The Mughal court was a microcosm of the contemporary Indian society. In these courts, emperors forged political alliances, patronised the arts and constructed edifices worthy of everlasting glory. But the Mughals weren’t mere political masters who shrewdly imposed their rule. They were also genuinely interested in the country’s rich past, its texts, and traditions.
During Akbar’s time, his court chronicler, Abul Fazl, translated texts like the Mahabharata and Ramayana into Persian. Jahangir considered Vedanta as “the science of Sufism.” The Persian texts were then passed down to the British who found it easier to translate them into English. Much like the Sanskrit texts which found their way to Europe via the Arabs, the Mughals acted as major conduits for cultural breakthroughs.
Perhaps the greatest Mughal patron of arts, letters, and fine living was Shah Jahan. His grand architectural vision led to the creation of the hallowed walled city of Shahjahanabad – what is Old Delhi today. In his court, music, dance and poetry flowed like the river Yamuna. It was, therefore, not a surprise that Shah Jahan’s eldest and favourite son, Dara Shikoh, would come to exhibit many of his father’s traits.
Ira Mukhoty, the author of Daughters of the Sun, writes about how Dara Shikoh grew into a young man with incredible talent and charisma. Living close to his doting father, the prince had his haveli on the banks of the river Yamuna. When his brother Aurangzeb was fighting his battles in the Deccan, away from the prying eyes of the court, Dara grew up in a cocoon of fine living.
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