Jahanara Begum, the eldest daughter of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was raised with royal customs. Jahanara was not only beautiful but also highly learned. She wrote two books in Persian and oversaw the construction of many marvelous buildings.
When Shah Jahan became the emperor in 1628, he granted Jahanara an annual allowance of around Rs 6 lakh, one lakh gold coins, and numerous estates.
Over time, her annual income grew to around Rs 30 lakh, making her one of the wealthiest princesses in the world at that time, according to reports.
Following the death of her mother, Mumtaz Mahal, on June 17, 1631, Jahanara received half of her mother's wealth, increasing her fortune even more.
Historian Avik Chanda notes in his book "Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King'' that Jahanara played a key role in the grand wedding of her brother Dara Shukoh in 1630, contributing half of the Rs 32 lakh spent on the celebrations.
Despite her beauty and immense wealth, Jahanara never married. Historians suggest that Shah Jahan was concerned that a marriage would mean sharing the empire with his son-in-law, which could weaken the Mughal rule.
