A Father's Lament: A Leeter to Aurangzeb

By Mr Hem Raj Sharma Jayalwal

A FATHER'S LAMENT
A LEETER TO AURANGJEB
A Father's Lament: A Letter to Aurangzeb is a gripping and emotional retelling of one of the most tragic and morally powerful episodes in Indian history. Set in the opulent yet turbulent Mughal era, the book traces the downfall of Emperor Shah Jahan, the majestic builder of the Taj Mahal, as he is betrayed and imprisoned by his own son-Aurangzeb.
Once the ruler of one of the richest empires in the world, Shah Jahan's later years were spent not on the throne but behind the cold walls of Agra Fort, with only a narrow window to view the mausoleum he built for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Stripped of power, honor, and family, he was given barely enough to eat or drink-one piece of dry bread and a broken clay pot of water.
In this hauntingly human narrative, Shah Jahan's greatest pain is not the loss of his empire, but the abandonment by his own blood. And from that pain arises the soul of the book-a profound letter penned in Persian by the heartbroken father to his son. In it, he does not scold with the fury of a dethroned monarch, but questions with the sorrow of a forsaken parent. The letter invokes a powerful line:
"In this land of Hindustan, even Hindus offer food and water to their dead fathers. And you, my son, have not learned how to feed your living father?"
Through this letter, the book explores timeless themes of fatherhood, betrayal, duty, compassion, and the morality of power. It blends historical fact with literary imagination, offering a moving reconstruction of Shah Jahan's internal world during captivity.
Each chapter unfolds layers of political conflict and spiritual introspection:
The early grandeur of Shah Jahan's reign
The tragic power struggle among his sons
The spiritual and philosophical clash between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb
The emotional and symbolic imprisonment of a father by his son
Reflections on Hindu customs like Pitr-Tarpan, juxtaposed against Aurangzeb's rigid religious worldview
The fall of Mughal ideals into an age of intolerance
The book also questions what it means to be a good son, a worthy ruler, and a moral human being. Aurangzeb's conquest of the throne comes at the cost of his humanity-a lesson the book drives home with heartbreaking clarity.
Beyond history, A Father's Lament serves as a mirror to modern readers, prompting them to reflect on their own relationships with aging parents, with tradition, and with the responsibilities that power or position can distort. The story is especially resonant in today's fast-paced world, where emotional neglect of elders is sadly not uncommon.
With lyrical prose, historical depth, and emotional force, this book transforms a footnote in Mughal history into a profound reflection on love, loss, and legacy. Shah Jahan's letter is not only a relic of the past-it is a timeless reminder of the fragile thread that binds a father and son, an emperor and his heir, a human and his conscience.
In the twilight of his life, Emperor Shah Jahan-once the magnificent builder of the Taj Mahal-found himself confined within the very walls he had helped erect. Betrayed and imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, his days dwindled in solitude, with but a morsel of bread and a broken pitcher of water to sustain him.
But even in chains, a father's heart spoke. In a moment of anguish and divine insight, Shah Jahan penned a letter in Persian, asking a question that echoes through time:
"In Hindustan, even Hindus offer food and water to their departed fathers. Did you not learn how to feed your father while he is still alive-your father, who now lives in your prison?"
This book explores the silent agony of a ruler, the moral downfall of a son, and the spiritual wisdom buried in cultural practices. A tale of power, loss, and forgotten dharma-this is a letter not just from a father to a son, but from history to the conscience of every reader.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FGTTMN3H
• ISBN13: 9798290802367
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 158 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"