem.

References

  1. 1 2 Irvine, William (1991) [First published 1921]. Later Mughals. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 141.
  2. ↑ Bilgrami, Rafat (1983). "Shaykh 'A bd al-wahhab and his family under 'alamgir". Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society. 31 (2) – via ProQuest.
  3. ↑ Lal, Muni (1989). Mini Mughals. Konark Publishers. p. 27. ISBN 978-81-220-0174-7.
  4. ↑ Encyclopaedia Indica: Downfall of Mughal Empire. Anmol Publications. 1996. p. 56. ISBN 978-81-7041-859-7.
  5. ↑ Ganguli, Samir (2025-02-19). Capitals Of Bengal Before Calcutta, Some Famous, Some Lost, Some Not Found. Blue Rose Publishers. p. 329.
  6. ↑ Lal, Muni (1989). Mini Mughals. Konark Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-81-220-0174-7.
  7. ↑ Janapathy, V.; Varalakṣmi, Je (2002). Indian Woman Through the Ages. Gyan Publishing House. p. 143. ISBN 978-81-212-0758-4.