Exploding The Myths

The most fascinating aspect of the book is the extensive use of the English translations of a variety of Mughal chronicles. These, used in conjunction with a wide range of travel literature, bring alive the human and benevolent face of the Mughals. The book marks the return of the narrative in historical writing. Eraly weaves together accounts of the people and politics of the empire and explodes myths about controversial emperors like Babar and Aurangzeb.

Thus we discover that Babar—the warrior king and founder hero of the Empire—was an emotional loner homesick for his hometown in Afghanistan. Eraly quotes from Babarnamah (Babar's memoir) to point out that once when a Kabul melon was brought to Babar and its aroma filled the air, he was awash with nostalgia. Records Babarnamah: "I felt myself affected with a strong feeling of loneliness and a sense of my exile from my native country, and I could not help shedding tears while eating it."

Babar also emerges as a litterateur. He had to his credit, says Eraly, "accomplishments, such as musical compositions and the creation of a new and distinctive style of calligraphy called Baburi.... He could even pause in the midst of critical military campaigns to lay out gardens."

In contrast, Akbar, the astute administrator king, was barely able to sign his name. However, he had books read out to him and possessed a vast personal library said to have had 24,000 volumes. Again, despite being distant from orthodox Islam, Akbar was not, unlike his father or sons, a heavy drinker. Nor an opium addict. Though sometimes, while listening to the discourses of the Jesuits, he fell asleep from the effects of opium or alcohol—or perhaps boredom.

Finally, Aurangzeb emerges as "the mildest, the least violent and the most law-abiding" of the Mughals. Eraly concludes that "Aurangzeb's humanity and kindness was such that the severest punishment was reduction of dignity.... the lowlier the offenders, the more merciful was Aurangzeb." He is projected as fond of good food and "infatuated with a Hindu dancing girl Hira Bai.... She nearly turned him into a hedonist!" The second half focuses on the social, economic and cultural life in the Mughal empire.

Eraly reconstructs a vibrant Mughal court society detailing court rituals and festivities. The book describes the Europeans as a significant component of the royal society. Some were royal ambassadors or representatives of European trading companies who often adopted Indian ways and some also became Muslims to promote their careers. For instance, William Hawkins, despite his claim to be the British administrator, accepted appointment as a Mughal mansabdar and adopted their lifestyle. He was called English Khan by Jahangir.

Eraly's vivid account is a valuable contribution to the new historiographical writings which are trying to rethink the nature of the Empire in terms of socially and culturally defined power relations. In this respect, the meticulous compilation of facts on Mughal court society is a useful reference work for historical research.