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The Great Mughals and Their India
A definitive, comprehensive and engrossing chronicle of one of the greatest dynasties of the world – the Mughal – from its founder Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last of the clan The magnificent Mughal legacy – the world-famous Taj Mahal being the most prominent among countless other examples – is an inexhaustible source of inspiration to historians, writers, moviemakers, artists and ordinary mortals alike. Mughal history abounds with all the ingredients of classical drama: ambition and frustration, hope and despair, grandeur and decline, love and hate, and loyalty and betrayal. In other words: it is great to read and offers ample food for thought on the human condition. Much more importantly, Mughal history deserves to be widely read and reflected upon, because of its lasting cultural and socio-political relevance to today’s world in general and the Indian subcontinent in particular. The Mughals have left us with a legacy that cannot be erased. With regard to the eventful reigns of Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and their successors, crucial questions arise: Where did they succeed? Where did they fail? And more importantly, what should we learn from their triumphs and failures? The author believes that history books should be accurate, informative and entertaining. In The Great Mughals and Their India, he has kept these objectives in mind in an attempt to narrate Mughal history from their perspective. At the same time, he does not shy away from dealing with controversial issues. Here is a fascinating and riveting saga that brings alive a spectacular bygone era – authentically and convincingly.
517 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2016
87 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Dirk Collier
9 books17 followersDirk Collier’s passion for Asian culture and history was aroused as a result of his travels throughout the continent, predominantly in China and India.
Apart from books, he has also written articles for various journals and occasionally lectures at universities and cultural institutions. Professionally, he is a lawyer and a businessman and serves on the board of several organizations.
Apart from books, he has also written articles for various journals and occasionally lectures at universities and cultural institutions. Professionally, he is a lawyer and a businessman and serves on the board of several organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 26, 2016
An enchanting piece of work combining the entertainment of fiction with the levelheadedness of history.
The Mughals ruled India only for two centuries in the real sense of the term. But the legacy they’d left behind, in the country’s culture, languages, art, architecture and society is indelible. The magnificent buildings erected by them, with the Taj Mahal occupying the pinnacle, continues to generate a sense of pride in the people. The most colourful dynasty’s rule in Indian history is not, however, without its due share of horrible atrocities and religious strife. But on the whole, it united the country when the power of sultanates was waning and made it ready for the transition to modernity with the advent of the British. Dirk Collier tells the story of the origin and demise of the powerful Mughal dynasty in India, right from Babur from the central Asian principality of Ferghana, and ending with the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar in Burma, unattended and unmourned in exile. The author is a lawyer and businessman and serves on the board of several organizations. His passion for Asian culture and history was aroused as a result of travels through the continent, predominantly in India and China and he has authored another book of fiction on Akbar the Great. This book is eminently readable for all categories of readers.
The demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya in 1992, which was believed by some to be a mosque built by Babur and by many as the birthplace of Lord Ram, was the single most significant event in the socio-political history of independent India. Claiming that the mosque was built on the site of a demolished Hindu temple, militant nationalists destroyed the structure which was more than four centuries old, sparking a spate of communal riots in which hundreds of people belonging to both communities perished. This incident brought into sharp focus the antecedents of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Widely believed to be a brave warrior, able administrator and insightful founder of India’s most glamorous dynasty, Babur gets a neat dressing down in the book. Readers would be shocked to find that this man was thought to be a coward and traitor in Persian history. Babur held Samarkand thrice, but each time, he had to flee for his life. During the second attempt, he faced a mighty Uzbek army under the able leadership of Shaybani Khan. Sure of defeat, Babur felt like a trapped rat. His cunning stratagems were to no avail against the Uzbek might. In the end, an agreement was reached when Babur agreed to send his beloved elder sister as a concubine to Shaybani Khan’s harem. Babur