Dara Shikoh UPSC

Dara Shikoh | UPSC | Why In The News ?

The Ministry of Culture recently set up a seven-member panel of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to locate the grave of the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh (1615-59).

• He is believed to be buried somewhere in the Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi, one of around 140 graves of the Mughal clan.
• Dara Shikoh is described as “one of the greatest free thinkers of that time”.

Who was Dara Shikoh?

• He was the eldest son of Shah Jahan.
• His father became the king when he was 12 years old.
• In 1633, he married his cousin Nadira Banu and did not marry ever again.
• In 1652, he became the governor of Kabul and Multan.
• He was perhaps not as successful a military man as much as a philosopher and intellectual.
• He was killed after losing the war of succession against his brother Aurangzeb.
• He is described as a “liberal Muslim” who tried to find commonalities between Hindu and Islamic traditions.

  

• He translated into Persian the Bhagavad Gita as well as 52 Upanishads.
• Dara Shikoh realised the greatness of the Upanishads and translated them, which were earlier known only to a few upper caste Hindus.
• Dara Shikoh was killed after losing the war of succession against his brother Aurangzeb.
• He is believed to be buried somewhere in the Humayun’s Tomb complex in Delhi, one of around 140 graves of the Mughal clan.

Titles Given To DaraShikoh :

• Shahzada-e-Buland Iqbal (“Prince of High Fortune”) was given to him by his father Shah Jahan
• The other title was, ‘Shah-e-Buland Iqbal (“King of High Fortune”)’

Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb

• Some historians believe that if DaraShikoh were to rule the Mughal throne instead of Aurangzeb, thousands of people killed in religious conflict could have been saved.
• Avik Chanda’s book ‘Dara Shikoh, The Man Who Wooded King’ states that ‘Dara Shikoh’s personality was very versatile.
• He was a thinker, scholar, Sufi and a man with a deep sense of art.
• But at the same time he was an indifferent administrator and ineffective on the battlefield.
• While Shah Jahan kept Dara Shikoh away from military campaigns, Aurangzeb was given the command of a large military campaign at the age of 16.

About Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi:

• This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. 
• Commissioned by Humayun’s first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum (also known as Haji Begum). 
• Humayun’s garden-tomb is an example of the charbagh (a four quadrant garden with the four rivers of Quranic paradise represented), with pools joined by channels. 
• It is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members. 
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Read also – Bhai Taru Singh UPSC

Source : Indian Express