JAHANGIR

Jahangir alias Saleem (31.8.1569 – 28.10.1627) was the son of Akbar, the Mogul emperor and Mariam Zamani (niece of Bihari Mall Kachhwaha of Jaipur). He succeeded his father as the emperor of the Indian sub-continent, on October 24, 1605. It was during his reign that Captain Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe, the representatives of the East India Company of England, came to the sub-continent, in the name of trade, and later, wrested the empire of the sub-continent. In comparison to his father (Akbar), Jahangir was a fanatic ruler. He ordered the execution of Guru Arjan Sahib, in 1606. He imprisoned Guru Hargobind Sahib at Gwalior Fort prison. Later, he became friendly to Guru Sahib. When Khusro, his son, rebelled, he tortured him to death. He killed an army general Sher Afghan Khan, to marry the latter’s wife Nur Jahan (Jahangir’s former beloved). Nur Jahan became almost super-ruler of the kingdom of Jahangir. Jahangir was fond of hunting and alcohol. According to his own statement (Tuzak-i-Jahangiri), he used to drink 20 glasses of whisky every day. Besides, he used to eat opium too. Jahangir died of asthma.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)