Nur Jahan: Empress of Mughal India

by Ellison Banks Findly

Nur Jahan was one of the most powerful and influential women in Indian history. Born on a caravan traveling from Teheran to India, she became the last (eighteenth) wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir and effectively took control of the government as he bowed to the effects of alcohol and opium. Her reign (1611-1627) marked the highpoint of the Mughal empire, in the course of which she made great contributions to the arts, religion, and the nascent trade with Europe. An intriguing, elegantly written account of Nur Jahan's life and times, this book not only revises the legends that portray her as a power-hungry and malicious woman, but also investigates the paths to power available to women in Islam and Hinduism providing a fascinating picture of life inside the mahal (harem).

Genres: History, India, Nonfiction, Biography

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ellison Banks Findly is Scott M. Johnson ’97 Distinguished Professor of Religion, Emerita at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Professor Findly graduated from Wellesley College in 1971 with a B. A. in Religion, from Columbia University in 1973 with an M.A. in History of Religions, and from Yale University in 1978 with a Ph.D. in Hinduism and Buddhism, specializing in the Rig Veda. She taught at Mt. Holyoke College from 1976-1978, was a visiting curator at the Worcester Art Museum in South Asian art from 1978-1980.

Reviews

[Omama. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was it a research paper or a book I just so desperately tried to read, because the title was catchy? Also, why would a book claiming to be written about Nur Jahan would focus so much on Jahangir and the other men of her family, overshadowing this interesting, fascinating and brilliant woman? Why would she be determined by those men when she herself was a capable ruler. The book is full of investigative researches, yet the author has failed to address her charm and magnetism which made Jahangir fell in love with her. It looked like the scintillating personality of hers escaped author's portrayal, which it very much deserved. There are no maps in the book, or illustrations which would provide the splendid depiction of Nur Jahan's rule, and her court life.
A historical figure like Nur Jahan, deserves so much more attention and more recognition from biographers. and there should be a luminous tale of the woman who dabbed out of history and made it.

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I picked this book for school*

I enjoyed Nur Jahan: Empress of Mughal Empire. You can
see that Findly put a lot of effort into finding different contemporary sources for this paper. Since we do not have any of Nur Jahan’s writings besides a few of her poems, this is all the information that we can glean about her. Her reign from the beginning of her marriage to Jahangir to his death was one of prosperity. Nur Jahan had such a dynamic personality. She helped her family relatives by bringing them to power, she established her family name in the Mughal court. Nur Jahan was filled with facts and information, but it was not a boring read. Findly made it readable with his writing style. I have always been fascinated with Mughal India, and this is a gem in that section of history. I would recommend that people read this book if they’re interested in strong women in history, the Mughal empire in India, Nur Jahan, or Jahangir. There is extensive information on all those subjects within this book.

[Sanjali · Rating 4 out of 5]

uses a lot of primary sources at their face values often stripping nur jahan of her own autonomy eg- belief Jahangir was a drunk reprobate and it was only because of his incompetence that nur jahan could manipulate and rule

[Emaad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly detailed study of the Empress. Shows the dynamic nature of her personality and how masterful a political operator she was.

[Huty798 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad and not good ,