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Empire of the Moghul #3
Empire of the Moghul: Ruler of the World
The story of the third great Moghul Emperor, Akbar, leader of a triumphant dynasty which contained the seeds of its own destruction. Akbar, ruler of a sixth of the world's people, colossally rich and utterly ruthless, was a contemporary of Elizabeth I, but infinitely more powerful. His reign began in bloodshed when he strangled his treacherous 'milk-brother', but it ended in glory. Akbar extended his rule over much of Asia, skillfully commanding tens of thousands of men, elephants and innovative technology, yet despite the unimaginable bloodshed which resulted his empire was based on universal religious tolerance. However, Akbar's homelife was more complicated. He defied family, nobles and mullahs to marry a beautiful Rajput princess, whose people he had conquered; but she hated Akbar and turned Salim, his eldest son, against him. What's more, as any Moghul prince could inherit his father's crown and become Emperor, his sons were brought up to be intensely competitive and suspicious of each other: to see eachother as rivals for the greatest prize of all. And, as Salim grew to manhood, the relationship between father and son became tainted by rebellion and competition to be the greatest Moghul of them all.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
127 people are currently reading
2067 people want to read
About the author
Alex Rutherford
20 books315 followersAlex Rutherford is the pen name of Diana Preston and her husband Michael. Both studied at Oxford University reading History and English respectively. They are keen travellers and have now clocked up visits to over 140 of the world's countries.
Says Diana 'our greatest love is India where we've spent at least a year of our lives. Our research into the building of the Taj Mahal for our non-fiction book 'A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time', led us to explore the early history of the dynasty which built the Taj – the Moghuls. To help us get inside the heads of the founders of the Moghul dynasty for our fiction quintet 'Empire of the Moghul', we've read all the chronicles of the time. Over the years we've also retraced the steps of the Moghuls from the Ferghana Valley in Kyrgyzstan – home to the first Moghul emperor, the boy-king Babur – to Iran and to the blue domes and minarets of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, across the red deserts to the Oxus River, over the Hindu Kush to Kabul and Afghanistan and down through the Khyber Pass to the plains of northern India.
'In fact, apart from on one occasion when we were stranded on a remote island off the coast of Borneo and forced to hide from pirates, some of our hairiest moments when travelling have been when researching our non-fiction books. While working on our book about Captain Scott and the race for the South Pole, 'A First Rate Tragedy', the Russian research vessel on which we were sailing into Antarctica's Ross Sea was nearly lost in one of the worst storms in Antarctic history with 140 knot winds (over 240 kilometres per hour) and 20 metre high waves. The life rafts washed overboard and the superstructure iced up like the inside of an old fridge, putting us in danger of capsizing. On another occasion while researching our book on one of our favourite characters the buccaneer-naturalist William Dampier, 'A Pirate of Exquisite Mind', we set out in his footsteps to cross the Darien Isthmus in Panama with local Indian guides. We had to dodge FARC guerrillas, Colombian paramilitaries and the deadly fer de lance snake, in the latter case wading waist high in rivers – our guide claimed snakes can't bite and swim at the same time!'
Says Diana 'our greatest love is India where we've spent at least a year of our lives. Our research into the building of the Taj Mahal for our non-fiction book 'A Teardrop on the Cheek of Time', led us to explore the early history of the dynasty which built the Taj – the Moghuls. To help us get inside the heads of the founders of the Moghul dynasty for our fiction quintet 'Empire of the Moghul', we've read all the chronicles of the time. Over the years we've also retraced the steps of the Moghuls from the Ferghana Valley in Kyrgyzstan – home to the first Moghul emperor, the boy-king Babur – to Iran and to the blue domes and minarets of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, across the red deserts to the Oxus River, over the Hindu Kush to Kabul and Afghanistan and down through the Khyber Pass to the plains of northern India.
'In fact, apart from on one occasion when we were stranded on a remote island off the coast of Borneo and forced to hide from pirates, some of our hairiest moments when travelling have been when researching our non-fiction books. While working on our book about Captain Scott and the race for the South Pole, 'A First Rate Tragedy', the Russian research vessel on which we were sailing into Antarctica's Ross Sea was nearly lost in one of the worst storms in Antarctic history with 140 knot winds (over 240 kilometres per hour) and 20 metre high waves. The life rafts washed overboard and the superstructure iced up like the inside of an old fridge, putting us in danger of capsizing. On another occasion while researching our book on one of our favourite characters the buccaneer-naturalist William Dampier, 'A Pirate of Exquisite Mind', we set out in his footsteps to cross the Darien Isthmus in Panama with local Indian guides. We had to dodge FARC guerrillas, Colombian paramilitaries and the deadly fer de lance snake, in the latter case wading waist high in rivers – our guide claimed snakes can't bite and swim at the same time!'
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January 10, 2013
I love history, and I appreciate the fact that Mr. Rutherford has written this page in history like a very exciting book. I will applaud his writing style, his pace and the ability to keep the reader hooked.
Maybe as an Indian, I will tend to be a little harsh with my criticism here. Mr Rutherford has taken some liberties with this book as he mentions in the appendix, and his entire book seems to be based off majorly 2 big resources, both written by Akbar's chroniclers. However his assumptions really fall flat when it comes to two big chapters in Akbar's life. 1. His relationship with his wife Hirabai/ Jodhabai and 2. His son Salim's relationship with Anarkali.
maybe a few more translated documents would have told the author that no one, who has read Moghul history can imagine Anarkali to be blonde or Venetian. A very big mistake when drawing a character and bringing them to life.this was a big mistake. Also assuming that his first wife was hostile with him throughout his life was another major blunder. Historians have established that though initially hostile, Hirabai and Akbar grew to admire and respect each other and that was the basis of the long lasting relationship. The author claims no documentation exists with respect to these two chapters, but the truth is plenty do.. the author may not have been able to find them because they were not written by Akbar's chroniclers. They were written by the Rajputs in Raja Bharmal's court who was Hirabai's father..another chronicling blunder made by the author.The descriptions of Anarkali have long been etched in people's mind based on the books written by Akabar's administrators and common folk in the court.
He does get the architectural aspect right brilliantly and I will give him credit for that. But I will take away 2 stars for insufficient description of Akbar's love for arts, knowledge, his famous court , and the enormous blunders with respect to his personal relationships.
Maybe as an Indian, I will tend to be a little harsh with my criticism here. Mr Rutherford has taken some liberties with this book as he mentions in the appendix, and his entire book seems to be based off majorly 2 big resources, both written by Akbar's chroniclers. However his assumptions really fall flat when it comes to two big chapters in Akbar's life. 1. His relationship with his wife Hirabai/ Jodhabai and 2. His son Salim's relationship with Anarkali.
maybe a few more translated documents would have told the author that no one, who has read Moghul history can imagine Anarkali to be blonde or Venetian. A very big mistake when drawing a character and bringing them to life.this was a big mistake. Also assuming that his first wife was hostile with him throughout his life was another major blunder. Historians have established that though initially hostile, Hirabai and Akbar grew to admire and respect each other and that was the basis of the long lasting relationship. The author claims no documentation exists with respect to these two chapters, but the truth is plenty do.. the author may not have been able to find them because they were not written by Akbar's chroniclers. They were written by the Rajputs in Raja Bharmal's court who was Hirabai's father..another chronicling blunder made by the author.The descriptions of Anarkali have long been etched in people's mind based on the books written by Akabar's administrators and common folk in the court.
He does get the architectural aspect right brilliantly and I will give him credit for that. But I will take away 2 stars for insufficient description of Akbar's love for arts, knowledge, his famous court , and the enormous blunders with respect to his personal relationships.
June 2, 2018
This is the third of the Empire of the Moghul series written by a husband and wife team, writing as Alex Rutherford, and so focuses on the reign of the third Emperor, the Great Mughal, Akbar. Akbar was the first of the Mughals to be born in India, and like his grandfather Babur, the founder of the Empire, was placed on the throne at only thirteen, and has to learn to take charge very early in life, though he has with him as regent, his Khan-e-Khana, the very able Bairam Khan. Eager to take absolute power into his own hands, he unwittingly becomes a pawn in a plot to get Bairam Khan out of the way and the latter is killed. From this experience and others, as well as his father’s before him, Akbar discovers at a very young age, that no one, even people he considers closest to himself cannot be trusted, a lesson that affects all his relationships in the future, including with his sons. Akbar goes on to expand the Mughal empire in all directions, leading campaigns, adding to his kingdom’s coffers, entering new political alliances through his various marriages, building cities and monuments, rewarding the loyal, but brutal with traitors. Alongside, he makes a place for himself in his people’s hearts, abolishing religious taxes, dispensing justice, and trying to make the plane equal for people of all faiths (much to the chagrin of some of his religious advisers). Though Akbar never learnt to read, he was interested in all manner of knowledge, and went on to create his own ‘religion’ the Din-i-Ilahi, open to members of all faiths. His personal life, however, remained difficult, and when his children, especially Salim begin to grow up and want responsibility, Akbar finds himself unable to understand this or delegate any to them leading to much misunderstanding, even seeds of revolt.
I haven’t actually been reading this series in order. While I started with book 1, I read book 4, on Jahangir next because I had just read another book focusing on his story (The Twentieth Wife) and wanted to see how they two accounts compared. Then I picked up this one, but since I have a rough idea of each of these emperor’s reigns and how the transfer of power happened, it didn’t affect my reading so much. Each can be read on its own as well but I guess it would make more sense to go in order. I quite enjoyed this instalment in the series, the authors’ interpretation of Akbar’s life and reign, especially his public life and role versus his life with his family. In these books I noticed both in this instalment and in book 4, how the story is told, although in third person, from the emperor or emperor-to-be’s perspective, and at some point in the book we shift from looking at things through one emperor’s eyes to the next one’s and begin to get involved in his story, take his side even, when at the beginning we were following and ‘supporting’ his predecessor. I kind of like how this happens so subtly that one doesn’t really realise till later. But of course this also means that every other character, we get to see only through the eyes and mind of the person we are following, so while for instance, here we get an idea of what is going through Akbar’s or Salim’s mind, we never see what he other sons Daniyal and Murad were thinking, or what their reactions to events was, or for that matter of his ministers, or of the ladies of the family—what we see of them is through the eyes and mind (and interactions of these characters). And also once we shift to Salim’s perspective, we begin to see Akbar through his eyes, and Akbar’s own thoughts and perspective becomes closed to us. I also found some of the authors’ explanations of some events in Akbar’s life interesting—like his inability to read being interpreted as a form of dyslexia (quite possible). The Anarkali/Salim story was somewhat similar to the interpretation in the Twentieth Wife (revenge rather than love) but the Salim/Mehrunissa story was somewhat different though the feelings captured similar. The battle/war scenes were a little too vivid for my liking, especially where animals being hurt was involved but of course, this was how things would have been, and one can’t simply close one’s eyes to it completely. This was as much a part of their lives as the opulence and grandeur, and as much as the personal aspects of their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this very readable instalment and look forward to reading the other three as well.
I haven’t actually been reading this series in order. While I started with book 1, I read book 4, on Jahangir next because I had just read another book focusing on his story (The Twentieth Wife) and wanted to see how they two accounts compared. Then I picked up this one, but since I have a rough idea of each of these emperor’s reigns and how the transfer of power happened, it didn’t affect my reading so much. Each can be read on its own as well but I guess it would make more sense to go in order. I quite enjoyed this instalment in the series, the authors’ interpretation of Akbar’s life and reign, especially his public life and role versus his life with his family. In these books I noticed both in this instalment and in book 4, how the story is told, although in third person, from the emperor or emperor-to-be’s perspective, and at some point in the book we shift from looking at things through one emperor’s eyes to the next one’s and begin to get involved in his story, take his side even, when at the beginning we were following and ‘supporting’ his predecessor. I kind of like how this happens so subtly that one doesn’t really realise till later. But of course this also means that every other character, we get to see only through the eyes and mind of the person we are following, so while for instance, here we get an idea of what is going through Akbar’s or Salim’s mind, we never see what he other sons Daniyal and Murad were thinking, or what their reactions to events was, or for that matter of his ministers, or of the ladies of the family—what we see of them is through the eyes and mind (and interactions of these characters). And also once we shift to Salim’s perspective, we begin to see Akbar through his eyes, and Akbar’s own thoughts and perspective becomes closed to us. I also found some of the authors’ explanations of some events in Akbar’s life interesting—like his inability to read being interpreted as a form of dyslexia (quite possible). The Anarkali/Salim story was somewhat similar to the interpretation in the Twentieth Wife (revenge rather than love) but the Salim/Mehrunissa story was somewhat different though the feelings captured similar. The battle/war scenes were a little too vivid for my liking, especially where animals being hurt was involved but of course, this was how things would have been, and one can’t simply close one’s eyes to it completely. This was as much a part of their lives as the opulence and grandeur, and as much as the personal aspects of their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this very readable instalment and look forward to reading the other three as well.
November 23, 2016
ভারতবর্ষের ইতিহাসের অসংখ্য শাসকের মাঝে মাত্র দুজনকে দ্যা গ্রেট উপাধী দেয়া হয়। তাদের মাঝে একজন ছিলেন সম্রাট আকবর। দীর্ঘ ৫০ বছর ধরে শুধু ভারতবর্ষকে শাসন করার জন্য নয়, বরং সম্রাট আকবরকে গ্রেট বলা হয় তাঁর শাসনামলে গৃহীত বিচক্ষণ সিদ্ধান্তগুলোর জন্য, যার প্রতিফলন আজ প্রায় চারশো বছর পরেও ভারতবর্ষের মাটিতে উজ্জ্বল হয়ে আছে।
সম্রাট আকবরের পূর্ণ নাম ছিল আব্দুল-ফথ জালাল উদ্দিন মোহাম্মদ আকবর। পিতা সম্রাট হুমায়ূনের আকস্মিক মৃত্যুর পর আকবর হিমু নামের এক সেনাপতির বিশ্বাসঘাতকায় অল্প সময়ের সিংহাসন হারান। কিন্তু মাত্র প্রধান সেনাপতি এবং অভিভাবক বৈরাম খানের সহযোগিতায় মাত্র তের বছর বয়সে তিনি পুনরায় ১৫৫৬ সালে সিংহাসন আহরণ করেন। কিন্তু উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষী আকবরের সিদ্ধান্তগুলোকে বৈরাম খান বার বার প্রভাবিত করার চেষ্টা করলে আকবর তাঁকে হজ্ব করার উদ্দেশ্য ভারতবর্ষ ত্যাগ করতে বলে। পথে আততায়ীদের আক্রমণে ১৫৬১ সালে বৈরাম খান নিহত হন। কোন উপযুক্ত প্রমাণ না থাকলেও অনেক ইতিহাসবিদ ধারনা করে এই হত্যাকান্ডের পিছনের সম্রাট আকবরের ভূমিকা ছিল। অতঃপর সম্রাট আকবরের দুধ ভাই আধম খান সম্রাট সাথে বিশ্বাসঘাতকা করলে আজীবন সম্রাট আর কাউকে বিশ্বাস করতে পারেননি। এমনকি নিজের সন্তানদেরকেও না।
আকবরের শাসনকাল তাঁর বিচক্ষণতার কারণে মোটামুটি মসৃণভাবে অতিবাহিত হয়েছিলো। তিনি শাসক হিসাবে ছিলেন উদার এবং দূরদৃষ্টিসম্পন্ন। রাজপুতদের শক্তির বিরুদ্ধে না গিয়ে তিনি তাদের দিকে মিত্রতার হাত এগিয়ে দেন। অ্যালেক্স র্যাদারফোর্ড উনাদের বইতে যোধবাঈকে তাঁর পুত্রবধূ, সেলিমের স্ত্রী হিসাবে উপস্থাপন করা হলেও অনেক ইতিহাসবিদ তাঁকে আকবরের স্ত্রী হিসাবে দাবী করে। সম্রাট আকবর একাধিক হিন্দু রাজপুত রাজকন্যাকে বিবাহ করেছিলেন। এছাড়াও সম্রাটের অনেক পত্নী এবং উপপত্নী ছিল। সম্রাটের স্থপতি তুহিন দাশ ফতেহপুর সিক্রিতে যে হেরেমের নির্মাণ করেন সেখানে একসাথে পাঁচশো রমনীর বসবাসের ব্যবস্থা ছিল। অনেকের মতে আকবরের হেরেমের নারীর প্রকৃত সংখ্যা ছিল প্রায় পাঁচ হাজার। আকবর সব ধর্মের মানুষকে সমান মর্যাদা প্রদানে বিশ্বাসী ছিলেন। অম্বরের রাজা ভগবান দাসের পুত্র মানসিংহ ছিল তাঁর বিশাল সেনাবাহিনীর প্রধান সেনাপতি। এছাড়া রাজা টোডর মল্ল ছিল আকবরের অর্থমন্ত্রী। আকবরের বহু সাফল্যে মাঝে একজন রাজপুত শাসক তাঁর সমগ্র জীবনে কাটার মত বিঁধে ছিল। তিনি ছিলে মেওয়ারের শাসক মহারানা উদয় সিং। চিতর দুর্গ আকবর দখল করে নিলে উদয়পুর থেকে তিনি মেওয়ার শাসন করেছেন এবং কখনো মোঘলদের কাছে বশ্যতা স্বীকার করেননি।
