Mumtaz Mahal
Arjumand
Banu a shopkeeper was sitting at her shop in Meena Bazar, the private market
attached to the harem, when Prince Khurram saw her for the first time.
He saw a piece of glass at her shop and asked for it's worth she replied that
it is a diamond and not glass.
The prince picked up the piece of glass and gave her rupees ten thousand (an
amount she boldly said that he could not afford).
Next day the prince went to emperor Shah Jahan to seek his permission to marry
Arjumaand Banu. Emperor Jahangir gave the permission at once but it took five
years for him to marry his beloved. Meanwhile he was married to a Persian Princess
Quandari Begum due to some political reasons.
On an auspicious day, 1612 they tied the knot. It was a grand wedding. It was
a perfect match; she was inseparable from Khurram and even accompanied her when
he went to fight wars.
Emperor Jahangir entitled Prince Khurram as 'Shah Jahan' And when he became
emperor he entitled his wife as Mumtaz Mahal 'the chosen one of the palace'.
Mumtaz was very compassionate, generous and demure. She was also involved in
administrative work. She continually interacted on behalf of petitioners and
gave allowances to widows. She is said to have enjoyed the spectacle of man
in combat with animals.
In 1630 Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth. Before dieing she extracted a promise
from Shah Jahan that after her death he would build the most beautiful building
of the world as a tribute to their love.
AGRA - THE CITY OF TAJ MAHAL
