The Sufi Courtyard by Sadia Dehlvi

Author:Sadia Dehlvi [Dehlvi, Sadia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2012-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

Princess Jehanara’s tomb

Photo: Mayank Austen Soofi

Throughout her life, Jehanara remained staunchly devoted to her father. Historians write that the princess remained so watchful over the emperor’s safety that no dish could appear on the royal table unless it had been prepared under her watch. When Aurangzeb imprisoned Shahjehan at the Agra Fort in 1658 AD, Jehanara spent all her time tending to her father, till his death in 1666 AD.

By demonstrating affection for Dara Shikoh and advocating his succession to the throne, Jehanara earned the displeasure of Aurangzeb. After the surrender of the Agra Fort, Jehanara tried to convince Aurangzeb to divide the empire among all the three brothers but he would not hear of it. At Shahjehan’s deathbed, Jehanara persuaded him to sign a letter pardoning Aurangzeb. As he lay dying, the princess cried, lamenting,

I cry from grief like a reed, only with wind to grasp;

I burn from sorrow like a candle, but only smoke rises from my head.

Even though Jehanara took Dara’s side, she remained Aurangzeb’s favourite sister; he yearned to win her love and respect. When she returned to Delhi from Agra, Jehanara was once again designated as the first lady of the court, and continued to enjoy her favoured status with the elevated title ‘Padshah Begum’, instead of the previous Begum Sahiba. At the time of his coronation, Aurangzeb presented Jehanara with gold worth fourteen lakh rupees, and increased her allowance to seventeen lakhs rupees. The princess continued to advise Aurangzeb in matters of state policy. She stridently opposed the re-imposition of the jizya tax policy by Aurangzeb, constantly warning him of the rebellions and resentment it might incite.

Following Dara Shikoh’s defeat, Aurangzeb launched an attack on all those close to the prince. He decreed that Mullah Shah be bought to Delhi, but the mystic could not travel on account of ill health. Jehanara pleaded with Aurangzeb to excuse her spiritual Master.

Later, Aurangzeb issued orders for Mullah Shah to leave the valley and go to Lahore. The mystic moved to Lahore, living in the house assigned to him by Shahjehan. Jehanara arranged for one of her personal servants to look after him. When Mullah Shah died in 1666 AD, he was buried close to the tomb of Mian Mir in Lahore. Jehanara had a red sandstone mausoleum built over his grave, adding a beautiful garden in the compound.

Jehanara had suffered an accident in April 1644 AD, a few days after her thirty-first birthday. Her garment caught fire from a lamp, causing severe burns. Shahjehan had ensured that the best of physicians attended to her, some of them called to Delhi from Persia. After a few months, her recovery was celebrated with week-long festivities. Unfortunately, the wounds reopened and it took another year for Jehanara to regain her health.

Jehanara patronized many gardens and architectural projects, including the Jama Masjid at Agra. In 1650 AD, she built a large market square in Shahjehanabad with a pool in the middle. This was laid out on one of the two main roads in front of the Red Fort at right angles to each other.

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