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Mughal Princess Zebunnissa
 Lady of the age
First published by The Friday Times
Mughal history ignores women of the empire, including Emperor Aurangzeb’s daughter Zeb-un-Nissa: patron of the arts, poet, and a keeper of several lovers – according to rumours. The eldest daughter, she was Aurangzeb’s close companion for several years. She was born in 1638 to Dilras Bano of the Persian Safavid dynasty. Loved by Aurangzeb, she was named carefully to reflect his station.
A favourite, she was exposed to the affairs of the Mughal court. With a sound education in the arts, languages, astronomy and sciences of the day, Zeb-un-Nissa turned into an aware and sensitive princess. She never married and kept herself occupied by poetry and a spiritual Sufi quest.
This is the irony – Aurangzeb’s daughter was an antithesis of her father’s persona and politics. Zeb-un-Nissa was both a Sufi and a gifted poet. The Divan-i-Makhfi – a major divan – is credited to her name. Given her father’s dislike for poetry, she could only be makhfi – the invisible.
February 16th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
An outstanding post.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I think it is amazing that she took so much prider in her poetry
http://www.verdispoetry.com
February 17th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Adnan and Jennifer
Many thanks for liking the post. Yes her poetry was her life. Our princess adopted the persona of a scholar-poet of those times by being dressed in a black robe..
Our history has some fascinating characters - and the sad part is that they are so less known..!
April 15th, 2007 at 11:38 am
She is an Outstanding Character for Mughal Life. Her beaty and poetry is worth loving.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:23 am
I have taken the liberty of linking to your excellent article from my blog at The Existentialist Cowboy. I had written an article about Iran and used poems by Omar Khayyam. A reader had wanted to know who the depiction of a beautiful princess might have been. With google’s help I found this article and have concluded that the picture in question might have been a depiction of Princess Zebunnissa.
In any case, thank you for your wonderful article.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Aurangzeb called as a sufi of mughal
March 6th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Aurangzeb was most religious and follower of everything
March 9th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Few people are aware of Aurangazeb’s romance with a Hindu Girl from …. in Maharashtra. In his teen years, Aurangazeb visited his uncle / relative / whatever’s Jaagir (Estate).. which was in Maharashtra… probably around Aurangabad. He fell in love with a commoner.. a Hindu girl of the estate. India’s history would have taken a different note, had this romance succeeded !
Years later after Aurangazeb became the Emperor, he erected a masoleum in memory of the girl.. Maulana Azad probably refers to her name as “Zainabadi”.