Muslims of India

Ramjo Narnauli, a beautiful courtesan from the historical city of Narnaul in Haryana, now is widely regarded as the muse of Shefta, a pen name for Urdu and Hasrati, name the plume for the Persian literary cannon adopted by Nawab of Jahangirabad, Mustafa Khan. Ramjo, a poet writing with takhallus Nazakat, has been described by the poet Shefta in glowing words: “She is a dazzling moon, fine sculpture, unparallel beauty, has flawless skin and she is pleasant to heart. Her name is Ramjo. She hails from Narnaul …” (Gulshan-e-Bekhar) Shefta Ji cites some of the couplets written by Ramjo Narnauli as well.

Hakim Fasihuddin Ranj writes in his dictionary of poetesses ‘Baharistan-e-Naz’ “Her name was Ramjo, name of the plume, Nazakat. She hails from Narnaul. She was a superb singer. She lavishly lived for a long time in the cities of Faizabad and Shahjahanabad. She was a poet …. The house in which she lived is still located in the locality of Charkha Wala in Delhi. There is one sign of her grave now in Hazrat Sultan Ji Sahab.

Ramjo Narnauli had a sister namely Manglo, who had been married to Mir Ahmad Ali, an Advocate of the Criminal Court. Shefta had written a Masnavi on the occasion of initiation of Ramjo and Manglo into the profession of courtesan. Malik Ram writes: “Ramjo and Manglo were sisters. Both were stylish and unparallel beauties. Ramjo was with Shefta for sometimes. Manglo was kept by Mir Rahim Mukhtar Kar of the Criminal Court. Their splendid house is still in existence in Charkha Walon (Delhi). This building is situated beside Mission School. Seth Lachhi Narayan purchased it from them and the later sold it to Hakim Ahsanullah Khan Bahadur later on.  Ramjo composed poems as well. Nazakat was her name the plume. She was laid to rest in Sultan Ji after she left for heavenly abode.”

These two courtesans might have been less known to us, if Shefta would not have written glowing terms about them. (Hamid Siddiqui: Director of MOI Portal)

Munni Bai Hijab

SIRAJ SHOLAPURI