People That Interest Me-Part 1

Aurangzeb

He was born on 4th November,1618- 3rd March 1707. His chosen imperial title was Alamgir-"Conquerer of the World." In effect, he was the last powerful Mughal Emperor that India had. When I learnt him in history, he was described as a cruel and an intolerant Emperor. He started the jiyaz ( a tax on non-Muslims) that Akbar had stopped due to India being pre dominantly Hindu. The author of Shadow Princess, Indu Sundaresan, managed to capture some of his complex personality but he continues to remain an enigma. He was a fanatically religious Muslim with a childhood that provides explanation for his unbending and ruthless nature. He was the third son of Shah Jahan(Khurram) and Mumtaz Mahal(Arjumand) and the least liked. He constantly sought his older sister's,Jahanara's approval which led him to being obsessed with her. Jahanara was always on her oldest brother,Dara's side, even though he wasnt as good as Aurangzeb. Roshannara who was his second sister, openly favored Aurangzeb while Jahanara despised him but when Jahangir died, he made Jahanara the Padshah Begum of his imperial zenana. He was, if I'm not mistaken, the only emperor who didnt give in to alcohol and opium. He and his story, till today, continues to intrigue me.

Diana

She will always remain the most beautiful woman in the world. She lived every woman's worst nightmare. Being trapped in a marriage that had three people in it at a young age, being seperated from her sons who were going to be born and bred in a system she despised and dying a year after her divorce, just when she was about to start living. Because of the lack of love in her life, she worked for charitable organizations with an almost superhuman strength, suffered from an eating disorder, committed half hearted suicidal attempts and was in constant fear of the paparazzi.





Marilyn Monroe

Her real name was Norma Jean Baker. She spent much of her childhood in foster homes and then went on to become a model. Her dumb blonde persona was used in movies and she is ranked the sixth greatest female star of all time. She was Jewsih, married and divorced thrice as well as on the first issue of Playboy magazine(1953) where she posed nude. The circumstances of her death,from an overdose of barbiturates, are still unknown. It could be classified as a 'probable suicide', 'accidental overdose' or a 'homicide'. She was known for her stage fright and her dependence on alcohol and pills to sleep because of insomnia."I know I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else."

Clark Gable

To me, he is the most handsome man from the early era. An era I wish I were born in, with the ball gowns and corsets on the arm of a man in tailcoats, a hat and a cane with carriages driven by horses and houses filled with vintage things..Rhett Butler, the character in Gone with the Wind, the one that won him accolades casts Mr Darcy in shadow comparitively. His character will always be the one man that woman wait all their lives for but never find..

"It's an extra dividend when you like the girl you're in love with."

Henry the Eighth

He was the King of England and later King Of Ireland.He is known for his six marriages because of his obsession to sire a son. He was an attractive and charismatic man in his prime. He was known for the English Reformation that made England a mostly Protestant nation. In later life, he became morbidly obese and his health suffered. His last words were cried out in exasperation, "Monks! Monks! Monks". His constant need to binge was blamed on stress and his public image is depicted as one of a lustful, egotistical, harsh and insecure king. The Boleyn Girls, which is now a movie, were one of his wives and mistresses. He has beheaded more English notables than any other monarch, before or since. He was the first well educated English king and was known for spending on jousting tournaments, twice a year. For those of you who do not know what jousting is, watch Prince's Tale.