Dara Shikoh
Dara Shikoh | |||||
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Humayun’s Tomb | |||||
Spouse | |||||
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House | House of Babur | ||||
Dynasty | Timurid dynasty | ||||
Father | Shah Jahan | ||||
Mother | Mumtaz Mahal | ||||
Religion | Sunni Islam |
Dara Shikoh, also known as Dara Shukoh, (20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659)
Dara was a liberal-minded unorthodox
Early life
Muhammad Dara Shikoh was born on 11 March 1615[2] in Ajmer, Rajasthan.[11] He was the first son and third child of Prince Shahib-ud-din Muhammad Khurram and his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal.[12] The prince was named by his father.[13] 'Dara' means owner of wealth or star in Persian while the second part of the prince's name is commonly spelled in two ways: Shikoh (terror) or Shukoh (majesty or grandeur).[14] Thus, Dara's full name can be translated as "Of the Terror of Darius" or "Of the Grandeur of Darius", respectively.[14] Historian Ebba Koch favours 'Shukoh'.[14]
Dara Shikoh had thirteen siblings of whom six survived to adulthood:
In October 1627,[18] Dara's grandfather Emperor Jahangir died, and his father ascended the throne in January 1628 taking the regnal name 'Shah Jahan'.[19] In 1633, Dara was appointed as the Vali-ahad (heir-apparent) to his father.[20] He, along with his older sister Jahanara, were Shah Jahan's favourite children.[21]
Marriage
During the life time of his mother Mumtaz Mahal, Dara Shikoh was betrothed to his half-cousin, Princess
A great patron of the arts, Dara ordered for the compilation of some refined artwork into an album which is now famous by the name of 'Dara Shikhoh Album.'[24] This album was presented by Dara to his "dearest intimate friend" Nadira in 1641.[25] Dara had at least two concubines, Gul Safeh (also known as Rana Dil) and Udaipuri Mahal (a Georgian or Armenian slave girl).[26] Udaipuri later became a part of Aurangzeb's harem after her master's defeat.[27]
Military service
As was common for all Mughal sons, Dara Shikoh was appointed as a military commander at an early age, receiving an appointment as commander of 12,000-foot and 6,000 horse in October 1633[citation needed][unreliable source?]. He received successive promotions, being promoted to commander of 12,000-foot and 7,000 horse on 20 March 1636, to 15,000-foot and 9,000 horse on 24 August 1637, to 10,000 horse on 19 March 1638, to 20,000-foot and 10,000 horse on 24 January 1639, and to 15,000 horse on 21 January 1642.
On 10 September 1642, Shah Jahan formally confirmed Dara Shikoh as his heir, granting him the title of Shahzada-e-Buland Iqbal ("Prince of High Fortune") and promoting him to command of 20,000-foot and 20,000 horse.[
As his father's health began to decline, Dara Shikoh received a series of increasingly prominent commands. He was appointed Governor of Multan and Kabul on 16 August 1652, and was raised to the title of Shah-e-Buland Iqbal ("King of High Fortune") on 15 February 1655.[citation needed] He was promoted to command of 40,000-foot and 20,000 horse on 21 January 1656, and to command of 50,000-foot and 40,000 horse on 16 September 1657.[citation needed]
The struggle for succession
On 6 September 1657, the illness of emperor Shah Jahan triggered a desperate struggle for power among the four Mughal princes, though realistically only Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb had a chance of emerging victorious.
