NUR JAHAN: THE RESONATING IMAGE OF A FEMINIST ICON IN THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

We remember the Mughal Empire as a state that was well administered and sustained by influential and famous Emperors. While they did shape the society during the 300 years of their rule, women played an equally significant role. One of them being Nur Jahan.

Nur Jahan; Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Donned with the finest silks and intricate design is the image of a Mughal noblewoman. Sitting behind the drapes of her bedroom is the empress in her true beauty. A glow that puts the moon to shame and beauty that makes a man blush. This is the kind of woman that comes to our mind when we think of Mughal nobility. However, during the Mughal reign, women, especially the nobles played a significant role in the existence of this empire for 300 years. With a sharp mind and attention to detail, these women helped the emperors make a strong and sustainable empire in the subcontinent.

While today, after centuries of its departure, we still focus on the emperors and their administrative policies to showcase the vastness of the Mughals. Yet, we forget that without the contribution of Mughal women, it wouldn’t have lasted that long. And one such intelligentsia amongst the Mughals was Nur Jahan.

Born in a Persian aristocratic family, Nur Jahan or Mehr-un-Nissa was married at the age of 17 to Sher Afgan Khan, a Persian soldier under the reign of Akbar. In 1607, Sher Afgan Khan has killed that left Mehr-un-Nissa and her daughter Ladli alone in a wolf world. The legend states that Sher Afgan Khan was killed by Jahangir when he fell in love with Mehr-un-Nissa after seeing her. However, there are no historical records to prove this circumstance.

As the mother-daughter duo faced the harsh realities of life, they travelled to Agra and served Jahangir’s stepmother as the lady-in-waiting. As Jahangir fell in love with Mehr-un-Nissa the moment he laid eyes on her, he made her his twentieth wife.

A scandalous union of a 34-year-old widow with the emperor turned this marriage into household gossip. However, the affection between the pair soon became a popular subject for various Mughal paintings.

While growing up, Mehr-un-Nissa excelled and learned the skills of poetry, art, hunting and took a keen interest in administration and finance. As Jahangir drowned himself in the intoxication of opium and alcohol, Nur Jahan became an interim head of the Empire. She handled the daily affairs and the significant decisions in the absence of Jahangir.

Born in a Persian aristocratic family, Nur Jahan or Mehr-un-Nissa was married at the age of 17 to Sher Afgan Khan, a Persian soldier under the reign of Akbar. In 1607, Sher Afgan Khan has killed that left Mehr-un-Nissa and her daughter Ladli alone in a wolf world. The legend states that Sher Afgan Khan was killed by Jahangir when he fell in love with Mehr-un-Nissa after seeing her. However, there are no historical records to prove this circumstance.

As the mother-daughter duo faced the harsh realities of life, they travelled to Agra and served Jahangir’s stepmother as the lady-in-waiting. As Jahangir fell in love with Mehr-un-Nissa the moment he laid eyes on her, he made her his twentieth wife.

A scandalous union of a 34-year-old widow with the emperor turned this marriage into household gossip. However, the affection between the pair soon became a popular subject for various Mughal paintings.

While growing up, Mehr-un-Nissa excelled and learned the skills of poetry, art, hunting and took a keen interest in administration and finance. As Jahangir drowned himself in the intoxication of opium and alcohol, Nur Jahan became an interim head of the Empire. She handled the daily affairs and the significant decisions in the absence of Jahangir.

Ruby Lal, an acclaimed historian of India described Nur Jahan as an acclaimed politician and a woman with a sharp mind who could rule any empire. She handled international affairs and trade with dedication and sternness. Her unconventional ways of handling controversial instances saved the empire from numerous rebellions that might have taken place. One such instance is the abduction of Jahangir by Mahabat Khan.

Her military mindset and skillset made her a unique empress ready to face difficulties with a strong face. She was more than just the military and administrative face of the Mughal Empire. A skilled archer, she hunted along with her husband and one might believe, she was better than Jahangir. A patron of art and architecture, she changed the face of the Mughal creative sphere during her lifetime. She built several architectural pieces including her father’s mausoleum, Jahangir’s tomb in Lahore and gardens like Shah Dara.

As a widow, she took care of various women and assisted them during their marriages as well as looked after orphans. She was the first Empress who had coins issued in her name.

While Jahangir loved her with all his might and also named her Nur Jahan, society saw her as a shrewd and cunning woman who wanted to rise to the ranks of a noble after being a widow of a controversial soldier.

Any woman who has the power to surpass her husband or any male figure turns into a slick human being. However, Nur Jahan turned out to be a ray of hope and light for women to be strong and independent even in a male-dominated society. Centuries later, she continues to inspire hundreds of women to do what their mind wants irrespective of what society wants them to be.

Nur Jahan with Jahangir and Prince Khurram. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons