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Mohammad Shah Rangila was the greatest pleasure loving
Mughal emperor. In his time, most of the aspiring dancing girls
and courtesans in North India flocked to Delhi. The most famous of
them with direct access to the royal court was Nur Bai. According
to a contemporary account by Dargah Quli Khan, Nur Bai with her
princely lifestyle held a pre-eminent position in Delhi. Riding an
elephant and escorted by liveried soldiers, she would move about in the
city with pomp and show as crowds would rush forward to catch a glimpse
of her. Exceedingly beautiful and sophisticated, she was well versed in
the art of conversation with gift of the repartee. Dignified in bearing,
she provided intellectually stimulating company for her patrons. She
was sought after by the nobility who showered her with costly presents
to win her favour. She conducted her mehfils in a royal style, for
which her admirers were ready to pay any price.
('Famous dancing girls from the pages of Indian history' by Pran Nevile, The Asian Age, July 25, 2018)
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