Jahanara: The Mughal princess who gave her wealth to the poor

By Bharat Dogra 

Philanthropy is one of the best pursuits of human life, and several philanthropists have contributed enormously to making the world a more caring place. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for all of them, as some have also used these activities as a cover for dubious and even harmful ends. In these conditions it is helpful to remember one of the greatest philanthropists of all time whose contributions, despite being very significant, are seldom recalled and have been almost forgotten. 

This writer hopes that by recalling her contributions here, this neglect can be at least partially overcome, and perhaps pave the way for wider recognition — even the naming of some major philanthropy initiative — so that the great contributions of the past are not lost to memory.

The case for this becomes even stronger because the philanthropist we are trying to remember was also a great scholar, author, and architect, and her name deserves to be considered in the context of promoting inter-faith harmony, a cause that has become even more important today.

Our reference here is to the great contributions of Jahanara (1614–81), daughter of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal. An indication of her scholarship and maturity is that when her mother Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, several of her mother's royal responsibilities were transferred to Jahanara at the age of only 17. She fulfilled these responsibilities very well, while also taking good care of her father and younger siblings.

In times when royalty was characterised by a craze for luxury and constant intrigues for power, Princess Jahanara stands as an almost unique figure in the Mughal dynasty who devoted most of her time, effort, and wealth to reducing the distress and suffering of others. While she was extremely devoted to her father, she also carved out an independent identity through her many-sided achievements — as author and scholar, leading member of a spiritual movement, patron of the arts and scholarly pursuits, and above all as a philanthropist.

She was twice formally appointed the First Lady — the Padshah Begum — of the Mughal Empire at the peak of its vast reach, encompassing most of what is today South Asia, for a total of 37 years.

Her first tenure as Padshah Begum was from 1631 to 1658, during the reign of her father Shah Jahan. When her younger brother Aurangzeb seized the throne and imprisoned their father, he also removed her from the position, as she had been very close to his rival brother Dara Shikoh, and appointed their younger sister Roshnara in her place — a woman of greedy and ambitious temperament.

Jahanara then devoted herself to serving her father in his final years. Shah Jahan died in 1666. Later, when Aurangzeb grew weary of Roshnara's mischief and corruption, he invited Jahanara once more to serve as Padshah Begum, from 1668 until her death in 1681 at the age of 67.

In her young and formative years, Jahanara was closest to her brother Dara Shikoh and shared his passion for spiritual inquiry. Like Dara, she was drawn to Sufism, particularly the Qadiriyya order. Mulla Shah said she had advanced so far in her spiritual quest that she could have been his successor, but the rules did not permit it.

An avid reader and serious scholar, her writings were also rooted in her spiritual explorations. She wrote the biography of Sheikh Moinuddin Chishti.

She was in charge of the empire's charities and in this capacity arranged for the regular distribution of funds and food to the needy, which increased during times of drought and famine. Her work as a supporter of charity was not confined to her official duties, however; she also donated generously from her personal income and wealth, and was directly involved in famine relief.

Jahanara was a great patron of the arts and scholarship and donated generously to support artistic and scholarly endeavours, while also lending encouragement in other ways. She devoted her talents to the design of several buildings, including parts of Chandni Chowk — particularly the Caravan Serai, which much later became the Town Hall with a clock tower replacing the original pool. She contributed to the design of the Jama Masjid in Agra and a well-known mosque and garden in Kashmir.

While she could access and control more wealth than almost any other woman in the vast empire, she made little personal use of it, directing it instead towards alleviating the distress of others. It was this personal commitment of the topmost administrator of charity that led to a far greater sharing of wealth with the poor and needy than was generally the case in most empires and royal families.

Jahanara was a strong supporter of equality among all citizens and publicly opposed Aurangzeb's decision to impose a poll tax on non-Muslims.

A deep indication of her convictions is what she desired to be written on her tomb: there should be nothing except grass on my grave, for grass is all the poor can afford. She asked to be remembered as a fakira — one who, in the deeper quest of life, discards considerations of wealth and material goals.

It was owing to her presence in the royal court that many workers and those toiling at lower levels in the durbar and royal household could hope for justice. She suffered a terrible accident in her younger days, sustaining serious burn injuries. While more than one version of the incident exists, one credible account holds that a dancing girl's dress had caught fire, and it was in trying to save her that Jahanara was herself badly burned. At one point her life was in serious danger, and such was the great affection in which she was held that a profound pall of distress spread across the vast kingdom, with even the emperor finding it difficult to attend to essential duties. Ultimately, after many learned physicians had failed, it was the ointment prepared by a page named Arif Chela that cured the princess — a fitting tribute to the deep concern Jahanara had always shown for the humblest.

It will be a happy day indeed when India and the wider world find better ways to remember the many-sided contributions of Jahanara, for those contributions carry very high inspirational value.

---

The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include A Day in 2071, and When the Two Streams Met