In the Mughal harem, eunuchs had many responsibilities, not just security.
When Babar established the Mughal Empire in India by defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat, the Mughals continued to rule here for a long time. The Mughals, who brought their art, culture, language, food and lifestyle, greatly influenced the Indian system. Although many good and bad things about the Mughals are famous in history, but one of the most discussed things about the Mughal Sultanate is the Harem.
Mughal Haram means the black and white tale of history, in which love, hatred, conspiracy and politics are found along with grandeur. In such a situation, the Mughal emperor used to put the entire responsibility of the functioning of his royal harem on the shoulders of eunuchs. Here the question arises why is this so? What was the role of eunuchs in the harem and the Sultanate? After all, where did he bring them from? Let us try to find answers to these questions.
Eunuchs were divided into three categories
The head of the royal harem of the Mughals was the Emperor. Harem means a place where the king’s favorite women lived. If anyone had importance in the harem after the king, it was the eunuchs. The women of the harem used to fulfill their unfulfilled dreams only through eunuchs.
Historian Kishori Sharan Lal has written a book on the Mughal Haram. In this he has told that many eunuchs were very beautiful. He did not keep a beard. On the basis of skin color, these eunuchs were divided into three categories like Sandali i.e. sandalwood colored, Badami i.e. almond colored and Kafuri i.e. camphor colored. Third i.e. Kafuri eunuchs were very fair. These eunuchs who lived in the royal court and harem of the Mughals were known as Khwajasara. Their status increased with time and in any respect they were no less than other royal soldiers. Court eunuchs were given all kinds of luxuries.
In the harem of the Mughals, eunuchs were divided into three categories. Photo: Meta
The responsibility of security was on the shoulders of eunuchs
Dutch merchant Francisco Pelsart came to the Mughal court in the 17th century. He has mentioned that Kinnar i.e. Khwajasara had, in a way, become a power center during the Mughal period. He had different roles from Mughal court to Mughal harem. Petsart has written in his travelogue that eunuchs were provided with all the comforts and luxuries. The best clothes, powerful horses and many other things were made available at the behest of the eunuchs.
These eunuchs had access to the court where no one else except the royal family could reach. Famous historian Shadab Bano has written that in the Mughal Sultanate, there is less mention of eunuchs only during the reign of Babar and Humayun. Eunuchs had a special place in the courts of all the other kings. Mughal emperors used to deploy these eunuchs for security. Especially the responsibility of security of their queens and harem women was on the shoulders of these eunuchs.
Well-known historian Ruby Lal has written in her book that during the reign of Akbar, the harem was divided into different parts. It was guarded by eunuchs and they were the center of the harem. He has written that the security of the harem was done in many layers. Rajput security personnel were deployed first and the innermost security circle was on the shoulders of eunuchs. From conveying the king’s message to the women of the royal harem to raising and taking care of the harem’s children, the eunuchs also did the work.
The eunuchs not only guarded the harem but also spied for the kings. Photo: Getty Images
Why were eunuchs deployed?
In fact, the Mughal emperor never trusted his soldiers in matters of the harem. Due to his busy schedule, many times the king was not able to go to the harem for a long time. In such a situation, he was very positive towards the women of the harem. That’s why they did not appoint male soldiers. There was even a ban on entry of all men except the king into the harem.
The kings felt that if a soldier or any other man went to the harem, the women there might get attracted towards them. That is why eunuchs were appointed in the harem for everything from security to other work. Be it the eunuchs posted in the royal court or the eunuchs of the harem, all of them knew how to use weapons. Used to ride horses and was physically no less strong than any soldier. No one could enter the royal harem without his permission. There is mention of a eunuch in Akbarnama, whose name is mentioned as Niyamat. It is written in it that Niamat had even stopped Emperor Akbar’s step brother Adham Khan from entering the harem.
Used as soldiers and also spies
The eunuchs not only guarded the harem but also spied for the kings. If historians are to be believed, the Mughal harem was also a hub of conspiracies and politics. In such a situation, the eunuchs used to keep an eye on all the whispers there and convey it to the king. He also kept an eye on the conversations and conspiracies happening in any part of the palace.
By the 17th century, the eunuch community had become very powerful in the Mughal court. Many strong eunuchs who came out of the harem started becoming a part of the Mughal army. During the reign of Akbar, a eunuch, Itimad Khan, is said to be very powerful, who was responsible for everything from security to financial matters. Even Emperor Akbar used to take advice from him on many issues.
This is how eunuchs were brought into the harem
Historian Kishori Sharan Lal, in her book The Mughal Harem, has tried to reveal many secrets of the Mughal court and harem regarding eunuchs. In this he has written that most of the eunuchs living in the Mughal harem were called from different countries of Asia and Africa.
Most of the attention was paid to the physical fitness of eunuchs, because being an important part of the king’s harem, they were also the target of enemies. Apart from this, it is also said that many times men were made eunuchs through castration. Along with women captured during battles, men were also made part of the harem.
Men were made impotent and prepared physically and mentally to take up the responsibilities of the harem. Like slaves, many times there is mention in history of eunuchs being bought directly from the market and employed in the royal harem.
Also read: What did the begums and daughters of the Mughal Sultanate build in India?