Reader’s Digest India – July 2019

usaara as well. She never asked

her daughter-in-law to observe the

restrictions of segregation, reflecting her

firm belief that, in time, even the most

entrenched systems would slowly but

surely transform.

B

ack in the zenana, I am now

in front of the Bara Imambara,

participating in one of the

processions that begin inside the

mahalsara. This procession is

accompanied by a horse that is decked

up in ceremonial regalia to represent

the steed of Imam Husain, the Prophet’s

grandson, martyred in the battle of

Karbala. The horse is a Mewari stallion,

gifted to the Mahmudabad family

by the royals of Udaipur. A caretaker

leads the handsome animal into the

zenana, and as they walk by, I take full

notice of the man, and suddenly find

myself struggling to suppress a wave of

laughter in the middle of this sombre

mourning procession.

The caretaker is wearing a

ghoonghat, a chequered cloth

d awn over his head. This veil

prevent him from resting his

y upon the women inside the

zenana. I mull over, with some

amusement, this far superior so-

lution for men who complain of being

‘lured’ by the mere sight of women.

He holds the reigns of the horse,

while the ladies chant elegies, led

by a distinguished woman—the

Raja’s first cousin. Gazing at her as

she recites, I wonder if the erstwhile

Rani resembled her—silver hair,

pale skin, almond eyes and a look

of utter serenity. I am suddenly

overwhelmed by a sense of solidarity

and admiration for Rani Kaniz Abid,

who may have accepted purdah, but

dreamt of freedom, both for herself

and for others in her care. Who valued

the need for mobility and opportunity,

and believed in setting free all living

creatures from all sorts of cages—the

visible and the invisible.

94 july 2019

THE MALE CARETAKER

WORE A VEIL TO

PREVENT HIM FROM

SETTING EYES INSIDE

THE ZENANA

At First Sight

I married for love. But the obvious side

benefit of having someone around to find

my glasses cannot be ignored.

CAMERON ESPOSITO, COMEDIAN

as well. She never asked

her daughter-in-law to observe the

mourning procession.

The caretaker is

ghoonghat

drawn over his head. This veil

will prevent him from resting his

eyes upon the women inside the

SETTING EYES INSIDE

THE ZENANA.

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