THE EMPRESS BEHIND THE VEIL: NUR JAHAN’S SILENT SOVEREIGNTY AND CULTURAL RENAISSANCE (1611–1627)

Abstract

Nur Jahan (1577–1645), the remarkable wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir who was significant influencer, remains an enigmatic figure in the history of South Asia. Her contribution to enacting imperial decrees, influencing diplomatic relations, and leading military campaigns was unparalleled. The article is primarily focused on Nur Jahan’s influential and peaceful reign, when she was neither formally a queen nor a princess but exercised her power through strategic alliances. Furthermore, this paper closely examines her diverse role in the renaissance of the Mughal Empire’s cultural and artistic history by means of such actions as her support of literature, the creation of gardens, and construction of new buildings and monuments that’s became iconic symbols of Mughal art. This research, which draws on the works of contemporary writers and historical narratives, places Nur Jahan in the larger debate on female political agency in the early modern empires. The figure of Nur Jahan, though set aside against her male counterparts, challenges preconceived ideas of authority and shows the intricate ways women can make their way through the power networks in the Islamic world. It is a qualitative analysis based on archive research and study of Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri to examine how Nur Jahan contributed in Mughal culture. furthermore, it engages with secondary sources, including modern historiographical interpretations and gender studies, to analyze her political strategies and patronage of arts and culture. The research provides an opportunity for a broader perspective on debates about gender, governance, and cultural production in Islamic and South Asian history, which reconsiders the most traditional ideas of leadership and female empowerment in pre-modern empires.