At the end of 1657, Dara Shikoh was appointed Governor of the province of
Despite strong support from Shah Jahan, who had recovered enough from his illness to remain a strong factor in the struggle for supremacy, and the victory of his army led by his eldest son Sulaiman Shikoh over Shah Shuja in the battle of Bahadurpur on 14 February 1658, Dara Shikoh was defeated by Aurangzeb and Murad during the Battle of Samugarh, 13 km from Agra on 30 May 1658. Subsequently, Aurangzeb took over Agra fort and deposed emperor Shah Jahan on 8 June 1658.[citation needed]
Death and aftermath
After the defeat, Dara Shikoh retreated from Agra to Delhi and thence to Lahore. His next destination was
Dara Shikoh was brought to Delhi, placed on a filthy elephant and paraded through the streets of the capital in chains.[35][36] Dara Shikoh's fate was decided by the political threat he posed as a prince popular with the common people – a convocation of nobles and clergy, called by Aurangzeb in response to the perceived danger of insurrection in Delhi, declared him a threat to the public peace and an apostate from Islam. He was assassinated by four of Aurangzeb's henchmen in front of his terrified son on the night of 30 August 1659 (9 September Gregorian). After death the remains of Dara Shikoh were buried in an unidentified grave in Humayun's tomb in Delhi.[37][38] On 26 February 2020 the government of India through Archaeological Survey of India decided to find the burial spot of Dara Shikoh from the 140 graves in 120 chambers inside Humayun's Tomb. It is considered a difficult task as none of the graves are identified or have inscriptions.[39]
Niccolao Manucci, the Venetian traveler who worked in the Mughal court, has written down the details of Dara Shikoh's death. According to him, upon Dara's capture, Aurangzeb ordered his men to have his head brought up to him and he inspected it thoroughly to ensure that it was Dara indeed. He then further mutilated the head with his sword three times. After which, he ordered the head to be put in a box and presented to his ailing father, Shah Jahan, with clear instructions to be delivered only when the old King sat for his dinner in his prison. The guards were also instructed to inform Shah Jahan that, "King Aurangzeb, your son, sends this plate to let him (Shah Jahan) see that he does not forget him". Shah Jahan instantly became happy (not knowing what was in store in the box) and uttered, “ Blessed be God that my son still remembers me". Upon opening the box, Shah Jahan became horrified and fell unconscious.[40]
Intellectual pursuits
Dara Shikoh is widely renowned
Dara Shikoh subsequently developed a friendship with the seventh Sikh Guru,
In 1006 A.H, the prince had commissioned a translation of
The library established by Dara Shikoh still exists on the grounds of
Patron of arts
He was also a patron of fine arts, music and dancing, a trait frowned upon by his younger sibling Muhiuddin, later the Emperor Aurangzeb. The 'Dara Shikoh' is a collection of paintings and calligraphy assembled from the 1630s until his death. It was presented to his wife
Dara Shikoh is also credited with the commissioning of several exquisite, still extant, examples of Mughal architecture – among them the
In popular culture
- The issues surrounding Dara Shikoh's impeachment and execution are used to explore contradictory interpretations of Islam in a 2008 play, Akbar S. Ahmed.[61]
- He is also the subject of a 2010 play called Dara Shikoh, written and directed by Ajoka Theatre Group in Pakistan.[62]
- Dara Shikoh is the subject of the 2007 play Dara Shikoh, written by Danish Iqbal and staged by, among others, the director M S Sathyu in 2008.[63]
- He is also a character played by Vaquar Sheikh in the 2005 Bollywood film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, directed by Akbar Khan.
- Dara Shikoh is the name of the protagonist of Mohsin Hamid's 2000 novel Moth Smoke, which reimagines the story of his trial unfolding in contemporary Pakistan.[64]
- The television series Upanishad Ganga had two episodes titled "Veda – The Source of Dharma 1" and "Veda – The Source of Dharma 2", featuring Dara Shikoh played by actor Zakir Hussain.[65]
- Gopalkrishna Gandhi wrote a play in verse titled Dara Shukoh on his life.[66]
- Bengali Writer Shyamal Gangapadhyay wrote a novel on his life Shahjada Dara Shikoh which received Sahitya Academy Award in 1993.[67]
- Assamese writer and politician, Omeo Kumar Das wrote a book called Dara Shikoh: Jeevan O Sadhana.
- Uzbek writer Hamid Ismailov wrote a novel called A Poet and Bin-Laden the second part of which devoted to the life of Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb.
- An Assamese novel, Kalantarat Shahzada Dara Shikoh, was written by author Nagen Goswami.[citation needed]
- "Dara Shikoh" – a poem by poet Abhay K published in 2014 lamented the fact that there were no streets named after Dara.[68]
- New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) changed Dalhousie Road's name to Dara Shikoh Road on 6 February 2017.[69]
- In 2016 Bharatvarsh TV series, Rohit Purohitplayed the role of Dara Shikoh.
- In The 2017 novel 1636: Mission to the Mughals he is one of the central characters.
- Ranveer Singh has been cast as Dara Shikoh in the upcoming Karan Johar directorial Takht.
- Dara Shikoh award awarded by Indo-Iranian society. The award includes a sum of Rs. 1 lakh, a shawl and citation. Sheila Dixitformer Delhi CM (1998–2013) was a recipient in 2010.
Governorship
Ancestry
Ancestors of Dara Shikoh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Works
This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2013) |
- Writings on Sufism and the lives of awliya(Muslim saints):
- Safinat ul- Awliya
- Sakinat ul-Awliya
- Risaala-i Haq Numa
- Tariqat ul-Haqiqat
- Hasanaat ul-'Aarifin
- Iksir-i 'Azam (Diwan-e-Dara Shikoh)
- Writings of a philosophical and metaphysical nature:
- Majma-ul-Bahrain (The Mingling of Two Oceans)[80]
- So’aal o Jawaab bain-e-Laal Daas wa Dara Shikoh (also called Mukaalama-i Baba Laal Daas wa Dara Shikoh)
- Sirr-e-Akbar (The Great Secret, his translation of the Upanishads in Persian)[81]
- Persian translations of the Yoga Vasishta and Bhagavad Gita.
