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A standing ovation followed these last words. After a while of thankful nodding, the sultan sat down. This also ended the applause. The rector came forward and thanked the sultanic couple for the speeches. The visit was concluded with a light meal in the form of a reception. In this way the professors, the rector and the praeses could talk informally with the sultan and sultana. The sultanic couple left to spend the night in the luxurious Apollonian Oriental Hotel. | A standing ovation followed these last words. After a while of thankful nodding, the sultan sat down. This also ended the applause. The rector came forward and thanked the sultanic couple for the speeches. The visit was concluded with a light meal in the form of a reception. In this way the professors, the rector and the praeses could talk informally with the sultan and sultana. The sultanic couple left to spend the night in the luxurious Apollonian Oriental Hotel. | ||
== The joy of a birth, the pressure of succession == | |||
On the morning of 12.XI.1691 there was great tension in the Red Fortress. It had already been leaked that the Sultana was pregnant, but there was great social pressure to be cautious in reporting. The fact that something was going on was already apparent from the cancellation of the major meeting that morning. Early in the morning, before sunrise, Jodha's parents arrived at the Red Fortress. Rani Champavati, mother of the Sultana, would assist her daughter at birth. That is what is very common in Poorajangal. In Šer-Ku-Riž, the Sultan's parents were woken up, they got up to travel to Agra. A car picked them up and drove them to a nearby military base, from where they were flown to Agra. | |||
The room where the women were locked. The men were not allowed to be there, not even the Sultan. Akbar thought that was old-fashioned, outdated, but eventually gave in to the pressure. He strolled back and forth in front of the door of the room. He heard Jodha, which worried him. But the other women didn't seem to panic. Then he heard a baby crying, there was the long-awaited child. Moments later Jodha's mother, the brand new grandmother, came out and looked happy. She invited the Sultan inside. Inside, the Sultan saw a sweaty but very happy Jodha, with a small baby in her arms. He approached cautiously and sat down next to Jodha. Jodha looked happily at him, he kissed her sweaty head. "The great Crait God be praised," said Akbar. He saw that grandma Rani looked a bit worried. "What is it?", Akbar asked. Rani didn't answer. Jodha said: "It's a girl". Akbar looked into Jodha's happy brown eyes and said: "May this girl be as handsome and prosperous as you, my love". A tear of happiness found its way out of Jodha's right eye. | |||
However fortunate the sultanic couple were, the big meeting that was held in Red Fortress with three days' delay was divided. Of course, everyone wished the Sultan and Sultana luck, but there was a group that ruled that the succession to the throne had not been assured. On the contrary, another group argued that the birth of a child is, by definition, a certainty for the future. The great assembly seemed to be divided according to the origin of the Members of Parliament. To the west of the Green border, we are used to a system of matriarchal succession. Male or female succession through the maternal line. To the east of the green border, we are accustomed to a patriarchal succession. The male succession via the male line. The matriarchal succession in particular has different forms, which is an opportunity for the group to form a majority for the patriarchal succession. This led to fierce discussions, while the Sultan was yet to arrive. | |||
The Sultan was almost impossible to get away from the cradle with the little girl. Jodha said: "My husband, it is time for you to devalue the succession for the big meeting". Akbar looked into the loving eyes of his wife. "Well, my love," said the Sultan. The fierce discussion silenced immediately when the arrival of the Sultan was announced. Instead of the usual entrance to the courtyard, Akbar came from another entrance. It walked between the men, it was so quiet that the birds could be heard. Amidst the men, Akbar stood and listened to the birdsong. "Hear the sparrow and the swift, their twittering is the concert of nature. Your discussions are twittering on the fringes. The day will come when my succession will be arranged. That is not today," said the Sultan. | |||
[[category:History]] | [[category:History]] | ||
[[category:Literature]] | [[category:Literature]] | ||
Revision as of 21:28, 25 December 2020
The Chronicles of Akbar is a narrative series written by Gustaaf Vermeylen, describing the events surrounding Akbar I, Sultan of Çakaristan.
Marhaba ho marhaba

Akbar sat on a horse, surrounded by his guard. The enthusiastic crowd waved at him, while he was still a little upset that he had been elected sultan. Not his father, not one of his older brothers, but he had become a sultan. His smile was perhaps still modest. His meeting with Yodhaa, who was actually married to him, was very brief. Hasan had told about her and not a word of it had been lied to. As far as he could see, through her veil, she was very pretty.
He scattered gold coins into the crowd, while that crowd enhousiastically shouted at him: "Tu hai raja!” (You're the king). Suddenly Akbar was hit by an arrow. The guard reacted immediately by fencing off the sultan. Several people were not immediately aware of what was happening and were still cheering, while others were shouting in horror. Two men from the guard went after the gunman. Apparently the shooter had managed to get a weapon past the control. The shooter pointed a second arrow at the sultan, but the guard was unable to get the sultan in his sights. The two men of the guard ran towards him, when he realised this, he started to run away. He dropped his bow and arrow and fled.
The sultan was helped off his horse and brought back to the Red Fortress under guard. There doctors were summoned, while Abu's brothers sealed off the fortress. Large groups of people were imprisoned, but they were summoned to rest. The sultan was treated by the doctors, who removed the arrow from the sultan's left shoulder. The heart was not touched, the arrow was too high. The doctors treated the wound, but feared that the arrow might also contain poison. That poison could be more deadly than the arrow itself. The sultan lay unconscious while his wife and mother wept over the situation. His brothers and father remained strong, but all three of them got a headache from all the thoughts about how to proceed. The euphoria of less than an hour ago has turned into serious concern.
The two men of the guard managed to track down the shooter and took him prisoner. They took him to the Red Fortress. On the way, people spit on him, threw stones at him and the guard had to protect the shooter. In the fortress the shooter was put in a room, where he was guarded by six guards. He was searched and a capsule of cyanide was found. The shooter was disappointed, because this was how he wanted to avoid his punishment.
In the courtyard, Amir summoned the people to leave, but the councillors and dignitaries had to stay. He spoke to them, telling them honestly what the sultan's condition was. He stressed that it was precisely now that calm had to be maintained. The meeting was not entirely at ease. Hasan stressed: "If we don't stay together now, the fight for independence will have been in vain. Blood will have flowed for nothing! The only foreign guest still present said: 'If I may take the liberty of addressing you and giving you my humble advice, appoint a Grand Vizier to observe the government on behalf of the Sultan - may he soon recover. This will not put this nation out of control'. He bowed his head. The meeting actually agreed with the advice. But who should this Grand Vizier be? Amir urged everyone to remain silent, because the meeting collapsed in mutual consultation and debate. May I suggest that my brother, my father and I certainly would not become Grand Vizier? May I therefore propose that Rajesh Avchat be named Grand Vizier? For a moment, the sitting remained silent, but more and more faces cleared up, so there was agreement.
