Vicar Sayeedi's Blog - Posts Tagged "taj-mahal"

DID YOU KNOW?
The white marble veneer covering the Taj Mahal monument came from the Makrana mines and caves of Rajasthan, a large province just west of Agra. The entire harvest of white marble from this source was reserved by Shah Jahan for the exclusive use of Mughal Imperial buildings.

Another exquisite building clad in this beautiful stone is the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid) in Red Fort, Old Delhi. This ethereal Islamic house of worship is depicted in the late 19th century oil painting (Link below).

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PLEASE DROP ME A NOTE -
And let me know what you think! I've begun working on the sequel to "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" and would love to reflect on reader comments as I write the new book.

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“Legacy of The Peacock Throne”
A Tale of Mughal Splendor
Author - Vicar Sayeedi

NOW AVAILABLE (eBook) -
On Amazon (Worldwide) &
On Apple iTunes/iBookstore (51 Countries)

LATEST BOOK REVIEW
5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent and Classic May 20, 2013
By Sayeed
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliantly written book and one of historic relevance. While the Taj Mahal is one of the most well known monuments in the world, it's surprising how little is known about the moving love story that inspired its creation. Author Vicar Sayeedi does exceptional work telling this wonderful story. Legacy of The Peacock Throne is a classic!

BOOK EXCERPT
Their train travels north through the French countryside making stops at a dozen or so scenic villages on its way to the City of Light. Seemingly limitless fields of blossoming purple lavender, still damp with the morning’s dew, make for a breathtaking scene and confirm that spring has definitively arrived in this rich land.

The sudden appearance of the French Alps behind a now thinning veil of morning mist stirs the Royal couple’s memories of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern reaches of the Mughal Empire; a favorite escape from the hot summers of Agra for Lal Qila’s Imperial residents. The graceful and majestic, snow-capped peaks are rendered against a sapphire blue sky with fields of sunflowers to serve as their doormat. The scene is as if an impressionist masterpiece by Claude Monet.
(This material protected by copyright.)

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Please drop me a note and let me know what you think!

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
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“Legacy of The Peacock Throne”
A Tale of Mughal Splendor
Author - Vicar Sayeedi

NOW AVAILABLE (eBook) -
On Amazon (Worldwide) &
On Apple iTunes/iBookstore (51 Countries)

LATEST BOOK REVIEW
5 out of 5 stars Eloquent and Classic May 20, 2013
By Sayeed
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliantly written book and one of historic relevance. While the Taj Mahal is one of the most well known monuments in the world, it's surprising how little is known about the moving love story that inspired its creation. Author Vicar Sayeedi does exceptional work telling this wonderful story. Legacy of The Peacock Throne is a classic!

BOOK EXCERPT
The next morning Jannah wakes early. Her senses are kindled by the wonderful fragrance of burning incense suspended in the air of Sheesh Mahal’s women’s Haveli. The women of the Court have lit numerous candles and are huddled together in worship before their deities; the Rajput clans of Rajasthan are largely followers of ancient Hindu traditions. Jannah finds the aroma of the incense burning around her tremendously alluring. She turns towards one of the Haveli’s young, colorfully dressed women attendants and smiles broadly. She calls to the young attendant and says, “I must perform the Muslim dawn prayer now; can you please show me where I can wash and then pray?”

“Of course!” The attending woman replies reassuringly. “You wish to pray Fajr? Please come with me.” She leads Jannah into an adjacent room with an area for washing and also brings her a bright, colorful prayer mat. Jannah is at first surprised by the young Rajasthani woman’s knowledge of Islamic customs. But she then remembers the marriage of the Hindu Rajput Princess, the future Mariam Zamani, to Emperor Akbar, Prince Khurram’s grandfather.
(This material protected by copyright.)

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Please drop me a note and let me know what you think!

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

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“Legacy of The Peacock Throne”
A Tale of Mughal Splendor
Author - Vicar Sayeedi

NOW AVAILABLE (eBook) -
On Amazon (Worldwide) &
On Apple iTunes/iBookstore (51 Countries)

BACKSTORY -
The Mughals were undoubtedly the greatest ruling dynasty in India's ancient and complex history, however little about them is known or understood in Western popular culture. (Eastern popular culture also has a weak understanding of this history and it's often muddled with a considerable amount of folklore rather than historically accurate facts.)

Most ordinary people know of the Taj Mahal and that it serves as a Queen's tomb but very few have much understanding beyond that. Thus, I've tried to offer the reader some key insights into the Mughal era while also trying to entertain them in the process.

