Mumtaz Mahal

Hello! My name is Mumtaz Mahal, but I was not always called that. I was born on April 27th, 1593, in the beautiful city of Agra. My parents gave me the name Arjumand Banu Begum. My family was very important in the Mughal Empire. My father was a nobleman, and my aunt, Nur Jahan, was married to the Emperor Jahangir. Growing up in such a family, I learned all about art, poetry, and how to manage a grand household. In 1607, when I was fourteen years old, I was betrothed, which means promised in marriage, to Prince Khurram. He was the emperor’s son, and I found him to be handsome and kind. It did not take long for us to fall in love.

Prince Khurram and I had to wait five long years before we could be married. Finally, on April 30th, 1612, our wedding day arrived. It was a magnificent celebration and one of the happiest days of my entire life. My husband loved me very deeply, and to show his affection, he gave me a new name: Mumtaz Mahal. It was a special name that meant 'the chosen one of the palace.' We were not just husband and wife; we were the closest of friends. I traveled with him on his journeys, and he trusted me so much that he shared his most important secrets with me. He even gave me the imperial seal, called the Muhr Uzah. This was a great honor and showed everyone how much he valued my judgment.

In the year 1628, a big change happened in our lives. My husband became the new emperor, and he was known to the world as Shah Jahan. This meant that I became the Empress of the vast and powerful Mughal Empire. It was a very important job, and I took my duties seriously. I was more than just the empress; I was also his most trusted advisor. I used my position to help people who were in need. I paid special attention to helping widows and orphans, making sure they had food to eat and a safe place to live. Over the years, Shah Jahan and I had a large family with fourteen children. Our life together was full of love and the great responsibility of leading an empire, and I was so proud to always be by his side.

My time as empress and a mother came to an end in 1631, when I passed away after the birth of our fourteenth child. I lived to be 38 years old. My husband, Shah Jahan, was overcome with sadness. He wanted the entire world to remember our great love story, so he decided to build the most beautiful tomb that anyone had ever seen for me. He gathered the finest white marble and precious jewels from all over the world for its construction. This magnificent building, which took more than 20 years to complete, is called the Taj Mahal. It still stands today in my home city of Agra, where millions of people visit it every year. It has become a famous symbol of love, and it is how my story is remembered all around the world.