Rajesh Avchat himself was very surprised, but stated that he was very honoured. He took the oath before the meeting:
|
मैं यह शपथ लेता हूं |
main yah shapath leta hoon |
I swear this oath |
The sitting applauded, while Rajesh nodded and bowed his head. Amir and Hasan breathed with relief. It was almost for nothing. They went back to the sultan. There they found the sultana next to the sultan, while others talked quietly from a greater distance. Suddenly the sultan moved, the doctors rushed. The sultan awoke, as if from a deep sleep. He looked up, wanted to get up, but felt the pain in his left shoulder. The anxious faces cleared up, relief began to set the mood. The sultan calmed down when he noticed he was in good hands. He saw her face, without a veil, without hindrance. Her beautiful face. He said to her: "marhaba" (welcome).
Courting the bride
The recovery of the Sultan went well. Akbar started working after some time. With his advisor and Grand Vizier decrees were issued to govern the sultanate. When he had recovered sufficiently, the marriage ceremony was organised. The formal marriage that had taken place during his coronation was now also confirmed with a wedding ceremony. Until this ceremony they had met, but had never been alone. They lived separated under one roof. That would change. The ceremony took place in the main hall, under the big dome.
"By Craitgod. This man and this woman are from now on bound together in the sacred covenant of marriage. Praise be to Craitgod!"
The sultan was very pleased with the marriage, a beautiful woman was now bound to him. On an elevated platform, stands a throne where the bride and groom were kneeling and a canopy above it. There was little time for the bride and groom to speak to each other. The guests passed the bride and groom's throne, expressed their congratulations and gave their gifts. The bride and groom smiles thanking their good wishes and gifts. They walked almost alone to the dining room, where the sultan had to admit that he was nervous to start a conversation with his bride. He did not want to flood her with questions. He had been dreaming about marriage for a long time, a beautiful woman for him alone. Comradeship, someone who would help him.
He thought back to what his professor said during one of the lectures: "The reason people get married, apart from dynastic motives, is that there is a framework around the relationship. Disagreements within intimate relationships are difficult to resolve, but they have to be resolved within a marriage. Because as part of the marriage vows it is the 'I won't leave you' element. As a result, within a marriage you cannot run away from every quarrel or manifestation of a defect. You have to solve it together. And how awful it is that a relationship is as unsettled as any dispute or manifestation of a flaw you can leave. Under what tension do you then live in the realisation that something only has to happen and your partner leaves? How are you going to behave then? First of all, of course you are not going to admit that you are doing something wrong. Secondly, you are going to behave like a frightened cat, because the relationship may just be over.
Some people then say it's a good thing that there is a possibility of divorce. Well, under certain circumstances that is justifiable. Only in general divorce is not a liberation from the bond of marriage. Because the uncertainty that you might get divorced if you don't, is a direct violation of your own vow of marriage. What is that vow worth if you can ignore it? After all, you made that vow, not only in front of your partner, but also in front of others.
So what is your attitude then? Look, you are in trouble, but so am I. You have flaws, but so do I. We are condemned to each other, because that is what we promised each other. It's an enormous vow, but that's why a marriage vow is also seen as a sacred act.
What would be your alternative, if you do not want to be 'bound' to a vow of marriage? Everything is changeable at any time. Well, live that. What does it look like when you're fifty? Two or three broken relationships, your family is fragmented, you have no continual stability. And it's not good for the children. It's a question of responsibility. If you can't run away, you have to solve your problems. So: I'm stuck with you, so let's solve problems. The alternative is that we have a boxing match for the next 40 years. If that responsibility doesn't hang over that relationship, then problems won't be solved. Because people avoid problems, that's the natural reaction. It is very difficult to solve problems, especially in an intimate relationship.
Suppose you have a quarrel. What your partner does and says doesn't seem to be in any proportion to what you do and say. You can't get to the bottom of it until you find out that your partner has been abused in the past. But your partner doesn't want to talk about it, and every time you bring that up, your partner gets angrier and angrier. So if in an unattached relationship there is always a threat to leave, but in the end there is a terrible story about the abuse. Your partner bursts into tears. What do you do then? In an unattached relationship you can avoid the problem and leave. Goodbye, good luck! But in a bonded relationship, you are condemned to solve this problem. Otherwise we have to carry this with us for the next forty years. This may be enough motivation to take on problems".
After dinner the party started. Music, dance and wine. Unfortunately the party was a separate affair. The men on one side of the main hall, the women on the other side. The women were shielded with a veil. While the dance and music were played in the middle. The sultan was reluctant with the wine, because he did not want to get drunk. The bride was escorted to the pouch room, where she waited for her groom to arrive. Akbar came in and there she sat on the bed. With her knees raised, under a veil. He took off his crown and sat down on the edge of the bed. She was clearly nervous. When Akbar carefully wanted to touch her hand, she pulled it away. Akbar realised that she didn't want to. He thought, was disappointed, but got up again and left. That night she slept on the bridal bed, alone.
The next few days Jodha saw her husband a few times while he was busy. She heard a conversation between him and her father, the Grand Vizier. The men did not know that she was listening while sitting on the balcony. Under the balcony, the men were in gespek. She was admired by her husband, who spoke with authority and full of wisdom. Not much later a high envoy from the Emirate of Arbor visited her. Her presence was desired and so she appeared in a beautiful dress and veil according to Aryastian tradition. In the courtyard towards the audience room she met the sultan. He nodded kindly and was apparently happy to see her. She appreciated his respectful attitude. But her court ladies, her mother and father were unhappy with the situation. According to them, the marriage had not been confirmed because they had not shared the bed.
On the other day she walked through the fortress when she suddenly saw the Sultan. He was not dressed in the usual sultanic robe. No crown on his head. His upper body was bare. Four sentries approached the sultan with drawn swords. The sultan fought the sentries, who apparently did not hold back. It was an exercise, because the brothers of the sultan were watching nonchalantly. The sultan defeated one after the other. The muscular upper body of the sultan was sweaty, she got itchy in her belly from the face. She hid behind the vitrages, but was indoctrinated from the muscular man. When the palace guards were defeated, the brothers approached laughingly. They drew their swords, but the sultan was already prepared. Akbar defeated his brothers with ferve.
That afternoon she saw in a beautiful symetric courtyard garden. She sang traditional Aryastian songs. The sultan heard her singing and was distracted. Then he finished the meeting, walked towards the beautiful singing. He saw her sitting, playing with young rabbits. The rabbits wanted to escape all the time, the court ladies were busy holding all the rabbits together. While singing her song, she stroked a rabbit in her arms. A poem, a song came into his mind and he heard the music already in his head:
| Adarani | Transliteration | Translated in Common Tongue |
|
कहने को जश्न-ए-बहारा है |
Kehne ko Jashn-e-bahara hai |
People may Imagine spring is here |
Band of brothers
In the Red Fortress there were many courtyards, halls and gardens. Akbar had not yet had time to explore the entire palace. But what he did recognise was the uncomfortable attitude of the dignitaries towards his older brothers. They did not know what their position was, their status and how to honour it. After all, they had in fact passed through a strict order of succession which made their younger brother the sultan. But fortunately, they were true to their word and loyal to their brother. On one of the many courtyards there is a small dome on eight pillars. The octagonal roof was depicted in the cushions under the circular dome. This is where the three brothers sat. In front of their layers bowls with all kinds of delicacies: various kinds of baqlāwa, ḥalqūm and fruit.
