India, March 20 -- Pune/Khuldabad There is an illuminating story about Aurangzeb in Harbans Mukhia's The Mughals of India: Soon after he had his brother Dara Shikoh murdered, the newly crowned emperor sent a proposal of marriage to Dara Shikoh's favourite concubine Rana-i-Dil (heart's glory). "What part of me appeals the most to you?" she sent back a message, writes Mukhia. "Your hair is the eye's delight," replied the smitten Mughal. Rana-i-Dil chopped off her hair and sent it back on a platter. This sovereign act of insolence, however, only served to inflame Aurangzeb's passions. He sent word that her face still glowed seductively. Rana gashed her face with a dagger and sent back a blood-soaked kerchief.

Alamgir (conqueror of the world...