Jahanara Begum

Self-representation in the Public Space

Authors

  • Ashna Hussain Western Sydney University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.42388

Keywords:

Sufism, Mughal Empire, Islam, biography

Abstract

Women’s visibility in both the imperial and sacred realms under the Mughal Empire (1526–1856) was often limited to traditional roles. Yet, a cursory glance at the history of imperial Mughal women reveals active engagement in politics and a public persona that complemented the empire’s religious and political rhetoric. One such woman was Jahanara Begum (1614–1681), a Mughal princess whose imperial influence was distinct to that of her female predecessors. Her biographical treatise, Risalai-Sahibiyyah, highlights the intersection between the socio-political and spiritual through a Sufistic centred approach. By publicly presenting herself through traditional modes of representation, Jahanara was able to exercise her agency through the appropriation of those modes. Subsequently, Jahanara’s agency in her religious persona lends to a better understanding of women’s navigation of religious expression. 

Author Biography

  • Ashna Hussain, Western Sydney University

    Ashna Hussain is a PhD student at Western Sydney University in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts.

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Published

2021-02-03

How to Cite

Hussain, A. (2021). Jahanara Begum: Self-representation in the Public Space. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 33(2), 134–154. https://doi.org/10.1558/jasr.42388

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