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Shah Jahan is an eminent person in the history of the Mughal Empire. He was born in 1592 in Lahore, Pakistan. He is the son of emperor Jhangir and his wife Jagat Gosani. It needs to be taken into account that Akbar was the grandfather of Shah Jahan. An Important figure in the history of the Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan was one of the best rulers of the Mughal dynasty. He had the ability to give the empire a new direction and it was Shah Jahan who ruled with renewed vigor after the death of his father Jahangir.
Shah Jahan as a Mughal Emperor
Shah Jahan had remarkable military skills that made him a potential ruler even when he was a prince. He could defeat Mewar, the state of the Rajputs which his grandfather Akbar could not defeat. He killed many of his rivals and is known to have executed his brother Shahyar who conspired against him to dethrone him and occupy his position. It needs to be considered, the traditional concept was that the eldest son of the Mughal Emperor was to succeed him after his death. Therefore, internal trifle and power struggle was a constant thing that prevailed within the Mughal Empire.
It needs to be considered that Shah Jahan was an able prince who had already governed Bengal, Deccan, Gujrat, Delhi, and Bihar before he succeeded to the throne as a king. He played a significant role in building the military of the empire by providing the soldiers with effective training. He also took the initiative to produce armaments that were required for warfare.
On probing into his personal life, it will be observed that Shah Jahan married many times which was the tradition during his time. He loved Arjaumnad Banu the most that is popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal. Arjana Banu died while giving birth to their child in 1631. Aurangzeb was the son of Shah Jahan, who ruled the Mughal Empire till his downfall in the end which brought an end to the splendor of the Mughal Empire. It is known that Shah Jahan was nursed by the eldest daughter of Mumtaz Mahal while she shared confinement with him for 8 long years.
An interesting fact about Shah Jahan is that his wife Mumtaz Mahal was initially married to another man whom Shah had killed to marry her In 1658, during his prolonged illness, it was his eldest son Dara Shukoh who assumed his powers, a result of which Dara Shukoh was subject to jealousy and rivalry by his brothers.
The historical significance of the Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan was famous and is still regarded for his taste in architecture for he had built some extraordinary architecture during his reign. Taj Mahal is built with white marble, and it is representative of the rich culture of the Mughal era. The architectural style and designs are innovative and intricate which serves as a great subject for the study of India’s Islam culture. Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in the honor of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal who was his love interest of Shah Jahan. The building of the Taj Mahal started in 1632 and continued for two decades.
One of the remarkable facts about the Taj Mahal is that it has inscriptions all over it, which is essentially Islamic. It is considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The people of India take pride in the Taj Mahal; therefore they had put in a lot of effort to protect the monument during the Second World War. They adopted several strategies to save the monument from air-borne attacks. As a result of increasing air pollution and traffic, the Taj Mahal was getting affected. Therefore, a rule has been introduced as a result of buses and cars cannot move within 500 meters of the entrance gate. Another interesting fact about the Taj Mahal is that the architecture of the monument is an amalgamation of the Indian, Islamic, and Persian styles. It is one of the most beautiful structures in the world, and people run out of words when they start to describe its magnificence. The building of the monument demanded huge manpower as around 20,000 artisans were involved in the world.
Conclusion
The architectural style and design, and inscriptions of the Taj Mahal are unique and splendid. Every year millions of tourists visit the Taj Mahal to appreciate its beauty and cultural significance. Shah Jahan is a popular figure in India’s Islamic history, and his achievements as a Mughal Emperor prove him to be extraordinary and extremely skilled. However, Shah Jahan’s contribution as the creator of the Taj Mahal grants a\him a special position in the history of India.