I've endeavored to do something similar to what the prominent film director, James Cameron did with his film, "Titanic" some years ago. He took an important historical event that was little understood in the popular culture and wrapped a beautiful story around it. I felt this helped him succeed in raising the popular understanding of the Titanic incident that would not have been possible had he simply made a documentary film or written a non-fiction book about the subject.

Please drop me a note and let me know what you think!

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

"Like" and "Share" us on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...

“Legacy of The Peacock Throne”
A Tale of Mughal Splendor
Author - Vicar Sayeedi

NOW AVAILABLE (eBook) -
On Amazon (Worldwide) &
On Apple iTunes/iBookstore (51 Countries)

LATEST BOOK REVIEW
5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent and Classic May 20, 2013
By Sayeed
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliantly written book and one of historic relevance. While the Taj Mahal is one of the most well known monuments in the world, it's surprising how little is known about the moving love story that inspired its creation. Author Vicar Sayeedi does exceptional work telling this wonderful story. Legacy of The Peacock Throne is a classic!

RESPONSE FROM ACADEMIC PRESS -
"... hope it's a great success!" Cambridge University Press

DID YOU KNOW?
The Florentine/Roman technique of "Pietra Dura" (the decorative inlaying of highly polished semi-precious stones into marble or similar surfaces) was also employed during the Mughal period?

The technique was known as "Parchin Kari" (inlay) by the Mughal's artisans and was used extensively to decorate the Taj Mahal and the cenotaphs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. A beautiful example of "Pietra Dura" is shown above the archway of the accompanying Taj Mahal photograph.

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Seventeen generations later, the descendants of the faceless and nameless artisans that embellished the Taj Mahal with these breathtaking designs are still practicing their exquisite art today!

Please drop me a note and let me know what you think!

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

"Like" and "Share" us on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...

DID YOU KNOW?
The white marble veneer used on the Taj Mahal monument came from the Makrana mines and caves of Rajasthan, a large province just west of Agra. The entire harvest of white marble from this source was reserved by Shah Jahan for the exclusive use of Mughal Imperial buildings.

Another exquisite building covered in this beautiful stone is the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid) in Red Fort, Old Delhi. This ethereal Islamic house of worship is depicted in the attached, late 19th century oil painting.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

"Like" and "Share" us on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...

Dear Friends:

We've now circled the globe! From Abu Dhabi to Adelaide, from Kuala Lumpur to Quebec, from Oslo to the Occupied Territories (Jenin), from The Netherlands to New Zealand, from Singapore to South Africa - readers around the world are reading "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" on their PC's, Smartphones and Tablet computers. It's incredibly exciting!

Please take a few minutes out of your very busy schedules and drop me a note - I'd love to hear what you think about my new novel. I’ve recently begun researching and planning the story for the next two books (it's a series of three) and I’d really like to consider everyone’s feedback before I begin to write. Thanks to everyone who’s already responded.

If you haven't had a chance to read my book yet you can order it from Amazon or Apple iTunes (the first three chapters are available free). It takes only a minute to download and then you'll be ready to read! The links are provided below.

Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA

https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

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WHAT AMAZON IS SAYING
"Customers who bought "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" also bought books by Khaled Hosseini (Author of "The Kite Runner", "A Thousand Splendid Suns" & "And The Mountains Echoed").

NOW AVAILABLE
(as an eBook) – on Amazon (Worldwide) & Apple iTunes/iBookstore (51 Countries)

RESPONSE FROM ACADEMIC PRESS –
"... hope it's a great success!" Cambridge University Press

SUMMARY OF READER REVIEWS & RESPONSES
★★★★★
A Must Read!!! June 9, 2013 Sehba
This fascinating story line will keep you at the edge of your seat anxiously awaiting what comes next! Beautifully depicted details of an incredibly interesting time in history most of us know very little about. Loved the imagery of the clothing, jewelry, cities and the wide of array of languages spoken! A beautiful history lesson and romantic magical journey all in one.

★★★★
Thamil Arasi, Kuala Lumpur June 07, 2012
I’m really impressed by this book.

★★★★★
Jun 05, 2013 by Yasmin
This is a breathtaking novel of romance and adventure. It transports the reader back to a magical time of pomp and ceremony in Mughal India yet seamlessly bridges the reader to London, Paris and beyond. The characters are delightful and the writer has left no detail to bring their story to life. It's a must read for those who enjoy historical fiction.

★★★★★
Beautiful and Fascinating Novel! May 30, 2013 by krazvi
Legacy of the Peacock Throne throws an exciting twist to a well-known love story... just delightful. The book is truly remarkable in that the sensory images beautifully depict the era: the food, the surroundings, the clothing, and the attire will allow the reader's mind to travel to these beautiful cities.

