Habba Khatun
Encyclopedia
Habba Khatun was a 16th century Muslim poet from the village of Chandrahar of Kashmir
. She was born in the small village Chandrahar, and was known under the name Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense beauty until her marriage with Yusuf Shah Chak, who later became ruler of Kashmir, after which she was called Habba Khatun.
Unlike typical peasant girls, she had learned how to read and write from the village moulvi
. At an early age her father married her to a peasant boy, but this illiterate peasant boy could not keep Zoon happy. He could not understand the longings of her heart. Her in laws, especially her mother-in-law used to treat her like a slave. However, she never revolted and remained patient until one day, Zoon divorced her husband and started singing songs in Kashmiri. Zoon used to sing in the shade of chinar trees. One day Yusuf Shah Chak was out hunting that way on horseback. He happened to pass the place where Zoon was singing under the tree. He heard her melancholic melodies, and went to look at her and was stunned by her beauty. As soon as their eyes met, they fell in love. Later, Zoon and Yusuf Shah Chak were married. She changed her name and became Habba Khatoon. Habba Khatoon introduced "lol" to Kashmiri poetry; "lol" (Sanskrit and Kashmiri for love) is more or less equivalent to the English 'lyric'. It conveys one brief thought and is full of melody and love. The couple was very contented, and Yusuf Shah became the ruler of Kashmir. Their happiness did not last long. Akbar came into prominence in Delhi, and he invited Yusuf Shah there as a guest. Earlier Yusuf Shah Chak had defeated the Mughals soundly. The Chaks were known to be men of immense physical strength. The Chaks were descendents of Hindus Lalkar Chak, Shanker Chak, Pandu Chak, etc. They had converted mostly to the Shia sect of Islam. In 1579, Yusuf Shah Chak went to Delhi. However, Akbar deceived and arrested him. He was kept in prison in Bihar (India) and Habba Khatoon was separated from Yusuf. The songs of Habba Khatoon are full of the sorrow of separation.
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. She was born in the small village Chandrahar, and was known under the name Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense beauty until her marriage with Yusuf Shah Chak, who later became ruler of Kashmir, after which she was called Habba Khatun.
Unlike typical peasant girls, she had learned how to read and write from the village moulvi
Mawlawi (Islamic title)
Mawlawi is an honorific Islamic religious title given to Sunni Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names, similar to the titles Maulana, Mullah, or Shaykh. Mawlawi generally means highly-qualified Islamic scholar...
. At an early age her father married her to a peasant boy, but this illiterate peasant boy could not keep Zoon happy. He could not understand the longings of her heart. Her in laws, especially her mother-in-law used to treat her like a slave. However, she never revolted and remained patient until one day, Zoon divorced her husband and started singing songs in Kashmiri. Zoon used to sing in the shade of chinar trees. One day Yusuf Shah Chak was out hunting that way on horseback. He happened to pass the place where Zoon was singing under the tree. He heard her melancholic melodies, and went to look at her and was stunned by her beauty. As soon as their eyes met, they fell in love. Later, Zoon and Yusuf Shah Chak were married. She changed her name and became Habba Khatoon. Habba Khatoon introduced "lol" to Kashmiri poetry; "lol" (Sanskrit and Kashmiri for love) is more or less equivalent to the English 'lyric'. It conveys one brief thought and is full of melody and love. The couple was very contented, and Yusuf Shah became the ruler of Kashmir. Their happiness did not last long. Akbar came into prominence in Delhi, and he invited Yusuf Shah there as a guest. Earlier Yusuf Shah Chak had defeated the Mughals soundly. The Chaks were known to be men of immense physical strength. The Chaks were descendents of Hindus Lalkar Chak, Shanker Chak, Pandu Chak, etc. They had converted mostly to the Shia sect of Islam. In 1579, Yusuf Shah Chak went to Delhi. However, Akbar deceived and arrested him. He was kept in prison in Bihar (India) and Habba Khatoon was separated from Yusuf. The songs of Habba Khatoon are full of the sorrow of separation.