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
