Jahanara Begum Sahib

            Most people don’t know of hear about Shah Jahan’s kids. His eldest daughter Jahanara Begum Sahib was not the daughter of Mumtaz Mahal but she took over as the First Lady of the Empire when Mumtaz Mahal died. Even though Shah Jahan had three other wives he still made his daughter Jahanara the First Lady of the Empire. Jahanara was only 17 when Mumtaz Mahal died, so she was in charge of the Empire at a very young age. Jahanara was the one known for bringing Shah Jahan out of his depression after his childhood love had died.         

            She was born April 2, 1614 and died on September 16, 1681. She was buried in Nizamuddin Dargah, New Delhi. A lot of people back them were Hindu but not her she was Islamic. After her mother died she had to oversee her brothers’ marriage that Mumtaz Mahal had originally planned but was postponed by her death. Mumtaz died while giving birth to her fourteenth child. Mumtaz Mahal personal fortune was worth 100,000,000 rupees which Shah Jahan gave half to Jahanara and the rest to the rest of his surviving children. Her father took advice from her repeatedly and made her in charge of the Imperial Seal. Shah Jahan was very fond of his daughter so he bestowed her many titles like, Lady of the Age, Lady Emperor, and Princess of Princesses.  Days after her thirtieth birthday she doused her garments in oil and she caught on fire. Until she was all well Shah Jahan was taking care of her himself. After her accident she went on a pilgrimage to Moinuddin Chishti’s shrine in Ajmer. After whole recovery Shah Jahan gave her rare gems and jewelry as gifts. She would now visit Ajmer on frequent bases like her great grandfather before he died.   

             I think that the character trait Jahanara is Initiative she recognized and did what needed to be done before she was asked. She was part of the solution instead of the problem and she contributed to the success of the whole team.