"My brothers", started Akbar, he hesitated for a moment. Amir looked at the sultan in full anticipation. Akbar took a breath and said, "Three things I need to get rid of. And without diversion I am just going to say it". Hasan wanted to drink a sip, but put the cup back on the table to listen to his brother. "I am still troubled with the fall of Kila Qandagozar. The rumours that our father deliberately waited a day before marching with his troops to help Aykut Kökgül are persistent. We need to know what happened. Amir interrupted and asked Akbar: "Did you talk to our father about this? "No, not directly. I don't know how he will react", Akbar replied. Hasan said: "I have a reliable source who told me that father was indeed waiting a day. He knew that I would certainly not be on time with my troops." "Hmmm, this is what makes things so difficult now. Father always said he was waiting for the right moment," Amir said. Akbar shook his head. "As a sultan I cannot tolerate that father was deliberately too late to relieve Aykut. And we as a family cannot tolerate that if it were not true, the rumours would continue to go around". After a few moments of silence between the men, Amir said: "Couldn't you ask the Emir of Arbor to go to court? Then you, as a sultan, would not be too involved, because it concerns our father, and a fair verdict could be made". "Good idea," replied Akbar. He waved and a secretary approached. He dictated a letter to the Emir asking for this case to be investigated and tried.
Hasan said: “My brother, that was one thing, what is number two?” "Yes", replied Akbar, "the second thing is the assassin's army. The man is still imprisoned, but remains silent in all languages. I can't keep that man locked up forever, he has to be tried". "What do we know about this man?", asked Amir. "Not much, not even his name," replied Akbar. "Yes, then only his behaviour can be judged. If he doesn't share his motive, that's his problem," Hasan said. "True, but that makes it difficult to know if he is part of an organization or if he is a loner," Akbar replied. Amir said: "Once, but a judgement has to be made. And I would say, the death penalty'. Akbar nodded, but replied: 'I do not think his blood should spill on the land that has been fought over. The same country that Aykut gave his life for'. "Isn't there an island where his sentence can be carried out?" Hasan asked. "Undoubtedly, I will take the man to court and if he is sentenced to death, carry out his sentence on a lonely rocky island in the sea," Akbar concluded.
"Point three", Amir began. "This point is a bit personal", said Akbar, "we have the sultanate under control, but there is still a lot of green on our borders. There are opportunities there. One of the possibilities is the annexation of the former Aryasht. This area and especially its people are one of the cultural pillars of our nation. It is therefore important that we unite that area and its people with us. On the east side, we still have a piece of former Krasnarus, which is part of an island. If only for strategic reasons, it would be good to fly our flag on the mountain top of that island. That is why I want to send you both on a mission. A mission on the borders of the sultanate. But you are not doing that just for me. Hasan, I want to name you Raj over Korhal. Aryasht is west of there and that is part of your mission. Only Korhal is in your domain, with a large degree of autonomy. Amir, I want to send you east. I want to make you Khan over Albion. Conquer the island and conquer it for your khanate. Everything beyond that island is outside your domain. I don't want to take you away from Agra, but I do want to give you a share in the exquisite task that is mine".
The brothers looked at each other, their faces brightened. "What a great idea," Amir shouted. Hasan agreed and added: "My brother, we will not let you down! "Good to hear", said Akbar relieved. "Hasan, I named your mission 'shuddh butg par'. May Craitgod be with you!" Hasan nodded and already wanted to toast. "Amir, I named your mission 'tariqat alwird'. May Craitgod be with you!" Within days of this meeting, the brothers said goodbye and Amir and Hasan left for their mission.
Çakar revolution

For the first time since the coronation of Abu to sultan, a large meeting was organised in the Red Fortress. The atmosphere was less tense than at the previous meeting. At that time, the National Awakening was just coming to an end, but the future of the nation was very uncertain. It is different now, with a sultan at the helm, a government led by the Grand Vizier and secure territory.
The sultan emerged and sat down on his throne. Those present bowed their heads out of respect for the sultan. On the balcony on the right hand side of the sultan sat the sultana, somewhat hidden behind curtains. The Grand Vizier came forward and said: "By Craitgod, may the sultan reign forever". Those present answered with "Āmīn!". "With your permission there are a number of issues that need your attention", the Grand Vizier continued. The Sultan nodded approvingly.
"Your majesty, dignitaries, our nation exists by the grace of the great Craitgod. The struggle for independence has been fought, we honour those people who have paid the ultimate price for it. It would be a good thing if we did not forget that struggle and gave their lives. May I suggest, Your Majesty, that we erect a national monument? And to establish the day on which the National Awakening ended as official Independence Day? Several of those present nodded during the Grand Vizier's speech, after which a silence followed. The sultan nodded approvingly and said: "In this renewed city, the capital of our new nation, there is enough space to build a national monument. A park around that monument, so that the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice are carved in stone and there is room for reflection. Let that monument be the place where the fallen are commemorated every year and our independence is celebrated". "Thank you, Your Majesty," said the Grand Vizier with a bow.
"Your Majesty, dignitaries, in the absence of a constitution or a declaration of independence, we have not given our nation an official name. As a working title, we use the name 'Sylvania' and that is how we are labelled internationally, but officially we have not. May we ask you if you have a name for our nation', said the Grand Vizier. The sultan thought visibly and, after a short moment, said: "Dear Grand Vizier, dear dignitaries, may I hear you". It took some time for someone to come forward. "Your Majesty, may you rule forever", his speech was interrupted by the approving "Āmīn!", by those present. "Since you have been elected our sultan, sultan of this nation, it makes sense to name this nation as follows: Ultimate Sultanate of Akbar". The sultan smiled. "Your proposal flatters me, my dear, but this nation is greater than my name." The dignitary understood. Another dignitary came forward and said: "Your Majesty, may you rule forever" "Āmīn! "Why shouldn't we continue to use that working title?" The sultan replied: "Our nation encompasses a larger territory than what was once called Sylvania. The working title is inappropriate for our culture and identity". The dignitary nodded.
The Grand Vizier said: "Another possibility would be to use the name 'Hasanistan', but one of the sub-regions is already called that. The National Awakening is a joint effort by Hasanis, Nogans, Coriaks and support from the green. The name 'Hasanistan' would place too much emphasis on one of the participating population groups. The sultan nodded approvingly, after which the Grand Vizier realised that he had forgotten the formalities. He bowed his head in shame. The sultan didn't make a point of it or he didn't even notice it. The next dignitary came forward and said: "Your Majesty, may you reign forever" "Āmīn! "Our nation is the land of the cresent moon. We are on the east side of the Apollonian continent, while on the west side lies the land of the sun. The sun and moon are the most important celestial bodies, the moon reflects the light of the sun. May that be characteristic of our nation" "Thank you, my dear, your words have included true depth".