The incorporation of French, Farsi, Urdu and Arabic into the novel give the reader an authentic feel as well as the depiction of each and every city: Nice, London, Paris, Agra, Delhi, Jaipur which are all relayed so breathtakingly. Vicar Sayeedi's tireless research and historical depiction allow those of us not so well versed in Mughal history to feel as if we were present in the Era. This is a great summer read for those who want a little "escape" into another time.

★★★★★
Book Review
May 31, 2013 By STahir
Amazon Verified Purchase
A very interesting read. Vicar does a good job of stitching together fiction with actual history, especially for those not so well versed in Mughal history. A very well written novel, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

★★★★★
Eloquent and Classic May 20, 2013 by Sayeed
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a brilliantly written book and one of historic relevance. While the Taj Mahal is one of the most well known monuments in the world, it's surprising how little is known about the moving love story that inspired its creation. Author Vicar Sayeedi does exceptional work telling this wonderful story. Legacy of The Peacock Throne is a classic!

★★★★★
A MUST READ for all lovers of Historical Fiction... April 30, 2013 by Guccenna
"I have read my way through the courts of England, France, Italy, and Egypt. Having no previous knowledge of India's Royals, I was completely taken with Vicar Sayeedi's tale of the Mughals and their extravagance. It is rare that a lovely story is loaded with quality research exacting facts and characters of the times. One falls in love with the adventurous twins winding their way through time in their quest for knowledge. If you enjoy reading court tales of England, or stories of the Italian renaissance, This book is an absolute must. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!!!"

★★★★★
A book that rendezvous with destiny May 14, 2013 by Renaissance quant
“Books like people have destiny, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, vicar sayeedi anchored this book in magnificent prose, every sentence is art and highly efficacious, devoid of emotional estrangement. As you read you will feel the warmth that accompanies the light and as the light fades you will find yourself asking the warmth to persist even after the inevitable light fades when you near completion of reading. This book forms a magnificent mosaic of history.”

"...I must admit even before reading 100 pages, I did not want to stop and had to finish the book soon, thereafter. Having read a book of this kind after years, I did enjoy it as it brought back memories of the 'good old days' ... I was most impressed with your research that has gone into it. It was really thorough. Well done! The historic eras depicted are so realistic of their time that it was like the reader was reliving and literally witnessing all the happenings. Fantastic piece of work...Your descriptions of people, their expressions, their feelings and of places and the day to day scenes are so charmingly and vividly illustrated and again every thing to such minute detail that the reader is captivated and gets totally immersed all the way through. It was like going down ... 'memory lane', when Mughal history was an important subject in education with its splendid architecture, paintings and films... It was like reliving those times." Saiha, London, UK

"Started reading ... Legacy of The Peacock Throne. It's gripping. Got to 'Arrival in British India'. It's so late so I've stopped but really want to read on. Excellent stuff. Love it!! Enjoyed reading it so much ... was nearly 2am when I slept!" Faizan, London, UK

"Your book is sooo interesting, I don't feel like stopping... I find myself in that era, completely. Reminding of my time in Delhi and my school history class..." Swaiba, Chicago, USA

"This book is awesome. You are so talented!" Nishat, Chicago, USA

"...I am so impressed with your writing! I loved the story and learned so much Indian History to which I never had the pleasure of being exposed. Great characters and plot. Loving it!! ...The historical content is delivered in a magical story that keeps you going!" Shannon, Chicago, USA

"Very interesting ... taking me back to where I come from. Excellent description and beautiful text. I think a reader gets totally into it. Can't wait to finish!" Afiya, Knoxville, USA

"I am reading your book ... fascinating! Hard to leave aside. They are leaving for Agra next morning. I would love to see their pictures and certificate of marriage." Siddique, Chicago, USA

"A hauntingly beautiful journey through time. Qasim and Jannah, twins living in London are on a quest to research their Mughal lineage. They travel through time to find themselves enshrouded in royal splendor. The story behind the Taj Mahal, the mesmerizing Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are some of the key elements awaiting them. Qasim's coming into his own and Jannah finding her true love only further bind the reader to this enthralling portrayal of Mughal valor, spellbinding intrigue and how human nature stays the same through centuries. An exceptional read. "Naghma, Chicago, USA

"Sit back and prepare to be engrossed in this thrilling and romantic journey to a time in history, rich in culture and ripe with intrigue. The author beautifully illustrates a captivating story of four young people on the journey of a lifetime with such intricate detail you'll feel as though you've been transported back in time, and are witnessing the events firsthand. Spellbinding and riveting! Hypnotic!" Sehba, Milwaukee, USA

In Service of My Readers

The writing of my new novel, “Legacy of The Peacock Throne” has been an endeavor of great personal importance and sacrifice. As I researched and wrote the story, I felt I needed to provide my readers with the most authentic historical detail regarding the Mughal period and the lives of Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz Mahal as I possibly could. I was also determined to infuse the story with accurate and realistic detail for the cities in which the story unfolds.

