THE BONES OF EMPRESS NUR JAHAN, AND A SICK MIND OF A SIKH RULER

THE BONES OF EMPRESS NUR JAHAN
AND A SICK MIND OF A SIKH RULER

Tragedies of Lahore

Nurjahan
Nurjahan

The lure of Nur Jahan is phenomenal. Stuart Cary Welch and his wife Edith were our guests in Lahore in 1981, and he wanted to visit a number of places. The mausoleum of Nur Jahan was one of them. Through the courtesy of Malik Shams (whose son held the contract to entrance), we slipped down a basement into a tunnel, which deep down led to a room, with two iron rings hanging from the ceiling. That was all that remained of Nur Jahan. Yes the mausoleum itself was in ruins from the times o the Sikhs, who had stripped it of its affluence, and although Hakeem Ajmal Khan of Delhi had provided a tombstone way back, things were still something to be in deep mourning.

Nur Jahan's tomb
Nur Jahan’s tomb

The disregard of those in power for the legacy of Pakistan was understood, but not the mind of a sick Sikh ruler, who was so obsessed with the legend of Nur Jahan, that he had the coffins removed, to inspect the so called bodies of the departed Queen. The skeletons were not up to his standards (Contrary to popular thought the second coffin is not of Ladli Begum her daughter, who is buried elsewhere in the Indian region), and perhaps the cloth of the coffin was of interest to him, and he may have put the same in the Toshak-khana of the Lahore Fort (a number of things were found there after his death), but disappointed with the bones, he ordered them to be thrown to the dogs and the wolves in the area. He did not even have the decency to put the skeletons back in the grave and back to the original hanging position. In fact he had no scruples, and it was rumoured that his own mother did not listen to him, and he had her murdered for licentious living.

Tunnel to Nur Jahan
Tunnel to Nur Jahan

Nur Jahan was perhaps the most famous Mughal lady of all times. Her luck was such that from being in a position of eventful death as a baby, she survived all odds, and created a renaissance in Mughal culture. Maker of perfumes, fashion designer, power wielder, she was a legend in her own lifetime. After her political demise, she retired to Lahore and lived a peaceful life here. Even today we come across coins struck in her name in the vast kingdom of the Mughals by her loving husband Emperor Jahangeer. The city she called Paradise treated her like dirt under the dark and dreary span of Sikh rule in Lahore.

Underground Nur Jahan's tomb
Underground Nur Jahan’s tomb

13 thoughts on “THE BONES OF EMPRESS NUR JAHAN, AND A SICK MIND OF A SIKH RULER”

    1. Assalam o alakam sir
      i am a Historical Researcher and Tour Guide
      i live in Walled city Lahore
      Many time i have visited to Nur Jahan Tomb
      but sorry to say ,now a day , tomb is change now
      in name of Restoration relevant department remove most of old Red Sand Stone and change it with new, what is this , we can not say it Restoration . They are destroying our History.

  1. It is in many books. The simplest book to check and its own version is Latif’s History of Lahore, 1892 edition, page 110. But local historians have given more graphic accounts. In any case it is a well known statement in the old circles of Lahore, from people who were witness to all this. We never criticize Ranjit for he was a Sikh. For us all religions are sacred, and that Allah tells us. The treatment with his mother is well known too. Mussalman yah Sikh, Punjabi putar jaislay qalt karan, thay kena chaiydah hai.

  2. The Sikh ruler who dishonoured empresses Noor jahan was a scoundrel
    Like all long haired Sikhs barbarians.

    1. That is a bigoted word to use for lakhs of honourable Sikh there. Our many Sikh friends should know that we love and honour them. Wrong doings in history holds no race responsible for same. Some of the best intellectuals were also produced in Sikh religion. We start from honouring Guru Nanak himslf.

  3. We have a trove of fresh information on Nur Jahan and we will publish same eventually. Even her mausoleum’s dessription is wrong in history books. We have her autographed BOOK OF POEMS, in which she mentions both her husbands.

  4. Dear Arif Rahman Saheb,

    I am writer of historical. fiction, and my book ‘Daggers Of Treason’ is on the life and reign of emperor Khurram Shahjahan. The sequel ‘The Jhelum Betrayal’ is on the life and reign of emperor Jahangir and empress Nurjahan. I have just finished writing it, and am revising the first draft.

    I would love to be in touch with, and would be happy to send you a signed copy of my book ‘Daggers Of Treason’ at your home address in Lahore, or elsewhere.

    My email is: niraj.adelphi@gmail.com

    There is so much I need to learn….

    Warm regards,

    Niraj Srivastava

    1. For the time being my book on Nur Jahan is there with latest research. It can be picked up. The Hindu lady who wrote on Nur Jahan also shared our knowledge. But all we write is authentic from our archives as well as our information. We too belong to Lahore from ages and our elders are a witness to all this. Write to us at our email chughtaimuseumlahore@hotmail.com

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