Nawab Bai
| Nawab Bai | |||||
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| Born | ca. 1620 Rajauri, Kashmir |
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| Died | October/November 1691 Delhi, India |
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| Spouse | Aurangzeb | ||||
| Issue | Muhammad Sultan Bahadur Shah I |
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| House | House of Rajauri (by birth) House of Timurid (by marriage) |
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| Father | Raja Tajuddin Khan of Rajauri | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
Rahmat-un-Nisa (1620 – October/November 1691[1]), better known by her title Nawab Bai, was the second wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Early years
Born Raj Mahal in 1620, Nawab Bai was the daughter of Raja Tajuddin Khan of the Rajauri State in Kashmir, and belonged to the Jarral Muslim Rajput dynasty, coming of the Rajput clan. She married the Prince Aurangzeb, later the emperor of India. She was also the mother of Bahadur Shah I, the Mughal emperor who succeeded Aurangzeb.
Contributions
Nawab Bai built a palace (serai) at Fardapur at the foot of the Fardapur pass and also founded Baijipura, a suburb of Aurangabad. The misconduct of her sons, Muhammad Sultan and Muazzam, who disobeyed the Emperor under the influence of evil counselors, embittered her latter life. Her advice and even personal entreaty had no effect on Muazzam, who was at last placed under arrest.
Death
Nawab Bai seems to have lost her charms and her husband's favor rather early in life. She ended her days some time before the middle of 1691 at Delhi, after many years of separation from her husband and sons.
Progeny
Together they had two sons and a daughter:
- Muhammad Sultan (29 December 1639 - 14 December 1676)
- Bahadur Shah I, Emperor of the Mughal Empire;
- Shahzadi Badr un-nisa Begum (27 November 1647 - 9 April 1670).