For the historical references, I spent many hours visiting 17th century auctions and exhibitions of Islamic and Mughal art, documents and objects in London and meandering through libraries and on-line repositories to investigate and cross-reference the historical record. It was an exhausting endeavor but it was also incredibly rewarding because I gained meaningful and valuable insights into the history of my own forbears and learned much that I was able to share with my readers.

To ensure my novel would have an authentic feel, I walked the streets of some of the cities, sometimes for twelve hours in a day, so that when I’d finally sit down to write, my readers would really experience and sense the ambiance of these great cities.

It was very interesting and enjoyable to absorb my surroundings with this perspective in mind and I’m now very happy to have chosen this path. I don’t think I would have had any chance to convey the true sensibilities of so many historical places without first hand experience.

The price of this experience was, however, quite high. Before I left Chicago, I had a shoemaker line the bottom of my leather oxford with a thick rubber sole since I knew what I was planning to do would be particularly rough on my feet. But it didn’t help very much. After two weeks of “street-walking”, portions of my feet had turned a most unpleasant shade of black and blue and were acutely painful.

Fortunately, my feet have now nearly healed and I’ve accepted the bruises as the price of writing a very high quality novel that I’m now sharing with my readers. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy it. Best wishes.

Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA

My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi

"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...

Jannah carefully retreats back to her seat and draws her cloak about her.

There is now an eerie quiet within Diwan-e-Khas as Court advisors and diplomats stoically await the Maharajah’s response. Several peacocks strut across the adjacent courtyard and provide the only respite from the painful grip of tension in the counsel chamber. After a seemingly infinite pause, the Maharajah rises from his Throne and breaks the silence. “I see. Thank you, Begum Jannah,” the aging Mirza Raja acknowledges solemnly. “Everyone, please wait here – I would like to consult in private with my military officers and key advisors.”

Jannah and Prince Khurram sit quietly and observe the incredible birds as they unfurl their plumage to reveal a kaleidoscope of spectacular color. The Maharajah, his Vizier and several other Court officials recess into an area adjacent to Diwan-e-Khas. They spend several minutes in hushed consultation before finally returning to the main chamber.

“Emperor Jahangir and Emperor Akbar before him have always shown themselves to be loyal and trustworthy allies,” the Maharajah concedes. The elderly Ruler then turns towards Prince Khurram. “Please let your father know that we fully support his efforts to resolve this matter with Amar Singh and are prepared to be part of the new alliance, as well. However, if Amar Singh does not concede to Shah Jahangir’s demands, we are deploying our army as the Emperor has requested. We are bound by our alliance with Lal Qila and our army will join with yours if a siege must be laid.”


Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA

My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi

"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...

Dear Readers -

I'm sharing one of my favorite passages from my new novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne". It's a surreal story about the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz. I hope you'll enjoy it. Best wishes.

Vicar Sayeedi

Book Excerpt - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"

“Oh, I recognize those!” Khurram is suddenly taken aback.
“What are they? They look like Nikkah certificates, too. Oh, these are… These are the certificates from your previous two marriages,” Banu says with resentment. Her demeanor suddenly changes and her eyes drift downward towards the anklets adorning her feet. Her smile is now overshadowed by a wave of jealousy surging through her entire being and her excitement melts away like ice on a hot Delhi afternoon.
Banu looks up at Khurram and his expression is tinged with embarrassment. “Banu, please. You must understand.”
“Understand what? We were betrothed to one another, but you still married two women. You didn’t wait for me. What’s there to understand?”
“Please, Banu. I didn’t marry of my own accord. It is the custom of Lal Qila – I needed to marry women before I could receive title and power. I needed to have wives in order to be seen as worthy of leading other Mughal soldiers and officers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t respect me or even accept me. Banu, I’ve already given you my word, haven’t I. You are the mother of my children. Only you. I promised.”
Banu looks up and her despairing eyes meet Khurram’s. “Do you love them? Do you love these two women?” she asks with a look filled with jealousy. Khurram remains quiet and reticent. He swallows hard. “Khurram?”
“Not in the way that I love you, Banu,” he struggles.
“What does that mean?” She asks softly. Her eyes drift away and the Prince feels desperate.
“Banu, please. These women were picked as wives for me by Jahangir’s advisors. They felt it was necessary for me to marry.”
“But you didn’t answer my question, Khurram,” Banu says in a barely audible voice. She rests her shoulders against the windowsill at the end of the bookshelf and puts her head back. “I asked you whether you love them?”

My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi

"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @

Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM

Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...

I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...