The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c10.s1.3

c10.s1.3

Bigger in nature was the protest lodged by the citizens of Delhi when the vanquished Prince Dara Shukoh was humiliated and later executed by Aurangzeb in 1658. Francois Bernier was present in Chandni Chowk and witnessed the event. He writes that the crowd assembled upon this disgraceful occasion was immense; and everywhere I saw the people weeping and lamenting the fate of Dara.³² In one of his letters Aurangzeb himself writes: The fate of Dara Shukoh excited the passions of the misguided citizens of Delhi. They wept in sympathy with him and pelted the loyal Malik Jiwan who had brought him to justice with pots full of urine and excreta. Royal troops went into action and according to Khafi Khan, several persons were knocked down and killed and many were wounded If the Kotwal had not come forward with his policemen, not one of Malik Jiwans followers would have escaped with life.³³