Queen of Shah Abdul Latif - NOORI- JAAM TAMACHI

In fourteenth century Feroze Tughlaq used to rule at Delhi and Jaam Tamachi used to rule in
Sindh at Thatta. He was from Samma dynasty. In the vicinity of Thatta there is a very big lake
Kinjhar which was inhabited by fisher folk. They were a sort of unsettled community who would
move from one place to other as the time demanded. They did not have proper houses to live in.
They used to live frugally in their straw huts to eek out their living through hard labour by catching
fish from the lake. Most of the time, they would live in their boats. They would spread nets to catch
fish which would be sold by their women folk on the roads. Normally fisher women were not
beautiful, they were lean, dark and uncouth, but there was an exception of Noori. She was not only
very beautiful but full of good manners. She was called Noori because her beauty reminded every
one of the beautiful full moon into its bloom i.e. light.
Jaam Tamachi was fond of hunting and traveling. Once while on a luxury trip to Kinjhar from his
boat he happened to see Noori. He fell in love with her at first sight. He keeping aside his royal
prestige and pomp asked the hand of Noori in marriage through his minister. The fisher folk were
only happy to agree. On the occasion of his marriage he gifted the Kinjhar lake to them as a
‘Jaagir’ and exempted them from paying all the taxes. He brought Noori from fisher folk’s shanty to
his royal palace. He used to spend most of his time with Noori and would often come to Kinjhar
and would move around in a royal boat with Noori. Thus Noori was bestowed with all the
imaginable luxuries. Inspite of all this Noori remained the same humble self. She was humility
personified. She would always tell Jaam Tamachi that she remembers her humble origins and she
is grateful o him for bringing her from fisher folks humble dwellings to royal palace. God shall bless
me with your love for ever.
I am full of faults,
Beloved! I am your slave,
Dear! I am to serve you. (Sachal)
Jaam Tamachi already had six queens from his Samma clan. They could not bear the King’s
closeness to Noori. They were jealous of her. They hatched a plan to discredit Noori. They told the
king that Noori’s brother used to visit palace every night and she was giving him royal jewels. One
evening while Noori’s brother was returning from palace King saw a box in his hands and
inspected the same. He found in that fish bones and scraps of bread. He silently went away. Next
day he asked Noori as to what was it all about. She told him that she is not used to royal food and
she was afraid that once she developed the taste of the royal food she may not be able to enjoy
her traditional food. Therefore every day her mother would send her a piece of fish with bread
made from coarse grain. My brother brings it with all the love.
Jaam Tamachi was very much impressed by this. The other queens continued to harass Noori and
would frequently complain about her misbehavior to the King.
 Once Jaam Tamachi decided to test all his queens. He told them that by evening all should be
ready and he would take one of them with him for sightseeing. All queens spent the entire day in
applying makeup and decorating themselves with costly clothes and ornaments. In the evening
when King came into the palace there was virtual competition among the queens to entice him.
King could see through their artificial make up and their behavior and went ahead. When he came
in the apartments of Noori he found her waiting for him anxiously. She had worn her original dress
given by her parents and without any ornaments. Her natural beauty in itself was sufficient and did
not require any artificial makeup, ornaments or costly clothes. She approached him with all her
humble charm. King took her hand and led her to Royal carriage. All other queens continued to
fume and rage with jealousy.
When he returned in the evening he declared her reigning queen. This way her humility and
simplicity won her this great honour. This elevation did not go to her head; instead she became
more humble and courteous. Jaam Tamachi also would return her love and affection.