Roshanara forgotten princess

  The inter filial rivalries of Jahanara, Dara, Shuja, Roshanara and Aurangzeb, siblings of Arjumand Bano and Prince Khurram, Shah Jahan shaped the destiny of Mugahl India the elders Jahanara and Dara were favorites of Shah Jahan and the throne was ordained to pass to Dara the favorite however Aurangzeb was not a man without ambition he revolted and demanded his share of the kingdom. Roshanara beloved sister of Aurangzeb carried his mantle in the harem and leaked the conspiracy hatched by the emperor and Dara to get rid of Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb refused the invitation by Shah Jahan to visit Agra for negotiations about the division of the Mughal empire and averted his certain death. having lost the battle of sucssesion Shah Jahan and Dara were imprisoned and later Dara was executed on the insistence of Roshanara. Her reason behind the murder of Dara was that she had betrayed her father and her brother in helping Aurangzeb. She feared if at any point of time Dara gains back power he would certainly get her murdered. It is because of this constant fear that she used all her power over Aurangzeb to get Dara killed. Once Aurangzeb emerged successful, it was Roshanara, living up to her characterization as being ruthless, who insisted on the execution of their brother Dara and sent the head to their father in a box as a gift.

   Roshanara became the leading woman of the court, she had great aversion towards her elder sister Jahanara.  After the death of their father Jahanara and Aurangzeb were reconciled., he bestowed her with titles, revered her and gave her prominence in the Mughal durbar Roshanara reportedly was not comfort able of her sister's return to power.

Although obliged to remain single in the tradition of Mughal princesses, allegedly she acquired a series of lovers, While Aurangzeb was campaigning in the Deccan, she managed affairs in Delhi on his behalf, but she furthered her own temporal ends. Emboldened her enemies brought the case against her to Aurangzeb. Subsequently, Aurangzeb banished his sister to lead a life of pious seclusion. However, once Roshanara was discovered with another lover, Aurangzeb had her declared a kafir and ordered her lover and her to be poisoned. Roshanara afraid of the implications of her actions asked Aurangzeb to build a palace for her away from the walled city. She decided to stay away from politics which was getting dangerous and muddy. Roshanara chose to spend an esoteric life in her palace in Delhi, surrounded by a thick forest. She never married and lived in her palace till the end of her life. Her palace in the middle of the garden Roshanara Bagh is a reminder of the crucial role she played in the history of India.

Sources

Gupta, Shruti C. “Roshanara: The Forgotten Princess.” Literaryzone. 2007.

Picture1.Roshanara hand painting by Robert Henri 
Picture2.Shah Jahan and his four sons by Willem Schellinks end of 17th century