Ganga-Jamuni Advocates Overlooked Dara Shikoh”: RSS Gen Secy Hosabale*

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale recently faulted proponents of the Ganga-Jamuni culture for not recognizing the contribution of Mughal prince Dara Shikoh.

 Addressing a gathering on March 23, 2025, he said that as much as people are propagating this syncretic culture, they cannot remember Dara Shikoh's effort as a symbol of religious harmony and cultural tolerance.

The elder son of Emperor Shah Jahan, Dara Shikoh, was particularly famous for his efforts to unite Hindu and Islamic ways of life by indulging in his intellectual interests. 

He had translated great Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita into Persian, and tolerance of religions by extending invitations to scholars representing all religions to his court. His accomplishments sowed the seeds of what is today remembered as Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, which was a blend of Muslim and Hindu influences on society.

The comment of Hosabale is made against India's rich multicultural history and controversy around the need for identifying historic characters who have been champions of one-ness. 

He added that identification of what has been contributed by Dara Shikoh is required to have a larger vision of Indian history and rich tradition of multiplicity.