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The Half Empress

The Half Empress

Tripti Pandey
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Among the rulers of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jagat’s name is taken with contempt, because of his affair with a tawaif, or courtesan, Raskapoor, the daughter of a Muslim mother and a Brahmin father. The Maharaja defied all norms and bestowed upon her the title of ‘Half Empress’. With little experience, Raskapoor resiliently navigated her way through the cobwebs of the royal life. But, pitched against a fleet of plotters in an atmosphere filled with deceit, she finally fell into their trap and was imprisoned. There are many stories about how her life ended-the compassionate prison chief allowed her to flee or she flung herself on to the pyre of Jagat Singh. But today, she is best remembered by the guides who routinely mention her as a celebrity prisoner at the famous Nahargarh Fort.

In her historical novel The Half Empress, Tripti Pandey transports the reader to the royal corridors of nineteenth-century Jaipur and brings to life the story of a formidable woman who has been deliberately omitted from history.

Imprint: Ebury Press

Published: Jan/2023

ISBN: 9780670098286

Length : 336 Pages

MRP : ₹599.00

The Half Empress

Tripti Pandey

Among the rulers of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jagat’s name is taken with contempt, because of his affair with a tawaif, or courtesan, Raskapoor, the daughter of a Muslim mother and a Brahmin father. The Maharaja defied all norms and bestowed upon her the title of ‘Half Empress’. With little experience, Raskapoor resiliently navigated her way through the cobwebs of the royal life. But, pitched against a fleet of plotters in an atmosphere filled with deceit, she finally fell into their trap and was imprisoned. There are many stories about how her life ended-the compassionate prison chief allowed her to flee or she flung herself on to the pyre of Jagat Singh. But today, she is best remembered by the guides who routinely mention her as a celebrity prisoner at the famous Nahargarh Fort.

In her historical novel The Half Empress, Tripti Pandey transports the reader to the royal corridors of nineteenth-century Jaipur and brings to life the story of a formidable woman who has been deliberately omitted from history.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback

Tripti Pandey

Tripti Pandey is a well-known name in the field of culture and tourism in India. She did her master's in the history of ancient India and Indian culture; she has also studied tourism management in Salzburg, Austria. she has a deep interest in the promotion of tourism in India, with a focus on living traditions and intangible heritage. she has designed many festivals involving India's rich legacy of folk arts and crafts, traditional festivals and textiles. she has done pioneering work involving traditional performers, especially the kalbelias, a gypsy group, snake charmers, dholanis (chamber singers) and, of course, mahouts (elephant keepers).

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