Consider the following statements regarding women in the Mughal house...
Option (b) is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begums), and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth.
Statement 2 is correct. The beggars, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr), naturally received a higher status and greater attention from their husbands than did aghas. KB)
● The concubines (aghacha or the lesser agha) occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty.
● They all received monthly allowances in cash, supplemented with gifts according to their status.
● The lineage-based family structure was not entirely static.
● Agha and the Aghacha could rise to the position of a begam depending on the husband’s will, and provided that he did not already have four wives.
● Love and motherhood played important roles in elevating women to the status of legally wedded wives.
View all questions of this test
Consider the following statements regarding women in the Mughal house...
Overview:
This question is about the role of women in the Mughal household. The statements provided are related to the status and treatment of wives in the household. Let's analyze each statement and determine whether it is correct or not.
Statement 1: There was no difference between wives who came from royal families and other wives who did not belong to affluent families.
Explanation:
In the Mughal household, there was a clear distinction between wives who came from royal families and those who did not. The wives who came from royal families, known as begams, held a higher status and enjoyed more privileges compared to other wives. They were often given special titles and positions within the court. On the other hand, wives who did not belong to affluent families had a lower status and fewer privileges. They were usually referred to as concubines or wives of lower rank. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.
Statement 2: Higher "mahr" ensured higher status and greater attention to a begam from her husband.
Explanation:
"Mahr" refers to the dowry or gift given by the husband to his wife in Islamic marriages. It is an important aspect of the marriage contract and can vary in amount. In the Mughal household, the amount of mahr given to the begams was often substantial, reflecting their higher status. A higher mahr ensured greater financial security for the begam and also indicated the husband's respect and appreciation for her. It was a way for the husband to show his commitment and provide for her needs. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
Conclusion:
After analyzing the statements, we can conclude that statement 1 is incorrect as there was a clear distinction between wives from royal families and those who did not belong to affluent families. However, statement 2 is correct as a higher mahr ensured a higher status and greater attention to a begam from her husband. Hence, the correct answer is option 'B' - 2 only.