The meeting remained silent until the sultan himself took the floor: "In a divine vision I spoke with the great Craitgod. The deliberations of this assembly are of great value, that is why what the great Craitgod said to me was brilliant and brilliant. Naming a nation after me does not hold up. A nation named after a small minority does not stand up to others. A nation named after a lost past does not do justice to the present. That is why the following name is appropriate to our culture, does justice to your choice to choose me as a sultan and has eternal value: Çakaristan. The assembly burst out in joy and applauded: "Praise be to Craitgod for our nation Çakaristan!"
When peace had returned somewhat, the sultan said: "So it shall be, by the grace and wisdom of the great Craitgod, from this day forward, our nation is called: Çakaristan. The formal name will be Çakaristan: 'Ultimate Çakar Sultanate' and the ceremonial name 'Hilal Empire'.” The meeting applauded loudly! The sultan saw some participants asking about the ceremonial name. To which the sultan began to explain: "Our great nation is located on the Apollonian continent. We carry the Cresent Moon on our flag, while on the west side of this continent there is an empire with the sun on its flag. That is how that great empire and our great empire form a balance in perfect dualism". The previously questioning participants were pleased with this explanation and again there was a loud applause.
"Our nation is founded on a rich history of earlier nations. Only our nation will stand out from them in greater greatness. To begin with, we will change various names according to our language, according to our culture," said the sultan. The sultan's secretary came forward after a gesture from the sultan and read a list of name changes:
| Original name | New name | Arboric | Adarani | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | Jabal al-Mada' | الجبل المضاء | dawn-lit mountain | |
| (East-)Antica | Ardnusur | أردنوسور | अर्द नसर | land of eagles |
| Aryapur | Fatehpur | فاتحبور | फतेहपुर | town of victory |
| Aurelius and Makit | Çakarabad | شاكاراباد | चकराबाद | city of Çakar |
| Chesterfield | Kila Maidaan | فورت سهل | किला मैदान | fort plain |
| Caerulea | Keruliya | كيروليا | केरुलिया | blue |
| Fluride | Faliwrid | فلوريد | ||
| Gevet (city) | Hiawatha | هياواثا | ||
| Korhal | Korhalistan | كورهليستان | कोरहालीस्टेन | |
| Kuregred | Kuribad | كوريباد | कुरीबाद | |
| Lezije | Lyzij | ليزيج | ||
| Livorno | Liburnia | ليبورنيا | लिबरनिअ | |
| Maldon | Paar-Pahaadee | عبر التل | पार-पहाड़ी | crossing hill |
| Marco | Merku | ميركو | ||
| Micograd | Micobad | ميكوباد | माइकोबाद | |
| Phedodah | Poorajangal | غابة كاملة | पूराजंगल | complete jungle |
| Slavograd | Salafubad | سلفوباد | ||
| Slavonje | Salafulanid | سالافولانيد | ||
| Sylvania | Sylfystan | سيلفيستان | सिल्वेनिया | from the forest |
| York | Ghodabad | غوداباد | घोडाबाद |
The secretary nodded to the sultan when he had finished listing and took a step backwards. The sultan looked at the participants in the meeting and said: “May I ask the meeting to vote on these names?” The participants looked at each other, the Grand Vizier had to smile. With a nod, the sultan approved that the Grand Vizier would speak. The Grand Vizier said: "Dear representatives, our sultan, in the great wisdom of the great Craitgod, has decided that our great nation will have a parliament. This Parliament will have the mandate to become the legislative body of our nation. The sultan, may he reign forever, will ratify the approved laws by his signature. To this end, the sultan will draw up a basic law, provide a meeting place outside this palace and organise elections”. The meeting replied with: "Praise be to Craitgod for our nation Çakaristan!".
A vote was then taken and the list of new names was adopted by a large majority. The secretary announced the result of the vote. The sultan was satisfied.
A kiss from the rain
Jodha woke up, she felt enormously rested. She thought she had slept well. Her husband was still asleep next to her. She smiled, thinking back to the day before. For weeks she had been courted by the sultan. He did his best. And slowly her appreciation for him turned into love. She had already caught herself with a warm tickling sensation in her belly when she had seen him swordfighting. His muscles and appearance were beautiful to see. But she also felt the pressure, the pressure from outside to go to bed with him out of duty, because she had to give him a heir to the throne. She didn't have that in mind when she was younger. She wanted to fall in love, get married and then. The order was different now.
The previous morning began like other mornings. She had been invited by the Sultan to have breakfast with him. That happened more often, but the conversation was for looser than usual. She sighed when they had recovered from laughter. Even though she no longer knew why they had laughed so much, Akbar asked why she sighed. She said she used to dance and sing spontaneously when it rained. In Poorajangal rain is a blessing, so people would always party when it rained. Akbar asked what she sang then. And Jodha started to sing some lines of a song:
- O clouds please rain
- It's sweet and it's warm
- It's like a kiss from the rain
- It's warm, it's warm
- O clouds please rain
She clearly saw him enjoying her singing, although it was very simple. Suddenly the Sultan said: "Let us do something spontaneous!” Jodha was curious. He gestured her closer and in a gentle tone he said to her: "Put on some simple clothes, come to the parrot tower, then we will secretly go to the city". Jodha looked surprised and agreed. It was not clear how they managed it, but less than an hour later they walked together through the vegetation just outside the Red Fortress. Akbar looked through the bushes to see if anyone would see them if they took to the streets. When the coast was clear, Jodha and he took to the streets. Together they went to the souk. Their simple clothes seemed to be enough not to attract attention.
At the souk they were overwhelmed by the spicy smells, the wild colours and crowds. Akbar was introduced to some new flavours, which Jodha recognized from her homeland. They ate shawarma on a pita roll from one of the many street stalls. In the park, where the parliament building was under construction, they enjoyed the sun and the fresh breeze. Pigeons had already found the newly created park, while many trees still had to mature. Akbar wanted to see the national monument, which was built further on in the park. In this way they could see the monument well, without any formalities. They walked back into town, to the river Taw'am. Low quays had been built on the banks, so ships could moor. The ships were almost absent, so the quays were relatively deserted. In the distance they saw the Red Fortress. They talked to each other in such a way that they did not notice that heavy rain was approaching over the city. Armed they were talking to each other, when the shower erupted. They were so surprised that they rained soaking wet in a short time. Quickly they fled under one of the stone arched bridges over the river. There they were alone.
