|Biographical detail : ||Nurjahan’s father Mirza Ghiyasuddin came to India from Iran. She was married at an early age to Quli Khan entitled Sher Afgan. At the behest of Jahangir, Sher Afgan was killed and Nurjahan was brought to the imperial court four years later.
At the age of thirty-four Nurjahan was married to Jahangir and was given the title of Nurjahan. (Her real name was Mahrunisa). She was able to prove her talents in different fields such as innovations in food, jewellery, dress and decoration. She was the real power behind the throne. Jahangir was said to have declared that he had sold the kingdom to her for a flask of wine and a couple of kebabs. Her last days remained unhappy as she was not in good terms with Shah Jahan who had succeeded Jahangir. Her grave in Lahore bears this pathetic inscription.
On our lone grave no roses bloom
No nightingale would sing
No friendly lamp dispels the gloom,
No moth e’er burns its wing.