Chapter 33: First official reforms Part-1

** Next day at Council chamber, Purana Qila, Delhi **

The grand council chamber of Emperor Hemu's palace hummed with anticipation as kings, nobles, and advisors from across the empire assembled for a significant meeting. Tension and intrigue filled the air as delegates exchanged cautious looks, fully aware of the important decisions awaiting them.

At the head of the chamber, Chandrashekhar, the esteemed father of Emperor Hemu and a respected elder statesman in his own right, stood tall, his commanding presence silencing the murmurs of conversation. With a solemn nod, he signaled the beginning of the proceedings.

"Esteemed kings and noble lords," Chandrashekhar began, his voice echoing with authority, "we are gathered here today to address matters of utmost importance to the future of our empire. The time has come to enact reforms that will shape the course of our realm for generations to come."

As the murmurs of anticipation subsided, Emperor Hemu entered the chamber, his regal bearing commanding the attention of all present. With a dignified nod to his father, he took his place upon the throne, signaling the commencement of the council.

"Today," Chandrashekhar continued, "we shall discuss the issue of women's inheritance rights within our kingdom. It is imperative that we establish a unified approach that will ensure fairness and equity for all citizens of the Samrajya (Empire)."

In the grand council chamber of Emperor Hemu's palace, representatives from various kingdoms of the Samrajya had gathered to discuss forthcoming reforms. As the council convened, Chandrashekhar, Hemu's father and a respected figure in the court, announced the agenda for the day - the consideration of reforms, particularly regarding women's inheritance rights.

Rao Todal Mal, the king of Rewari, a staunch traditionalist, voiced his concerns first. "Your Majesty Emperor, we have no qualms with Raamya's rule as an exception, but to extend inheritance rights to women could destabilize society," he expressed, his words resonating with murmurs of agreement.

Sayantika Sen, known for her progressive views, interjected. "But Your Majesty, without an official law, Raamya's legitimacy as a ruler in Bengal remains uncertain," she pointed out, urging for clarity and legal backing.

Emperor Hemu, a man of his word, acknowledged the concerns raised. "I understand your apprehensions, King of Rewari," he replied with a solemn nod. "However, we are here to deliberate and find a solution together. I cannot backtrack on my promise," he asserted firmly, his gaze sweeping across the assembly.

A noble named, Rao Pal Kishan , from Rewari delegation stepped forward, articulating the complexity of the issue. "Your Majesty emperor, the matter at hand is intricate. Our society operates on patriarchal principles, and granting women inheritance rights challenges those norms,"

he explained, his voice carrying weight. "To allow a woman to rule raises questions about societal roles. Will Raamya, like other women, be expected to marry and leave her maternal family? What becomes of her husband's status or her future children status?"

"In light of the current harmonious state of affairs, why should we entertain the notion of change? Would it not be more fitting to seek an imperial edict, decreeing Raamya's unique status as a matriarchal ruler, mirroring her esteemed mother's position, until such time as she enters into matrimony?" he posed, eliciting murmurs of concern from the crowd.

Even Sayantika found herself momentarily taken aback by the depth of the noble's argument, reflecting the practicality of the situation.

"WHY NOT!," echoed a young voice throughout the chamber, prompting everyone to turn towards its source.

A hushed anticipation settled over the council chamber as Aditya's voice pierced through the silence, drawing every eye to his figure standing confidently in the corner. With measured steps, he approached the center of the room, bowing respectfully to Emperor Hemu before addressing the assembly.

"With Emperor's permission," Aditya began, his tone carrying a hint of challenge, "I would like to pose a question to everyone gathered here."

Emperor Hemu nodded in consent, granting Aditya the floor to speak his mind.

Turning to face his fellow noblemen, Aditya posed his inquiry with a sense of curiosity. "Tell me, esteemed lords," he questioned, "why is it ingrained in our society that only a king's son can ascend to the throne, and not his most trusted general or any other subordinate, no matter their contributions?"

