Gulbadan Begum: The first Mughal princess to embark on Hajj pilgrimage In 1576, Gulbadan Begum, daughter of Mughal Emperor Babur and sister of Humayun, became the first Mughal princess to undertake the sacred Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. At 53, she led a cohort of 11 royal women on the journey, defying conventions and showcasing her bravery, kindness, and rebellion. Born in Kabul in 1523, Gulbadan grew up surrounded by strong women and experienced displacement and movement due to her father's military campaigns, shaping her resilience and wanderlust. As she...