সম্রাট আকবরের জীবন সবচেয়ে বড় তিক্ততার স্বাদ লাভ করেন তাঁর নিজের জৈষ্ঠ্য পুত্র সেলিমের ( পরবর্তী সম্রাট জাহাঙ্গীর) নিকট থেকে। প্রশাসনিক ক্ষমতার ভাগ না দেবার কারণে সেলিম অনেক হিংসাপরায়ণ পদক্ষেপ গ্রহন করেছিলেন। এগুলো মধ্যে প্রখ্যাত আইন-ই-আকবরী গ্রন্থের লেখকে সম্রাট আকবরের সবথেকে ঘনিষ্ঠ মিত্র আবুল ফজলকে হত্যা করা। সেলিম আবুল ফজলকে তাঁর আর সম্রাট আকবরের মাঝে সবথেকে বড় প্রতিবন্ধকতা মনে করতেন। এছাড়াও সেলিম নিজের পিতার হেরেমের রক্ষিতাদের উপর নজর ছিল বলে জানা যায়। এমনকি সেলিম এলাহাবাদে পঞ্চাশ হাজার মোগল সৈনিকদের সমাবেত করে বিদ্রোহ করার চেষ্টা করে। সেলিমের অন্যতম একটি অদ্ভুত দিক ছিল নিজের পুত্র এবং সম্রাট আকবরের নাতি খসরুর বিরুদ্ধে সিংহাসনের জন্য প্রতিযোগতা করা। আকবর তাঁর দুই পুত্র এবং জেষ্ঠ্য নাতিদের ব্যবহারে অসন্তুষ্ট হয়ে কনিষ্ঠ নাতি খুররমের ( জাহাঙ্গীরের পরবর্তী সম্রাট শাহজাহান ) প্রতি দুর্বল হয়েছিলেন। এমনকি খুররমের প্রতিপালনও নাকি সম্রাট আকবর ��িজে করেছিলেন। অবশ্য ৬৩ বছর বয়সে ১৬০৫ সালে আকবর মৃত্যুর আগে সেলিমকেই সম্রাট হিসাবে নির্বাচন করে যান।
ব্যক্তিগত অভিমতঃ
রুলার অভ দা ওয়ার্ল্ড বইটি অ্যাালেক্স রাদারফোর্ডের মোগল সিরিজের তৃতীয় বই। এর বইটির কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র সম্রাট আকবর। বইটিতে কিছুক্ষেত্রে পর্যাপ্ত তথ্য অনুপস্থিতি মনে হবার কারণে বাড়তি কিছু তথ্য সংযুক্ত করলাম।
ইতিহাসবিদদের মতে সম্রাট আকরব অশিক্ষিত ছিলেন। তিনি লিখতে কিংবা পড়তে জানতেন না। কিন্তু তাই বলে তিনি জ্ঞান আহরণে উদাসীন ছিলেন না। তিনি তাঁর পরিচারকদের দিয়ে নিজের ধর্মের কিতাবের পাশাপাশি হিন্দু ধর্মের রামায়ণ, উপনিষদ এমনকি ক্যাথলিকদের বাইবেল সম্পর্কে ধারনা লাভের চেষ্টা করেছিলেন।
একই সাথে সম্রাট আকবর নিষ্ঠুর এবং উদারতার উদাহরণ ছিলেন। ভারতবর্ষের দুই তৃতী য়াংশ অঞ্চল জুড়ে তাঁর সম্রাজ্যের বিস্তার ছিল সেখানে প্রায় ১২ কোটি মানুষ বাস করতো। তিনি তাঁর বিশাল হিন্দু জনতার জন্য যেসকল ব্যবস্থা গ্রহন করেছিলেন সেগুলো আজও অসাম্প্রদায়িকার দৃষ্টান্ত হিসাবে গন্য করা হয়। তাঁর মধ্যে হিন্দু তীর্থ যাত্রীদের তীর্থকর প্রত্যাহার করা অন্যতম। তিনি সতীদাহ প্রথার বিরুদ্ধে সোচ্চার ছিলেন। তিনি প্রথম বাংলাদেশে ফসলের উত্তম ফলনের জন্য বাংলা পঞ্জিকা প্রনয়ণ করেন। তিনি প্রথম বিশ্বে ইটের তৈরি ভবন নির্মাণ প্রচলন করেন। তিনি পর্তুগাল এবং ইংরেজদের ভারতবর্ষে বানিজ্য করার অনুমতি প্রদান করেন। তিনি বহুত্ববাধে বিশ্বাস করতেন। তাই তিনি দিন-এ-এলাহী নামে সকল ধর্মের সংমিশ্রণে এক নতুন ধর্মের প্রচলন করেছিলেন।
সর্বোপরি সম্রাট আকবর এক বিশাল হৃদয়ের মানুষ ছিলেন। তিনি তাঁর প্রজাদের নিজের সন্তানের অধিক ভালোবাসতেন। তিনি নিজেকে উত্তর থেকে আগত কোন উদ্ধাস্তু নয় বরং ভারতবর্ষের সন্তান ভাবতে বেশি স্বাচ্ছন্দ্যবোধ করতেন। তিনি মোগলদের শুধু শ্রেষ্ঠ শাসক ছিলেন না তিনি সমগ্র ভারতের ইতিহাসের শ্রেষ্ঠ সম্রাট ছিলেন।
সম্রাট আকবরের পূর্ণ নাম ছিল আব্দুল-ফথ জালাল উদ্দিন মোহাম্মদ আকবর। পিতা সম্রাট হুমায়ূনের আকস্মিক মৃত্যুর পর আকবর হিমু নামের এক সেনাপতির বিশ্বাসঘাতকায় অল্প সময়ের সিংহাসন হারান। কিন্তু মাত্র প্রধান সেনাপতি এবং অভিভাবক বৈরাম খানের সহযোগিতায় মাত্র তের বছর বয়সে তিনি পুনরায় ১৫৫৬ সালে সিংহাসন আহরণ করেন। কিন্তু উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষী আকবরের সিদ্ধান্তগুলোকে বৈরাম খান বার বার প্রভাবিত করার চেষ্টা করলে আকবর তাঁকে হজ্ব করার উদ্দেশ্য ভারতবর্ষ ত্যাগ করতে বলে। পথে আততায়ীদের আক্রমণে ১৫৬১ সালে বৈরাম খান নিহত হন। কোন উপযুক্ত প্রমাণ না থাকলেও অনেক ইতিহাসবিদ ধারনা করে এই হত্যাকান্ডের পিছনের সম্রাট আকবরের ভূমিকা ছিল। অতঃপর সম্রাট আকবরের দুধ ভাই আধম খান সম্রাট সাথে বিশ্বাসঘাতকা করলে আজীবন সম্রাট আর কাউকে বিশ্বাস করতে পারেননি। এমনকি নিজের সন্তানদেরকেও না।
আকবরের শাসনকাল তাঁর বিচক্ষণতার কারণে মোটামুটি মসৃণভাবে অতিবাহিত হয়েছিলো। তিনি শাসক হিসাবে ছিলেন উদার এবং দূরদৃষ্টিসম্পন্ন। রাজপুতদের শক্তির বিরুদ্ধে না গিয়ে তিনি তাদের দিকে মিত্রতার হাত এগিয়ে দেন। অ্যালেক্স র্যাদারফোর্ড উনাদের বইতে যোধবাঈকে তাঁর পুত্রবধূ, সেলিমের স্ত্রী হিসাবে উপস্থাপন করা হলেও অনেক ইতিহাসবিদ তাঁকে আকবরের স্ত্রী হিসাবে দাবী করে। সম্রাট আকবর একাধিক হিন্দু রাজপুত রাজকন্যাকে বিবাহ করেছিলেন। এছাড়াও সম্রাটের অনেক পত্নী এবং উপপত্নী ছিল। সম্রাটের স্থপতি তুহিন দাশ ফতেহপুর সিক্রিতে যে হেরেমের নির্মাণ করেন সেখানে একসাথে পাঁচশো রমনীর বসবাসের ব্যবস্থা ছিল। অনেকের মতে আকবরের হেরেমের নারীর প্রকৃত সংখ্যা ছিল প্রায় পাঁচ হাজার। আকবর সব ধর্মের মানুষকে সমান মর্যাদা প্রদানে বিশ্বাসী ছিলেন। অম্বরের রাজা ভগবান দাসের পুত্র মানসিংহ ছিল তাঁর বিশাল সেনাবাহিনীর প্রধান সেনাপতি। এছাড়া রাজা টোডর মল্ল ছিল আকবরের অর্থমন্ত্রী। আকবরের বহু সাফল্যে মাঝে একজন রাজপুত শাসক তাঁর সমগ্র জীবনে কাটার মত বিঁধে ছিল। তিনি ছিলে মেওয়ারের শাসক মহারানা উদয় সিং। চিতর দুর্গ আকবর দখল করে নিলে উদয়পুর থেকে তিনি মেওয়ার শাসন করেছেন এবং কখনো মোঘলদের কাছে বশ্যতা স্বীকার করেননি।
সম্রাট আকবরের জীবন সবচেয়ে বড় তিক্ততার স্বাদ লাভ করেন তাঁর নিজের জৈষ্ঠ্য পুত্র সেলিমের ( পরবর্তী সম্রাট জাহাঙ্গীর) নিকট থেকে। প্রশাসনিক ক্ষমতার ভাগ না দেবার কারণে সেলিম অনেক হিংসাপরায়ণ পদক্ষেপ গ্রহন করেছিলেন। এগুলো মধ্যে প্রখ্যাত আইন-ই-আকবরী গ্রন্থের লেখকে সম্রাট আকবরের সবথেকে ঘনিষ্ঠ মিত্র আবুল ফজলকে হত্যা করা। সেলিম আবুল ফজলকে তাঁর আর সম্রাট আকবরের মাঝে সবথেকে বড় প্রতিবন্ধকতা মনে করতেন। এছাড়াও সেলিম নিজের পিতার হেরেমের রক্ষিতাদের উপর নজর ছিল বলে জানা যায়। এমনকি সেলিম এলাহাবাদে পঞ্চাশ হাজার মোগল সৈনিকদের সমাবেত করে বিদ্রোহ করার চেষ্টা করে। সেলিমের অন্যতম একটি অদ্ভুত দিক ছিল নিজের পুত্র এবং সম্রাট আকবরের নাতি খসরুর বিরুদ্ধে সিংহাসনের জন্য প্রতিযোগতা করা। আকবর তাঁর দুই পুত্র এবং জেষ্ঠ্য নাতিদের ব্যবহারে অসন্তুষ্ট হয়ে কনিষ্ঠ নাতি খুররমের ( জাহাঙ্গীরের পরবর্তী সম্রাট শাহজাহান ) প্রতি দুর্বল হয়েছিলেন। এমনকি খুররমের প্রতিপালনও নাকি সম্রাট আকবর ��িজে করেছিলেন। অবশ্য ৬৩ বছর বয়সে ১৬০৫ সালে আকবর মৃত্যুর আগে সেলিমকেই সম্রাট হিসাবে নির্বাচন করে যান।
ব্যক্তিগত অভিমতঃ
রুলার অভ দা ওয়ার্ল্ড বইটি অ্যাালেক্স রাদারফোর্ডের মোগল সিরিজের তৃতীয় বই। এর বইটির কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র সম্রাট আকবর। বইটিতে কিছুক্ষেত্রে পর্যাপ্ত তথ্য অনুপস্থিতি মনে হবার কারণে বাড়তি কিছু তথ্য সংযুক্ত করলাম।
ইতিহাসবিদদের মতে সম্রাট আকরব অশিক্ষিত ছিলেন। তিনি লিখতে কিংবা পড়তে জানতেন না। কিন্তু তাই বলে তিনি জ্ঞান আহরণে উদাসীন ছিলেন না। তিনি তাঁর পরিচারকদের দিয়ে নিজের ধর্মের কিতাবের পাশাপাশি হিন্দু ধর্মের রামায়ণ, উপনিষদ এমনকি ক্যাথলিকদের বাইবেল সম্পর্কে ধারনা লাভের চেষ্টা করেছিলেন।
একই সাথে সম্রাট আকবর নিষ্ঠুর এবং উদারতার উদাহরণ ছিলেন। ভারতবর্ষের দুই তৃতী য়াংশ অঞ্চল জুড়ে তাঁর সম্রাজ্যের বিস্তার ছিল সেখানে প্রায় ১২ কোটি মানুষ বাস করতো। তিনি তাঁর বিশাল হিন্দু জনতার জন্য যেসকল ব্যবস্থা গ্রহন করেছিলেন সেগুলো আজও অসাম্প্রদায়িকার দৃষ্টান্ত হিসাবে গন্য করা হয়। তাঁর মধ্যে হিন্দু তীর্থ যাত্রীদের তীর্থকর প্রত্যাহার করা অন্যতম। তিনি সতীদাহ প্রথার বিরুদ্ধে সোচ্চার ছিলেন। তিনি প্রথম বাংলাদেশে ফসলের উত্তম ফলনের জন্য বাংলা পঞ্জিকা প্রনয়ণ করেন। তিনি প্রথম বিশ্বে ইটের তৈরি ভবন নির্মাণ প্রচলন করেন। তিনি পর্তুগাল এবং ইংরেজদের ভারতবর্ষে বানিজ্য করার অনুমতি প্রদান করেন। তিনি বহুত্ববাধে বিশ্বাস করতেন। তাই তিনি দিন-এ-এলাহী নামে সকল ধর্মের সংমিশ্রণে এক নতুন ধর্মের প্রচলন করেছিলেন।
সর্বোপরি সম্রাট আকবর এক বিশাল হৃদয়ের মানুষ ছিলেন। তিনি তাঁর প্রজাদের নিজের সন্তানের অধিক ভালোবাসতেন। তিনি নিজেকে উত্তর থেকে আগত কোন উদ্ধাস্তু নয় বরং ভারতবর্ষের সন্তান ভাবতে বেশি স্বাচ্ছন্দ্যবোধ করতেন। তিনি মোগলদের শুধু শ্রেষ্ঠ শাসক ছিলেন না তিনি সমগ্র ভারতের ইতিহাসের শ্রেষ্ঠ সম্রাট ছিলেন।
December 31, 2011
After the momentum that was built up by the first two books in the series (Raiders from the North and Brothers At War), Ruler of the World proved to be one big disappointment.This book was supposed to be based on the life and times of Akbar- the greatest of all the Moghul rulers whose reign lasted for over fifty years. Akbar's life and achievements provide a lot of inputs for an excellent story. And yet this book deals with Akbar's life in a fleeting manner choosing instead to dwell on his son Salim's early years instead. The war scenes seemed repetitive and overall it was dull reading. The book seemed to have been hurriedly written in order to cash in on the positive response generated from the earlier two books. This book can clearly be avoided, your time can be better spent in reading some other better historical novel.
