A poet who was imprisoned by his own father Aurangzeb
Zeb-un-Nissa was a Mughal princess and a gifted poet who wrote under the pseudonym 'Makhfi', meaning 'hidden one'
Born on February 15, 1638, she was the eldest child of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and his chief consort, Dilras Banu Begum, a princess from the Safavid dynasty of Persia
Despite being Aurangzeb's favorite daughter and receiving an excellent education, she faced harsh restrictions due to her father's conservative views on poetry and royalty
Zeb-un-Nissa was proficient in Persian, Urdu, and Arabic poetry, contributing significantly to the literary world despite the ban on singing and poetry by Aurangzeb
Her works were translated into English in 1913 and 1944, and manuscripts of her poems are held in prestigious libraries worldwide
The reasons for her imprisonment by Aurangzeb are debated, including her support for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, her poetry writing, and her involvement in political affairs
Zeb-un-Nissa was initially betrothed to Dara Shikoh's son, which was later called off by Aurangzeb, who executed her betrothed, contributing to her rebellious nature
Her rumoured affair with Akil Khan Raz, the Governor of Lahore, is also suggested as a cause for her imprisonment
Aurangzeb imprisoned Zeb-un-Nissa in the Salimgarh Fort for the last 20 years of her life, where she died possibly in 1701 or 1702, at the age of early 60s
Despite her tragic life of restrictions and captivity, Zeb-un-Nissa's poetry immortalizes her legacy, offering a glimpse into her profound and mystical mind