Aditya's unexpected question plunged the room into silence. No one had anticipated such audacity from him in the council chamber. Yet, no one dared to entertain the prince, who seemed lost in the arrogance of his own power.

Still, some nobles seized the opportunity to reinforce the status quo, citing tradition and scripture as justification.

"It has always been so, Your Highness," one noble asserted, echoing the sentiments of many. "Our customs are deeply rooted in ancient tradition."

Another chimed in, "Indeed, it is written in our sacred texts. The word of God dictates the order of succession."

However, amidst the conventional responses, a voice of reason emerged from the crowd. It was Tejpal Singh, a staunch supporter of Aditya, who spoke with clarity and conviction.

"Your Highness, a leader is irreplaceable, while his subordinates are dispensable. However, his successor can be identified among his progeny." Tejpal asserted, garnering nods of agreement from some.

Aditya acknowledged Tejpal's response with a nod of approval before offering his own perspective. "Indeed," he concurred, "we believe in the innate worthiness of those born into noble bloodlines, as if heroism is determined by birthright rather than deeds."

His words resonated with the gathered nobles, prompting nods of understanding as they contemplated the implications of inherited privilege.

Public Welfare Minister Sukhwinder Singh, seeking clarity, pressed Aditya for his intentions. "Your Highness, please elaborate your point. What are you attempting to prove?"

Aditya's lips curled into a knowing smile as he responded, "Your Grace, what I mean to illustrate is that our belief in bloodlines as the sole determinant of worthiness is deeply ingrained. It is this belief that has placed me before you today."

Tejpal interjected once more, his voice filled with admiration for the prince. "But Your Highness, you are the epitome of heroism! How can I suggest otherwise?"

Aditya waved off Tejpal's praise with a humble gesture before delivering his final point. "My dear friend, what I am suggesting is that, just as a lioness remains formidable despite her gender, so too can a woman possess the strength and qualities befitting a ruler. It is not strength alone that defines leadership, but the character and capability inherent in all individuals, regardless of gender."

With Aditya's words ringing in their ears, the council members exchanged meaningful glances, the realization dawning upon them that perhaps it was time to reconsider the age-old beliefs that had shaped their society for centuries.

Then Aditya continued, "For what I am about to propose as a solution, we need to enact a law where noble families without male heirs are granted special permission to designate their female children as heirs for inheritance. This would safeguard their lineage and resolve many disputes that arise due to the lack of a male heir. We must acknowledge that direct descendants carry stronger bloodlines than indirect family lines."

At his words, murmurs rose throughout the chamber, with some expressing approval while others voiced discontent. Rao Todal Mal responded, "So, Your highness, this law is only applicable to noble families without any male heirs?"

Aditya affirmed, "Yes, Your Majesty. In this manner, all the noble families present here can preserve their lineage. After all, whether a child is a girl or a boy is not within our control, and it would be regrettable to lose a lineage to an outsider due to the absence of a son."

The prince's remarks prompted a serious demeanour among those present, each contemplating the implications of such a law. Aditya then delivered the final blow, "By passing this law, I do not intend to sow discord among our noble peers, but rather to ensure stability. Remember, my fellow nobles, if this law is not passed today, you may not have another opportunity to safeguard your legacy in the future."

Murmurs of agreement swelled in response to the prince's wise words, whispers of admiration for his wisdom echoing through the chamber.

Aditya felt gratified by the positive reaction, but his satisfaction was short-lived when Sukhwinder Singh posed a question that disrupted the momentum.

"Your Highness, your logic is sound, but it is not a complete solution," Sukhwinder Singh remarked. "The question still remains: what will be the fate of the husbands? Inheritance laws cannot be passed without amending marriage laws, and altering marriage laws spells doom for society."

At Sukhwinder Singh's words, skepticism spread through the crowd, and many began to lean towards his viewpoint

Aditya chuckled, anticipating such a question. "What we need to focus on is passing down the family legacy. There's no need to involve marriage in this matter." Murmurs erupted in response to the prince's seemingly absurd statement, but this time, no one dared to dismiss him, knowing there was more to his proposal.