May 13, 2019
I did not liked this book much. The book should focus more on Akbar rather than his son Salim. It also had no mention for Ruqiya Sultan except just one line. She should also have been a focal point of his life as she played an important part in his harem. Also the book depicted his cold behavior towards his first Hindu wife Jodha, but its completely wrong. Initially they had their differences but she soon excepted him as his husband. Also little is mentioned about his victory. The story could have been more interesting. Also there was no mention of Birbal.
December 24, 2014
I read two of his books and got bored with this, the third one. Too repetitive. People should stop writing trilogies.
May 4, 2018
Boring Akbar
February 20, 2020
The book captures the conquests and troubles of Akbar as an emperor well. However, midway it flips the attention to a different character. In my opinion the book provides half and sometimes wrong information about the Mughal empire.
Its again a nice dramatized version of the life of Akbar and Salim. I wouldn’t consider it historically accurate. But its a simple read if going through history books about Akbar seems boring.
Its again a nice dramatized version of the life of Akbar and Salim. I wouldn’t consider it historically accurate. But its a simple read if going through history books about Akbar seems boring.
October 22, 2015
Between the rise and fall of an empire, there are monster waves of turbulent times and idyllic periods of prosperity and general well being. During the turbulent times, the men or women who lead the nation are either venerated as heroes or despised as tyrants. On the other hand, the ruler of a nation at a period of prosperity is always seen as wise, just and upon reflection is suffused with a superhuman aura. For the Mughal dynasty, such a place of honor was reserved for Emperor Akbar. Not many people in India would dispute the fact that he was a visionary ruler and an even greater warrior. The Mughals during Akbar’s time reached pinnacles in the fields of military conquests, architecture, art and also in general administration. The emperor (or some of his shrewder officials) can also be credited with the creation of a more disciplined, structured and hierarchical way of running the empire in the most efficient way. He had a large retinue of wives, most of whom he married to secure dynastic support and allegiances from various clans rather than marital pleasures. Akbar also happened to be the first Mughal emperor with whom the Europeans appear to have begun discussions with. He is also renowned for his religious tolerance and the willingness to place knowledge and wisdom above all other virtues. The empire was flourishing and Akbar’s was a colorful life full of interesting anecdotes. All of this makes for a really good recipe for historical fiction but compared to the earlier works in this series, this was a letdown for me.
Compared to his father and grandfather, Akbar had things relatively easy for him. The empire was in a relatively stable state and there were armies that he could call up for help. The first real test of his mettle was taking on the usurper Hemu who he defeated and obliterated in the second battle of Panipat. Akbar then set out on conquests which still are gold standard case studies for warfare. He brought the impregnable Rajput fort of Chittor under his heel after months of siege and vanquished the defiant Rana Udai Singh to the Aravalli desert. Akbar was unlike Babur or Humayun in his perspective on the expansion of the empire for he did not resort just to the sword to grow his reign. Diplomacy, tact, marriages and tolerance all played a part in how he nurtured the Mughal rule. While he appears to have been born with dyslexia, he held great esteem for books and had attendants read out books for him every single day. He was also a great patron of the arts and architecture. The only time I have been to Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, it blew my mind with its majesty and elegance. The entire place, the palace and all that is spread around the place was envisioned and completed during Akbar’s reign and the fact that he took the help of Hindu architects to construct this monumental structure will give an idea about the world view that he maintained. I could go on and on but this has begun to sound like a history text book so let me summarize this and say : Akbar was a giant among emperors who have ruled India. For all these virtues, he was not a great family man or someone inclined to think beyond his children not as individuals but heirs to the throne.
After the first two books, I was really looking forward to a fictional portrayal of Akbar’s life and times. The first quarter of the book is splendidly done with Akbar’s campaigns across Rajasthan, Gujrat and Bengal. This all derails when his first son Salim is born. From this point on, the story mainly goes according to Salim’s POV and Akbar becomes an imposing figure in the background. This to me took away the entire joy of reading for instead of reading about Akbar, I got to read about the whims, fantasies and youthful brashness of Salim. Also since Salim takes over from Akbar as the next emperor Jahangir there is already another book in this series about him. I am not entirely sure why the author(s) had to devote so much time to him in this book. There is also the massive creative liberty that the authors take with the love affair between Salim and Anarkali which was stretching imagination a little too far. It is by no means a badly written book but to my expectation of reading a book about Akbar, this one failed.
From the reign of Jahangir on, the Mughals were in a steady period of decline and that I believe would make for interesting reading.
Compared to his father and grandfather, Akbar had things relatively easy for him. The empire was in a relatively stable state and there were armies that he could call up for help. The first real test of his mettle was taking on the usurper Hemu who he defeated and obliterated in the second battle of Panipat. Akbar then set out on conquests which still are gold standard case studies for warfare. He brought the impregnable Rajput fort of Chittor under his heel after months of siege and vanquished the defiant Rana Udai Singh to the Aravalli desert. Akbar was unlike Babur or Humayun in his perspective on the expansion of the empire for he did not resort just to the sword to grow his reign. Diplomacy, tact, marriages and tolerance all played a part in how he nurtured the Mughal rule. While he appears to have been born with dyslexia, he held great esteem for books and had attendants read out books for him every single day. He was also a great patron of the arts and architecture. The only time I have been to Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, it blew my mind with its majesty and elegance. The entire place, the palace and all that is spread around the place was envisioned and completed during Akbar’s reign and the fact that he took the help of Hindu architects to construct this monumental structure will give an idea about the world view that he maintained. I could go on and on but this has begun to sound like a history text book so let me summarize this and say : Akbar was a giant among emperors who have ruled India. For all these virtues, he was not a great family man or someone inclined to think beyond his children not as individuals but heirs to the throne.
After the first two books, I was really looking forward to a fictional portrayal of Akbar’s life and times. The first quarter of the book is splendidly done with Akbar’s campaigns across Rajasthan, Gujrat and Bengal. This all derails when his first son Salim is born. From this point on, the story mainly goes according to Salim’s POV and Akbar becomes an imposing figure in the background. This to me took away the entire joy of reading for instead of reading about Akbar, I got to read about the whims, fantasies and youthful brashness of Salim. Also since Salim takes over from Akbar as the next emperor Jahangir there is already another book in this series about him. I am not entirely sure why the author(s) had to devote so much time to him in this book. There is also the massive creative liberty that the authors take with the love affair between Salim and Anarkali which was stretching imagination a little too far. It is by no means a badly written book but to my expectation of reading a book about Akbar, this one failed.
From the reign of Jahangir on, the Mughals were in a steady period of decline and that I believe would make for interesting reading.
May 5, 2012
The third in Alex Rutherford's 'Empire of the Moghul', and the one that focuses on the greatest Mughal of them all - Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar. The first Mughal to be born in Hindustan (technically Pakistan now) and crowned emperor at the age of 13 on the death of his father Humayun.
His early years were lived in the shadow of his trusted advisor Bairam Khan, who as time went on, Akbar began to resent.
