MANY CONFUSIONS CLEARED BY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE – WALI NAIMAT BEGUM,  MOTHER OF EMPEROR JAHANGEER

MANY CONFUSIONS CLEARED BY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
WALI NAIMAT BEGUM,  MOTHER OF EMPEROR JAHANGEER

Inscription with Hazrat Maryiam Zasmani

Everything about our history would obviously be clear, but there are so many quarters spreading confusion about things (for asserting religious superiority changing factual historical narrative), which in fact have factual evidence. One such fact is about the identity of the mother of Emperor Jahangeer. There is a HUKM (farman) in the archives of Red Fort, which has a seal over it and the seal says very clearly WALI NAIMAT BEGUM MOTHER OF EMPEROR JAHANGEER. Although it is in poor condition and the date cannot be read but the date is reckoned by author S.A.I. Tirmizi, as to be from 1014 to 1032 AH, or 1605 to 1623 AD. The heading clearly says it is a HUKUM OF MARYIAM ZAMANI. We are told in the Memoirs of Emperor Jahangeer himself that he met his mother on the banks of river Ravi in her garden, and to this day the area BEGUM KOT (heavily populated) is reputed to be the once residence of Hazrat Maryiam Zamani. A grand mosque dated 1025 AH (around 1616 AD) still stands in Lahore as the Emperors homage to his mother.

Young-Jahangeer

Who was Wali Naimat Begum? We are traditionally told that the Princess was of Hindu origin and sister of Raja Bhagwan Dass. An interesting fact is that we had a Masjid of Raja Bhagwan Dass in Lahore too and it existed for a long time and people read their prayers there. A Hindu mosque for the Muslims is well documented in history. Whatever the name of the Princess (later sources give different names) at that time, she might have acquired the title of Wali Naimat Begum for her role in giving a heir to the crown. In fact Wali Naimat is very clear. It means the blessings of the Saint, and Prince Saleem was indeed recognized as the blessings of Sheikh Saleem Chisti. In our culture Allah ke Rahmat is used for birth of daughter, and Allah ke NAIMAT for birth of son. It also means a formal change of religion. No time machine to verify things but rationale itself clarifies missed details. The association of the family of Raja Bharmal (father of Wali Naimat Begum) continued with the Mughals for centuries.

Jahangeer at Masjid Maryiam Zamani Lahore

Epilogue with room for another blog

The relation of Jaipur house with the family of M.A. Rahman Chughtai is also there. The Maharaja of Jaipur visited the Chughtai show at Alhamra in 1949. The Maharani of Jaipur Gayatri Devi visited Chughtai Museum two times in her own span. I found her as a lady of great charm and wit, when she prodded me that the person with her was from the Indian spy agency, spying on her. I said why have they a reason for suspecting her in any way. The Maharani had spent time in Jail under another great lady, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Habit as usual, said she. The next time she called she was with a Pakistani Senator. Nice memories in history of a woman considered to be the most beautiful lady in the world. The Blessings of Allah be upon her!

Farman of Maryiam Zamani

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