Mirza Jawan Bakht (born 1749)

Mirza Jawan Bakht (1749 – 1788), also known as Jahandar Shah, was a Mughal prince. He was the eldest son of Emperor Shah Alam II and a claimant to the Mughal throne during a period of intense political instability in the late 18th century.

Jawan Bakht’s life was marked by attempts to assert Mughal authority against the rising power of the Maratha Confederacy, the British East India Company, and various regional powers. He was often involved in political intrigues and military campaigns aimed at consolidating his father's, and later his own, power.

He attempted to form alliances to counter the influence of Mahadji Shinde, a powerful Maratha leader who exerted considerable control over Shah Alam II and the Mughal court in Delhi. These efforts often proved unsuccessful due to the fragmented nature of Indian politics at the time.

Jawan Bakht’s ambition and involvement in power struggles ultimately led to his imprisonment and subsequent death in 1788. His life reflects the decline of the Mughal Empire and the complex political landscape of 18th-century India.