This was probably the first of Akbar's failed close relationships - a theme that comes out in the book quite clearly. Except for his mother, and his aunt, Akbar's relationships - be it with his milk mother and brother, sons, wives were cordial at best. His early experiences made it difficult for him to trust people, but that did not deter him from creating an empire that stood the test of time, and gaining the respect and admiration of his subjects. The only exception to this mistrust was Abul Fazl, who though has been shown in a slightly negative light himself, should be thanked for elaborately chronicling the details of everything that happened in Akbar's life. This assumes greater importance because it was an important period in India's history, in terms of trade, relations with neighbours, Christian missionaries arriving in India and so on.
Indeed, it was probably due to Abul Fazl that Akbar's relationship with his eldest son Salim became as strained as it did. The book explores this relationship between father and son quite well. Feuds between brothers had been common in Mughal succession, but in this case, Salim felt his father was blocking him from inheriting what was rightfully his. It was only thanks to his grandmother Hamida - Akbar's mother - that things were always settled amicably.
Though displaying several vices, Salim is shown to rise above them, many a time thanks to Suleiman Beg, his close friend, but forever feels let down by his father - a mutual feeling. This would probably prove to be a hereditary curse as the end of the book shows a strained relationship between Jahangir (the name Salim adopts) and his son Khusrau.
The book focuses as much on Salim as Akbar himself. In fact, the military, political, administrative and other contributions that Akbar made have been underplayed a bit. Towards the end, Salim's frustrations and Akbar's mismanagement of his son cause many more fissures - the Anarkali episode, rebellion etc.
It also captures Akbar as a person - his failings as a father, a hint of megalomania especially when he goes on to start his own faith, his illiteracy, in addition to his sense of justice and fairness, his readiness to work alongside labourers, his love for his grandsons and so on.
I liked this book more than its predecessors, because though it probably doesn't do justice to the greatness of Akbar as much as I'd have liked it to, (the author does note that he has omitted events and timescales)the narrative is gripping and never falters.
His early years were lived in the shadow of his trusted advisor Bairam Khan, who as time went on, Akbar began to resent.
This was probably the first of Akbar's failed close relationships - a theme that comes out in the book quite clearly. Except for his mother, and his aunt, Akbar's relationships - be it with his milk mother and brother, sons, wives were cordial at best. His early experiences made it difficult for him to trust people, but that did not deter him from creating an empire that stood the test of time, and gaining the respect and admiration of his subjects. The only exception to this mistrust was Abul Fazl, who though has been shown in a slightly negative light himself, should be thanked for elaborately chronicling the details of everything that happened in Akbar's life. This assumes greater importance because it was an important period in India's history, in terms of trade, relations with neighbours, Christian missionaries arriving in India and so on.
Indeed, it was probably due to Abul Fazl that Akbar's relationship with his eldest son Salim became as strained as it did. The book explores this relationship between father and son quite well. Feuds between brothers had been common in Mughal succession, but in this case, Salim felt his father was blocking him from inheriting what was rightfully his. It was only thanks to his grandmother Hamida - Akbar's mother - that things were always settled amicably.
Though displaying several vices, Salim is shown to rise above them, many a time thanks to Suleiman Beg, his close friend, but forever feels let down by his father - a mutual feeling. This would probably prove to be a hereditary curse as the end of the book shows a strained relationship between Jahangir (the name Salim adopts) and his son Khusrau.
The book focuses as much on Salim as Akbar himself. In fact, the military, political, administrative and other contributions that Akbar made have been underplayed a bit. Towards the end, Salim's frustrations and Akbar's mismanagement of his son cause many more fissures - the Anarkali episode, rebellion etc.
It also captures Akbar as a person - his failings as a father, a hint of megalomania especially when he goes on to start his own faith, his illiteracy, in addition to his sense of justice and fairness, his readiness to work alongside labourers, his love for his grandsons and so on.
I liked this book more than its predecessors, because though it probably doesn't do justice to the greatness of Akbar as much as I'd have liked it to, (the author does note that he has omitted events and timescales)the narrative is gripping and never falters.
July 14, 2012
Unlike the previous two installments of the "Empire of the Moghul" Series, this one fails to impress. While the major events of Akbar's life are covered - the regency of Bhairam Khan, the murder of Adam Khan, the campaigns -Chittorgarh, Gujarat, Bengal and Kashmir, Abul Fazl's chronicling and his eventual murder by Salim, the Din-illahi proclamation, Anarkali's doomed life and of course Salim's revolt; the narration is too bland to arrest one's attention and at times becomes tedious too. Will nevertheless read the sequel :)
July 5, 2015
No one can believe that any book can be written without mentioning of "Birbal", "Tansen" and Akbar's love towards Art and Music. Here writer failed to mention them and also his "Navratans". I am really disappointed by writer and his lack of research towards Akbar's reign. It was his wise advisers who were given the title of "Navratans" based on their talent and helped him to get the title of "Ruler of the World".
March 29, 2013
None of the charisma that the first 2 books generated is present here. The narrative is very speedy and does not engage the reader at all. The author has packed the stories of Akbar and Jahangir together and has done justice to neither.
January 22, 2022
The opulence and magnanimity of Akbar's reign is the leitmotif of this book. The pace is slow relative to the previous works of the author and hugely revolves around akbar and salim relationship. It could have been more interesting if akbar had got the more detailed part in the novel.
May 21, 2019
The book is about the story of Akbar and his son Salim. The first chapters are really interesting and engaging as and when akbar regains the control of the empire at a small age. How he is manipulated and how he deals with his commanders. Once he establishes his reign then it is just about him ruling and salim trying to do everything to be in his good books. Despite salims desperate efforts salim would never get akbars appraisal and key appoinments. However salim had also made some terrible mistakes and just being a prince only saved him from being decapitated. The end is not as interesting as the start of the book but the writer has done justice by detailing the court affairs and very moments of decision making in the Akbars court. Finally salim gets the throne but at a very old age as compared to his father. His own son is big enough for revolts with his father. The writer tried to end the book with a high as a revolt taking place against salim but that was not very involving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2025
An absorbing History of Akbar’s reign which also covers his relationship with his sons (especially Salim/Jahangir) and his grandsons. This volume of the “Empire of The Moghul” series covers Akbar’s reign and ends with Jahangir’s coronation as Moghul emperor.
September 15, 2017
not as great as the first two but still fantastic. sometimes the dramatic fight sequences are too filmy.. author could have kept it more real.. anyway great book overall
July 28, 2020
I have been wondering these past 24 hours on how to frame my review for the Ruler of the World. My feelings are ambivalent. There is so much I didn’t like and yet this is one of those books that I am glad to have read, one that has made something of an impact in a mind eager to absorb as much historical information as it can, even if fictionally served.
Arguably the most awaited read from the series on the back of the most accomplished of the Mughal rulers who star in this collection of tales. And yet it is perhaps this very reason that makes any attempt at explaining or depicting Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar’s life vulnerable to criticism. If the stories of the Mughal era are all pervasive in the Indian culture, Akbar and his tales take centre stage in that narrative. The romance of a film evidently more fantasy than fact, the jest of the animated ruler and his clever companion that makes for most of the wonder years of an Indian raised child or the wonderous recollection of the nine gems in a most glorious court - pop culture is full of references and deeply embedded stories and little tales. Embellishing this intangible fabric of a nations culture is architecture of equally if not more stunning proportions. How could any tale that doesn’t even acknowledge his given (not taken) name even come close to doing justice to my expectations)
And now that I have expressed the most annoying niggle - here is one more - a close second. Why did the author couple decide to change the perspective mid journey to show us more of Salim. Was the lens of a ruler who lived a full life suddenly not interesting enough because of how uneventfully successful he truly was? Is suffering, resentment, rebellion and treachery so much more amenable to the writer’s ministrations. Perhaps I answer my own questions.
And then there is the liberty of Anarkali’s Venetian origin, the omission of the brilliance of Akbar’s court and its many colourful residents, the unbelievable yet unshakeable western obsession with the sexual escapades of Mughal rulers and the unmatched lure of the imperial haram (which might I recommend reading Daughters of the Sun by Ira Mukhoty if one does want to truly understand and explore)
There is much to rue at the end of this read. And yet, I find myself primed to pick up the next instalment. To follow Salim as he dons the garb of Jahangir, to find out how his life inextricably weaves with Mehrunissa’s, to accompany her as she transforms to Nur Jahan - a woman of unmatched character in a dynasty that hides her gender behind veils and walls.
Perhaps the stars are not really so much about the author at all. Perhaps a reader with imagination will find a way to dream even as she kicks and screams in protest.
Arguably the most awaited read from the series on the back of the most accomplished of the Mughal rulers who star in this collection of tales. And yet it is perhaps this very reason that makes any attempt at explaining or depicting Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar’s life vulnerable to criticism. If the stories of the Mughal era are all pervasive in the Indian culture, Akbar and his tales take centre stage in that narrative. The romance of a film evidently more fantasy than fact, the jest of the animated ruler and his clever companion that makes for most of the wonder years of an Indian raised child or the wonderous recollection of the nine gems in a most glorious court - pop culture is full of references and deeply embedded stories and little tales. Embellishing this intangible fabric of a nations culture is architecture of equally if not more stunning proportions. How could any tale that doesn’t even acknowledge his given (not taken) name even come close to doing justice to my expectations)
And now that I have expressed the most annoying niggle - here is one more - a close second. Why did the author couple decide to change the perspective mid journey to show us more of Salim. Was the lens of a ruler who lived a full life suddenly not interesting enough because of how uneventfully successful he truly was? Is suffering, resentment, rebellion and treachery so much more amenable to the writer’s ministrations. Perhaps I answer my own questions.
And then there is the liberty of Anarkali’s Venetian origin, the omission of the brilliance of Akbar’s court and its many colourful residents, the unbelievable yet unshakeable western obsession with the sexual escapades of Mughal rulers and the unmatched lure of the imperial haram (which might I recommend reading Daughters of the Sun by Ira Mukhoty if one does want to truly understand and explore)
There is much to rue at the end of this read. And yet, I find myself primed to pick up the next instalment. To follow Salim as he dons the garb of Jahangir, to find out how his life inextricably weaves with Mehrunissa’s, to accompany her as she transforms to Nur Jahan - a woman of unmatched character in a dynasty that hides her gender behind veils and walls.
