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Shahjahan
and Mumtaz Mahal – The immortal love |
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Lovers
from all over the world come to stand enraptured by the pristine
pure beauty of the white marbled structure called ‘Taj Mahal’.
One of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, Taj Mahal is a mute
testimony of the love that raged in the hearts of Shah Jahan
and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Prince Khurram, the future Shah Jahan, was born in 1592. He
was the eldest and favourite son of Jahangir, the fourth Mughal
Emperor of India. |
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The
prince and the beauty The year was 1607 and the dashing prince
made his way to the Meena Bazaar. Meena Bazaars were private
markets laid out within the premises of a harem. Since the
women were in Purdah, they would shop for silks, jewellery,
perfumes and baubles from the enclosed Meena Bazaar. In one
shop, sat Arjumand Banu, with her silks and glass beads. She
was the daughter of Asaf Khan, the brother of emperor Jahangir's
consort, Noorjahan. Exquisitely attractive, the 14-year-old
girl projected a pristine beauty.
At 15, Prince Khurram was definitely a handsome lad. With
his father’s aristocratic nose, high forehead and languid
eyes, he drew girls like a magnet. The fact that he was the
heir to the throne merely added to his appeal. Attracted by
the beautiful girl, Khurram made his way to Arjumand’s stall.
He saw a piece of glass at her stall and asked its worth.
When she saucily replied that it was diamond and not glass,
he gave her ten thousand rupees (a sum she boldly said he
could not afford), picked up the piece of glass and walked
away.
The next day Khurram presented his case before the Emperor,
seeking Arjumand's hand in marriage. The Emperor, who had
married Noorjahan for love, knew the passion that love can
raise and granted permission to his young son. However, five
years were to pass, before Khurram could marry his beloved.
Meanwhile, he was married to Quandari Begum, a Persian princess,
for political reasons.
United forever
In 1612, Khurram was finally united with his beloved, Arjumand.
By now he was 20, and she, 19. It was a grand wedding, as
befits an Emperor's son. Jahangir and Khurram went in procession,
surrounded by nobles, musicians and dancers, acrobats, rare
animals in cages, slaves and priests. Jahangir took the trouble
of personally adorning his son with the wedding wreath of
pearls.
After Jahangir’s demise, Khurram was coronated, and given
the title –‘Shahjahan’. His wife, Arjumand became ‘Mumtaz
Mahal’, meaning, ‘Chosen one of the palace’. True to her name,
she became the chosen one of the powerful emperor, a true
soul mate. Mumtaz accompanied her husband everywhere, whether
it was a war or a hunt. Unlike her aunt, Noorjahan, Mumtaz
Mahal was compassionate, generous and demure. She continually
interceded on behalf of petitioners and gave allowances to
widows and orphans. Stories of her virtue spread all over
the empire.
Death of a dream Her death left the emperor totally broken.
After his wife's death, Shahjahan reportedly locked himself
in his rooms and refused food for eight days. According to
legend, when the emperor emerged from his seclusion, his black
beard – visible in many Mughal miniature paintings – had turned
completely white, his back was bent, his face worn with despair.
Immortal Love
The lovers have gone, but their love remains enshrined forever,
in the marbled monument that a doting husband had constructed,
for his beautiful life mate.
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