New Delhi: While it is true that the Mughal Empire was a patriarchal one like many other empires of that age, there were women in the Mughal household who left behind a significant mark by dint of their intelligence and achievements. Those Mughal women overcame all barriers to carve out their legacy and Dilras Banu Begum was one of them. In this article, we will take a look at the life and legacy of one of the most notable Mughal women.
Who wad Dilras Banu Begum?
Dilras Banu Begum was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s first wife and chief consort. She is also known by her posthumous title, Rabia-ud-Durrani. After her death, Aurangzeb commissioned the Bibi Ka Maqbara in Maharashtra, a monument which has a striking resemblance to the Taj Mahal.
Notably, Dilras belonged to the Safavid dynasty of Persia. She was the daughter of Mirza Badi-uz-Zaman Safavi, a descendant of Shah Ismail I. In 1637, she got married to Aurangzeb and the couple had five children, including Muhammad Azam Shah, whom Aurangzeb anointed as the heir apparent.
How was Dilras Banu Begum?
Dilras was known to be a beautiful and charming woman. She was proud and self-willed and was respected by Aurangzeb. She was reportedly short-tempered, and her proud nature did not make the marriage problematic as Aurangzeb was always humble in front of her. Many accounts shed light on the fact that Dilras shared several character traits with her husband. Both were strong-willed people, pious and had little regard for material values.
About the Bibi Ka Maqbara
On September 11, 1657, Dilras gave birth to her fifth child, Muhammad Akbar. She suffered from puerperal fever after that and passed away on October 8, 1657. Her death pained Aurangzeb and their eldest son, the four-year-old Prince Azam. Three years after her death, in 1660, Aurangzeb commissioned a mausoleum at Aurangabad to be her final resting place.
Known as Bibi Ka Maqbara, it was one of the very few structures built by Aurangzeb and it is similar in design to the Taj Mahal. Notably, the Taj Mahal was created by Shah Jahan as the mausoleum of Dilras’ mother-in-law, Empress Mumtaz Mahal, who also passed away from childbirth. Bibi Ka Maqbara is the largest structure that Aurangzeb created and later, the tomb was repaired by her son, Azam Shah, under the orders of Aurangzeb.
Dilras Banu Begum was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s first wife and chief consort. She is also known by her posthumous title, Rabia-ud-Durrani. After her death, Aurangzeb commissioned the Bibi Ka Maqbara. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
