Indian History and World History (Part-19)

Mehrunnisa, who is famously known as Nur Jahan, was the wife of Emperor Jahangir. She became the empress consort of the Mughal Empire and played a significant role in the court's political and cultural affairs during Jahangir's reign.

• Mehrunnisa (Nur Jahan) married Jahangir in 1611.

• She was influential in the Mughal court, often making key decisions and wielding considerable power, especially during the later years of Jahangir's rule.

• Nur Jahan was also known for her patronage of art, architecture, and charity. She is considered one of the most powerful women in Mughal history.

The period of his reign is considered as the golden age of Mughal art and architecture.

Shah Jahan is best known for building many splendid monuments, the most famous of which is the Taj Mahal at Agra, built between 1632 and 1648 as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The Mughal prince who translated the Upanishads into Persian in 1657 was Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan.

Key Points:

• Dara Shikoh was a great scholar and a patron of the arts and knowledge.

• In 1657, he translated the Upanishads, which are ancient Hindu philosophical texts, into Persian under the title "Sirr-i-Akbar" (The Secret of Secrets).

• His translation was an attempt to bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam, as Dara Shikoh believed that both religions shared common spiritual ideas.

• He also translated several other important Hindu texts, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Rigveda, into Persian.

• Dara Shikoh's interest in spiritual texts and his efforts at interfaith dialogue were part of his broader vision of religious harmony, but his work was not fully appreciated by all, especially by his orthodox Muslim contemporaries.

Manucci had first-hand knowledge of the Mughal court, and his work "Storia do Mogor" is considered to be the most detailed account of the Mughal court.

It is an important account of the time of the later reign of Shah Jahan and of the reign of Aurangzeb.

Francois Bernier arrived in India in 1658. He worked as a physician to Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

After Dara Shikoh's execution, he was attached to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

It was made in the shape of a dancing peacock. In Arabic, the peacock is called Taus, hence it was called Takht-e-Taus (Peacock Throne).

This building is the tallest building in the Fatehpur Sikri Fort.

The influence of Buddhist monasteries and Hinduism is clearly visible in this construction work of the Mughal emperor Akbar.

This building is the tallest building in the Fatehpur Sikri Fort.

The influence of Buddhist monasteries and Hinduism is clearly visible in this construction work of the Mughal emperor Akbar.

Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Key Points:

• Mumtaz Mahal, whose real name was Arjumand Banu Begum, was the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. She was his favorite wife and a significant figure in his life.

• Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 during the birth of their 14th child, which deeply affected Shah Jahan.

• In her memory, Shah Jahan decided to build a grand and magnificent mausoleum, which would become one of the most iconic symbols of love and a masterpiece of Mughal architecture.

• The Taj Mahal was constructed between 1632 and 1653 in Agra, India, and is made of white marble. It combines elements of Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architecture.

• The Taj Mahal is often referred to as a symbol of eternal love, reflecting Shah Jahan’s profound grief and devotion to Mumtaz Mahal.

The Taj Mahal is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, attracting millions of visitors each year.