Society & Culture
The history of Mehr-un-Nissa, the future Empress Nur Jahan, twentieth and last wife of Emperor Jahangir, is marked by intrigue, bravery, and everything in between. It is no wonder that the seventeenth-century life of Nur Jahan has been subject of both feminist interpretations and mythical readings. We have seen her in movies; she is a stock figure either as conniving wife or a power hungry wannabe. Often in these narratives, Nur Jahan’s ingenuity as an administrator, her leadership, and charisma get forgotten or are completely erased. In this podcast, we discuss the history and myth of one of India’s real empresses, Nur Jahan.