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WHY DID AURANGZEB IMPRISON SHAH JAHAN?

Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, had died in 1631, and he never really got over her loss. As his condition worsened, his four sons by Mumtaz began to fight for the Peacock Throne. Shah Jahan favored Dara, the eldest son. On July 14th 1636, Aurangzeb was appointed the Viceroy of Deccan by Shah Jahan. In 1644, Aurangzeb faced his father's ire when he failed to show up immediately after his sister accidentally burned herself while in Agra. Following Aurangzeb’s delay in visiting his ailing sister, Shah Jahan was furious and immediately dismissed him from his position of Viceroy of Deccan. In 1645, he was barred from the court. After Aurangzeb was removed from the position of Viceroy of Deccan, his position was taken by his brother Dara Shikoh, which left Aurangzeb feeling resentful, believing that his brother had manipulated the situation to come to power in the Deccan. Aurangzeb was shrewd ruler who was hungry for power, to accomplish this, he imprisoned his father Shah Jahan in 1658 and jailed him in Agra Fort right across the Taj Mahal. After that, he had his brothet Dara Shikoh, who was a favourite of their father, killed.

It is also said that the major reason for putting his father under house arrest was that Shah Jahan wanted to build another Taj Mahal, a black one for his another wife.


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