Talk:Dara Shikoh

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More information about this article... The following comments have been left for this page: I agree with Vaultair - his architectural achievements would be a worthwhile addition to an appreciation of the life of this widely loved prince. I think the whole "Mughal Crown Prince" section should be removed as it has nothing to do with Dara Shikoh's life. It also contains several unsubstantiated assertions and is marred by untranslated words and verses incomprehensible to an English speaker. The reduction of the power struggle between the Sikhs and Mughals to some kind of personal animosity between Aurangzeb and Guru Gobind, or worse to a religious clash, is simplistic in the extreme. Both Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind served under Mughal military command at different times and Aurangzeb only attacked Anandpur in 1705 at the behest of the Hindu rajas of the Sivalik hills. Guru Gobind also enjoyed cordial relations with Aurangzeb's son Bahadur Shah. The sikh-history.com website [1] points out that "The epistle Zafarnamah sent by Guru Gobind Singh from Dina seems to have touched the heart of Emperor Aurungzeb. He forthwith invited him for a meeting. According to Ahkam-i-Alamgiri, the Emperor had a letter written to the deputy governor of Lahore, Munim Khan, to conciliate the Guru and make the required arrangements for his journey to the Deccan." By all means let us celebrate the life of the great humanitarian Dara Shikoh, but not at the expense of simplistic chauvinistic interpretations of complex historical phenomena. Itihasi 22:40, 12 May 2007 (UTC) Regarding his achievements, it might be worthwhile to include some information on the various architectural monuments that he personally commissioned, like Pari Mahal and Char Chinar in the modern city of Srinagar. If this is acceptable, I'd like to edit the article to include a number of such references, all sooourced from historiography. I probably shouldn't say this, but I think he derserves it! Vaultaiir 17:11, 10 May 2007 (UTC) (edit)

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Regarding his other achievements, his architectural contributions seem to find no mention in the article. If its possible, adding some detail regarding say, Char Chinar or Pari mahal in Srinagar, both of which he commisioned, would be worthwhile. I shouldn't say this, but I think he derserves it! Vaultaiir 17:16, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree with Vaultair - his architectural achievements would be a worthwhile addition to an appreciation of the life of this widely loved prince.

I think the whole "Mughal Crown Prince" section should be removed as it has nothing to do with Dara Shikoh's life. It also contains several unsubstantiated assertions and is marred by untranslated words and verses incomprehensible to an English speaker. The reduction of the power struggle between the Sikhs and Mughals to some kind of personal animosity between Aurangzeb and Guru Gobind, or worse to a religious clash, is simplistic in the extreme. Both Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind served under Mughal military command at different times and Aurangzeb only attacked Anandpur in 1705 at the behest of the Hindu rajas of the Sivalik hills. Guru Gobind also enjoyed cordial relations with Aurangzeb's son Bahadur Shah.

The sikh-history.com website [2] points out that

"The epistle Zafarnamah sent by Guru Gobind Singh from Dina seems to have touched the heart of Emperor Aurungzeb. He forthwith invited him for a meeting. According to Ahkam-i-Alamgiri, the Emperor had a letter written to the deputy governor of Lahore, Munim Khan, to conciliate the Guru and make the required arrangements for his journey to the Deccan."

By all means let us celebrate the life of the great humanitarian Dara Shikoh, but not at the expense of simplistic chauvinistic interpretations of complex historical phenomena.

Itihasi 23:52, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

According to the contemporary chronicler Bernier [3], it was not Aurangzeb but the slave Nazir who beheaded Dara. Bernier continues:

The head was instantly carried to Aureng-Zebe, who commanded that it should be placed in a dish, and that water should be brought. The blood was then washed from the face, and when it could no longer be doubted [*103*] that it was indeed the head of Dara, he shed tears, and said, 'Ai Bad-bakht ["Bed-bakt"]! Ah wretched one! let this shocking sight no more offend my eyes, but take away the head, and let it be buried in Humayun's tomb.

This also seems to be the opinion of another contemporary chronicler and champion of Dara Shikoh, Niccolo Manucci. [4]

Can anyone shed further light on this?

--Itihasi 11:08, 15 May 2007 (UTC)