The following day of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Dara Shukoh: Cultural Renewal and Religious Tolerance”, which was held at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and organized by the Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the Central Asian Educational Center, continued with session meetings.
Esteemed professors and teachers from renowned universities in India, as well as representatives from scientific communities in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, were present at the event.
The presentations delivered by our fellow countrymen Khulkar Khamrayeva on “Shared Aspects in Indian and Uzbek Children’s Dance Art”, Shakhodat Isakhanova, a member of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan, on “The Representation of Dara Shukoh in Uzbek Theaters”, and poetess Nadira Zairova on “Dara Shukoh’s Contribution to the Development of Indian Culture” left a lasting impression.
According to Indian actor and director Maharaj Krishen Raina, “Dara Shukoh is the eldest son of the ruler of the Baburid dynasty, Shah Jahan.” “He was named Dara by his father in honor of the Persian king Darius. Due to the infrequency of short consonants in the Persian language, Dara was also given the name Shukoh, which means “majestic.”
Unlike his younger brother Aurangzeb, Prince Dara had a more progressive mindset. He was a patron of the arts and literature and wrote works such as “Majma-ul-Bahrain” (“The Confluence of the Two Seas”) and “Sirr-i-Akbar” (“The Great Mystery”).
Bollywood has produced films about Shukoh, and awards have been established in his name. As a representative of the Baburid dynasty, Dara Shukoh has long been a symbol of unity in India.
Utkir Alimov, UzA
Delhi, India