Question

Short note on literature during the rule
of Akbar

Answer 1

Undoubtedly, the period saw the production of a lot of literature of a very high standard. Most of his ‘Navratans’ (Nine Jewels) were great literary figures. Abul Fazal was a great historian, philosopher and scholar of the period. He is famous for two important works ‘Akbarnama’ and ‘Ain-i-Akbari’.

Badauni, a historian of fame wrote, ‘Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh’. An other noted historian Nizam- ud-Din wrote ‘Tabaqat-i-Akbari’ the Arthava Veda, the Ramayana and the Mahabharat.

Sur, Das, a blind band of Agra wrote Sursagar’ in Brij Bhasha.

Sant Tulsi Das produced the immortal Ramcharitmanas’ in Awadhi, the eastern Hindi dialect.The period saw the production of a dictionary of Persian-Sanskrit, named Parsi Parkash’.

Guru Granth Sahib’, the most sacred book of the Sikhs was compiled during this period.

Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote the famous Padmavat’.

Jahangir himself wrote his autobiography ‘Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri’. Other important literary and historical works were ‘lqbalanam-i-Jahangir and ‘Masir-i-Jahangir’.

Answer 2

Though Akbar himself was illiterate,yet he had a passion for knowledge as well as book. Persian was the court language under Akbar and he encouraged the composition of Persian literature.

Explanation:

Important Persian works written during the reign of Akbar are:-

• Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari by Abu'l Fazl.
• Humayun Nama by Gulbadan Begam.
• Tabqat-i-Akbari by Nizam-ud-din Ahmad.

The best known works in Hindi literature were produced during Akbar's rule. Raja Birbal was given the title of 'Hindi Kavi Rai' by Akbar.