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The Akbarnama, also known as the Book of Akbar, is the official chronicle of the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor (r. 1556–1605). It was commissioned by Akbar himself and written by Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, who was also Akbar’s court historian and biographer. The Akbarnama was known as the “Book of Akbar.” Written in Persian, the literary language of the Mughals, it contains vivid and detailed descriptions of his life and the times in which he lived. It was written after Baburnama, which was a more personal memoir written by his grandfather, Babur, who was also the founder of the dynasty. It was produced in this manner in the form of lavishly illustrated manuscripts.
Abul Fazi
Abul Fazl, who was a member of Akbar’s royal court and known as one of the Nine Jewels (Hindi: Navaratnas), was tasked with writing the work after it was commissioned by Akbar. It is stated that it took seven years to finish writing the book. [Citation needed] The original manuscripts were thought to have been illustrated between the years 1592 and 1594 by at least forty-nine different artists from Akbar’s studio. These artists were thought to have represented the best of the Mughal school of painting and were masters of the imperial workshop. One of these masters was Basawan, whose use of portraiture in its illustrations was an innovation in Indian art.
After Akbar’s death in 1605, the manuscript was passed down to his son Jahangir, who ruled from 1605 until 1627, and then to his grandson Shah Jahan, who ruled from 1628 until 1658. The illustrated manuscript of Akbarnama, which includes 116 miniature paintings, is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Mrs. Frances Clarke sold it to the South Kensington Museum, which is now known as the Victoria and Albert Museum, in 1896. It had been acquired by Mrs. Clarke’s husband upon his retirement from his position as Commissioner of Oudh (1858–1862) Almost immediately after that, the paintings and illuminated frontispiece were taken out of the volume so that they could be mounted and framed for public display.
Volume I
The events surrounding the birth of Akbar, the history of Timur’s family, the reigns of Babur and Humayun, and the Suri sultans of Delhi are covered in the first volume of the Akbarnama. The events surrounding Akbar’s birth and early life are covered in volume one of the Akbarnama. According to Abul Fazl, Humayun, the second Mughal emperor and Akbar’s father, prayed at the Kaaba, an Islamic holy place, for a son or daughter who would succeed him as ruler of the Mughal empire. Following this prayer, Maryam Makani exhibits various signs that she is pregnant with Akbar, such as having a shining forehead that others believe is a mirror on her face or the feeling of warmth and joy that enters her bosom when a light is shone on her. These signs indicate that Maryam Makani is showing what she is expecting. Miryam is under the impression that the light is a blessing from God to both her and her unborn child. Nine months later, while Humayuan is away on business, Maryam gives birth to Akbar under what is regarded as a fortunate star, and the occasion is met with joyous celebration.
Volume II
The second volume provides a comprehensive account of the history of Akbar’s reign up until 1602 and a record of the events that took place during that time. In addition to that, it describes how Bairam Khan and Akbar prevailed over Hemu, an Indian warrior, during the battle of Panipat.
Volume III
The third volume, which is referred to as the ‘n-i-Akbar, provides a description of the administrative structure of the Empire. Additionally, it includes the renowned “Account of the Hindu Sciences.” In addition to that, it discusses Akbar’s household, his army, the revenues of the empire, and the geography of the land. In addition to this, it generates a wealth of information regarding the customs and practises of the people who live in India. It is well-known for the extensive statistical information that it provides, which covers topics as varied as crop yields, prices, wages, and revenues. In the following, Abu’l Fazl expresses his aspiration in his own words: “It has been a longtime goal of mine to document the views held by the vast majority of Hindus who are considered to be intellectuals and to describe the general conditions that prevail throughout this enormous country. I am unsure as to whether the love I have for my homeland was the primary motivating factor or whether the accuracy of the historical research and the genuine truthfulness of the narrative were…” (Āin-i-Akbarī, translated by Heinrich Blochmann and Colonel Henry Sullivan Jarrett, Volume III, pp 7). In this part of the book, he discusses the fundamental tenets of not only the six most influential Hindu philosophical schools of thought, but also those of the Jains, Buddhists, and Nstikas. In addition to that, he offers a number of indigenous Indian perspectives on geography, cosmography, and various aspects of Indian aesthetic thought. The vast majority of this information comes from Sanskrit texts and other kinds of knowledge systems. It is believed that Abu’l Fazl gained access to this information through intermediaries, most likely Jains who were favoured at Akbar’s court. Abu’l Fazl admits that he did not know Sanskrit.
In his explanation of Hinduism, Abu’l Fazl attempts to explain everything in terms that Muslims can comprehend. He does this by drawing parallels between Hindu beliefs and Islamic concepts. A significant number of traditional Muslims held the belief that the Hindu religion was fraught with not one but two of the gravest sins: idolatry and polytheism.
Regarding the subject of idolatry, Abu’l Fazl asserts that the symbols and images that Hindus carry are not idols but rather serve the purpose of preventing their minds from wandering away from the topic at hand. He states in his writing that the only requirement is to worship and serve God.
In addition, Abul Fazl provides his readers with an explanation of the Caste system. He jots down the name, rank, and responsibilities of every caste. After that, he proceeds to provide an explanation of the sixteen subclasses that result from intermarrying between the four primary groups.
Conclusion
The Akbarnama, also known as the Book of Akbar, is the official chronicle of the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor (r. 1556–1605). It was commissioned by Akbar himself and written by Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, who was also Akbar’s court historian and biographer. The Akbarnama was known as the “Book of Akbar.” Written in Persian, the literary language of the Mughals, it contains vivid and detailed descriptions of his life and the times in which he lived. It was written after Baburnama, which was a more personal memoir written by his grandfather, Babur, who was also the founder of the dynasty. It was produced in this manner in the form of lavishly illustrated manuscripts.
