The Twentieth Wife: The Controversial Empress

Pulse

oi-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, April 24, 2008, 15:44

The Twentieth Wife, an enchanting picture on one of India's most powerful women in the history transmitted the readers to the mighty age of Mughal dynasty. History, feminism, politics and emotions are woven together through the beautiful thread of imagination in this novel. For the first time, an historical fiction in India diverts its central attention to a woman in the lineage of mighty emperors.

Indu Sundaresan's The Twentieth Wife grabs the readers' attention from the very first page. The novel is about , who carried the power of ferocious storm at the time of birth, all through her lifetime.

Named as Mehrunnisa in her childhood, she sees Prince Salim on his wedding day. That moment she decides that the throne of Mughal dynasty awaits her also. Through her brilliance and determination, she tampers the myriad of obstacles and enters the Mughal palace as the twentieth and last wife of Salim. The novel deals with Mehrunnisa's struggles in this course of time.

Indu Sundaresan in an interview with Oneindia.in mentioned that the women in her novels are "self-aware, know what they want, where they want to go, are willing to make mistakes and not spend all their lives lamenting those mistakes." This statement aptly goes with the characterization with the historical character in The Twentieth Wife. The novel does complete justice to the empress who rose to power when the emancipation of women was not even heard of.

The love story, which remain as the basic thread in the novel is dealt with utmost romance. The love between Prince Salim and Mehrunnisa sustains politics of the time, conspiracy and their own disastrous marriages (one for Mehrunnisa and, yes, 19 for Salim). Even when the relationship becomes repressive for both Salim and Mehrunnisa, it is her will power that brings the couple together even after the years.

The novel is a highly suggested one where serious historical fact is blend with beautiful and rich imagination. As you finish reading this novel, don't waste your time from reading A Feast Of Roses in which Mehrunnisa rises to the power of .