Traveller finds old man reading 'gigantic' urdu Bhagavad Gita in the Himalayas, sparks debate on India's forgotten history
A Reddit user recently took to the platform to share an intriguing travel encounter from a hike in the Himalayas. While exploring the scenic trails, they stumbled upon an old man engrossed in reading an enormous book. However, it wasn't just the size of the book that caught the user's attention¡ªit was what the man was reading that truly blew their mind.
Check out the post here:
You'll never believe what book this is! Blew my mind
byu/riverbankstudios inIndiaSpeaks
The user shared a fascinating encounter from a hike in the Himalayas a few years back. They came across an old man engrossed in a massive book. Curious, they sat down to chat and tried to make sense of the familiar-looking Urdu script. When they asked about the book, the man smiled and revealed it was the Bhagavad Gita, over a hundred years old.
"Totally blew my mind at what a different India existed not too long ago," the user wrote.
The old man went on to explain how much of the past was written in Urdu and how times have changed¡ªperhaps not for the better.
How did people react?
In the comments, many users reflected on Dara Shikoh's legacy, noting that much of the Urdu translations of Hindu texts, like the Bhagavad Gita, occurred during his time. One commenter remarked, "India could have been much different from the current state, had Aurangzeb had not assassinated Dara Shikoh."
Another wondered about the alternate history, saying, "Wonder how would India look if this guy ruled instead of his dumbass brother."
Dara Shikoh was the eldest son of Shah Jahan and the designated heir to the Mughal throne, known for his liberal views and interest in religious syncretism.?However, when Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657, a war of succession broke out among his sons.?
Aurangzeb, Dara's younger brother, was a skilled military leader with strong orthodox support. He defeated Dara in the Battle of Samugarh, captured, and executed him in 1659. Aurangzeb then imprisoned Shah Jahan and defeated his other brothers, securing his position as the Mughal Emperor from 1658 to 1707.
Aurangzeb's policies have been seen to be more orthodox and conservative, particularly in contrast to his predecessors like Akbar and Dara Shikoh, who were known for their more inclusive and liberal approaches to governance and religion.
Another commenter highlighted the value of the old man's book, stating, "That book belongs in a museum. Its more than worth its weight in gold."
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