Akbar asked Jodha: "Can you sing that song again? The song about the rain." Jodha smiled, scraped her throat and began to sing:
| Adarani | Transliteration | Translated in Common Tongue |
|
ना रे, ना रे |
Naa Re Naa Re, Naa Re Naa Re |
Oh no ... oh no |
While singing there were dance movements. Akbar enjoyed her singing. Jodha ended her dance in the arms of Akbar, where she sang the last lines. As if from a romantic movie they kissed each other. For the first time in full love. They experience it as magical, that moment. But in a film everything is directed to perfection, here in real life there was clumsiness too. For both of them it was the first time they kissed another, the first time they experienced a moment like this. That evening in the Red Fortress was possibly even more magical. Their kisses turned into a paradisiacal being together.
Our generous king is a shade of Craitgod
A special convoy transported the former king of Krasnocoria and his family to Agra. The mood was sad and they were nervous about what was in store for them. The former king looked outside, through the tinted windows of the armoured car. The landscape slipped by from what was once Krasnocoria. What he once ruled over. As they approached Agra, more and more building activities became visible. The former king was impressed by the large-scale approach. The new roads, railways and buildings. Eventually he also saw a well-known building, the Red Fortress. This was where the peace talks had been held to end the Hasani War. Now it is apparently the sultanic palace.
Even just before the Red Fortress there were construction works. Cars were no longer allowed to enter the Red Fortress, but stopped at the beginning of the bridge to the entrance gate. The construction work was to provide that arrival point with the necessary buildings and shielding. Undoubtedly there will also be room to park the cars when the Sultan's guests are in the Red Fortress. They got out and walked together across the bridge, through the entrance gate. There they were escorted to the large courtyard with the throne of the Sultan. A large number of people were present in the courtyard. The former king and his family were placed in front of the throne of the Sultan. Without handcuffs, without threat of weapons, but escaping was not an option. On the right, three men sat on three chairs, dressed in long robes. On the left were the Grand Vizier, Rajesh Avchat, and Ümit Çakar, the Sultan's father. Above the throne on the left, on the balcony behind curtains, he saw a beautiful woman, apparently the Sultana. And on the right above the throne, on the balcony behind the curtains, he saw Hamida Banu, the mother of the Sultan. He did not see the brothers of the Sultan.
The court speaker announced the arrival of the Sultan and from behind the throne the Sultan stepped forward and sat down on the throne. The court speaker began: "By Craitgod, may the Sultan reign forever". Those present answered with "Āmīn!". The former king and his family were amazed at what happened. The court speaker continued: "Your Majesty, before you stands Jovan, King of Krasnocoria, and his family. They were hiding in Micobad, where your brother, Hasan Çakar, found them. He had them brought here and so they are here". The Sultan nodded, after which Ümit Çakar came forward and took the floor: 'Your Majesty, under the responsibility of this man, many brothers have been murdered. During the Hasani War and the Sylvanian National Awakening, our brothers were murdered by men who had sworn allegiance to this man. May I advise the Sultan to punish this man for that". Ümit Çakar stepped back to his place. The Grand Vizier came forward and said: "The king pardoned the Hasanis after the Hasani War and cannot be held fully responsible for the actions under the Krasnocorian flag". Extensive statements were made by the two men. When they were over, the court speaker asked if the former king would like to make a statement.

Jovan said: 'Your Majesty, thank you for bringing me and my family here and protecting them. It is true that, as king of the fallen Krasnocoria, I can be held responsible for all actions under my rule. I cannot hide behind the fact that others have acted in my name. May all the dead who have been mourned find peace. All you can ask for, Your Majesty, is mercy. At least let my family continue to live in peace and tranquillity. If you pronounce a punishment, let me bear it." He became emotional and could not speak any further. One of the three men in the chairs talked to each other, then one of them stood up and said: "Your Majesty, we have come to a verdict" The Sultan nodded. "Jovan, the King of Krasnocoria, is fully responsible for his actions and those under his responsibility. His family cannot be blamed for that. It should also be borne in mind that the political circumstances have unleashed the Hasani War and the Sylvanian National Awakening, not the King's actions'.
The silence was deafening, everyone was waiting for a word from the Sultan. To the amazement of those present, the Sultan stood up. He descended and stood in front of Jovan. He said: "You pardoned my father after the Hasani War, that mercy must not be forgotten. Therefore, I will spare you your life and that of your family.
I send you into exile. The Chidao Emperor, Heavenly Light of the Jingdaoese Empire, has provided you with a home where you and your family can live in peace. The Fangzhu Castle has been made available for this purpose. You and your family have been banished from the Ultimate Çakar Sultanate for the rest of your life". The former king looked at his wife and said to the Sultan: “Thank you, may you reign forever”.
The Sultan's father looked a little disappointed. But one of those present exclaimed: "Dilwale hai zil-e-crait-elahi!" (Our generous king is a shade of Craitgod) The next day the former king signed the official abdication, renunciation of possessions and declaration never to set foot in the Ultimate Çakar Sultanate. His family and he were driven to a military airfield, where a private jet was waiting for them. That plane took off and flew to Jingdao. Akbar was only reassured when he received the news that the former king and his family had been handed over to the Jing. He was still afraid of an attack or something. Fortunately, that did not happen.
Tears on the marble floor
After a while Jodha noticed that she was pregnant. Akbar and they had their belated honeymoon, in which they showed a lot of love and passion to each other. First her father was worried about the absence of sexual intercourse, now her father was worried about the absence of the Sultan at meetings. Apparently it was never good, she thought it was youthful. She was already very happy with her pregnancy, although she was very nauseous. But Akbar was even happier if possible. He had lifted her up and danced around with her with joy.
It was difficult to keep the pregnancy a secret, but it worked well to keep the news within the palace walls. The sultanic couple experienced their happiness intensely, which made Akbar's work seem to suffer. During a meal together with both their parents, the sultanic couple received the old advice to find the balance. Akbar was invited by the tribal elders of the Nogans to talk about cultural preservation. The sultanate expanded rapidly, more different population groups came under the sceptre of the Sultan.
A few days before his departure, a tragedy took place. Jodha was inconsolable, she had lost her baby. Her pregnancy came to an end in great pain. Shortly before, we had listened together to the beating heart. But now it was over. Akbar wanted to comfort her, but she did not allow it. For days she cried with her court ladies, while Akbar cried on the other side of the closed door. He found the situation heartbreaking and wanted to do something. But she did not allow it. He could understand very little of it. His mother advised him to be patient and in his prayers he asked Craitgod why this happened.
Without her he left for the meeting with the Nogans. Just outside Akyar tents had been set up, where the tribal elders had gathered. On his way to Akyar he passed Kila Qandagozar, where he stopped. There was a memorial erected for Havildar Aykut Kökgül and his 20 men. Inside, the names of the men were carved in stone, not to mention that they gave the ultimate sacrifice for the creation of the sultanate. Yet he still felt that something was wrong with his father's performance around the attack on the fortress.
