The recent novel ‘The Enchantress of Florence’ by Salman Rushdie is like a stream of stories within this one story. It so happens when the yellow haired, Nicola Vespucci (Mogor dell’ Amore) pays a visit to the court of Akbar. Nicola Vespucci claims in Akbar’s court that he was the son of Akbar’s grand aunt and he recollects public memoirs Qara Koz, Akbar’s a current princess whose name was removed from the Mughal history as she, breaking all family bonds, chose to go with her conqueror (Akbar). In the multi cultural society, Qara Koz becomes a traveller and keeps shifting her allegiance with disloyal ones. That perhaps forces Akbar to fall in love with Qara Koz, sidelining Jodha’s love and affection for him.
Rushdie, while glancing through the annals of history describes Akbar as a fictional character and the characterisation of Qara Koz in the corridors of power appears plausible as she is the enchantress in reading the masses. The depiction of her character perhaps needed better narration by the author.
On the other hand, Akbar’s IInd queen- Jodha Akbar who always remains with in the corridors of the four walls of the palace, simply intends to dedicate her life to the place she lives in i.e. Fateh Pur Sikri. The depiction of Florence Argalia, a slave girl working as a mirror for Jodha. Akbar and similarly Daswant painting Qara Koz; and Florentine artist Filipepi painting the enchantress, by Rushdie, are just fantastic.
A wonderful and brilliant effort by Rushdie in portraying the main characters, like his queens Jodha Akbar and Qara Koz. The enchantress depicts a staunch obsession for Akbar. The way Rushdie characterises Akbar the imperialist, very intelligent and dauntless orator in his stride to unite all religions, faiths, races, tribes, clans and nations in the 15th century AD and Akbar’s failure to accomplish his vision when Europe on the other hand was beginning to free itself from church’s control, is really praising.
Here Akbar appears a role model for Rushdie when the latter dwells upon Akbar’s objection to God with good humour against the fanatics, stating in Akbar’s version of Gods existence which deprived human beings of the right to form ethical structures by themselves.
However, the thought provoking work of Akbar would remain haunting the new generation to rethink and re-examine whether a religion could be rethought, remade, re-examined or even discarded; and that magic was impervious to such assaults, Rushdie remarks.
The enchantress of Florence is a masterpiece of combining historic facts with unique imagination by Rushdie, which provides this novel its beauty and strength, upbeat humour and satire beside a glorious and hilarious effort by him.
Essentially, a must read work of Rushdie.
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