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Musicians at Darah Shikoh's wedding.
The riverfront of Agra was ablaze with illuminiation on the banks as also
were the river craft which were in the shapes and colors of birds and
animals of the world as well as of myth. The fireworks on shore made night
into day and revealed serried ranks of elephants rising out of smoke and
flame. The cost of the affair was a million rupees of which the Begum Sahib
spent half.
To get an idea of what a million rupees could buy at the time, consider
that the Red Fort at Delhi cost the same, and it included ornate and bejeweled
palaces like the Shah Mahal (Devan-e-Khaas). The Jama
Masjid at Delhi cost 5 lakhs of rupees, or half a million.
Jahanara's efforts were not limited to the family itself. She created
great monuments like the Jama Masjid of Agra, Chandni Chowk in Delhi and the
inn hostelry garden and he caravanserai in the heart of Delhi. Unfortunately
much of what she built no longer stands.
During the revolution of 1857, Bahadur Shah "Zafar" and Delhi
became the flag of the revolutionaries against the Ferunghee
intruders. In retaliation, when the British were able to suppress the
revolt, they systematically targeted and destroyed the Imperial Mughal
gardens, including one called "Sabibabad", as it was built by
Jahanara, the Begum Sahib. Eighty five acres of palaces and garden in the
Red Fort, at Delhi were razed to the ground.
Her efforts gave Jahanara the title "Baadshah Begum" or senior
lady of the realm. The high regard in which she was held by Shah Jahan,
Darah Shikoh and Aurengzeb gave her the authority to try and act as the
voice of moderation and family love when her brothers later fought for the
throne.
A reason to remember Jahanara is that on March 26, 1644 (356 years ago),
there was very great concern about her life. There was an accident in which
she got first degree burns all over her lower limbs and back. In those days
the dresses were of very fine patterned muslin, now called Jamdani.
Heavily perfumed with amber and musk, these garments were as inflammable as
paper. The lighting in the Red Fort at Agra was open flame torch or beeswax
and aromatic amber candle.
Jahanara's garment whether peshwaaz (floor length cloak) or oadhnee
(upper wrap which like a chador trails the ground as the wearer moves
from place to place) got aflame and enveloped her in fire. Four of her
maids-in-waiting threw themselves upon her to put out the flames. Their
clothes immediately caught fire and two of them subsequently died of their
burns. Jahanara was so badly burnt that her life was in danger.
Shah Jahan was in despair, and with Jahanara's life at stake, he became
sick with anxiety. All the physicians of the various disciplines in vogue
were asked for a salve which would heal the burns. A purse was kept under
the bed of the patient every night and its contents, 1001 rupees of silver
were distributed among the fakeer and the mendicants each
morning.
The daily count became a ritual to be hurried through by the Emperor who
was intent upon returning and prying by his daughter's bedside so that god
would grant her health. A slave named Arif is credited by the contemporary
chroniclers as being the person who prepared the salve which helped mend the
injured skin. Nature must have have helped as the Begum Sahib was only 30
years old and in the prime of her life.
The domestic life of the Mughals is seen only in the context of battles
and wars of succession. A deeper and more detailed search shows warm and
affectionate personalities. We hope to return to Shah Jahan as the human
being in the future.
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