Upon arrival at the tent park of the Nogans, the discussions went well. After the meal with typical Noganish dishes, the Nogans began to sing:
| Adarani | Transliteration | Translated in Common Tongue |
|
ख्वाजा जी, ख्वाजा |
Khwaja ji iiii…. khwaja |
Noble Khwaja, Khwaja |
On returning home, the door of Jodha's residence was still closed. Abu knocked, but Jodha did not want to let him in. He told about the meeting with the Nogans, especially what happened. He had received a revelation from the great Craitgod, who the Nogans called 'khwaja'. After that he had joined in the whirling and got into trance. "Jodha", Abu said, "There are no words from my mouth to comfort you, but you are my wife, I am always there for you". It remained silent for a moment, then the door gently opened. Jodha came out and let herself fall into the arms of Abu. She cried her last tears and came to rest. Their hearts were beating synchronously, their love for each other became deeper.
To maintain peace
In Agra there was unrest with the rise of Alduria-Wechua nearby. The island of Lyrica came more and more under their control. The storm that caused the Arboric fleet to move further east than planned may have caused unrest in Parap. The sultan remained calm and sent a special envoy to Alduria to open talks. That envoy had only informal talks, because there did not seem to be a formal official treaty in it. The sultan did not expect that either.
The sultan ordered the Pond Isles to be abandoned, then the envoy told us that Alduria has no interest in claiming on the Apollonian continent. "The strait between Kendall Isle and the Pond Isles is a clear boundary," concluded the Sultan. Not much earlier there had also been informal contact with Floria. There, the plans for the conquests of the Green were agreed upon. In this way possible conflicts were prevented.
Only Hurmu was a nation in the region with which no contact had yet been made. The sultan learned that the Emir of Arbor had some connection there. For example, the sultan ordered the ambassador in Arbor to talk to the Arboric government about this. The ambassador had the pleasure of meeting the Emir in Mardinat al-Fath. The ambassador was already allowed to be a guest at a concert, where he witnessed a high quality Arboric culture. When he was granted an audience, the ambassador praised the excellent concert. The Emir was delighted with this praise.
"What brings you to His Majesty the Emir?", a servant asked. The Ambassador: "If it pleases you, O Great Emir, I would like to speak on behalf of my Lord, the Sultan, to maintain peace between Hurmu and my country. The Emir looked a little strange, he asked: "Your lord, the sultan, is wise to seek peace. What could I do to persuade Hurmu to go along with your lord's desire for peace? The Ambassador replied nervously: 'Your Majesty, may you forgive me if I tell you something you already know. You and your wife are members of the Order of the Holy Lakes in Knightly class. That is your connection with Hurmu." The Emir bowed to a servant and whispered with him. "Your Excellency, let me check this information. If this is true, I will act as an intermediary for your lord to keep the peace." The Ambassador bowed and left the audience hall backwards.
A few days later, a letter was received from the Emir, saying that the ambassador's information was correct. The Emir had asked the government of Hurmu to contact Agra. An Arboric representative had travelled to Vesüha and was there on behalf of the Emir to speak to the government of Hurmu. A treaty was signed, with which both Hurmu and Çakaristan were content. The treaty was ready for signing on the island of Suqutra. The port was decorated with the flags of Çakaristan and Hurmu when the ships arrived with the Hurmu senators Jan Spiik and Ellen Aarevalla. They were received and welcomed by the Grand Vizier. As usual, the senators were invited for a meal. There the senators were amused with dance and music:
After the meal, dance and music, the senators were invited to sign the treaty. De Grand Vizier signed on behalf of the sultan. When the senators left they were given gifts: tea, spices, hazelnuts and pomegranates.
As if love is in the air
On several occasions, Jodha witnessed the government actions of Akbar. Although he had not chosen to become a sultan, it became increasingly clear that choosing Abu was the right choice. Abu had grown to be great, to be Akbar. Jodha recognised this in his patience for her with exciting matters. She had not chosen to marry Akbar, but the time she needed to resign herself to her fate was granted by Akbar. Not only had she fallen in love, she wanted to be with him. Now, as often as she could and forever.
But she was still reluctant, afraid perhaps, to be intimate. Their intimacy was paradisiacal, though clumsy and new to the unknown. That they were in happy expectation was great, but that came to an end early on. That sadness, that disappointment still plays a role for Jodha. She came to the realisation that she more than had to admire Akbar's patience for her. At no time did he impose himself, although she knew that he wanted to be intimate with her.
She was very happy that her mother came to visit the Red Fortress. She missed her homeland, the freedom to go out. Into the wilderness. Abu had had beautiful gardens laid out, but that was not comparable to free nature. Even the botanical garden, where trees and plants had been planted from her homeland, could not measure up to what she could see in the past. She showed her mother around the palace, who said it was all very beautiful. In the botanical garden Jodha had tea brought to her and asked about her homeland. Her mother told her how it went there, but then her mother asked, "How are you? How is your marriage going?" Jodha got nervous, she looked down. Her mother stretched her arm and tried to raise Jodha's face with her hand. Jodha moved willingly, but a tear escaped from her right eye. "Is it true, what I heard?", her mother asked. "What have you heard?", Jodha asked. "How shall I say, my child? That you haven't been intimate since the loss", her mother replied. Jodha began to cry. "Oh, child", her mother said and took her daughter in her arms.
"Something of your feelings I can understand. The marriage between your father and me has also been arranged, we have also lost children. We didn't say that because we wanted to give you a carefree childhood. Not knowing that the great Craitgod had this in mind for you," her mother said. Jodha rose from her mother's arms. "Really?" she asked. Her mother started to cry and said: "It has been so long, but the pain remains". Together they cried, after a while Jodha asked her mother: "Do you love father? "Yes, it took a while, but after a while in the marriage I loved him," her mother replied. Jodha nodded, because she recognised that. "How did you continue after the loss?", she asked her mother. "It's difficult, but give your loss a place. A place in your heart and a place in your house", her mother answered and continued when Jodha looked questioningly: "Do you know that painting with the blue lily? Jodha nodded. "That is my place for the lost child.”
Jodha was sorry that her mother left again. She had never understood the painting with the blue lily, but the meaning is great. In her mind she walked over one of the walls of the Red Fortress, followed at a distance by her court ladies. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a butterfly fluttering and although she followed the butterfly with her eyes, suddenly the butterfly is gone. Then she went faster, the court ladies were startled and ran after her. Abu had seen her walking and suddenly they went faster. Abu thought the reaction of the court ladies was funny. He became curious and looked for Jodha to see where she was going. He found Jodha, who was searching through papers. "Yes," Jodha said, delighted and supposing she was alone. She held up a paper with an embroidery pattern. Abu came closer and coughed to mention his presence. Jodha looked back with a radiant face. She was not even surprised that Abu was standing there, she ran towards him and fell into his arms. She told about her mother and the embroidery pattern of a butterfly: "With this I am going to make an embroidery in memory of our loss. A place to remember and not to forget". Abu was moved and could only nod.
