Dara Shikoh is also the name of the protagonist of Mohsin Hamid's 2000 novel Moth Smoke, which reimagines the story of his trial unfolding in contemporary Pakistan. The novel concludes with these words: "It is perhaps between hope and memory, in the atomized, atomic lands once Aurangzeb's empire, that our poets tell us Darashikoh, the apostate, called out to God as he died."
The character of Dara Shikoh is a quintessential Muslim liberal struggling against orthodoxy. In recent years Dara Shikoh has been a subject of many books, novels and plays. Shyamal Gangopadhyaya, Danish Iqbal and Gopal Gandhi are few contemporary writers who wrote about this forgotten liberal hero.
Danish Iqbal’s Dara Shikoh is a modern classic which was staged by director M S Sathyu of the film Garam Hawa fame in Delhi in 2003–04. In the words of critic Ramesh Chand Charlie, the stage play Dara Shikoh is a turning point of traditional theatrical sensibilities. Use of Wali Deccani's period poetry provides this Play with a very rare artistic and historical context. Use of Kathak choreography by Rani Khanum and her troupe, and authentic costumes including headgear, swords and period art work was a treat for the eyes. Use of Sufi music, context and ambience is very alluring and mesmerising. This play had a good run in cities like Delhi, Gurgaon and Banglore.
There are reports that this play is also being converted into a feature film under the direction of Sathyu.
Read more about Dara Shikoh: Works