BENODE BEHARI MUKHERJEE ARCHIVES AND RESEARCH CENTRE
Supported by Mrinalini Mukherjee Foundation
presents
Special Lecture Series
Lecture 1:
The Learned Matriach: Hamida Banu Begam
by Dr Asok Das
25th March, 10:30 AM
Archive of Department of History of Art, Kala Bhavana,
Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan
Coming from a well-known family of an eminent sage Hamida Banu was married to Humayun Badshah overcoming her initial reluctance. After giving birth to Akbar the teen-aged Hamida accompanied Humayun in his perilous journey to various cities and pilgrim centers of Iran before settling down at Kabul. She collected books on various subjects, some of them illustrated, during this period and afterwards. One of her last acquisitions is a sumptuously illustrated copy of the Ramayana translated into Persian. As the highly respected matriarch of Emperor Akbar's household during his long reign she was responsible for making the zenana a place of coherence and harmony.
In this lecture details of her books and manuscripts, all marked with her distinctive seals or written notes, would be discussed with suitable illustrations.