escaped with his life and eventually established a kingdom in Kabul. His hopes were raised when the Uzbeks were defeated in their battle against Shah Ismail of Persia. The Persians killed Shaybani Khan and handed Samarkand over to Babur on a platter, on the condition that Babur should convert to Shiism along with the citizens of Samarkand. Ever ready to jump at the chance offered to him, Babur readily agreed. But the people of Samarkand, who took pride in their Sunni tradition and having much more self-respect than their new king, were in no mood to listen. When Babur’s atrocities against the city’s revered Sunni clerics became unbearable, they rose up in revolt and kicked the pretender out. Joined by Uzbeks, the people of Samarkand opened many fronts of war. At Bukhara, when Babur was on the verge of defeat as he usually was against the Uzbeks, Babur begged for Persian help. The Shah graciously sent Najm Beg, a war veteran to relieve him. But the Uzbeks made a surprise attack, in which Beg was killed. The amazing fact was that Babur fled from the scene of battle, with his tail between his legs, abandoning the brave general to his fate who had come all the way from Persia to rescue him. Babur’s personal life was peculiar, even by medieval standards. It appears that he ran a strong trait of homosexuality towards a shapely boy from the camp market and is recorded in his own memoir, Baburnama. His memoir in this regard is shocking to puritanical sentiments as it runs “I developed a strange inclination for him. Before this experience, I had never felt a desire for anyone, nor did I listen to talk of love and affection or speak of such things. I was so bashful that I could not look him in the face, much less converse freely with him. In my excitement and agitation, I could not thank him for coming, much less complain of his leaving…One day….all at once I found myself face-to-face with the boy, and I was so ashamed I almost went to pieces. There was no possibility of looking straight at him or of speaking coherently. With a hundred embarrassments and difficulties I got past him” (p.47). Looks very much like the diary of a young girl, but unbelievably candid from a celebrated scion of pious rectitude! Collier also compares Babur to Hitler for his unapologetic disdain for human life. His self-righteous egotism made him believe that whatever he does to other people is right and good, provided it happens to suit his own selfish purposes. The author asserts that the world would have been a much better place without him, or the likes of him (p.71), which is a bit too harsh of an assessment.
What Babur, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb were not, was more than made up by the syncretistic policies of Akbar the Great. Akbar is the true forerunner of today’s secular Indian leaders. He exhibited a form of enlightenment rarely seen in medieval rulers. Akbar issued regulations forbidding circumcision of young boys before the age of fifteen, an age when a boy was old enough to decide for himself. He banned the enslavement of conquered Hindus and insisted that farmlands in subdued territories shall not be laid waste. In order to wipe off discrimination against Hindus, he abolished the hated religious poll tax of Jizya in 1564, which was re-established in 1679 by that sanctimonious bigot, Aurangzeb. The Ulema strongly opposed this move, claiming divine sanction in the Koran to impose such a tax on people of other religions who were not called for military service. Akbar’s terse rejoinder was that Hindus were not exempt from military duty. Indeed, Rajput warriors formed a major chunk of his fighting machine. He abandoned the lunar Hijri calendar and used instead the solar Persian calendar, starting from his year of accession. Aurangzeb reversed this policy too, and started using the ridiculously impractical lunar system for assessing land revenue based on agricultural yield! Akbar’s greatest gift was his eclectic spirit and quest for truth in all religions. He founded the Ibadat Khana in Agra, where religious discourses took place. At first, only Islamic scholars – from both Sunni and Shia sects – were invited. But the emperor was perplexed at the constant bickering between them. If the religion was truly ordained by god, how could such mortal divergence of opinion can prevail among its followers? Akbar got tired of legalized trivia displayed in discussions on Sharia law, and lost much of his faith. His religious thinking got separated from the mainstream and started flowing through uncharted territory. On ecclesiastic matters where there was discord, Akbar acquired sole right to judge by an Infallibility Decree promulgated in 1579. He introduced Din-e-Ilahi three years later, which was a sect of his own, but didn’t survive his reign. The book portrays Akbar as tolerant, free-thinking and eclectic, bordering on the heretical. But of course, he practiced Islam till his death. He respected all religions, but practically belonged to none. His legacy of tolerance was inherited by Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan’s eldest son, whose work ‘Majma ul-Bahrain’ (the confluence of two oceans) describes India as the fusion of the two religions of Hinduism and Islam.
