The life of Mughal emperors was not limited to just war, throne and crown. His hobbies, habits and personal world were equally interesting. One of these names is Jahangir, who was openly crazy about alcohol. The surprising thing is that sometimes his court was held in the bathroom also. Why did he like such a life, and what do the history books say, let us find out.

Relationship between Mughal history and alcohol

Whenever there is talk of personal life of emperors in Mughal history, the mention of alcohol automatically comes to the fore. It was not only an intoxicant, but was also considered a part of court culture, celebrations and diplomatic relations during that period. Many Mughal rulers drank alcohol, but Jahangir’s name is different because he himself wrote about his hobby openly in his book.

What is written in Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri?

Jahangir’s autobiography Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri is considered to be the strongest historical testimony of his love for alcohol. He told clearly that he had become addicted to alcohol at an early age. He himself recorded how many cups he drank every day, when his health started deteriorating and how he tried to reduce alcohol. This is what makes him different from other emperors, because the story here is not a rumour, but the truth from the pen of the emperor himself.

Iranian wine and influence of Persian culture

The Mughals had a deep relationship with the Persian world. The language of the court was Persian, Iranian influence was clearly visible in art and music also. In such a situation, the fine wine coming from Iran became Jahangir’s special choice. Drinking Iranian wine was not just a matter of taste, but it showed that the Mughal court considered itself a part of the Persian cultural world. It was also a symbol of relationships and prestige.

Jahangir’s favorite place

Kashmir was very close to Jahangir’s heart. He called Kashmir heaven on earth and praised the air, gardens and weather there. He especially liked the local liquor prepared in the cold valleys of Kashmir. Traveling there, attending gatherings and enjoying the local flavor were an important part of royal life for him.

Journey from hobby to addiction

With time, Jahangir’s alcohol consumption grew from a hobby to a physical dependence. He had tried many times to quit or reduce alcohol. He also took the help of opium for some time, but was not completely successful. If seen from today’s perspective, it seems to be a clear case of addiction, which also affected his health and decisions.

Unique tradition of court in bathroom

An interesting thing in history is that Jahangir used to hold his evening court in the bathroom. It is believed that this tradition was first started by Sher Shah Suri. Jahangir took it forward. The afternoon court was public, while in the evening he used to sit in the bathroom with his close people, drink alcohol and talk. After this he would sleep and have dinner at midnight.

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The customs and social traditions of the Mughal era were often shocking, but the Mughal emperor Jahangir took a step in 1611, which gave a new identity to the women of that era. It is recorded in the historical document named ‘Majlis-e-Jahangiri’ that Jahangir had made a big and bold announcement related to divorce on 20 June 1611. He had said that if a Muslim man divorces his wife without any valid reason then it would be considered illegal.

This order of Jahangir was approved by the Qazi and it was implemented as law. In this way, for the first time, women got the right to get justice in divorce cases. Before Jahangir’s decision, the words of men were considered law in the society. Divorcing was a personal decision in which women’s opinion did not matter, but this new law changed the situation. Women now got the opportunity to express their views and raise their voice against injustice. BBC report states that after this decision, women not only started understanding the process of divorce, but also openly demanded divorce many times.

Case of 1628: Demand for coins in exchange of divorce

A Muslim man asked for 60 Mahmoodi coins from his wife to grant her divorce. After finding the coins, she divorced him, but the reason was not recorded in the document. This case shows that male supremacy was still deeply present in society, but the law gave women a way to fight.

Fath Banu’s case divorce from drunkard husband

In another example, a woman named Fath Banu complained to the Qazi against her husband Chisht Mohammad. She said that her husband is an alcoholic and has lost his rights as a husband. The Qazi accepted what he said and approved the divorce. This was one of the first examples of that era when women’s views were given importance.

Case of 1612: Dispute between Mohammad Jiyu and wife

On 5 February 1612, a man named Mohammad Jiyu applied for separation from his wife. Qazi fixed the condition of divorce that it would be mandatory to give one copper coin, two kurtis and two sarees to the wife daily. Later, when the husband did not fulfill these promises, the wife told the Qazi that while signing, she had said that if I could not pay this compensation, the marriage would be considered over. The Qazi heard the woman’s side and declared the divorce valid.

Beginning of new thinking in society
This order of Jahangir not only changed the legal framework but also shook the social mentality. Now women could go to the Qazi and express their views. Their complaints began to be heard and men’s judgment began to be questioned. Historians believe that this decision was the first legal step towards women’s rights in the Indian subcontinent.

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The Mughal emperor Jahangir (1569–1627) was Akbar’s eldest son and ruled from 1605 to 1627. However, historians believe that Jahangir’s rule was not completely independent from 1611 to 1627, as his wife Nur Jahan had a profound influence on him.

Jahangir and Nur Jahan were married in 1611. Nur Jahan was his 20th and last wife. His absence from Jahangir’s drug habits and court proceedings gave Nur Jahan an opportunity to hold power.

Alcohol and opium addiction
Jahangir has written in his autobiography Tuzuke-Jhangiri that at one time he used to drink 20 cups every day. 14 cups in the day and 6 cups at night. The ice used in alcohol was sourced from Kashmir. After this happened, he started to reduce the intake to 6 cups a day, but the addiction of opium remained as before. As a result, by 1622, he had become asthma due to opium and finally on 28 October 1627, he died due to asthma at the age of 58. Interestingly, two brothers of Jahangir died due to alcohol addiction.

Durbar in Guslakhana
According to a BBC report, Jahangir adopted the tradition of setting up a court in Gusalkhana (bathroom). This tradition was started by Sher Shah Suri, because his curly hair took time to dry, so he used to organize meetings in the bathroom itself. Jahangir also continued this tradition. His afternoon court used to be public, while the evening court used to take place in Guslakhana. There he used to drink and talk with his special people. After this, he used to sleep and used to eat at midnight.

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