Portrait of Jahan Ara

In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal breathed her last leaving behind a shattered Shah Jahan. He would go on to build the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife, but before that he was inconsolable.
It was at the behest of his daughter that he came out of mourning. His daughter, Jahan Ara Begum was the envy of women and the inspiration for men. Highly educated and well-versed in statecraft, her father often sought her counsel and elevated her status to First Lady of the court despite having other wives.
Her confidant and brother, Dara Shikoh was ultimately killed by their brother, Aurangzeb. He then placed her and their father, Shah Jahan under house arrest in Agra. Thus, her trust proved to be her undoing in life but not before she left a mark in history.