Begum Sahib: An Introduction and chronology

Note to the readers:

Women behind men in history fascinate me. I had been reading about the mothers and wives who changed men’s fortunes. But what about daughters and sisters? A few months back, I was looking for books on Mughal Ladies, mainly Noor Jahan and her work. In the bibliography credits, I had chanced upon “The Life of A Mogul Princess” By Jahanara Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan. I had no idea about the book and thought it was another autobiography. Previously, I had read only about how she was imprisoned along with her father at Agra, and her involvement with Dara Shikoh, her younger brother, in connecting the two realms of Hinduism and Islamism and the establishment of Sufism. All of these and the chronological events of history can be found in various books. As I read each page of her diary, cross-checking each point with Jagunath Sircar’s “History of Aurangzib” and R.C. Majumder’s “Mughal Empire” as well as numerous other sources on the Mughal Harem, I discovered shades of her in a whole new light. I have read the Akbarnama, Tuzk e Jahangiri, and Shah Jahan Nama, all written to record and glorify the life and times of a Mughal ruler. This autobiography was a diary of personal feelings she did not want to share with the world. The world was neither ready for her thoughts nor her story. Yet, in her own telling, she has touched a very important part of Mughal history with her emotions. The zenana politics, the clash of kins and the turmoils of a daughter and sister. The personal diary starts in June of the year 1659 and ends on the 17^th of February 1666. It talks of her life from 1631 till the time of her father’s death. It was found in a restoration process of the Agra fort in 1903 by the British. A clear distinction from autobiographies is found in her words. I was so moved, touched and transformed that I decided to share her words with you, but then I took some time to study her whole life.

The parts between her parents' deaths are mostly from her diary. The rest of the tale I compiled from History. An enigma in life, Jahanara Begum, her parents’ favourite, Janni, became the writer of the life-changing book I was always looking for. Mughal Empire’s “Begum Sahib” is hence the topic of my new historical series. The narrative I am telling you is fiction based on the book and the life she led, and what I understood of her character. The historical fiction matches events and occurrences in history, and the narration and dialogue are made to describe her greatness. All said and done, I will request each one of you, if you ever slightly liked the tale I told, please read “The Life of A Mogul Princess” not only for the history but for the great literary richness it holds.

Chronology of Events: (You may need to refer to this while reading)

Jahanara Begum, the first child of Shehzada Khurram and Arjumand Begum, was born on 2^nd April 1614 (Julian Calendar: 23rd March for Gregorian), at Ajmer’s Akbari Fort. Jehangir’s chronicles, “Tuzk e Jahangiri”, mention her birth and the delight of Khurram, who was a father for the second time after his first wife Kandahari Begum had given birth to Parvez Banu. She had six other surviving siblings, Dara, Roshanara, Shuja, Murad, Aurangzeb, Gauhanara and a few half-siblings as well.
Jahanara became the Padishah Begum upon Mumtaz’s death in the fourth year of her father’s succession in 1631 and enjoyed her position till their imprisonment in 1659. She rejoined Aurangzeb’s Harem as the Padishah Begum in February 1666 and moved to stay at the grand mansion of Ali Mardan Khan in October same year, in Shahjahanabad.
She met Raja Chattar Sal on June 1632, and sent him with Aurangzeb to war in September of the same year.
Raja Chattar Sal, on behalf of his father, provided the imperial army with 40 elephants, of which Shah Jahan took 18, and accepted his services before the Battle of Daulatabad.
In 1634, Raja Chattar Sal was sent to battle at Paranda with Khane Khana (The prime minister) by Shah Jahan after he displayed valour in Daulatabad.
On 4^th April 1636, Raja Chattar Sal was badly injured at war alongside Shuja, and he returned to Bundi.
8th September 1636, the emperor, along with Jahanara, travelled to Mandu.
On 26^th March 1644, Jahanara suffered burn injuries.
On 24^th November of the same year, she was declared fit and made a pilgrimage to Ajmer.
In 1647, the war of Balkh was fought by the Imperial Army of which Chattar Sal was a part.
Rao Raja Chattar Sal was crowned king of Bundi in 1648 at the Taragarh Fort.
On 9^th May 1649, he accompanied Aurangzeb to war at Deccan, after Jahanara Begum recommended so to the Emperor.
In the same year of Shah Jahan’s reign, he was sent to Kandahar with Dara. Dara lost to his lack of skill and experience. He was, however, given a heroic welcome by his father.
In 1654, Jahanara received letters from Aurangzeb that indirectly threatened action for his father’s partiality to Dara.
Jahanara, during her father’s reign, was attributed to the building of Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid in Delhi and for the generosity for which she was loved by all. She also built numerous gardens, the “Begum Bagh” being the most famous one.
The Jahanara Pavilion in Agra Fort ( also called Jahanara Bangla) was her house, and in captivity, she stayed at the Jasmine Tower of the Nur Mahal, where her diary was found.
On 29^th May 1658, the Battle of Samugarh was fought 10 KMs from Agra between Kota and Agra between the armies of Dara and Aurangzeb, who allied with Murad. Chattar Sal died here along with his brother and his son Bharat. Dara fled, and Aurangzeb went ahead to capture Agra.
On 8^th June 1658, Aurangzeb seized Agra. On 10^th June 1658, Jahanara met him on behalf of their father and offered peace, which was denied, and Shah Jahan and his loyal were imprisoned in the fort itself. She had also received the news of Rao’s death on that very day.
Dara was killed in prison on 30^th August 1658, and his severed head was sent to Shah Jahan in Agra.
Shah Jahan died on 22^nd January 1666, and Aurangzeb came to make peace with Jahanara on 17^th February and restored her title and honour. She was thus imprisoned for eight years, which ended with Aurangzeb’s apology.
On 27^th March, Aurangzeb celebrated his coronation at Agra and made her Padishah Begum officially again. She gifted the emperor with jewels and accepted her role.
Jahanara adopted the daughters of her dead brother Dara, and Murad and made sure they had a secure future by marrying them to Aurangzeb’s sons. In 1669, she married Janazeb Begum to Aurangzeb’s third son. Jani Begum was Dara’s daughter, who was her favourite.
She also abolished the law of Mughal Princesses not being allowed to marry and got Aurangzeb’s daughters married in 1672 and 1673, respectively.
Jahanara was the only Mughal Princess who had her own trading ship at the Surat Port, which was once looted by Shivaji.
She always favoured the Rajputs and Hindus over the Muslim officials against Aurangzeb’s wishes. She played an active role in a failed peacemaking between Rana Raj Singh and her brother.
Jahanara, in her last few years, took to Sufism and saintly ways and gave away all her riches. Princess Zebunnissa, too, was influenced by her. She spent her last years writing books on Sufism that still hold high literary values.
She died on 6^th September 1681 in Delhi and was mourned by the Emperor for three days and given the posthumous title of “Sahibat Ur Zamani” or “Mistress of the Age”. She remains buried in the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi.

Bibliography:

The Story of A Mogul Princess by Jahanara Begum (often claimed as semi-fiction)
Daughters of the Sun by Ira Mukhoty
Heroines by Ira Mukhoty
Mumtaz Duhita Jahanara by Sreeparabat (Fiction)
Mahal by Subhadra Sengupta
Padshahnama of Inayat Khan
Tuzk E Jahangiri
Short History of Aurangzeb by Jagunath Sircar
A. Bokhari's Thesis of Jahanara Begum
Hada Relation with Mughals by R.S. Sharma
Mughal Empire by R.C. Majumder

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