Mughal empire painted India with the colors of great art and exceptional administration. The success of the Mughal empire was the gift of its brave emperors and empresses. In the male- dominant era some women found their way to compliment the crown. Among them, Nur Jahan is especially worth mentioning. She also found her way on the coins.
Nur Jahan – A Woman in the World of Men
Nur Jahan is one of the names that adorn the Mughal empire with the ornaments of bravery and beauty. She was born in Kandahar in 1577.
She was the perfect blend of beauty and valor. Nur Jahan had a place in her heart for hunting as well as poetry. She believed in maintaining the beauty of the brain as well. She commissioned some of the grand pieces of architecture during her reign.
The designs she created for the tomb of her father later inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, one of the greatest gifts to Indian architecture by the Mughals. Nur Jahan is an inspiration to fight against the male-dominant culture and emerged as an independent and strong woman.
It was her strength and determination that helped her to jump over all the hurdles and reach the Mughal throne. The fact that makes her story intriguing is that she didn’t belong to a royal family.
She was named Mihr un- Nisha by her Persian family at birth. They immigrated to the liberal empire of Mughals. She was named Nur Jahan by her husband, Jahangir on her marriage. The Mughal emperor was not her first husband and neither was she the first wife.
Rise in Position
After her first husband died in a war with a governor under Jahangir’s power, she was given shelter in Jahangir’s harem. But the woman with the mind of a leader could not bear the four walls of her harem. She stood for herself, distinguished herself among all other wives, and ultimately succeeded to emerge as his favorite wife.
She sat beside Jahangir as his chief advisor. No queen in the history of the Mughal empire ever enjoyed the privileges she earned. She was Jahangir’s 20th, the last, and most beloved wife. But her position was earned by her brilliance and not beauty.
As the queen of the Mughal empire, she issued various orders and coins. It was astonishing for the conservative people to witness a woman’s name inscribed on the coins. But her excellent administration and compassion for the subjects won everyone’s heart.
She was one of the most fearless women mentioned in the pages of Indian history. Once Jahangir was held captive by his foe. It was the courageous measures taken by Nur Jahan that ensured his release within a hundred days. Another story of her bravery describes how she rescued a village from the dreadful claws of a tiger by hunting it down.
A Visionary Queen
Along with being valorous, she valued art. She was a patron of the innovative and captive arts. She admired poetry and painting as well. Nur Jahan is credited with developing Chikankari embroidery.
She had built her own library and was a master in Persian and Arabic. Nur Jahan was an extraordinary woman who possessed startling virtues. She ruled like a queen and she built like a visionary.