See also
- Majma-ul-Bahrain
- Sirr-i-Akbar
- Mughal–Safavid War (1649–1653)
- Akbar
- Nur Jahan
References
- ^ Mughal title Mirza, the title of Mirza and not Khan or Padshah, which were the titles of the Mongol rulers.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-512718-8.
- ^ Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1972). Sir Jadunath Sarkar birth centenary commemoration volume: English translation of Tarikh-i-dilkasha (Memoirs of Bhimsen relating to Aurangzib's Deccan campaigns). Dept. of Archives, Maharashtra. p. 28.
- ^ Awrangābādī, Shāhnavāz Khān; Shāhnavāz, ʻAbd al-Ḥayy ibn; Prashad, Baini (1952). The Maāthir-ul-umarā: being biographies of the Muhammādan and Hindu officers of the Timurid sovereigns of India from 1500 to about 1780 A.D. Asiatic Society. p. 684.
- ISBN 978-1-59884-901-1.
- ISBN 9780195624892.
- ^ Mukhoty, Ira. "Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh's fight for the throne was entwined with the rivalry of their two sisters". Scroll.in.
- ISBN 0-7538-1758-6.p.272
"Poor Dara Shikoh!....thy generous heart and enlightened mind had reigned over this vast empire, and made it, perchance, the garden it deserves to be made". William Sleeman (1844), E-text of Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official - ^ Dara Shikoh Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ISBN 0-415-96690-6. Page 195-196.
- ISBN 9788120710153.
- ISBN 9788121002417.
- ISBN 9780195624892.
- ^ ISBN 9789998272521.
- ^ a b Sarker (2007, p. 187)
- ^ ISBN 978-1-135-92414-0.
- ^ Ebrahim & Khodaverdian 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-86189-185-3.
jahangir october 1627.
- ISBN 9789352863525.
- ^ Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1972). Sir Jadunath Sarkar birth centenary commemoration volume: English translation of Tarikh-i-dilkasha (Memoirs of Bhimsen relating to Aurangzib's Deccan campaigns). Dept. of Archives, Maharashtra. p. 12.
- ISBN 9789998272521.
- ^ a b Sarker (2007, p. 80)
- ^ ISBN 9788120802254.
- ISBN 9789998272521.
- ISBN 9788126518777.
- ISBN 978-0-19-579837-1.
- ISBN 9788185179032.
- OCLC 1012384466.
- ^ "Dara Shikuh with his army". 17th Century Mughals & Marathas. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ISBN 81-250-0333-9.
- ^ Eraly, The Mighal Throne : The Saga of India's Great Emperors, cited above, page 364.
- ISBN 9788120802254– via Google Books.
- ^ Francois Bernier Travels in the Mogul Empire, AD 1656–1668.
- ISBN 9788120611696– via Google Books.
- ^ Chakravarty, Ipsita. "Bad Muslim, good Muslim: Out with Aurangzeb, in with Dara Shikoh". Scroll.in.
- ^ "The captive heir to the richest throne in the world, the favourite and pampered son of the most magnificent of the Great Mughals, was now clad in a travel-tainted dress of the coarsest cloth, with a dark dingy-coloured turban, such as only the poorest wear, on his head, and no necklace or jewel adorning his person." Sarkar, Jadunath (1962). A Short History of Aurangzib, 1618–1707. Calcutta: M. C. Sarkar and Sons. p. 78.
- ISBN 978-81-208-0225-4.
- ^ Sarkar, Jadunath (9 September 1947). "Maasir-i- Alamgiri (1947)" – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Believed to be Inside Humayun's Tomb, Dara Shikoh's Burial Site Set to Make Experts' Panel 'Walk in Dark'". 21 February 2020.
- ISBN 817156058X.
- ^ The Hindu see for example this article in The Hindu.
- ^ Katz, N. (2000) 'The Identity of a Mystic: The Case of Sa'id Sarmad, a Jewish-Yogi-Sufi Courtier of the Mughals in: Numen 47: 142–160.
- ISBN 1-86189-185-7. Page 135.
- ^ Khalid, Haroon. "Lahore's iconic mosque stood witness to two historic moments where tolerance gave way to brutality". Scroll.in.
- ISBN 9780374105839.
- ^ Gyani Brahma Singh 'Brahma', Dara Shikoh – The Prince who turned Sufi in The Sikh Review[permanent dead link]"the reference in Al Qur’an to the hidden books – ummaukund-Kitab – was to the Upanishads, because they contain the essence of unity and they are the secrets which had to be kept hidden, the most ancient books."
- ^ Arora, Nadeem Naqvisanjeev (20 March 2015). "Prince of peace". The Hindu.
- ^ "Emperor's old clothes". Hindustan Times. 12 April 2007.
- ^ "Majma'-ul-bahrain: Or, the mingling of the two oceans". 1929.
