Noor Jahan left a deep impact on the social and political life of Jahangir, becoming the joint ruler of the Mughal empire
NOOR JAHAN was the daughter of a Persian immigrant, Mirza Giyas Beg of Teheran, who came to the subcontinent during the time of Akbar. She was the widow of a Mughal officer, Sher Afghan, and was married to Jahangir in 1611. She left a deep impact on the social and political life of Jahangir. In fact, she became the joint ruler of the Mughal empire. Coins were struck in her name and Jahangir used to say that he had handed her the country in return for a cup of wine and few pieces of mutton.
Noor Jahan’s relatives were awarded the most important posts in the realm. Her father obtained the high office and her brother, Asaf Khan, in due course of time, became the prime minister whose daughter, Mumtaz Mahal, “Lady of the Taj” married Prince Khurram who succeeded Jahangir as Shah Jahan. It is wrongly and widely believed that Jahangir got Noor Jahan’s first husband, Sher Afghan, murdered because he had wanted to marry her. The fact is that he did not see her till the death of her husband, who was killed in quarrel with some imperial officers.
The members of Noor Jahan’s family, both men and women, were highly gifted and distinguished themselves by their own merit. It is not correct to say that their advancement at the Mughal court was due to her influence, though it may be accepted as a contributing factor in their rapid advancement.
In the early stages, Noor Jahan worked in close collaboration with Jahangir when her influence on state policies was healthy. When her name appeared on coins and after the death of her father in 1621, she was given all the assignments and belongings, many officers became jealous. She wanted to consolidate her position, which led her to other alliances, and a breach slowly occurred between her and Khurram (Shah Jahan). She gave her daughter, Ladli Begum (from her first husband, Sher Afghan), in marriage to Shaharyar (younger brother of Shah Jahan), and pushed his claim to the throne.
Noor Jahan influenced Jahangir into thinking that his own son, Khurram, was meditating treason. The emperor deprived the prince of all posts. He even asked him to send back all the forces under his command in the Deccan. Prince Khurram approached his father to allay the anger, but when he failed, raised revolt in self-defence. The imperial forces defeated him in 1623.
The defeat and humiliation of Prince Khurram encouraged Noor Jahan to revive her claim of the succession of her son-in-law, Shaharyar. Mahabat Khan was a very successful commander of the imperial army and was responsible for many successes. Noor Jahan considered him as an obstacle in clearing the way for her son-in-law to ascend the throne.
Mahabat Khan was firstly asked to resign from imperial command. Though he refused at first, he ultimately carried out the royal command. Later, he succeeded in holding Jahangir hostage while he was encamped on the banks of River Jhelum. However, Noor Jahan proved to be too clever for Mahabat Khan and was able to secure the release of her husband. Mahabat Khan was forced to flee to the Deccan, where he joined forces with Prince Khurram. Next year, Jahangir, while returning from Kashmir, died at Bhimber in October 1627, and was buried at Shahdara, Lahore.
The influence of the mastermind queen and her relatives was not entirely beneficial to the empire, but they were capable and till Jahangir’s later years, the administration of the empire was efficient. Their influence attracted a large number of brilliant soldiers, poets and civil servants from Iran, who played an important role in the administration and cultural life of Mughal India.
Noor Jahan was a woman of noble impulses and good taste, who gave large sums of money in charity, particularly for the relief of indigent women. Many innovations, which enhanced the grace and charm of Mughal culture, can be directly traced to her, and her influence led the maintenance of a magnificent court. All these things, however, cost money and strained royal resources.
As discussed above, Noor Jahan was the most beloved wife of Jahangir. As a token of his love for her, Jahangir put her name on coins, along with his own. She sat at the window and listened to the complaints of the subjects. She became all but in name the undisputed sovereign of the empire, and the emperor himself became a tool in her hands.
Having survived her husband by 18 years and died in 1645. She was buried in a mausoleum at Shahdara, Lahore, that she herself got built during her lifetime.
Noor Jahan’s role and influence in shaping policies during Jahangir’s time had been exclusive. She occupied a position of power and was capable of looking after all the affairs of the state. Jahangir gave her a free hand in decision-making.
In real, Noor Jahan exercised the power of the state. Her influence over her husband produced mixed results. It was, on the one hand, good for the state, but on the other hand, it led to trouble and a bitter power struggle between Khurram and Shaharyar, which seriously threatened the peace and stability of the Mughal empire.
