Who is Jodha Bai?

Social history and pop culture go hand in hand. Because of the influence, one has on the other, misrepresentation is bound to happen. ‘Jodha Bai’ is a living example of such a misrepresentation.

Portrait of Mariam-uz-Zamani, source: WikiMedia

Jodha Bai as the wife of Akbar was popularised by Ashutosh Gowaikar’s movie released in 2008, titled ‘Jodha Akbar’. The movie represented Jodha Bai as the Hindu wife who was married off to Akbar as a part of marriage diplomacy. While historians confirm that marriage diplomacy existed under Akbar’s reign, the facts of Jodha Bai remain contrary to what the movie shows.

In the documents that we find from the Mughal household, women’s real names are concealed, and they are often represented by their place of belonging. If one has to interpret the name Jodha Bai, one will come to a realisation that the term ”Jodha” here represents Jodhpur, while “Bai” represents an address for women in the vernacular.

It was Jehangir, who was married off to the princess of Jodhpur. And thus the name Jodha Bai came into being.

How did the confusion start?

In the book Annals and Antiquity of Rajasthan, William Crooke, who edited the 1920 edition of the book, explained in the footnotes the correlation between the term Jodha Bai and the lady from Jodhpur. The author of the book, Lt. Col. James Tod, misinterpreted the footnote and mistook Jodha Bai for Akbar’s wife. This is where all the confusion began.

Further, Luis de Assis Correia confused a Portuguese woman with Jodha Bai. Correia writes about the Mughal and Portuguese relations and mentions an incident where Akbar marries the woman. Confusing with the other wives of Akbar, Correia ends up referring the Portuguese woman as Jodha Bai.

This renaming further leads and adds to the misrepresentation of Jodha Bai as Akbar’s wife.

Who was Akbar’s Wife?

Akbar was married to a Hindu princess of Amer. Though her identity is not revealed, she was referred to as Harka Bai, later renamed Mariam.

Historians use Akbarnama to prove that Jodha Bai was not Akbar’s wife.

Misrepresentation of History

Movies are created for the sole purpose of entertainment and leave out facts. Though it may make a movie a blockbuster, the same movie holds the power to damage history forever. Many, who do not come from a historical background take movies as real historical accounts. For them, Jodha Bai is Akbar’s wife.

This matter does not stop here. Misrepresentation of facts is now carried on to historical monuments as the Harem at the Agra Fort is now termed as Jodha Bai’s Palace.

Jodhabai’s Palace at Agra Fort

Movie Poster of Jodhaa Akbar, source: Bollywood Hungama