Collier displays great care to basics such as how the term ‘Mughal’ came into being. Babur was descended from Timur on the paternal and Genghis Khan on the maternal sides. They called themselves ‘Silsila i-Gurkaniyya’ or Gurkanid dynasty, Amir Timur being a Gurkan (son-in-law along the line) of Genghis Khan. The author’s insistence of establishing that the large scale religious conversions, wanton destruction of temples and other persecutions perpetrated on the non-Muslim populations of India by some prominent Mughals was not due to bigotry per se, but to be accounted as a show of imperialism and power. Their limitless ambition and the desire to show off made them do it, he concur. Collier goes out of his way to condone such cruelty in almost a dozen places in the book, with his pesky apology on behalf of the medieval tyrants, as if it is some consolation to the hapless victims. He includes two passages from Sikander Lodi and Alauddin Khilji, who ruled before the Mughals which shows the contempt and hostility with which the sons of the soil were treated by these foreign aggressors. The book proposes that though Islamic power was concentrated in the centre of the country, Islamization was strongest on the fringes of Sindh, Baluchistan and eastern Bengal. This is attributed to the undeveloped or lack of penetration of Hindu social institutions there. This argument needs to be studied in detail by scholars.
The book includes colourful quotes from Abul Fazl and other contemporaries to embellish the narrative. Fazl’s flowery and ornate pedantry helps to evaluate the level of sycophancy demanded by a medieval monarch. He includes a gruesome description of the blinding of Kamran, Humayun’s brother who lost out in the war of succession, that was the bane of the Mughals. He was overpowered and a sharp lancet pierced into both of his eyes – fifty times in a row to make the deed foolproof! The prince bravely withstood the torture, but at the end of it, when a mixture of lemon juice and salt was sprinkled on the wound, he broke down and cried out. Later emperors after Aurangzeb were mocked and humiliated by all. Shah Alam II’s eyes were gouged out with bare hands by Ghulam Qadir, an Afghan chief who captured the palace briefly. To add insult to the injury, the emperor’s son – later crowned as Akbar II – was forced to dance before his father’s tormentor like a slave girl.
This is a fine work of historical overview, without delving too much into the finer details. Historical maps are not included, the only one that of the times of Akbar the Great is given as the frontispiece. Collier has avoided anything that might distract the reader from thoroughly enjoying the book. There is not a single page in it where the reader feels bored. The author has included a section on Taj Mahal, and for dispelling the common misconceptions associated with it like the Black Taj and the urban legend that Shah Jahan had killed the architect after the monument was constructed. A good bibliography and an excellent index add more value to the book.
The book is highly recommended.
The Mughals ruled India only for two centuries in the real sense of the term. But the legacy they’d left behind, in the country’s culture, languages, art, architecture and society is indelible. The magnificent buildings erected by them, with the Taj Mahal occupying the pinnacle, continues to generate a sense of pride in the people. The most colourful dynasty’s rule in Indian history is not, however, without its due share of horrible atrocities and religious strife. But on the whole, it united the country when the power of sultanates was waning and made it ready for the transition to modernity with the advent of the British. Dirk Collier tells the story of the origin and demise of the powerful Mughal dynasty in India, right from Babur from the central Asian principality of Ferghana, and ending with the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar in Burma, unattended and unmourned in exile. The author is a lawyer and businessman and serves on the board of several organizations. His passion for Asian culture and history was aroused as a result of travels through the continent, predominantly in India and China and he has authored another book of fiction on Akbar the Great. This book is eminently readable for all categories of readers.
The demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya in 1992, which was believed by some to be a mosque built by Babur and by many as the birthplace of Lord Ram, was the single most significant event in the socio-political history of independent India. Claiming that the mosque was built on the site of a demolished Hindu temple, militant nationalists destroyed the structure which was more than four centuries old, sparking a spate of communal riots in which hundreds of people belonging to both communities perished. This incident brought into sharp focus the antecedents of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Widely believed to be a brave warrior, able administrator and insightful founder of India’s most glamorous dynasty, Babur gets a neat dressing down in the book. Readers would be shocked to find that this man was thought to be a coward and traitor in Persian history. Babur held Samarkand thrice, but each time, he had to flee for his life. During the second attempt, he faced a mighty Uzbek army under the able leadership of Shaybani Khan. Sure of defeat, Babur felt like a trapped rat. His cunning stratagems were to no avail against the Uzbek might. In the end, an agreement was reached when Babur agreed to send his beloved elder sister as a concubine to Shaybani Khan’s harem. Babur escaped with his life and eventually established a kingdom in Kabul. His hopes were raised when the Uzbeks were defeated in their battle against Shah Ismail of Persia. The Persians killed Shaybani Khan and handed Samarkand over to Babur on a platter, on the condition that Babur should convert to Shiism along with the citizens of Samarkand. Ever ready to jump at the chance offered to him, Babur readily agreed. But the people of Samarkand, who took pride in their Sunni tradition and having much more self-respect than their new king, were in no mood to listen. When Babur’s atrocities against the city’s revered Sunni clerics became unbearable, they rose up in revolt and kicked the pretender out. Joined by Uzbeks, the people of Samarkand opened many fronts of war. At Bukhara, when Babur was on the verge of defeat as he usually was against the Uzbeks, Babur begged for Persian help. The Shah graciously sent Najm Beg, a war veteran to relieve him. But the Uzbeks made a surprise attack, in which Beg was killed. The amazing fact was that Babur fled from the scene of battle, with his tail between his legs, abandoning the brave general to his fate who had come all the way from Persia to rescue him. Babur’s personal life was peculiar, even by medieval standards. It appears that he ran a strong trait of homosexuality towards a shapely boy from the camp market and is recorded in his own memoir, Baburnama. His memoir in this regard is shocking to puritanical sentiments as it runs “I developed a strange inclination for him. Before this experience, I had never felt a desire for anyone, nor did I listen to talk of love and affection or speak of such things. I was so bashful that I could not look him in the face, much less converse freely with him. In my excitement and agitation, I could not thank him for coming, much less complain of his leaving…One day….all at once I found myself face-to-face with the boy, and I was so ashamed I almost went to pieces. There was no possibility of looking straight at him or of speaking coherently. With a hundred embarrassments and difficulties I got past him” (p.47). Looks very much like the diary of a young girl, but unbelievably candid from a celebrated scion of pious rectitude! Collier also compares Babur to Hitler for his unapologetic disdain for human life. His self-righteous egotism made him believe that whatever he does to other people is right and good, provided it happens to suit his own selfish purposes. The author asserts that the world would have been a much better place without him, or the likes of him (p.71), which is a bit too harsh of an assessment.
What Babur, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb were not, was more than made up by the syncretistic policies of Akbar the Great. Akbar is the true forerunner of today’s secular Indian leaders. He exhibited a form of enlightenment rarely seen in medieval rulers. Akbar issued regulations forbidding circumcision of young boys before the age of fifteen, an age when a boy was old enough to decide for himself. He banned the enslavement of conquered Hindus and insisted that farmlands in subdued territories shall not be laid waste. In order to wipe off discrimination against Hindus, he abolished the hated religious poll tax of Jizya in 1564, which was re-established in 1679 by that sanctimonious bigot, Aurangzeb. The Ulema strongly opposed this move, claiming divine sanction in the Koran to impose such a tax on people of other religions who were not called for military service. Akbar’s terse rejoinder was that Hindus were not exempt from military duty. Indeed, Rajput warriors formed a major chunk of his fighting machine. He abandoned the lunar Hijri calendar and used instead the solar Persian calendar, starting from his year of accession. Aurangzeb reversed this policy too, and started using the ridiculously impractical lunar system for assessing land revenue based on agricultural yield! Akbar’s greatest gift was his eclectic spirit and quest for truth in all religions. He founded the Ibadat Khana in Agra, where religious discourses took place. At first, only Islamic scholars – from both Sunni and Shia sects – were invited. But the emperor was perplexed at the constant bickering between them. If the religion was truly ordained by god, how could such mortal divergence of opinion can prevail among its followers? Akbar got tired of legalized trivia displayed in discussions on Sharia law, and lost much of his faith. His religious thinking got separated from the mainstream and started flowing through uncharted territory. On ecclesiastic matters where there was discord, Akbar acquired sole right to judge by an Infallibility Decree promulgated in 1579. He introduced Din-e-Ilahi three years later, which was a sect of his own, but didn’t survive his reign. The book portrays Akbar as tolerant, free-thinking and eclectic, bordering on the heretical. But of course, he practiced Islam till his death. He respected all religions, but practically belonged to none. His legacy of tolerance was inherited by Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan’s eldest son, whose work ‘Majma ul-Bahrain’ (the confluence of two oceans) describes India as the fusion of the two religions of Hinduism and Islam.
