New Delhi: Jahanara Begum was one of the most notable women in the Mughal history. She was the second and the eldest surviving child of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his chief empress, Mumtaz Mahal. She was an extremely intelligent and well-educated woman who was also adept in etiquette, housekeeping, and medicine. Jahanara, like many other royal woman in the Mughal household, knew how to read and write and compose poetry, and also frequented the library of later emperor Akbar.
Jahanara Begum’s Political Influence
As a child Jahanara was a carefree girl but then she was pushed into the politics of the government. She was charged with the task of overseeing domestic and international trade, and she even mediated courtiers and foreigners to communicate with the emperor, and resolved family disputes. When Mumtaz Mahal died of childbirth in 1631, Jahanara was just 17 years old. At the tender age, she became the First Lady of the Empire in place of her mother, despite the fact that Shah Jahan had three other wives. She took up the responsibility of caring for her younger brothers and sisters and also her father.
The power of Jahanara Begum
Shah Jahan took her advice and gave her the Imperial Seal. She attended councils and discussed important aspects of governance. Nobles, kings and foreign ambassadors sought her help before meeting the emperor. In 1644, Aurangzeb had a fall out with Shah Jahan and Jahanara interceded on her brother’s behalf and it was because of her that Shah Jahan pardoned him.
She lived in her own palace outside the Agra Fort. She held her own court for ministers, nobles, officers, ambassadors and clerics. The Dutch embassy took her approval to get permission for trade from Shah Jahan. In March 1644, days after she turned 30, Jahanara suffered serious burns on her body and almost died of her injuries. It took her a year to recover from that. Like Mariam-uz-Zamani, her great-grandmother, Jahanara had several trading ships and maintained trade relations with the English and the Dutch. She was also known for her charitable nature and leaning towards Sufism.
The Fall and Rise of Jahanara Begum: A Legacy of Resilience
In 1657, after Shah Jahan fell seriously ill and looked liked dying, the War of Succession broke out between Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh, the four sons of the emperor. Aurangzeb won the War of Succession, became the Mughal Emperor and imprisoned Shah Jahan. Jahanara joined her father in imprisonment at the Agra Fort and took care of him until he passed away in 1666. Her rival and younger sister, Roshanara, replaced her as the most powerful woman in the imperial court.
After Shah Jahan’s death, Jahanara and Aurangzeb reconciled and the former got back all her powers, replacing Roshanara as the First Lady of the empire. She had her own palace and Aurangzeb would speak with her for hours, and sought her counsel in various matters. She even argued with the emperor when she disagreed on something. She argued against Aurangzeb’s strict regulation of public life and his decision to restore the poll tax on non-Muslims. Jahanara Begum was also the on who founded the original Chandni Chowk in Delhi. She passed away on September 16, 1681, at the age of 67.
Jahanara Begum, daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, was a powerful and influential figure in Mughal India. Educated and politically astute, she wielded considerable influence, mediating disputes, advising the emperor, and managing trade. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
