Ruby Lal Libri

The book explores the experiences of nineteenth-century Indian women as they navigate the transition from girlhood to adulthood. Ruby Lal delves into their lives, highlighting the cultural and societal changes they faced during this period. Through eloquent storytelling, the author sheds light on the complexities of their identities and the challenges they encountered, providing a nuanced understanding of women's roles in a transforming society.

Focusing on the role of women in the Mughal court during the sixteenth century, the study challenges conventional views of the haram as merely a space of seclusion and exploitation. Instead, it presents a nuanced portrayal of a society where noble men and women actively engaged in both domestic life and political affairs. By comparing with Ottoman and Safavid histories, the author highlights the complexity and significance of the Mughal haram in shaping imperial dynamics and institutional development.

Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. Her legend still lives, but her story was lost-until now.

A captivating biography of one of the world’s greatest adventurers, the itinerant Mughal Princess Gulbadan, based on her long-forgotten memoir