Emperor Jahangir and the Transformation of Art – 9

Emperor Jahangir’s main priorities were power, public welfare, and justice. To establish a lasting legacy of good governance, he announced several measures: the construction of 50,000 rest houses, the digging of 100,000 wells and reservoirs, an end to opening merchants’ bundles for tax collection, recognition of farmers’ and merchants’ accounts, and a six-month waiver of royal taxes. He also ordered doctors to be appointed at his own expense to treat the sick and underprivileged and prohibited the sale of wine. For six months, food was distributed daily among the poor.

To ensure that the oppressed could seek justice directly, Jahangir maintained a bell outside his palace. Anyone who had suffered injustice could pull its string, and the emperor himself would hear the complaint. He regularly spent considerable time listening to his subjects and pledged to administer equal justice to rich and poor alike. One day, while Jahangir was occupied with state affairs, a bell suddenly rang beside the palace balcony. Hearing it, he ordered a courtier, “Go outside and find out which oppressed person is ringing the bell. Bring before me anyone who has been wronged.”

The courtier found an elderly Hindu woman and brought her before the emperor. She pleaded, “Your Majesty, my son serves in your army. I live near the capital, but a rogue attacks my home every night and attempts to violate my daughter-in-law’s honour. I seek protection for her.” Jahangir remained silent for a moment. The elderly woman, angered by his silence, confronted him: “Jahangir, why have you gone silent after hearing my complaint? If you fail to protect my daughter-in-law’s honour, I will hold you accountable before your Creator. If she cannot live in your kingdom with her honour intact, make arrangements for us to leave within two days.”