This word was also used during the time of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
Amazon is a household name these days. The same Amazon from which men and women, children and old alike are shopping. Without arguing with the shopkeeper, with discounts. Wherever there is internet, Amazon is not an unknown name. Currently, more than half of the population in India has access to the internet and it is expected that more than 90 crore people will have it in 2025. Anyway, Amazon is also a river in South America. We have been spelling this river as Amazon in Hindi. In English, the spelling of both is the same. It is called the world’s largest river. By the way, the correct pronunciation of this word is also no less difficult. Many times, small programs have also been heard on FM radio on its different pronunciations. Anyway, the point is about the meaning of the word Amazon.
Apart from the river, this is also a meaning
Apart from the river of South America, this word has a meaning. In the dictionary, its meaning is said to be a brave woman. But its history is linked to slavery. The rulers, i.e. the British, used to employ African women for their work. In this regard, they used to choose such women who were physically strong. They were also called Amazons. In Greek stories, a caste of women warriors has been called Amazons. It is possible that later on, it started being used in the West for such women who are strong with long necks and look like men. Hence, one of its meanings also became that of a woman with a long neck and looking like a strong man.
Relationship with India
Amazon is also related to India. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow kept a whole Habshia platoon. It had physically very strong African women. Most of these were the same African women who were brought here as slaves. Apart from Wajid Ali Shah’s harem, there was also a parikhana. The Nawab kept his Begum in the harem. However, one of the many rules of becoming a Begum was that the Nawab used to do a Mutah i.e. contractual marriage with the girl of his choice. During this time, if he had a son, he would get a place in the harem. In this sense, the harem was also very big.
Apart from this, the Nawab used to include the girls he liked in his parikhara. The girls living in the parikhara used to learn dance and singing. Later, most of them used to entertain as courtesans or the Nawab used to get more work done from them. It seems that the work of the Habshia platoon must have been to look after this entire staff. Because at that time, women did not create any such hindrance in the work of the government that a platoon of women should be kept to deal with them. The word platoon can be considered to have originated from platoon. The British used to divide their army into platoons. Even today, many platoons are kept under battalions in the army and police. In the era of the Mughals and the Nawabs, this platoon was given the name of platoon.
The women included in the Nawab’s Habshia platoon were called Amazons in English. That is, the woman brought from Africa in those times who was physically very strong and was working for someone (you can also read slavery) was called Amazon in English in those times. This is mentioned in many English-Hindi books.
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FIRST PUBLISHED : June 26, 2024, 14:57 IST