Book Cover: Hayaat-e-Qudsi

Hayaat-e-Qudsi is a biographical account of Begum Qudsia. A courtesan, she shrewdly used her position to gain favors from the noblemen. The Emperor quickly recognized her sharp mind and flair for administration and appointed her as the mansabdar in his Army. A mansabdar was of high-rank and kept order in the Army in his absence. Sultan Jahan Begum writes about the woman who yielded power from behind the curtain for many years. A woman so influential ironically died in a prison.