Dara Shikoh

 🔆Dara Shikoh

✅ Why In News: Vice President calls Dara Shikoh as torchbearer of social harmony.

✅He also said that India had a glorious heritage of not only ‘tolerance’ for others’ views, but a unique culture of ‘engagement’ with all views – a culture of pluralism and syncretism.

✅He further said that this spirit of mutual respect was exemplified by Indian kings too – from the time of the great Asoka to the crown prince Dara Shikoh.

▪️About Dara Shikoh

✅He (1615-59) was the eldest son of Shah Jahan.

✅He is described as a “liberal Muslim” who tried to find commonalities between Hindu and Islamic traditions.

✅He is known as a pioneer of the academic movement for interfaith understanding in India.

✅He had a deep understanding and knowledge of major religions, particularly Islam and Hinduism.

✅He was inclined towards philosophy and mysticism over military pursuits in comparison to Aurangzeb.

✅In 1655, his father declared him the Crown Prince, but was defeated by Aurangzeb, his younger brother, in 1657 after Shah Jahan fell ill.

✅He was assassinated by Aurangzeb, in a bitter struggle for the throne on 30th August, 1659 when he was 44.

▪️Works: 

✅Connection between Hinduism and Islam : His most important works, Majma-ul-Bahrain (Mingling of Two Oceans) and Sirr-i-Akbar (Great Mystery), are devoted to the cause of establishing connections between Hinduism and Islam.

✅Promotion of Indian Culture: He acquired proficiency in Sanskrit and Persian, which enabled him to play a key role in popularising Indian culture and Hindu religious thought.

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