Prince Dara Shikoh with Learned Men in a Gardenby Bichitr
Shah Jahan period
1640-1650 AD
Prince Dara Shikoh was Shah Jahan's eldest son. He was the crown prince to the Mughal throne. In order to prevent a royal revolt, and in order to train Dara into the administrative functions, Shah Jahan always kept Dara with him. Prince Dara Shikoh grew up in the liberal Sufi tradition of the Mughal court. Like Akbar and Jahangir, he was fascinated by Hinduism. He himself translated Hindu texts into Persian. He was a devotee of Nizamuddin Aullia Chisti of Delhi.
Here Bichitr portrays Prince Dara Shikoh in a discourse with learned men. There is lively conversation, wine and music. During the discourse a servant pours the wine, and the singer sings animatedly. Bichitr paints his self-portrait as the man reading the book on the left side of the painting. The setting of the painting is Kashmir as Bichitr has painted the Iris flowers and the Cyprus trees.
But the painting is more symbolic: under liberalism, ideas blossom and flower. Liberalism is a Garden of Eden, a paradise.
Here Bichitr portrays Prince Dara Shikoh in a discourse with learned men. There is lively conversation, wine and music. During the discourse a servant pours the wine, and the singer sings animatedly. Bichitr paints his self-portrait as the man reading the book on the left side of the painting. The setting of the painting is Kashmir as Bichitr has painted the Iris flowers and the Cyprus trees.
But the painting is more symbolic: under liberalism, ideas blossom and flower. Liberalism is a Garden of Eden, a paradise.
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