Dara Shukoh: the Faqir and Throne of Thorns

This expansive text on Dara Shukoh (1615-1659), crown prince and son of Shah Jahan, addresses a gaping vacuum in our history. While Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb that is, all the ‘great Mughals’—have received constant attention, Dara has largely been left out of public discourse. A scholar, philosopher, and a patron of the arts, Dara Shukoh was known for his deep interest in mysticism and his efforts to bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam. However, despite his intellectual prowess and progressive vision, Dara's life was marked by political turmoil, culminating in his tragic defeat and execution by his brother Aurangzeb. Through this book, Amit Ranjan explores Dara's enduring legacy, offering a nuanced perspective on a figure who might have changed the course of history had he ascended the throne, all in the hopes of answering the question: What could've been?