Perhaps the stars are not really so much about the author at all. Perhaps a reader with imagination will find a way to dream even as she kicks and screams in protest.
Read
May 5, 2022When we think of the Mughal emperor Akbar, what we usually think of is, “Akbar, the Great!”. In fact, even the name Akbar implies the meaning “great”.
Withal, in reality, emperor Akbar’s life was not ‘all-great’. Rather, it was a bittersweet symphony playing somewhere between a trumpeter's buzzing tunes of achievement and a sitarist’s mellow drones of loneliness. But of course, a stark personification of greatness, it was, though.
Akbar’s father, Humayun, died as abruptly as an avalanche, one evening in Delhi’s Red Fort a.k.a. Purana Qila. He was only twelve-years old at the time of his father’s death.
This was the time when the Moghuls were only re-settling their empire in the Hindustan provinces. Their rule was still quite vulnerable to threats. And so, to protect this boy emperor from a giant score of enemies lurking everywhere around them, Akbar was hidden from the view of the public and secretly ridden away from the fortress by his mother Hamida Bano Begum, his aunt Gulbadan Begum and his father’s khan-i-khanan, Bairam Khan.
Very similar to his grandfather Babur’s secret crowning ceremony, the khutba for Akbar too, was read in a secret affair, proclaiming him the third Moghul emperor. Yet, unlike Babur, there was no trace of fear that he was feeling. He was already well-trained in the business of kingship and well-accustomed to these lands of Hindustan. These were the lands, after all, where Akbar was born. His flesh and blood were made of the very soil and water of here, where he was birthed.
With the supporting aid of his father’s loyal regent Bairam Khan, Akbar was able to re-gain the fortress of Delhi, snatching it from the hands of a man Hemu at his victory in the Second Battle of Panipat against him.
True to his name, Akbar was a man of deep-dyed excellence, magnificence and greatness. Prior to him, in the entire timespace of history, no other king had exhibited such a magnetism of perfection as he casted during his rule. Jalal-ud-din Akbar not only proved to be a tipping point for Moghul dynasty, but a game-changer who remained unconquerable, from his previous generation of kings as well as, even from his younger generations and the emperors who succeeded him.
Fond of hunting tigers & leopards, Akbar loved to utilize his imperial power for executing his youthful desire for independence and free-willed decision making. He was unafraid and unmatched, yet a mighty devotee of God. Not merely religion(s), but God.
It is usually said that Akbar was a miraculous child. In his own words, Akbar, one day, was hunting and then immediately he gave up the desire to hunt further anymore. He felt crampy, sweaty and empty-headed. He sat under a tree and asked his courtiers to leave him alone. He shut himself in his fortress’s chambers for a few days, not allowing anyone to see him or speak to him. Then after a few days of seclusion he announced Din-i-illahi, the religion of one god.
He banned cow slaughter; prohibited the practice of sati & jauhar; and introduced the idea that all religions were leading to one and the same god, and no human would be converted to any other religion in the future unwillingly; and all would be granted the freedom of worship. Lover of spirituality, he frequently visited the Sufi mystic Salim Chishti, and only inspired by his name, he named his own eldest son as ‘Salim’ (Jahangir).
Once a Rajput raja presented to him a gift of Upanishads, and Akbar was so fascinated with these texts that he ordered even more scriptures and entire Vedic literature to be added to his library. He even initiated several works of translating these scriptures from Sanskrit to Hindi, Persian, English and other languages. It is usually said that this work of translation was completed by his great-grandson Dara Shukoh, who himself was an open-minded prince and composed his own version commentating on the Vedic texts.
But guess what, Akbar was born dyslexic. That is, he couldn’t read. In his own words, whenever he would face a scroll or a diary scribbled with words, the words appeared to him to dance all around in the space, yet he couldn’t decipher any of its meaning. He couldn’t read or write himself but his curiosity for knowledge, hunger for creativity and thirst for intellectual stimulation caused him to hire a large number of scholars in his fort and build a giant library for himself. One or the other scholar always remained with him, to read to him, books of poetry, spiritual scriptures, religious texts and other books, whenever he would feel like.
A prodigious mind-reformer, Akbar was the first of emperors to hire his own personal writer who documented the chronicles of his everyday life, taking notes and also acting as his advisor, accompanying him everywhere. It was due to his writer-chronicler Abul Fazl, that the diaries of Akbar, named Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari; over forty-thousand pages chronicling his life, were discovered by the future generations.
This novel of historical fiction by Alex Rutherford, also utilizes the extracts from the translated versions of these diaries to craft the scenes as well as the overall storyline.
“Ruler of the World” is the third book in the ‘Empire of the Moghuls’ series. It is centered around the trajectory of Akbar’s life, Akbar, who was the third Mughal emperor following Babur and Humayun respectively.
Apparently, Akbar’s life-story cannot be demonstrated in a sequence, for it was never a continuum of events. Rather, Akbar was a spark of light for the Moghul dynasty who illuminated not only fresh, creative ideas, but also demolished the various destructive superstitions prevailing in the minds of his subjects, as well as bringing light to the truth of spirituality.
Having said that, Akbar discovered himself to be as lonely as the desert sun; never having anybody to share his innermost thoughts and feelings. But the gem of his trust wasn’t concealed until, before it was cracked and shattered by some of those, who, he loved the most.
Soon after his appointment as the emperor, Akbar found out his half-brother Adham Khan guilty of betraying him. Even more so, his foster-mother Maham Anga too, was discovered to be supporting her own son Adham Khan over Akbar, as well as poisoning Akbar’s ears against his own mother Hamida. Followed by these harsh pinpricks, Akbar developed a bitter resistance towards trusting anybody throughout his lifetime. Even his own his sons too…
…the reason why throughout his lifetime, Akbar’s relationship with his children was mostly distant and estranged; lacking in depth and emotional connection if any. At the point of his nearing death, he reflected how he didn’t really know his children, because he never tried to be close to them; except only he competed with them, and his perfection, undoubtedly they couldn’t match.
Also the reason why, driven by a deep jealousy, his son Salim (Jahangir) ordered his chronicle writer Abul Fazl to be killed and his head brought to him, followed by his own campaign of rebellion against Akbar.
Akbar wore the veil of imperial magnificence to hide his deep vulnerability and fear that he felt towards the world as well as his own family.
The novel depicts, factual or fictional can’t be said, that, Akbar had no “real love in his life”, despite having over thousands of women in his fort’s women’s quarters, and hundreds of wives in marriage, a bond which he considered only as useful as a matter of imperial alliance. Nothing more, nothing less.
No wonder, still and all, Akbar remained one of the most powerful kings, not only in the Mughal dynasty, but in the entire history. Not only great spiritual mystics and thought leaders, but also a medley of artists, architects, writers, and traders from all across the world gathered together in his ibadat-khana to contemplate on various topics, reflect upon the nature of life and discuss motleys of innovative ideas. As the title of the book signifies, he truly was the “Ruler of the World”, invading and ruling everywhere from the southern Deccan to the northern Kandhar, and all in between.
There is no shadow of doubt in this….after all,
…generations of kings rose and dissolved. But Akbar’s reign is something which is remembered by the most.
Akbar used to say, very often, that, a king should be like the sun, his magnificence so bright that it would fulfill everyone’s heart, yet too brilliant for anyone to look directly at.
As his saying goes, so was his very own nature. He was a ruler just like that of the sun. So magnificent, yet so full of contradictions to be fully understood by anyone.
To wrap it up all together, I enjoyed the book big-time, not only in context of the storyline but also in terms of galvanizing my own historical curiosity!
http://www.nehasnotebook.com/
Withal, in reality, emperor Akbar’s life was not ‘all-great’. Rather, it was a bittersweet symphony playing somewhere between a trumpeter's buzzing tunes of achievement and a sitarist’s mellow drones of loneliness. But of course, a stark personification of greatness, it was, though.
Akbar’s father, Humayun, died as abruptly as an avalanche, one evening in Delhi’s Red Fort a.k.a. Purana Qila. He was only twelve-years old at the time of his father’s death.
This was the time when the Moghuls were only re-settling their empire in the Hindustan provinces. Their rule was still quite vulnerable to threats. And so, to protect this boy emperor from a giant score of enemies lurking everywhere around them, Akbar was hidden from the view of the public and secretly ridden away from the fortress by his mother Hamida Bano Begum, his aunt Gulbadan Begum and his father’s khan-i-khanan, Bairam Khan.
Very similar to his grandfather Babur’s secret crowning ceremony, the khutba for Akbar too, was read in a secret affair, proclaiming him the third Moghul emperor. Yet, unlike Babur, there was no trace of fear that he was feeling. He was already well-trained in the business of kingship and well-accustomed to these lands of Hindustan. These were the lands, after all, where Akbar was born. His flesh and blood were made of the very soil and water of here, where he was birthed.
With the supporting aid of his father’s loyal regent Bairam Khan, Akbar was able to re-gain the fortress of Delhi, snatching it from the hands of a man Hemu at his victory in the Second Battle of Panipat against him.
True to his name, Akbar was a man of deep-dyed excellence, magnificence and greatness. Prior to him, in the entire timespace of history, no other king had exhibited such a magnetism of perfection as he casted during his rule. Jalal-ud-din Akbar not only proved to be a tipping point for Moghul dynasty, but a game-changer who remained unconquerable, from his previous generation of kings as well as, even from his younger generations and the emperors who succeeded him.
Fond of hunting tigers & leopards, Akbar loved to utilize his imperial power for executing his youthful desire for independence and free-willed decision making. He was unafraid and unmatched, yet a mighty devotee of God. Not merely religion(s), but God.
