Persian Marriage Contract of an Indian Sufi Emperor: Southeast Asian Fate of the Last Mughal

Abstract

Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Emperor of Mughal India, was a Sufi poet and calligrapher. He was dethroned by the British and deported to Burma, where he died in sickness and despair. Zafar married Zeenat Mahah Begum, who accompanied her husband to exile. They left behind a marriage contract, which is historically and artistically remarkable. The language, text structure, layout, and decorative elements of the contracts follow the age-old tradition of Persian marriage documentation. 

This article provides an overview of the dramatic life of Bahadur Shah II, along with a detailed study of his marriage contract. A brief account of his life is presented under three headings: ‘The Sufi Emperor,’ ‘Trail and Exile to Burma,’ and ‘Death, Burial and Legacy.’ The Emperor’s Marriage Contract has been studied at the textual and artistic levels. The textual analysis is discussed under the ‘Original Text,’ followed by its ‘English Translation.’ ‘Text Structure,’ ‘Personalities,’ ‘Bride’s Dower,’ and ‘Date’ complement this section. The aesthetic evaluation of the contract is elaborated under a few headings: ‘Layout,’ ‘Illumination,’ ‘Calligraphy,’ and ‘Seals.’