THE HALF SMILE I3Icant ones.^3 To enact such a reading is not to simply highlight women's
roles. Rather it is to make a broader claim for revisiting our historical
records for the diverse social worlds occluded when we limit our
readings to kings and conquerors-or conversely, not see women as
kings and conquerors. What does a political world look like that in-
cludes politically powerful women who exact ethical practice along-
side other actors, such as advisors, allies, and nobility of different
communities?
This chapter focuses on three episodes from the beginning, middle,
and end of Chachnama: Chach's ascension to the throne, Qasim's judg-
ment on civilian prisoners, and the death of Qasim in Baghdad. The
protagonists of these episodes are vyomen, and the text speaks from
their perspective. The episodes are about the relationship between po-
litical power and just form~ of rule. J:hey focus on political will, on
desire,. on trusting intuition, and on the need for acuity in under-
standing political risks. If we read Chach and Qasim as ideal and ar-
chetypal protagonists, then we must read the women-from Sohnan
Devi, to Queen Ladi, to the daughters who end Qasim's rule-also as
archetypal, ethical subjects who affirm the ideal Chach and reveal the
limits of Qasim. After an analysis of these episodes, I look at other
characters, who are similarly important ideal ethical subjects, to con-
sider the wider social world of the thirteenth century. Finally, I trace
how later historical accounts citing Chachnama reduce female sub-
jects to transgressive figures or figures of resistance.
Ethical Subjects
Let us begin with the beginning of Chachnama, after Chach has ar-
rived and the narrative first slows down to describe him. He comes
from a Brahmin ascetic family and is looking to be employed as a scribe.
Having attained employment in the court of the king of Aror, Rai
Sahasi, Chach quickly becomes a favorite and often visits the interior
of the palacl!. It is on one such visit that he is seen by the queen, Sohnan
Devi. Through her gaze the reader first sees Chach. She watches
him and finds him to be "beautiful, well-proportioned, with rosy
red cheeks."^4 She is immediately besotted, and "the plant of love blos-
somed to a tree in her heart." The king, Chachnama narrates, although