With a smile, Aditya continued, "The women can rule before marriage, and after marriage, they can appoint someone as regent, as we generally do when a noble passes untimely and the next in line waits. When the woman gives birth to a new child, she can declare him or her as of matriarchal descent, and the child's legacy should be traced through the maternal line. When the child reaches adulthood, he or she can claim it."

Sukhwindar Singh was dumbfounded, never having considered such an outcome. Still, he pressed on with the last question on his mind. "This surely seems possible, Your Highness, but who will take guarantee of this? Who will be responsible for ensuring its implementation, especially considering the many noble families within the empire?"

Prince Aditya responded confidently, "The king will take guarantee, and in the event of a kingdom dispute, His Majesty the Emperor shall intervene."

The emperor himself nodded in agreement, praising Aditya directly for his insightful words, which further increased the admiration of all the nobles present. Prime Minister Chandrashekhar then invited more opinions, expanding the discussion on detailed reforms. Amidst it all, Aditya had become the source of admiration and praise in the council.

As Raamya stood amidst the crowd, her gaze remain fixed on Aditya, who stood in the middle of discussion fighting for his future rights.

In that moment, her heart skipped a beat, and she felt as if time had momentarily stopped. His presence seemed to envelop her, drawing her in with an irresistible allure.

Every feature of his face seemed to captivate her—the way his eyes sparkled with determination, the curve of his lips as he spoke with passion, and the confident stance he held. She couldn't tear her gaze away, mesmerized by his aura and the warmth that emanated from him.

A rush of emotions flooded her senses—a deep longing, a sense of admiration, and an inexplicable connection that she couldn't deny. Even though he is younger than her She couldn't help but realized then, with a sudden clarity, that she had fallen for him completely, irrevocably. 'If it's not him then perhaps nobody.'

Despite the public setting, Raamya found herself lost in a world of her own, where only Aditya existed. She longed to reach out to him, to express the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her, but she remained rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak.

Instead, she allowed herself to bask in the overwhelming feelings that consumed her, silently reveling in the romantic reverie that enveloped her heart.

In that moment, amidst the ongoing positive discussions, Raamya's attention to Aditya broke when the new king of Agra entered, protesting the proposed rule. Istehar Khan, the newly appointed ruler of Agra, spoke with a tone of deference, addressing the emperor, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, but as a Muslim, it will be difficult for us to adhere to this rule. Centuries ago, someone from the Delhi Sultanate attempted to rule, and her fate was not favorable. "

At Istehar Khan's words, murmurs of uncertainty rippled through the crowd, echoing the concerns of many.

after a pause he added, "Her story bears a resemblance to Raamya's, and we take examples from past. I fear history may repeat itself if women from our community ascend to the throne."

With a gaze filled with astonishment, the king addressed the imperial prince, his voice tinged with admiration and respect, "Truly, we had never envisaged entertaining favorable thoughts on this matter. However, the wisdom displayed by His Highness, at such a tender age, has already transcended the confines of my own intellect. Alas, there exist certain laws which are deemed sacrosanct and beyond reproaching our community."

He continued, "I understand that due to cultural differences, a uniform law may not foster harmony within our community. Therefore, I propose separate laws for Muslims, drawing from this matter as a precedent." His words garnered support, with even the new King of Kashmir, Abdul Hamid, echoing similar sentiments.

The air in the council chamber grew tense as Emperor Hemu contemplated Istehar Khan's objections, his brow furrowed in thought.

As tension thickened, Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar turned to Shadi Khan Kakkar, the last Muslim king, the esteemed Supreme Military General and King of Jaunpur, for his opinion.

However, the response he offered not only stunned the Muslim contingent but also left Aditya himself in disbelief, signalling a dramatic turn of events that would alter the course of the council's deliberations forever.