Of Love And Empire: In The Shadow Of The Throne – Power, Patriarchy, And The Unspoken Bond Between EMPEROR And Daughter
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64252/nmjzeg48Abstract
This article offers a critical examination of the intricate father-daughter relationship between Emperor Shah Jahan and Princess Jahanara Begum, as depicted in Indu Sundaresan’s historical novel Shadow Princess (2010). Situated at the volatile confluence of profound personal affection, devastating loss, and high-stakes imperial politics, their bond transcends simple filial devotion, revealing a complex web of emotional interdependence and socio-political entanglement within the rigidly patriarchal Mughal court. Employing feminist theory, particularly frameworks concerning gender performativity and agency under patriarchy, alongside the interpretative lens of historical fiction, this study argues that Jahanara’s role is fundamentally redefined. She emerges not merely as a supportive daughter but as a subtle yet potent political agent whose strategic choices, unwavering loyalty, and assertion of authority within prescribed limitations actively challenge and reshape conventional understandings of female power and influence within the imperial framework.