Dara Shukoh: The Man Who would be king

by Avik Chanda

Dara Shukoh - the emperor Shah Jahan's favourite son, and heir-apparent to the Mughal throne prior to being defeated by Aurangzib - has sometimes been portrayed as an effete prince, incompetent in military and administrative matters. But his tolerance towards other faiths, and the myths and anecdotes surrounding him, continue to fuel the popular imagination. Even today, over 350 years after his death, the debate rages on: if this 'good' Mughal had ascended the throne instead of his pugnacious younger brother, how would that have changed the course of Indian history? Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King brings to life the story of this enigmatic Mughal prince. Rich in historical detail and psychological insight, it brilliantly recreates a bygone age, and presents an empathetic and engaging portrait of the crown prince who was, in many ways, clearly ahead of his times.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, India, Biography

360 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2019

About the author

Avik Chanda holds degrees in economics from Kolkata's Presidency College and the Delhi School of Economics. With two decades of global Big 4 Consulting experience, he is a business adviser, entrepreneur, trainer and a speaker at the Outstanding Speaker's Bureau. He has published two poetry collections, Jokhon Bideshe, in Bengali (Protibhash, 2006) and Footnotes (Shearsman, 2008), besides a novel, Anchor (HarperCollins, 2015). His acclaimed business book, From Command To Empathy: Using EQ in the Age of Disruption (HarperCollins, 2017), co-authored with Suman Ghose, was featured in 2018 in Amazon India's Best Reads, under 'Business, Strategy and Management'.

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his tolerance and sincere attempt at understanding & fostering harmony between different faiths during Mughal rule – Dara Shukoh holds respect among most Indians. It is also difficult to refer to Dara Shukoh, without also mentioning Aurangzib. So, this book is as much about Aurangzib, as it is about Dara Shukoh. Though there is some degree of disagreement some have with the dominant leftist historians writing of history, there has been agreement among most Indian historians that even by the standards of past eras, Aurangzib was an extremely cruel bigot. This has held, is backed by events, and is also in line with the rich oral tradition of story-telling India has had till just about a generation or two back. But then history is very much hostage to the ideology of the writers. There are a few exceptions to this viewpoint including by fundamentalists and also a few others who claim many decisions of Aurangzib as being only political. There are also some largely nonsensical, insensitive & repulsive narratives recently claiming Aurangzib could have been much worse had he wanted to – well so could any other tyrant in history I suppose.

This book is very balanced and is insightful about the power struggles among Shah Jahan’s sons. The coverage starts right from Shah Jahan taking over the empire from Jahangir with descriptions of the early life of his children – Dara, Aurangzib, Murad, Shuja, Jahanara & Raushanara. Dara, since the beginning was Shah Jahan’s favourite child. While brave, his true interest seemed to lie in exploring the inner self of man rather than expanding or administering the empire. Aurangzib in contrast was astute in warfare and good at intimidating challengers & forming alliances. As Dara delves deeper to understand the beliefs in Hinduism, he finds a surprising alignment of the deeper beliefs – and declares the Upanishads as a true treasure of monotheism, which is hidden and unknown to many. He authors many works – Majma ul Bahrain (Mingling of the two Oceans), translations of the Upanishads to Persian and others. As the author points, this was especially risky as though Akbar & Jahangir exhibited tolerance towards other faiths, it was after they were emperors (also probably more from being practical). Also, Shah Jahan had already started moving away from Akbar & Jahangir’s tolerance.

A war for power breaks out among Shah Jahan’s sons and Aurangzib & Murad gang up against Dara, and win. Dara flees several times after losing battles and is finally betrayed by Malik Jiwan who delivers him to Aurangzib. Dara is paraded in chains through the streets of Delhi much to the shock and grief of the local population. He is beheaded and his head rumoured to have been paraded and later delivered to his father Shah Jahan who was imprisoned, as also are Murad and Dara’s sons. Among Dara’s sisters, while Raushanara hates him, Jahanara (portrayed as mature, broad-minded, and brave) stands by him and also Shah Jahan.

The last chapter on the author’s visit to Humayun’s tomb, is a fitting way to end the book. As a person there tells him – history is on Dara Shikoh’s side today. Though many references are listed, the inability to directly access primary sources is a limitation. There is substantial amount of space devoted to warfare, and while Dara Shikoh’s dialogue with Baba Lal on Hinduism is beautiful, more of that would have been good.

