NUR JAHAN

After her husband's death, Mehr came to live in Agra along with her daughter. There she lived as the lady-in-waiting to one of Jahangir's stepmothers called Ruqaiya Sultan Begum.

When Mehr came to the fort of Jahangir, he again expressed his desire to marry her. But keeping her promise to Akbar, Mehr refused his proposal. Jahangir was very upset.

Seeing Jahangir in a bad state and after a lot of persuasion, Mehr agreed to marry him.

It was Jahangir wh first gave her the title of Nur Mahal (the light of the palace) and later gave her the title of Nur Jahan (the light of the world). It is said that she was his twentieth wife. She was born in 1577 and lived till the age of sixty-six.

Nur Jahan was a very strong lady. She had a firm hold over Jahangir. He and his ministers sought her advice even in the matters of the state.

She used to sit behind Jahangir even when he sat down in his court to do his work.

She sat behind a purdah or curtain, and if she did not agree with what Jahangir was doing, she would place her hand on his back.

After his marriage to Nur Jahan, it is said that Jahangir started having a lot of wine and drugs. So it was Nur Jahan who looked after the empire.

It was she who decided over the promotions and demotions within the royal government.

Furthermore, her power over domestic and foreign trade made her one whose patronage was much sought after.

She even went with him for battles where she would go riding on an elephant.

Once she saved Jahangir by coming back with an army and defeating the enemy.

She personally owned ships that look men and goods to Mecca, a holy city for the believers of Islam.

The extent of her authority can be understood from the fact that coins where minted in her name.

Nur Jahan was also known as an accomplished artist. The designs on her father's tomb of ltmad-ud-daula in Agra are her personal designs.

She drew the designs, and they were copied on the marble of the tomb.