MUMTAZ MAHAL (1593-1631)
Mumtaz Mahal was a Mughal empress. She was born Arzoomand Bano Begum, and was also called Khudsia Begum. She was married to Shah Jahan in 1612 and was his favourite wife. Mumtaz Mahal died in June 1631 in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, after giving birth to her fourteenth child, Shahzadi Gauhara Begum, and whilst on her deathbed, made her last wishes to her husband to erect a monument that would symbolize their love. The grief-stricken emperor went into secluded mourning along with the entire kingdom mourning the death of their beloved queen. Mumtaz was first buried in Jainabad, and a few years later her body was transferred to Agra.
He fulfilled her wishes though by constructing one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the magnificent Taj Mahal, whose grand splendor remains a memorable symbol of love and purity in the history of human civilization. The white-marble masterpiece monument in Agra took over 20 years to complete, and houses the remains of Mumtaz Mahal as her mausoleum, and more importantly, a tribute to their love.
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