This is a book I certainly recommend for its mature coverage of a man who went further than most in trying to obtain a deep understanding of faiths towards furthering harmony. I have heard of Jadunath Sarkar’s books on the Mughal period, especially Aurangzib and hope to read them sometime soon.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping for a fictional story to tell me about the life of this ‘could-have-been-king’ prince when I picked up the book. Instead what I found between the pages was a non-fictional but well researched biography. It was my fault as I overlooked the genre mention in the review request email. However, I it turned out to be a happy mistake as I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and looking up places and people while reading it.

The author has presented the biography in a way that almost makes you feel that the stories / incidents are being told by someone who had witnessed it all first hand. Right from the first chapter ‘Rites of Passage’, there was a feel of storytelling in a way that you would expect in a fiction. It has this feel of ‘let me tell you the story of the life of this Prince’, rather than ‘here are the facts and the research to back up those facts about the life of the Mughal Prince’. As such the narrative of this biography made it a very engaging read.

Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws

[Aishwarya Rathor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of biographies but I must say this is the most informative and very well researched.
The book is detailed about Mughal wars with various kings of Deccan, Rajasthan, Persian etc.
Dara Shukoh, was ShahJahan's favourite son and was the correct candidate for the Throne.
He excelled in Calligraphy and poetry.
He was the man that we needed. He was a man who could have changed a lot of things. He was the man who would be king. But, alas, was not the successor.
The book weaves together the various wars fought at the time of Shahjahan, also brings about the remarkable work done for the beautification of Ajmer,Agra and Delhi.
Though a nonfiction,the author has mentioned all the details. Not only the major incidents in war but even the minor, sensitive part of the history.
This made the book a subject of fascination and of great narration.

[Sonal Bindra · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Tareekh ne panah Di ho jisse, kya bigaad lega uska Alamgir”
What harm can Alamgir (Aurangzeb) cause to he who has been given refuge by history.
Said someone of Dara Shukoh, Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan's heir apparent. He was a man way ahead of his times, the people’s Prince. The peace loving crown prince who would provide better administration rather than conquering territories. He who gave preference to artists and scholars instead of military commanders. He who went hunting to please his father but would rather be reading or writing. He who believed in religious tolerance and multiculturalism. He who would not have survived even if he acceded to the throne . The man who would be but could never be The King... Not then ,not even now!!! The man this world never deserved.... Dara Shukoh. .

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been curious about Dara Sukoh in the Mughal history. This book gave me a rare opportunity to read / listen / know about him.
The man who would be the king - but never was. I can say this is a detailed account of the Mughal period from Jahangir to Aurangzeb and in an very delightful way. It educates, embellishes your knowledge and keeps the story very engaging while bringing forth the contrast and contradictions.
A journey of the royal household through many decades, the inside stories , the very well researched account of the time.
Like many a autobiography this may feel like a little stretch in the middle but keep at it and it rewards you.
I am so glad I read the book. All I can say is if Mughal history is something that you are interested in or want to read go for this book. A must read.

[Ashok Krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book for Indian history lovers.

[Nidhi Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

The non-fictional read by Avik Chanda is the eye-opener for the history buffs about the prince, Dara Shukoh, who could have been the successor to the Emperor Shah Jahan. The book describes about the Mughal wars with the Persians and even some rulers from Rajasthan and Deccan part of the country. It is a blend of two parallel stories converging into youth and adulthood. Dara Shukoh- was the Emperor of the Soul. He was the favorite son of Shah Jahan, fought wars with the Persians and strategically executed various battles for the Mughals. "Persians were the hereditary rivals of the Mughals." Dara was also one of the learned prince of the era who brought calligraphy in the Mughal era.
In the eyes of Shah Jahan, Dara could do no wrong. Different parts of Ajmer, Agar, and Delhi faced renovation during the Mughal period. With the shifting of base from one place to another, the Mughal beautified the places such as Ajmer. The real reason to shift base was to deal with the Rana of Mewar. There have been different battles described by the author to brush up with the Mughal history. The major incidents have been described by the author such as fire breakout Jahanara's chamber, which described the relationship of Emperor Shah Jahan with his daughter, and a sense of connection between Dara and Jahanara. There were incidents such as encounter with the elephant and Auranzib which described the relationship between the brothers. There are various things which you would learn about the prince Dara.

His own breathing was the voice of the ocean.

