NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THIS…
By John Chaput John Chaput, born and raised in Montreal, eventually morphed into a Westerner. A retired writer and editor. he occupies much of his time as president of the Regina Little Theatre.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY KATE JOHANSEN
JUNE 17, 1631
JUNE 9, 1672
Mumtaz Mahal, second wife and chief consort of
Peter the Great, destined to be the most illustrious
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, dies at the age of
of all Russian tsars, is born. Ascending to the throne
38. Shah Jahan – ruler of an empire encompassing
shortly before his 10th birthday, Peter’s 42-year
much of present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
reign will concentrate on bringing his country out
and Afghanistan – is so grief-stricken that he has
of its deep-rooted feudalism and catching up to
a grand mausoleum built that takes 22 years to
Western scientific, industrial and cultural progress.
complete. This, of course, is the Taj Mahal, perhaps
Not everyone knows this, but among Peter’s reforms
the grandest tomb ever constructed. Not everyone
in this regard is a beard tax that he initiates in 1698
knows this, but Taj Mahal translates as “crown of
to bring Russia in step with prevailing European
the palace.” Shah Jahan’s wife was born Arjumand
fashion. Many of those who prefer long whiskers do
Banu but he renamed her Mumtaz Mahal, “exalted
so for religious or traditional reasons; regardless
one of the palace.” Not everyone knows this, either:
of motivations, those who keep their beards have
The cause of her death was a hemorrhage incurred
to carry a token to indicate they have paid the tax.
after being in labour for 30 hours while delivering
Those who don’t are subject to being publicly and
the last of their 14 children, half of whom died at
forcibly shaved. Luckily for those enforcing the
birth or in infancy. So the Taj Mahal is constructed of
decree, masks are not a common accessory. The
approximately equal amounts of marble and guilt.
decree is kept in force until 1772.
(This item sponsored by Plato Your Strength, the self-
(Brought to you by Chai Kovsky, tea blends imported
help course grounded in Greek philosophy.)
from Russia’s Swan Lake region.)
SIDEONE SUMMER 2021
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