Three Pashtun princesses, the daughters of Bahlol Lodi and sisters of Sikandar Lodi, about whom meagre information was obtained from inscriptions and other records.
Princess Aisha Bibi
Princess Aisha Bibi is mentioned in a Persian-Sanskrit bilingual inscription carved on a slab of black marble which was discovered at Mubarakpur Kotla in Delhi. It is dated to 14 March, 1517 A.D. The Persian inscriptions mentions her as the murid or disciple of Shaikh Sikandar Sherani, indicating that the latter was a religious or sufic personage. Shaikh Sikandar Sherani and his wife Murad Khatun (daughter of Dilwar Khan Sarwani) built a well at the desire of Princess Aisha.
The Persian inscription reads as follows (translation):
"The foundation of this structure of a well was laid in the prosperous reign of the victorious king..... soldier in the Path of God, Sikandar Shah, son of Bahlol Shah, the Sultan, let God make his reign prosperous ! This....(has been built by) Shaikh Sikandar, son of Shaikh Bayazid, son of Shaikh Yahya Sherani, and Bibi Murad Khatun, daughter of Dilawar Khan Sarwani, wife of the said Shaikh (Sikandar) , at the instance and under the advice of Bibi Aisha, daughter of Sultan Bahlol, the disciple of Shaikh Sikandar, 20 Safar 923."
The accompanying Sanskrit inscription has an additional line which reads as follows (translation):
"So as long as the sun and moon exist, may she (Princess Aisha) be happy along with her brother and offspring of the brother (nephews) !
Princess Subhan Bibi
Princess Subhan Bibi was the daughter of Bahlol Lodi and sister of Sikandar Lodi. Her tomb is located in the agricultural fields north-east of the Dera Mir Miran village in the Mahendragarh district of Indian Punjab. It is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India and is also a sacred place for the locals, as they offer chadar and light candles on the graves. The Persian inscription on the eastern façade of the tomb reads as:
"Passed away (from this world) princess Subhan, daughter of Bahlul Shah Sultan on 11th of month Safar, Friday, year 901 (Hijri) and the construction of this mausoleum (took place) in the reign of the king of the world Sikandar Shah Sultan, may his kingdom last forever! (in the year) 902 (Hijri)."
According to the Gregorian calendar, the date of her demise would be 31 October 1495 AD.
The inner chamber consists of two graves. One is of Bibi Subhan and another of unknown person. The tomb looks very similar to the Sheesh Gumbad located in the Lodi Gardens of Delhi and the use of bricks in the construction of the tombs are same in both structures (tomb of Bibi Subhan and Sheesh Gumbad). The dome is covered with wild grass, the finial is missing. There are four cupolas on the four corners. At the southern entrance of the tomb there is a big peepal tree standing and in front of it is a cow stable used by the locals.
An unnamed daughter of Bahlol Lodi
An unnamed daughter of Bahlol Lodi is said to have been married to a Pashtun saint named Shaikh Sadruddin Sarwani (the ancestors of the rulers of Malerkotla state) who was a fresh arrival from Daraban (in Dera Ismail Khan district of KPK), as per the family records of the Afghans of Malerkotla. There are no contemporary records of this marriage.
References
1- 'The Pathan tombs of Sarhind', Islamic Culture, Vol.XIII, No.3, July-1939
2- "Sirhind: A Monumental Example Of Oblivion" by Syed Yusuf Shahab.
3- "Sanskrit Inscriptions of Delhi sultanate, 1191 to 1526" by Pushpa Prasad
4-"A description of the Principal Kotla Afghans" (published in 1882), by Inayat Ali Khan
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