THE EMPRESS Nur Jahan — What'shername (original) (raw)
Nur Jahan was the only Empress in the history of the Mughal Empire. Reigning as an equal with her husband Jahangir, she was the only woman to issue executive orders, mint coins, or lead an army — and her tiger-hunting skills were legendary. Though she was one of the most influential leaders in 17th century Asia, for centuries her legacy has been reduced to a love story that ends where her real adventure began–at her marriage to Emperor Jahangir. With our guest Dr. Ruby Lal, author of the new book Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan, we discover the incredible life of this enigmatic and influential ruler.
Olivia’s interview with Ruby Lal was recorded on location at the 2018 Jaipur Literature Festival at the Boulder Public Library.
Nur Jahan Holding a Gun
Abul- Hasan Nadiruz Zaman
courtesy of Rampur Raza Library
Nur Jahan Holding a Portrait of Emperor Jahangir
courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Art
Nur Jahan Kills a Tiger with a Spear
Ustad Haji Muhammad Sharif
courtesy of S. M. Mansoor
Nur Jahan Plays Polo With Other Princesses
Ustad Haji Muhammad Sharif
courtesy, S. M. Mansoor
Tomb of Nur Jahan
Lahore, Pakistan
photo by Sohaib Tahir
I’timād ud Daulah (the “Baby Taj”)
The tomb designed by Nur Jahan for her parents
Agra, India
photo by Olivia Meikle
Fatehpur Sikri, where Nur Jahan’s parents joined the court of Akbar the Great after her birth
photo by Olivia Meikle
Silver Rupee with Nur Jahan and Jahangir’s Names
H. Nelson Wright, Indian Museum Calcutta
Ruby Lal is Professor of South Asian Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a D.Phil. in Modern History from the University of Oxford, UK, and an M.Phil in History from the University of Delhi, India. Her narrative history Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan, was published in 2018. Her first two books were Domesticity and Power in the Early Mughal World and Coming of Age in Nineteenth Century India: The Girl-Child and the Art of Playfulness, both from Cambridge University Press.
Music featured in this episode included
Navatman Music Collective
“Ahista Ahista”
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
free download
Ashok Pathak
“Raga Bageshri”
Episode 11 Gargi Vachaknavi
free download
Navatman Music Collective
“Harati Harati”
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
free download
Indrajit Banerjee
“Raga Ahir Bhairav: Alap”
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
Vinod Prasanna, Okey Szoke & Pompey
“Raag”
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
free download
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Episode 28 Nur Jahan
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
Episode 28 Nur Jahan
Nur Jahan cross-stitch pattern