Mughal romances: When dancer Rana Dil’s love for Dara Shikoh was challenged by Aurangzeb
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Romances between Mughal princes and women of lower social standing were not unusual, yet marriage was a rare privilege. Emperors seldom permitted their heirs to marry dancers, allowing at most their inclusion as concubines within the harem. The tragic tale of Salim and Anarkali, crushed beneath Akbar’s wrath, remains a vivid illustration of this restriction. The love story of Dara Shikoh and Rana Dil met a similar fate, though in this instance, it was not imperial decree but the untimely death of Dara that brought an end to their romance.
Dara Shikoh, the eldest and beloved son of Shah Jahan, was heir-apparent to the Mughal throne, a poet by temperament, a Sufi in spirit, and a dreamer by nature. His marriage to Nadira Banu Begum, daughter of his paternal uncle Mirza, was filled with affection and harmony. Dara regarded Nadira not only as a devoted wife but also as a trusted friend, a gentle departure from the traditions of his forebears, who often kept many wives. As a token of his love, he gifted Nadira a precious Muraqqa, a collection of paintings and calligraphy. Several of its pages now rest in British museums, silent witnesses to a prince’s passion for art...