It is usually said that Akbar was a miraculous child. In his own words, Akbar, one day, was hunting and then immediately he gave up the desire to hunt further anymore. He felt crampy, sweaty and empty-headed. He sat under a tree and asked his courtiers to leave him alone. He shut himself in his fortress’s chambers for a few days, not allowing anyone to see him or speak to him. Then after a few days of seclusion he announced Din-i-illahi, the religion of one god.
He banned cow slaughter; prohibited the practice of sati & jauhar; and introduced the idea that all religions were leading to one and the same god, and no human would be converted to any other religion in the future unwillingly; and all would be granted the freedom of worship. Lover of spirituality, he frequently visited the Sufi mystic Salim Chishti, and only inspired by his name, he named his own eldest son as ‘Salim’ (Jahangir).
Once a Rajput raja presented to him a gift of Upanishads, and Akbar was so fascinated with these texts that he ordered even more scriptures and entire Vedic literature to be added to his library. He even initiated several works of translating these scriptures from Sanskrit to Hindi, Persian, English and other languages. It is usually said that this work of translation was completed by his great-grandson Dara Shukoh, who himself was an open-minded prince and composed his own version commentating on the Vedic texts.
But guess what, Akbar was born dyslexic. That is, he couldn’t read. In his own words, whenever he would face a scroll or a diary scribbled with words, the words appeared to him to dance all around in the space, yet he couldn’t decipher any of its meaning. He couldn’t read or write himself but his curiosity for knowledge, hunger for creativity and thirst for intellectual stimulation caused him to hire a large number of scholars in his fort and build a giant library for himself. One or the other scholar always remained with him, to read to him, books of poetry, spiritual scriptures, religious texts and other books, whenever he would feel like.
A prodigious mind-reformer, Akbar was the first of emperors to hire his own personal writer who documented the chronicles of his everyday life, taking notes and also acting as his advisor, accompanying him everywhere. It was due to his writer-chronicler Abul Fazl, that the diaries of Akbar, named Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari; over forty-thousand pages chronicling his life, were discovered by the future generations.
This novel of historical fiction by Alex Rutherford, also utilizes the extracts from the translated versions of these diaries to craft the scenes as well as the overall storyline.
“Ruler of the World” is the third book in the ‘Empire of the Moghuls’ series. It is centered around the trajectory of Akbar’s life, Akbar, who was the third Mughal emperor following Babur and Humayun respectively.
Apparently, Akbar’s life-story cannot be demonstrated in a sequence, for it was never a continuum of events. Rather, Akbar was a spark of light for the Moghul dynasty who illuminated not only fresh, creative ideas, but also demolished the various destructive superstitions prevailing in the minds of his subjects, as well as bringing light to the truth of spirituality.
Having said that, Akbar discovered himself to be as lonely as the desert sun; never having anybody to share his innermost thoughts and feelings. But the gem of his trust wasn’t concealed until, before it was cracked and shattered by some of those, who, he loved the most.
Soon after his appointment as the emperor, Akbar found out his half-brother Adham Khan guilty of betraying him. Even more so, his foster-mother Maham Anga too, was discovered to be supporting her own son Adham Khan over Akbar, as well as poisoning Akbar’s ears against his own mother Hamida. Followed by these harsh pinpricks, Akbar developed a bitter resistance towards trusting anybody throughout his lifetime. Even his own his sons too…
…the reason why throughout his lifetime, Akbar’s relationship with his children was mostly distant and estranged; lacking in depth and emotional connection if any. At the point of his nearing death, he reflected how he didn’t really know his children, because he never tried to be close to them; except only he competed with them, and his perfection, undoubtedly they couldn’t match.
Also the reason why, driven by a deep jealousy, his son Salim (Jahangir) ordered his chronicle writer Abul Fazl to be killed and his head brought to him, followed by his own campaign of rebellion against Akbar.
Akbar wore the veil of imperial magnificence to hide his deep vulnerability and fear that he felt towards the world as well as his own family.
The novel depicts, factual or fictional can’t be said, that, Akbar had no “real love in his life”, despite having over thousands of women in his fort’s women’s quarters, and hundreds of wives in marriage, a bond which he considered only as useful as a matter of imperial alliance. Nothing more, nothing less.
No wonder, still and all, Akbar remained one of the most powerful kings, not only in the Mughal dynasty, but in the entire history. Not only great spiritual mystics and thought leaders, but also a medley of artists, architects, writers, and traders from all across the world gathered together in his ibadat-khana to contemplate on various topics, reflect upon the nature of life and discuss motleys of innovative ideas. As the title of the book signifies, he truly was the “Ruler of the World”, invading and ruling everywhere from the southern Deccan to the northern Kandhar, and all in between.
There is no shadow of doubt in this….after all,
…generations of kings rose and dissolved. But Akbar’s reign is something which is remembered by the most.
Akbar used to say, very often, that, a king should be like the sun, his magnificence so bright that it would fulfill everyone’s heart, yet too brilliant for anyone to look directly at.
As his saying goes, so was his very own nature. He was a ruler just like that of the sun. So magnificent, yet so full of contradictions to be fully understood by anyone.
To wrap it up all together, I enjoyed the book big-time, not only in context of the storyline but also in terms of galvanizing my own historical curiosity!
http://www.nehasnotebook.com/
May 20, 2018
After reading ‘Raiders from the North’ (the story of Babur) and ‘The Tainted Throne’ (Jahangir’s tale), I finally got down to ‘Ruler of the World’, the story of Akbar, the greatest of the Moghuls, expecting pomp, show, grandeur and a man blessed by the Gods with everything the heart desires, and more. What I got, however, was the story of a ruler, great warrior, strategist and empire builder, but a man, who was lonely, unloved, betrayed by those closest to him, and who went through life, fearing treachery at every step, both from his enemies and from those closest to him. Despite his numerous wives and concubines, the only love and steadfast loyalty, he got was from his mother Hamida, and his aunt Gulbadan. Ascending the throne as he entered his teens, it was the protection of Bairam Khan, his Guardian and Khane-i-khanan (Commander in chief) that secured his position as Emperor. The numerous battles described in gory detail starting with his confrontation with Hemu for Delhi, and sweeping across the country from Rajasthan to Bengal and from Gujarat to Kabul draw the reader back to the mid-sixteenth century reality, strategic warfare in a time of hand to hand fighting, elephants and horses in lieu of armoured vehicles, and the need to establish and retain authority and power through pomp and show, and an equitable sharing of the spoils of war. For relaxation, the Emperor went on tiger hunts and risked his life again with the newly arrived muskets, which had to be filled with powder and ball and set afire before shooting, all in the few minutes before the great beast springs. It is the tale of an Emperor who never shied away from fighting, side by side with his men.
The strategist Akbar consolidated his position with numerous marriages among the Rajput Kingdoms, which gave him their unquestioned loyalty, though bringing little personal happiness. He fathered three healthy sons, the long awaited firstborn Salim, followed by Murad and Daniyal, but never had the leisure to form a father-son relationship with them. He never understood his sons and their needs, and as a result, faced rebellion from them, which left a lasting bitterness till the end of his days. Though unlettered, his thirst for knowledge led him to welcome priests from every religion to his Kingdom, and also respect the religious preferences of his wives, and the public. In return, he won the hearts of the people and will live on in history as the greatest of the Moghul Rulers.
Well worth reading for those who enjoy delving into history. As good as all Rutherford’s other books in the series.
The strategist Akbar consolidated his position with numerous marriages among the Rajput Kingdoms, which gave him their unquestioned loyalty, though bringing little personal happiness. He fathered three healthy sons, the long awaited firstborn Salim, followed by Murad and Daniyal, but never had the leisure to form a father-son relationship with them. He never understood his sons and their needs, and as a result, faced rebellion from them, which left a lasting bitterness till the end of his days. Though unlettered, his thirst for knowledge led him to welcome priests from every religion to his Kingdom, and also respect the religious preferences of his wives, and the public. In return, he won the hearts of the people and will live on in history as the greatest of the Moghul Rulers.
Well worth reading for those who enjoy delving into history. As good as all Rutherford’s other books in the series.
November 10, 2013
History has taught us that it easier to conquer new lands than to keep them.
This is the third book in the Empire of the Moghul series whose progenater is Akbar the Great. Together with Ashoka he is the second ruler to given the accolade of greatness. As a Muslim, his achievements of conquest, leadership, architecture, laws, and developed have been unsurpassed and miles ahead of any contemporary. The book does great justice to his character. It portrays a dyslexic Akbar who is keen to complete his grandfathers dream of establishing a great Moghul kingdom in Hindustan. This third book has given me a completely different concept of haram as a place of pleasure and intrigues. The women of the haram are actively engaging in affairs of the government, justifying or berating the Emperor but always supportive.
Unfortunaty Akbar's greatness is shrouded by the reluctant Hindu dominated India and a defiant Muslim only Pakistan. It is indeed a shame as the great Moghul is the only example of eclectic secularism in the subcontinent revered by all under his command.
The book contains an intriguing description of inter religious debates in the 'Ibadan khana' headed by the Great. Akbar felt confident enough to invite representatives of all faiths to come come and convert him thus demonstrating that he was above all religions.
Almost half of the story is about the cold and fraught relationship between Akbar and Salim. The story seems to be more ficussed on Salim rather than Akbar, which I found incongruous with the first two novels on Babur and Humayun. It's because the authors intended to explain the importance of takhti or takhta in the Royal family. The deep desire in all Moghul prince to grab power and glory of face death in trying. I believe the focus on Salim was important to explain this complex family dynamics.
Onwards to the next novel in the series.
This is the third book in the Empire of the Moghul series whose progenater is Akbar the Great. Together with Ashoka he is the second ruler to given the accolade of greatness. As a Muslim, his achievements of conquest, leadership, architecture, laws, and developed have been unsurpassed and miles ahead of any contemporary. The book does great justice to his character. It portrays a dyslexic Akbar who is keen to complete his grandfathers dream of establishing a great Moghul kingdom in Hindustan. This third book has given me a completely different concept of haram as a place of pleasure and intrigues. The women of the haram are actively engaging in affairs of the government, justifying or berating the Emperor but always supportive.
