Context: The Vice President of India released the Arabic Version of Majma-ul-Bahrain (which means 'Confluence of Two Oceans') of Dara Shikoh. 

• Majma-ul-Bahrain (which means ‘Confluence of Two Oceans’) throws invaluable light on the similarities between religions and helped bring stronger unity among the people of India.

• In this book ‘Majma-ul-Bahrain’, Dara Shikoh listed one by one, all the commonalities between Hinduism (Vedanta) and Islam (Sufism) and came to the conclusion that the difference between Islam and Hinduism is only verbal.

About Dara Shikoh

• Eldest son of Shah Jahan, he is described as a “liberal Muslim”who tried to find commonalities between Hindu and Islamic traditions.

• Known as a pioneer of the academic movement for interfaith understanding in India.

• In 1655, his father declared him the Crown Prince but was defeated by Aurangzeb, his younger brother.

Works

• His most important works, Majma-ul-Bahrain (Mingling of Two Oceans) and Sirr-i-Akbar (Great Mystery) are devoted to the cause of establishing connections between Hinduism and Islam

• Proficiency in Sanskrit and Persian, enabled him to play a key role in popularising Indian culture.

• He translated the Upanishadsand other important sources of Hindu religion and spirituality from Sanskrit to Persian.