This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

SHAHJAHAN -- English dramatization of the world's greatest love and worst treachery.

SHAHJAHAN


Experience the English dramatization of a story of the

world’s greatest love and worst treachery during the

Mughal period in India.
A talented cast of thirty-five actors and dancers.

Original play: D.L.Roy,Translation with added scenes and

direction: Subrata Das

The Mughal dynasty ruled most of India for over three

hundred years, beginning in the early sixteenth century.

Shah Jahan, the 5th Mughal emperor after Babur, the 10th

direct male descendant of Timur, and the 18th descendant

of the female line of Genghis Khan, was crowned in 1628

and subsequently ruled India for over three decades.

Emperor Shah Jahan had fourteen children with his beloved

wife Mumtaz Mahal but seven of them died at birth or at a

very young age. Mumtaz died while giving birth to their

youngest daughter, Gauhara Begum. The Emperor was

devastated by her death. He mourned deeply, and decided to

build the monument to love and in her memory which we know

today as the Taj Mahal.

The Emperor’s eldest son Dara was a loving husband and

devoted son, and was avowedly secular and philosophical

with much respect for all religions, mastering both the

Quran and the Upanishads equally. The second son Suja was

considered to be Emperor-quality and was deeply in love

with his wife Piara. Aurangzeb, the third son, was a

devout Muslim and quite politically shrewd. Murad, the

impetuous youngest son, was the “black sheep” of the

family and loved women and alcohol. Jahanara, the eldest

of all siblings, took the place of Mumtaz as the first

lady of the empire as per the wish of her dying mother.

The girls of the dynasty could not marry, as was decreed

by the law of Emperor Akbar, the paternal grandfather of

Shah Jahan.

The Emperor sent Suja to rule the land of Bengal,

Aurangzeb to rule the south, and Murad to rule the land of

Gurjar. Dara stayed with his father in Agra as next in

line to be Emperor. The brothers do not want to accept

this situation, and become rebellious.

The frail emperor, gradually losing control over his

empire, sends forces to various parts of Hindustan under

Dara’s command. The emperor struggles with the opposing

forces of his love for his sons and his duty as the

Emperor to crush the rebels.

Will he succeed in his attempts?

For Tickets -- www.eventedge.biz/sj

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?