Unfortunaty Akbar's greatness is shrouded by the reluctant Hindu dominated India and a defiant Muslim only Pakistan. It is indeed a shame as the great Moghul is the only example of eclectic secularism in the subcontinent revered by all under his command.
The book contains an intriguing description of inter religious debates in the 'Ibadan khana' headed by the Great. Akbar felt confident enough to invite representatives of all faiths to come come and convert him thus demonstrating that he was above all religions.
Almost half of the story is about the cold and fraught relationship between Akbar and Salim. The story seems to be more ficussed on Salim rather than Akbar, which I found incongruous with the first two novels on Babur and Humayun. It's because the authors intended to explain the importance of takhti or takhta in the Royal family. The deep desire in all Moghul prince to grab power and glory of face death in trying. I believe the focus on Salim was important to explain this complex family dynamics.
Onwards to the next novel in the series.
August 14, 2011
well, its not Jodhaakbar, not sure if this is a bad thing or a good thing!
Because the book misses the mark of taking us into the heart of the real character of Akbar - , this author doesn't even mention the real name - Akbar is the kingly name..not his given name, Jalaluddin, as any schoolchild can tell you..or a simple google search.
But mostly its historically accurate - well as far as school level Indian history goes..and there are some insights into the reason for what Akbar is most lauded for, religious tolerance, well mostly. A pity that the author also uses the same boring old anti catholic rants in a book about Mughal India - while mentioning the insensate terror and slaughter inflicted on Medieval Hindu India. get real please.
The book loses its way half way, where the focus changes to Jahangir - there is not a lot of light thrown on why Akbaris alienated from his sons - too much time killing people and cavorting with concubines perhaps?
Given the vast scope, and large numbers of characters, its not surprising that the characterisation is sketchy - especially of the women. Either queens or scheming sluts appears to be the two career options for women in royal society.
However, there is so little historical fiction based on Indian history, that the book is interesting, and I will read the rest of the series - if I find it in the library!
Because the book misses the mark of taking us into the heart of the real character of Akbar - , this author doesn't even mention the real name - Akbar is the kingly name..not his given name, Jalaluddin, as any schoolchild can tell you..or a simple google search.
But mostly its historically accurate - well as far as school level Indian history goes..and there are some insights into the reason for what Akbar is most lauded for, religious tolerance, well mostly. A pity that the author also uses the same boring old anti catholic rants in a book about Mughal India - while mentioning the insensate terror and slaughter inflicted on Medieval Hindu India. get real please.
The book loses its way half way, where the focus changes to Jahangir - there is not a lot of light thrown on why Akbaris alienated from his sons - too much time killing people and cavorting with concubines perhaps?
Given the vast scope, and large numbers of characters, its not surprising that the characterisation is sketchy - especially of the women. Either queens or scheming sluts appears to be the two career options for women in royal society.
However, there is so little historical fiction based on Indian history, that the book is interesting, and I will read the rest of the series - if I find it in the library!
June 3, 2019
**
A great history told in such boring manner! Almost all characters seemed flat, none was distinct from the other. Although this book was suppose to be focus of the reign of the Emperor Akbar halfway it lost it focus from Akbar to his eldest son Salim.
There is many errors in this book.
Even though Rukiyah Sultan Begum was Akbar's first wife and his chief Empress, there was no mention of her until salim's son Khurram was adopted by her, she appeared in this book out of blue as one of Akbars wives. Hira bia was mention as Akbar's first wife mainly because she was the biological mother of Salim.
when Salim prose his proposal to Giyas Beg for Mehrunisha, he tells Salim she was betrothed to Sher Afgan! How can Giyas Beg address Ali Quli as 'Sher Afgan' A title that was given to Mehrunisha's first husband Ali Quli by Jahangir himself After Ali Quli saved Jahangir from a Tigers. And That event happened in a time when Mehrunishas was already a wife of Ali Quli.
On the other hand Mehrunishas was portrayed in this book performing dance before prince Selim even though she was betrothed to another man. a custom unimaginable at the age of mughal empire when she was from a Muslim noble family and it is very unlikely the way writer of the book portrayed it.
A great history told in such boring manner! Almost all characters seemed flat, none was distinct from the other. Although this book was suppose to be focus of the reign of the Emperor Akbar halfway it lost it focus from Akbar to his eldest son Salim.
There is many errors in this book.
Even though Rukiyah Sultan Begum was Akbar's first wife and his chief Empress, there was no mention of her until salim's son Khurram was adopted by her, she appeared in this book out of blue as one of Akbars wives. Hira bia was mention as Akbar's first wife mainly because she was the biological mother of Salim.
when Salim prose his proposal to Giyas Beg for Mehrunisha, he tells Salim she was betrothed to Sher Afgan! How can Giyas Beg address Ali Quli as 'Sher Afgan' A title that was given to Mehrunisha's first husband Ali Quli by Jahangir himself After Ali Quli saved Jahangir from a Tigers. And That event happened in a time when Mehrunishas was already a wife of Ali Quli.
On the other hand Mehrunishas was portrayed in this book performing dance before prince Selim even though she was betrothed to another man. a custom unimaginable at the age of mughal empire when she was from a Muslim noble family and it is very unlikely the way writer of the book portrayed it.
February 27, 2016
I am highly disappointed in the way the author has handled the life and chronicles of Akbar in this book. The most opulent ruler in the world was not even given equal credits in the second half of the book. It was entirely narrated from the POV of Salim, his son (who'd later go on to become Jahangir).
The vast richness he accumulated through his long reign earned the envy of Portuguese and the queen of Britain - Victoria. Sadly, that period was also narrated poorly. It was that phase where Akbar became the most sought after emperor of the world. His relationship with the Ottoman empire was also left out.
The battle of haldighati, his navratna was ignored completely. The timeline was jumbled so much that Akbar's life seemed boring which it wasn't. However, as opposed to the popular folk lore that Rana Pratap was the hardest adversary Akbar had ever faced it was in fact the opposite. Still, it showed the Rajputs defiance against one of the most powerful rulers of the world.
Adding further to the misery the author conveniently left out the war where Akbar faced the biggest casualty since he became the emperor. Over 8000 soldiers died along with his favorite advisor Birbal.
The vast richness he accumulated through his long reign earned the envy of Portuguese and the queen of Britain - Victoria. Sadly, that period was also narrated poorly. It was that phase where Akbar became the most sought after emperor of the world. His relationship with the Ottoman empire was also left out.
The battle of haldighati, his navratna was ignored completely. The timeline was jumbled so much that Akbar's life seemed boring which it wasn't. However, as opposed to the popular folk lore that Rana Pratap was the hardest adversary Akbar had ever faced it was in fact the opposite. Still, it showed the Rajputs defiance against one of the most powerful rulers of the world.
Adding further to the misery the author conveniently left out the war where Akbar faced the biggest casualty since he became the emperor. Over 8000 soldiers died along with his favorite advisor Birbal.
June 20, 2012
This, the 3rd book in a 4 book series read like a stand alone which I appreciate as I hadn't read the others. I won this ARC from Goodreads. I love historical fiction and I loved this book. The authors did a tremendous amount of research and traveling to make this time period (1500's) come alive. This is the story of Akbar, ruler of the Moghul Empire in the Indian subcontinent. We learn how he comes to rule and expand the empire and his governing practices. Akbar was ruler who believed in religious freedom and fairness. Although, if someone did not pledge their alleigence to him, he ruthlessly killed them. I found his rule to be fascinating. Equally fascinating was his inability to have close relationships with his wives or sons. As the book comes to an end, the reader is introduced to the new Emperor of the Moghul's. He calls himself, "Seizer of the World". The very end of the novel shows a glimpse of the trouble he'll have holding onto his power. A great read for those of us who are interested in the history of our world.
March 24, 2015
I had a lot of expectations riding on the third installment of the Moghul series as it dealt with Akbar. Akbar was the most prominent Moghul emperor and as a reader I expected more of his chronicles to be illustrated in the book. What is a book on Akbar without Birbal and Tansen, which was taught even in our school history textbooks. .. Instead of focusing on Salim ~ Akbar relationship the author should have elaborated on Akbars rule over his vast empire as the title of the book goes.. Ruler of the world. Although it was a page turner.. It didn't do justice to Akbarnama.
March 7, 2021
Third book in the Moghul series. Was anticipating an alternative look into the life of the greatest of the moghuls. But sorely disappointed. The first two books focused on the lives of Babur and Humayun very thoroughly. But the third book instead of focusing solely on the life of Akbar tends to divert all of the narrative towards Salim(his son). I am a huge admirer of Akbar and was looking to get insights on his thought process as a great ruler. But found only the anxiety of Salim to be the next ruler.
June 29, 2011
A good book, felt a bit cheated though since halfway through the author shifts from the Akbar story and continues with his son salim. The first two books were brilliant and showed us the lives of babur and humayun, I was wondering how the author was going to do justice to the 6 moghul rulers in 5 books and this is how he does it. Cuts down the greatest moghul ruler's story, to build it up for his next book in the series. Nevertheless a good read waiting for the next one in the series.
March 19, 2013
A slight disappoinment after the first two books. No mention of Birbal & Tansen. The first half was from Akbar's point of view & suddenly it changes track and changes to Salim's view of Akbar the Great. Too much justification of Mughal dominion (?unwittingly) and too little about the 'brave Rajputs. Nevertheless a good read.
March 24, 2013
Good to know of the history. However, this book does not showcase the mindset of Akbar (who is the main character here). Half way though, this book switches focus on his son, Salim. And everything that Akbar does after half the part never has meaning. If this book is based on Akbarnama, why is it following Jahagir after the half part? No idea. But you can enjoy reading it.
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