Dara learnt the art of calligraphy and wrote poetry during his free time. It was also said that he was into the practice of black magic at times. He spoke to Jahanara about the paintings and art pieces across the palaces. His abbsum marked the introduction of miniature paintings in the Mughal era. Dara was the favorite of the Emperor, and he brought various changes in the Mughal era. Yet, he wasn't the successor to the throne. A rightful candidate for the Mughal Empire, yet his character was oblivious for the rest of the world. The well-researched biography about Dara Shukoh is the best read about the "Man we needed". The book describes his conversation with Baba Lal Bairagi about Paramatma and Jivatma, Nad & Veda, the function of heart and various questions flocking the brain. "Kashi is the confirmation of one'e life". These discussion which inflicted to impact the thought process of Dara. The end notes, and illustrations provided by the author has been beneficial in enhancing the reading experience about the Mughal period.

[Jay Vardhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the great what-ifs of Indian History is- What if Dara Shukoh had become the Mughal Emperor instead of Aurangzeb Alamgir. These two personalities were poles apart from each other. Dara Shukoh was a mystic who was tolerant and was a scholar in his own right. On the other hand, Aurangzeb was a zealous Muslim who believed in the orthodox version of Islam. In this book, the author gives us a detailed account of the life of Dara Shukoh. The circumstances in which he was born to his tragic end, the author tells us the story of the eldest son of Shahjahan with great lucidity. The personal aspect of Dara Shukoh's life has also been dealt with in great detail. One thing which I didn't like about this book is that sometimes the author tends to focus more on mystic elements of Dara's personality. It would have been a delight if the author had given more detail about the military aspect of Dara's life.

After reading this book, it has become quite apparent why Aurangzeb became the Emperor, and Dara Shukoh did not. Dara Shukoh, apart from being the eldest son of Shah Jahan, was also his favorite son. Shahjahan kept him as close to the center of power as possible. Shahjahan believed that by keeping Dara beside him, he would make sure Dara becomes the next Emperor. But all this failed because of Dara himself. The kind of advantage which Dara had was truly astonishing. The Mughal Emperor favored him, and he had all the resources the Mughal Empire had to offer at his feet. Still, all this meant nothing because of inherent weakness in Dara's personality. A Mughal Emperor was expected to be a good general and a shrewd politician who can pick trusted men. In both these accounts, Dara failed miserably. He wasn't a good general, and there is ample evidence that shows how, even after having a military advantage over Murad and Aurangzeb's forces, he still managed to lose dismally. Dara wasn't a shrewd politician either. He failed to understand who was loyal to him and who was colliding with his enemies. These were great flaws, and it shouldn't come as a surprise to us how things turned out the way it did.

Being a contender to the throne of an empire where the sword decides who will become the Emperor, not the right of primogeniture, his mystic and scholarly personality was no match for his brother Aurangzeb who was shrewd to the core. It is quite painful to read how tragic Dara Shukoh's end was, but that's how it is.

[Ravmeet Oberoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Avik Chanda, with his latest work Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King has opened the doors to the life of the elusive prince. While rooted in facts and extensive research, the life and times of the prince have been brought to life through the beautiful storytelling of Avik Chanda. The unique writing style of the author makes reading Dara Shukoh an immersive experience. The readers get an opportunity to step into the world of the Mughal empire, the regal opulence, and the politics of the time.

Read the complete review here:
https://bookishbrat.com/dara-shukoh-t...

[Nishant Bhagat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book. Many of us know of Dara as the brother who was thrown out of power by Aurangzeb but not many know about who he was as a person. In the construct of the current world, may be he would have been a great influencer on social media or a podcaster / writer. But a tragic tale, especially his end is described in detail which is quite heart rendering.

This is a well researched book but what I really liked was the writing. Quite poetic and nuanced. There isn't one boring moment in this book.

Highly Recommended 

[Faraz Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words to describe this book. Surpassed all the expectations and beyond...

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2020, amidst the hush of pandemic solitude and the thrum of an uncertain world, a friend handed me a book—not casually, not ceremoniously either, but with a quiet, knowing smile. The kind of gesture that suggests, "You need this." The book was Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King by Avik Chanda. In a world fast descending into binaries and dogma, this biography read like a breath drawn from another time—one filled with complexity, beauty, and tragic loss.

Avik Chanda's biography is not just a record of Dara Shukoh's life; it is an invocation of a forgotten possibility. The possibility that India might have been a radically different country had Dara, and not Aurangzeb, ascended the Mughal throne. This possibility is not only political, but spiritual, intellectual, and cultural. The book opened before me like a secret garden long buried under imperial dust.

The book begins with the glittering court of Shah Jahan—a ruler famed for architectural opulence and personal torment. In this court grows Dara Shukoh, the emperor's eldest son and designated heir. But unlike the standard image of a Mughal prince trained in the arts of war and governance, Dara's sensibilities tilt toward the mystical. He is a Sufi, a seeker, a translator of the Upanishads, and a patron of interfaith dialogue. Dara is that rare breed of intellectual idealist who attempts to align the spirit with the state—a dangerous ambition in any era, fatal in the treacherous corridors of Mughal power.

Chanda's prose is at once elegant and economical. He knows when to dwell, when to hurry, and when to let silence speak. Drawing from a wealth of Persian chronicles, European travelogues, and Mughal court records, he crafts not just a narrative, but a breathing, bleeding world. The book does not merely reconstruct Dara’s life; it reanimates the complex ethos of seventeenth-century India.

What haunted me most was not just Dara’s failure, but the shape and tone of his downfall. As Shah Jahan falls ill, the four imperial brothers clash in a bloody contest for succession. Dara, noble but naive, fails to recognize the ruthlessness of Aurangzeb until it is too late. He hesitates where he should strike, trusts where he should suspect. The political ineptitude that Chanda documents is painful, not because it seems foolish, but because it seems human. Dara's tragic arc is Shakespearean in scope—a philosopher-prince undone by the very virtues that make him admirable.

Reading this in 2020, in a world reeling from intolerance and the global rise of religious majoritarianism, the contrast between Dara and Aurangzeb could not be more stark—or more instructive. Dara represents syncretism, a willingness to cross religious, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. His translations of the Upanishads into Persian (titled Sirr-e-Akbar, or "The Great Secret") are not mere scholarly exercises; they are acts of spiritual diplomacy. For Dara, the sacred is not bounded by creed.

Aurangzeb, by contrast, is all order and orthodoxy. He is ruthless, calculating, and decisive. Chanda does not caricature him, but neither does he excuse him. The book reminds us that history, as always, is written by the victors. Dara’s erasure from court chronicles, his portrayal as a heretic, and the silence that followed his execution are all part of a deliberate political project. Chanda’s work is thus not just biography; it is reclamation.

I remember pausing often while reading, sometimes to take notes, but more often just to reflect. I thought of Badshah Akbar, Dara's great-grandfather, who had tried to build a composite theology, the Din-i Ilahi. I thought of Kabir and Sarmad, mystic voices who refused to be boxed in. And I thought of the India I grew up in—a place where my Muslim neighbor offered me prasad during Durga Puja and where my Hindu classmate recited verses from the Quran for school prayers. The ghosts of Dara's dream were, for a moment, real to me again.

Avik Chanda’s narrative strength lies not only in his vivid descriptions or careful documentation, but in his refusal to sentimentalize. Dara is not a perfect figure. His military decisions are clumsy, his reading of people dangerously optimistic, and his trust in fraternal ties almost childlike. Yet it is these very flaws that make him a compelling figure—a man out of time, too gentle for the world he hoped to shape.

Comparative figures come to mind: Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king of Rome; Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who walked away from power; and Akbar himself, whose genius lay in diplomacy rather than domination. Dara's vision echoes across time—in Tagore's humanism, Gandhi's nonviolence, and even in Ambedkar's vision of fraternity.

The chapters chronicling Dara’s final days are among the most heartbreaking. After being betrayed, tried for apostasy, and paraded through the streets in chains, he is executed by order of his brother. His body is buried in an unmarked grave. But in a curious way, Dara's death is not the end of his story. In the Upanishads he translated, in the interfaith dialogues he championed, and now in this biography that resurrects him, Dara lives.

That friend who gifted me the book probably didn’t know how deeply it would affect me. Or maybe they did. Because some books are not merely read; they are absorbed. They enter your bloodstream. And when they do, they shift something fundamental. They don’t just inform; they awaken.

Dara Shukoh: The Man Who Would Be King is a reminder that history is not a static ledger of winners and losers. It is a living palimpsest of alternate routes, forgotten voices, and buried dreams. Chanda does more than write Dara’s life; he invites us to rethink the inheritance of empire, the cost of orthodoxy, and the fragility of ideals in a hostile world.

I closed the book with a lump in my throat and a quiet resolve. Dara did not rule, but he still reigns—in verses, in ideas, in memory. And perhaps that’s a form of victory too.

[Prabu Pandurangan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about one of the most interesting Mughal prince ever. Well written with a lot of details around Dara’s childhood, his special status with his dad , relationship with his sister Jahanara and his efforts to understand both Islam and Hinduism trying to forge an uniquely Indian syncretic philosophy drawing from both religions was well brought out by the author.
Personally I felt the author could have concentrated a bit more on his philosophical contribution than lengthy descriptions of his war efforts as it’s the former that makes him truly unique.
The epilogue subtly drove home the point that Dara was the ultimate winner in his war of succession with his brother Aurangzeb. With Dara’s new found position as a role model for Indians at large and Aurangzeb’s vilification as the most divisive Mughal ruler it’s hard not to recognise Dara’s ideological victory nearly 400 years after their deaths .
If there is a right time for this book it’s now!!

[Sucharita Paul Tiwari · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.10 🌟

[Abhishek Bhatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been much shorter and interesting if unnecessary details were edited. For instance the war chapters in my opinion were too long and not entirely coherent with the title of this book. I mean, Dara was not a military leader if I want to read a book about him, it must be about his personality and his philosophy, why would anyone pick this book for all that war drama? Moreover, after finishing this book, and yes, this might sound funny but I honesty lost respect for Dara Shikoh. I used to believe that he could have been a great ruler and yes, as the debates go around in circles that how he could have affected history as a king but after reading this book my opinion seems to have altered. I think He could have been a good mystic, scholar or poet but he seriously lacked the moral fiber and acumen that is required in an emperor. Being the eldest, erudite or your father’s favourite won’t take you any closer to the throne in the Mughal household. If Dara was really that smart ( the kind of credit historians give him) I think he must not have missed this basic cue looking at the blood soaked history of his own family. If he couldn’t handle his family politics how far he would have succeeded in handling enemies of the state.

This is not entirely an interesting read nor written about an interesting personality.

The best thing about this book was Chanda’s narrative genius. He literally brings history to life with his eloquent writing skills.

[Craartology · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dara Shukoh, a thorough and detailed account of the life of this Mughal Prince. Avik Chanda writes not only about his protagonist but also about the times in which he was raised in. Dara Shukoh isn’t the regular stereotypical Mughal Prince you’ve read about. There’s so much to his personality, that this book sheds light upon.

The Mughal history would have been atypical had Dara Shukoh been the King. This book is beautiful when it comes to the style of writing, the dreamy and captivating descriptions be it the architecture or the royal life or mentions of the battle. Avik Chanda writes about the history of a time where India needed a ruler who would respect and protect it’s culture and people rather than selfishly expand borders.

It is a must read!

[Laavanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enriching read, and had no idea the depth and richness of Dara Shikoh's life and personality.
He embodied the essence of the Indic spirit and consciousness - pluralism, diversity, open mindedness and seeing the One in all religious traditions. He had innumerable mystical experiences due to being in contact with the great sages and saints from the Sufi orders and various Hindu traditions. It is from this where he saw the Oneness in All contrary to the conservative Muslim Aurengezeb. Dara Shukoh was who he was because he was born on Indian soul. Traditional Islamic states and societies would not have produced such a being like him.

[Chaitalee Ghosalkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rating is for the subject matter, and not the author's description of him. I have been intrigued about this less known Mughal, the repeated whispers whether his rule would've changed the course of Indian history. Naïve me, because on reading the book, I realize that he would have never become king; not unless the field was absolutely clear.

Which also begs the question, was he really worth an entire book? Chanda's writing is lush, breathing life into an otherwise boring character. But what would've sufficed on an essay gets unnecessarily blown into a 250 page book.

[Jazz Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non fiction written as fiction and therefore easy to read. The ifs and buts remain. Who knows what might have happened… That is on the realm of speculation. This book paints a vivid portrait of the man he was. And in the picture the author draws of Dara Shukoh, we also see his brother Aurangzib, the splendour of the Mughal court, the palace intrigues and the lust for power.

[Hrishikesh Lonkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting book to read. Very well researched.

[GA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is lovely!…I feel as if I have come to know Dara Shikoh personally…..it transport one to those times and make us feel the anguish of the protagonist and several others who suffered back then….

[naveen gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book. indian history is full of Ifs and Buts. what if Dara managed to be king rather than AZ.
last chapter is full of ironies. AZ murdered Dara but couldnt kill his memories. his own daughter Zebuninssa became a sufi like his uncle. she even sided with her brother in rebellion against AZ. Dara's daughter became AZ's favorite daughter in law. .... such is life,,,