After dinner, the desire grew. The desire to be together. Jodha told Abu to come to her tonight. Abu had a late meeting, but ended it early. He walked through the corridors of the palace, while his heart started beating harder and harder. He stayed in the bedroom while his wife was standing opposite him.
| Adarani | Transliteration | Translated in Common Tongue |
|
इन लम्हों के दामन में |
In lamhon ke daaman mein |
In the lap of these moments
There are pure relationships |
Meeting of the rising sun and the cresent moon

After Emiilia Ask had landed at the airport of Agra, it seemed as if she had arrived in a very large construction pit. The newly built capital city is the hallmark of the brand new nation. With Emiilia the diplomatic staff came along, as well as a lot of necessary stuff. The sultanate had made some cars available, as well as the embassy building. The ambassador was brought to this embassy building with a vehicle provided. There they worked hard to get the embassy operational. On arrival Emiilia unveiled the sign with the text "Hurmu embassy". The flag was hoisted above the building.
Two days later the ambassador was picked up by the sultanic palace guard. The luxury car, equipped with two flags on the bonnet, a Hurmu and a Çakari flag. The car was accompanied by palace guards on motorbikes. In this way Emiilia was driven to the front building of the Red Fortress. The front building was still new, so guests could be welcomed before entering the palace complex. Like the palace, the front building was constructed of red bricks in the typical Red Fortress architectural style. Evidently, an effort was made to match the front building with the palace. The Hurmu flag was also hoisted in front of the gate, as a sign of welcome. Once there, it was received by the Nawab ka Mahal, who greeted her with a Namaste: "Welcome to Agra, my name is Ayush Bajpeyi, the Nawab ka Mahal, meaning Lord of the Palace.” The Hurmu national anthem was played, the Hanwen u-Brida.
A guard of honour had been posted along the bridge to the palace complex. She was escorted over the green carpet by the Nawab to inspect the guard of honour. Once through the gatehouse, they arrived at the Court of the Grand Assembly. It was here that the ‘Azeem-o-shaan shahenshah’, the Çakari national anthem, was sung for the first time. There was no one there at the moment, but Emiilia could get an impression of this place. The Nawab talked about the first meeting, the election of the Sultan and the start of the Çakari revolution. Emiilia was further accompanied trough a colonnade along one of the inner gardens. Everything looked spick and span. Emiilia noticed that the hustle and bustle of the city was not audible in the palace. After that Emiilia was escorted through the Hall of Columns. In the middle was again a green carpet, on both sides a row of twenty columns, carrying a Babkhan arched roof. At the end of the hall, the Nawab with Emiilia stood in front of a closed door. A few moments later, the large double doors opened. Behind them, two curtains slid to each one side and another curtain slid upwards. Two sentries stood in position on both sides. The sultanic announcer said forcefully: “mahaamahim, main aapako imaamaliya aask, raajadoot huramu kee or se pesh kar sakata hoon” (Your Majesty, may I present to you Emiilia Ask, Ambassador of Hurmu)
The Nawab gesture that Emiilia could walk on, into the octagonal Hall of Mirrors. Opposite the entrance she saw the sultan sitting on a throne. Next to him sat the sultana. Emiilia walked towards the sultanic couple and stood in front of the steps of the platform. She greeted the sultan with a Namaste, who nodded. In her hand she had her credentials, a servant took them and gave them to the sultan. The sultan looked at the letters, nodded approvingly and gave them back to the servant. The sultan said: "Welcome to the Ultimate Çakar Sultanate. Your appointment has been accepted." Emiilia nodded in thanks. The sultana took the floor and said: “May I offer you a gift on behalf of the sultanate?” With a gesture of her hand, a servant handed the gift to Emiilia. It is a sari in Çakari green, with a richly decorated border. Emiilia thanked the sultan and sultana.
The sultan and sultana got up, they left the room to the adjacent room. The Nawab came forward and gestured Emiilia to follow. She too came into that room, which was more intimate. Low tables were in an L-shape, with seat cushions behind them. The sultan and sultana took place on the long side, while the Nawab invited Emiilia to sit on the short side. The table was provided with tea, fruit juices and delicacies. When Emiilia sat down, she noticed that the atmosphere was relaxed. The sultana to her journey. Emiilia answered, after which the sultan asked for her opinion about the embassy building. So the conversation went to a more relaxed one. The sultan let there be music and dance to conclude the conversation:
Help build this nation, because this nation belongs to you too!
Akbar took the words of Hasan, his brother, to heart: do not become a court prince! He wanted to travel through his country, explore the sultanate with his wife. But, how to start? As by the great Craitgod, a letter came with an invitation from the University of Šer-ku-Riž. The university where his father teaches. The students wanted to invite the sultan and sultana to meet. With the letter Abu ran through the palace to Jodha. She was surprised to see her husband running like that. But also happy with the invitation. The secretariat was instructed to prepare the meeting.
After a while the time had come. The sultanic couple set off for Šer-ku-Riž. They used the brand new sultanic train and drove over the restored track via Akyar to their destination. For the first time in a long time they saw more of their country than could be seen from the Red Fortress. Akbar and Jodha enjoyed it very much. The train arrived in Šer-ku-Riž, the hometown of Akbar, where he was born into Micras as Abu. In Krasnocorian times the city was the terminus of the main railway, line 6. Now, however, large-scale construction work is underway to build a new station a little further away from the old one. For a new railway junction is being built, so that from the city it is not only possible to travel to Akyar by train, but also directly to Salafubad (formerly Slavograd) and eventually all the way to Manbai. Because the new station is not ready yet, the sultanic train arrives in the old station.
Many people had already gathered at the station to welcome the sultanic couple. The couple waved cheerfully at the people as they walked through the station building in the direction of the waiting cars. In convoy the cars drove to the university. Once there, the student corps formed a hedge of honour along the main road across the campus to the main building. Green flags almost hid the buildings, the frenzied students waving green flags and handkerchiefs at the sultanic guests. The Rector Magnificus and the Praeses of the student corps received the sultan and sultana on the pavement of the main entrance. They were led inside, in the hall the professors, doctors and professors of the university were lined up. The sultan and sultana each shook hands, of course there was a lot of attention when father and son shook hands. Ümit Çakar, the father of the sultan, is Professor of Sociology at the university. Since the coronation of Akbar, he had returned to university. Another professor appeared to overshadow this moment. Like his colleagues, he had prepared himself for the meeting with the sultan and sultana, but he refused to shake hands. He nodded, but did not say a word. Akbar recognised the man and remembered his passionate speeches about the ideal republic. Jodha saw that there was no shaking of hands and waited for Akbar's reaction. Akbar nodded and walked on to the next in line. The further hand shaking continued without interruption.