- ^ Juan R.I. Cole in Iran and the surrounding world by Nikki R. Keddie, Rudolph P. Matthee, 2002, pp. 22–23
- Govt. of Delhi.
- ^ Nath, Damini (8 February 2017). "Battling time, Dara Shikoh's Library cries out for help". The Hindu.
- ^ Dara Shikoh album British Library.
- ^ Losty, J P (July 2016). "Ascetics and Yogis in Indian Painting: The Mughal and Deccani Tradition": 14.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Nadira Banu's tomb A view of Nadira Banu's tomb
- ^ Mazar Hazrat Mian Mir Archived 2 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine entertaining description of the monument and its history
- ^ Dara Shikoh Library Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine description of Dara Shikoh library
- ^ "Ancient Monuments of Kashmir: Plate XII". Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Google Image Result for lh4.ggpht.com/_w4GEiBHJ-rc/R_oNe0nuZNI/AAAAAAAAQWI/P08iBhPrYts/Pari+Mahal.jpg". google.co.uk.[permanent dead link]
- ^ ‘The Trial of Dara Shikoh’ – A Play in Three Acts Text of the play with an Introduction by the author.
- ISBN 978-0-86356-435-2, ‘The Trial of Dara Shikoh’ – A Thought-Provoking Play Archived 15 August 2009 at the Wayback MachineA review of the play.
- ^ Ajoka’s Dara – an ancient story of modern day proportions Archived 14 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Daily Times (Pakistan), 19 April 2010
- ^ "For king and country". The Hindu. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008.
- ^ Hamid, Mohsin. (2000). Moth Smoke. p. 247.
- ^ "Episode-guide". upanishadganga.com. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Dara Shukoh". Goodreads. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ^ "Movie Mogul, Maybe". outlookindia.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ Dara Shikoh and other poems The Caravan, 1 May 2014
- ^ "Dalhousie Road renamed after Dara Shikoh: Why Hindutva right wingers favour a Mughal prince". 7 February 2017.
- ^ Kobita Sarker, Shah Jahan and his paradise on earth: the story of Shah Jahan's creations in Agra and Shahjahanabad in the golden days of the Mughals (2007), p. 187
- ^ Jl Mehta, Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India (1986), p. 418
- ^ Mehta (1986, p. 418)
- ^ a b Thackeray & Findling (2012, p. 254)
- ^ a b Mehta (1986, p. 374)
- ^ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). Royal Mughal Ladies and Their Contributions. p. 128.
- ^ Mukherjee (2001, p. 128)
- ^ Subhash Parihar, Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture (1999), p. 149
- ^ Shujauddin, Mohammad; Shujauddin, Razia (1967). The Life and Times of Noor Jahan. Caravan Book House. p. 1.
- ^ Ahmad, Moin-ud-din (1924). The Taj and Its Environments: With 8 Illus. from Photos., 1 Map, and 4 Plans. R. G. Bansal. p. 101.
- ^ MAJMA' UL BAHARAIN or The Mingling of Two Oceans, by Prince Muhammad Dara Shikoh, Edited in the Original Persian with English Translation, notes & variants by M.Mahfuz-ul-Haq, published by The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, Bibliotheca Indica Series no. 246, 1st. published 1929. See also this Archived 9 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine book review by Yoginder Sikand, indianmuslims.in.
- ^ See the section on his Intellectual Pursuits.
Bibliography
- Ebrahim, Alireza; Khodaverdian, Shahram (2018). "Dārā Shukūh". In ISSN 1875-9831.
- ISBN 0753817586.
- Hansen, Waldemar [1986]. The Peacock Throne: The Drama of Mogul India. Orient Book Distributors, New Delhi.
- Mahajan, V.D. (1978). History of Medieval India. S. Chand.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1984). A History of Jaipur. Orient Longman, New Delhi.
- Sarkar, Jadunath (1962). A Short History of Aurangzib, 1618–1707. M. C. Sarkar and Sons, Calcutta.
- Sarker, Kobita (2007). Shah Jahan and his paradise on earth: the story of Shah Jahan's creations in Agra and Shahjahanabad in the golden days of the Mughals. K.P. Bagchi & Co. ISBN 9788170743002.
External links
- Bernier, Francois Travels in the Mogul Empire, AD 1656–1668
- Gyani Brahma Singh, Dara Shikoh – The Prince who turned Sufi[permanent dead link] in The Sikh Review
- Manucci, Niccolo Storia de Mogor or Mogul Stories''
- Sleeman, William (1844), E-text of Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official
- Srikand, Yoginder Dara Shikoh's Quest for Spiritual Unity
- Dara Shikoh Library
- The Dara Shikoh Album British Museum Online Gallery
- Majmaul Bahrain by Dara Shikoh English translation with original Persian text [1] Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine