Dara Shikoh was ‘deliberately’ not given due importance by certain governments: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
New Delhi, December 28
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Tuesday “prejudiced politics” created misconception on the legacy of Dara Shikoh.
He also said that governments of so-called “champions of secularism” deliberately did not give due importance, recognition to works done by Dara Shikoh like many other great people.
Dara Shikoh was the eldest son of Shah Jahan, and a thinker, a poet and a scholar, who was killed by his younger brother Aurangzeb in a war of succession.
According to a statement issued by his office, Naqvi made these remarks at an international conference on Dara Shikoh held here.
The conference on ‘Why Dara Shikoh Matters Today: Remembering His Works and Personality’ was organised by Aligarh Muslim University.
Naqvi said that harmony, tolerance, “sarva dharma sambhav” is the soul of India and “unity in diversity” is the strength of the country.
Dara Shikoh remained the torchbearer of social harmony and religious unity his entire life, he said according to the statement.
Naqvi, who is also Deputy Leader of Rajya Sabha, said while on one hand, the believers of almost all religions of the world live in India, on the other, a large number of atheists also exist in the country with equal constitutional and social rights.
“This strength of unity in diversity makes India ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’,” he said.
Naqvi said India is the only country in the world where festivals and other joyous occasions of all the religions are celebrated together.
“We need to keep this shared cultural heritage and legacy of co-existence strengthened. Any attempt to disturb this fabric of unity and harmony will hurt the soul of India,” he felt.
The minister noted that India is the world’s largest centre of spiritual-religious knowledge and also the source of inspiration for “sarva dharma sambhav” and “vasudhaiva kutumbakam”.
“It is our collective national responsibility to ensure that India’s culture of tolerance and commitment of co-existence is not allowed to get weaken under any circumstances,” he said.
Many obstacles came in the way of inclusive development, but our strength of unity in diversity has ensured the country moves forward on the path of prosperity, he said.
The governments of so-called “Champions of Secularism” deliberately did not give due importance, recognition to works done by Dara Shikoh like many other great people. Dara Shikoh was a very versatile personality. He was a very lively person, a thinker, a great poet, scholar, Sufi and a man with deep knowledge of arts and culture, the Union Minority Affairs Minister said. — PTI