In the main hall sat the selected students, who all stood up when the sultanic couple entered the hall. A big applause followed to the sound of the national anthem, the "Azeem-o-shaan shahenshah". On the stage there were three seats on the side, designated for the Rector Magnificus, the Praeses of the student corps and Ümit Çakar. In the middle were two large chairs for the sultan and sultana, with a lectern in front of them. The Rector Magnificus exhorted everyone to silence and gestured to everyone to sit. He welcomed the sultan and sultana once again, thanked them for accepting the invitation and spoke about the course of the afternoon. Then the sultana was given the floor. There was applause, but that was silenced when the sultana stood behind the lectern. "Ladies and gentlemen, dear students, on behalf of my husband, may I say that we are very grateful for your invitation. It is clear that you have good connections with the sultanic court", said Jodha when she oversaw the students and turned towards her father-in-law. Those present had to laugh very much. They also laughed outside, because large screens were placed there so that the other students could watch.
"You asked in your invitation to speak about what life was like in the Green. Well, to see what is interesting for you to know, I made a study of life here. So I was able to make a comparison. Above all, life in the Green is an uncertain existence. There is no government, no national flag or binding factor. Because of this one is dependent on one's own survival. Fortunately, the bond of community has not completely disappeared. I myself have not had any direct threat, such as the insecurity of having no food or lack of firewood. But I have seen many people struggling with those deficiencies. Connected to the house where I was born and grew up was a soup kitchen. There I often helped to provide people with a hot meal. We had to buy food, but there was no certainty of the safe arrival of that food. Good roads were missing, if a bridge was damaged, there was no government to repair it. Let alone to build a new bridge. Prices of food were uncertain, prices could vary from day to day. Life in the Green, even for a princess, was not easy, but almost impossible for ordinary people. This unattractive picture of the situation is not the whole story. People's will to survive, to make life meaningful, that is a real gem. The jewel from the Green. That jewel has now come under my husband's government. That makes the annexation of the West a great opportunity for the whole sultanate. The unbridled energy, the will for a meaningful life and the craving for freedom make our nation unique. Thank you.”
Those present applauded, both inside and outside. The sultan also applauded, looking proudly at his wife. She bowed her head out of gratitude, after which she sat down. The sultan waited a moment before he got up. A moment of fame for his wife. When the sultan stood behind the lectern, it became silent again. "How can I surpass such a speech?", began the Sultan. Those present laughed. "Dear students, rector, praeses and professors. The call for democracy within the sultanate is becoming louder and louder. And rightly so, Krasnocoria in all its faults was a state with democratic principles. That is how the democratisation of the sultanate is taking place. A first step towards that process was the implementation of a census. It was already thought that many people lived on the western side of the green border, but after the census it became clear not only how much, but also the relationship with the people on the eastern side of that border. This led to new discussions in Agra. If we were to introduce a direct election to parliament, candidates from the west would, by definition, be in the majority. Perhaps even overwhelmingly in the majority. It is here, on the Sylvanian Peninsula, that the uprising began and our nation's origins lie. Today we, both west and east, form this nation. But we must not overrule each other. So we must have a relationship to balance. A system of electoral colleges is then a means of organising that. But what is a democratically elected parliament, without a separate executive. The question of how to organise it has not yet been answered. As it has now been done, namely through the appointment of a Grand Vizier, either by the Grand Assembly or by the Sultan. Or elected by the people. What will be the relationship between the Grand Vizier with his ministers and the Court? Now, as a sultan, I bear many responsibilities, but is that desirable for the future? In short, there is still much to discuss, much to develop. Our nation faces great challenges. After all, democratisation is one thing, other things are: diplomacy and relations with neighbouring countries, economic developments, the construction of infrastructure, expansion, taxation, culture and education. All these things are coming to us at the same time. As a result, our nation will need at least another decade to form a stable nation. You, students at this university, you can help with that. Help build this nation, because this nation belongs to you too!”
A standing ovation followed these last words. After a while of thankful nodding, the sultan sat down. This also ended the applause. The rector came forward and thanked the sultanic couple for the speeches. The visit was concluded with a light meal in the form of a reception. In this way the professors, the rector and the praeses could talk informally with the sultan and sultana. The sultanic couple left to spend the night in the luxurious Apollonian Oriental Hotel.
The joy of a birth, the pressure of succession
On the morning of 12.XI.1691 there was great tension in the Red Fortress. It had already been leaked that the Sultana was pregnant, but there was great social pressure to be cautious in reporting. The fact that something was going on was already apparent from the cancellation of the major meeting that morning. Early in the morning, before sunrise, Jodha's parents arrived at the Red Fortress. Rani Champavati, mother of the Sultana, would assist her daughter at birth. That is what is very common in Poorajangal. In Šer-Ku-Riž, the Sultan's parents were woken up, they got up to travel to Agra. A car picked them up and drove them to a nearby military base, from where they were flown to Agra.
The room where the women were locked. The men were not allowed to be there, not even the Sultan. Akbar thought that was old-fashioned, outdated, but eventually gave in to the pressure. He strolled back and forth in front of the door of the room. He heard Jodha, which worried him. But the other women didn't seem to panic. Then he heard a baby crying, there was the long-awaited child. Moments later Jodha's mother, the brand new grandmother, came out and looked happy. She invited the Sultan inside. Inside, the Sultan saw a sweaty but very happy Jodha, with a small baby in her arms. He approached cautiously and sat down next to Jodha. Jodha looked happily at him, he kissed her sweaty head. "The great Crait God be praised," said Akbar. He saw that grandma Rani looked a bit worried. "What is it?", Akbar asked. Rani didn't answer. Jodha said: "It's a girl". Akbar looked into Jodha's happy brown eyes and said: "May this girl be as handsome and prosperous as you, my love". A tear of happiness found its way out of Jodha's right eye.
However fortunate the sultanic couple were, the big meeting that was held in Red Fortress with three days' delay was divided. Of course, everyone wished the Sultan and Sultana luck, but there was a group that ruled that the succession to the throne had not been assured. On the contrary, another group argued that the birth of a child is, by definition, a certainty for the future. The great assembly seemed to be divided according to the origin of the Members of Parliament. To the west of the Green border, we are used to a system of matriarchal succession. Male or female succession through the maternal line. To the east of the green border, we are accustomed to a patriarchal succession. The male succession via the male line. The matriarchal succession in particular has different forms, which is an opportunity for the group to form a majority for the patriarchal succession. This led to fierce discussions, while the Sultan was yet to arrive.
The Sultan was almost impossible to get away from the cradle with the little girl. Jodha said: "My husband, it is time for you to devalue the succession for the big meeting". Akbar looked into the loving eyes of his wife. "Well, my love," said the Sultan. The fierce discussion silenced immediately when the arrival of the Sultan was announced. Instead of the usual entrance to the courtyard, Akbar came from another entrance. It walked between the men, it was so quiet that the birds could be heard. Amidst the men, Akbar stood and listened to the birdsong. "Hear the sparrow and the swift, their twittering is the concert of nature. Your discussions are twittering on the fringes. The day will come when my succession will be arranged. That is not today," said the Sultan.