Collier displays great care to basics such as how the term ‘Mughal’ came into being. Babur was descended from Timur on the paternal and Genghis Khan on the maternal sides. They called themselves ‘Silsila i-Gurkaniyya’ or Gurkanid dynasty, Amir Timur being a Gurkan (son-in-law along the line) of Genghis Khan. The author’s insistence of establishing that the large scale religious conversions, wanton destruction of temples and other persecutions perpetrated on the non-Muslim populations of India by some prominent Mughals was not due to bigotry per se, but to be accounted as a show of imperialism and power. Their limitless ambition and the desire to show off made them do it, he concur. Collier goes out of his way to condone such cruelty in almost a dozen places in the book, with his pesky apology on behalf of the medieval tyrants, as if it is some consolation to the hapless victims. He includes two passages from Sikander Lodi and Alauddin Khilji, who ruled before the Mughals which shows the contempt and hostility with which the sons of the soil were treated by these foreign aggressors. The book proposes that though Islamic power was concentrated in the centre of the country, Islamization was strongest on the fringes of Sindh, Baluchistan and eastern Bengal. This is attributed to the undeveloped or lack of penetration of Hindu social institutions there. This argument needs to be studied in detail by scholars.
The book includes colourful quotes from Abul Fazl and other contemporaries to embellish the narrative. Fazl’s flowery and ornate pedantry helps to evaluate the level of sycophancy demanded by a medieval monarch. He includes a gruesome description of the blinding of Kamran, Humayun’s brother who lost out in the war of succession, that was the bane of the Mughals. He was overpowered and a sharp lancet pierced into both of his eyes – fifty times in a row to make the deed foolproof! The prince bravely withstood the torture, but at the end of it, when a mixture of lemon juice and salt was sprinkled on the wound, he broke down and cried out. Later emperors after Aurangzeb were mocked and humiliated by all. Shah Alam II’s eyes were gouged out with bare hands by Ghulam Qadir, an Afghan chief who captured the palace briefly. To add insult to the injury, the emperor’s son – later crowned as Akbar II – was forced to dance before his father’s tormentor like a slave girl.
This is a fine work of historical overview, without delving too much into the finer details. Historical maps are not included, the only one that of the times of Akbar the Great is given as the frontispiece. Collier has avoided anything that might distract the reader from thoroughly enjoying the book. There is not a single page in it where the reader feels bored. The author has included a section on Taj Mahal, and for dispelling the common misconceptions associated with it like the Black Taj and the urban legend that Shah Jahan had killed the architect after the monument was constructed. A good bibliography and an excellent index add more value to the book.
The book is highly recommended.
October 29, 2018
Nice book to know the history of mughal empire. Worth reading.
January 15, 2022
End of an Era or I should call it as an end of the whole dynasty! The greed of power always let its subjects to take innocent lives, even if its not innocent but LIVES?? One way or another all are murderers fighting for the Monarchy and the greed for Power!! After reading the book, I can conclude none of the Mughal emperor had done anything for the sake of Islam. They had their own definition of their Deen and they followed the same. There's nothing Impressive in their Monarchy except *They ruled India for over 1000 years* But at what cost?? It cannot be penned down in a shorter way. About the author, I would say, he did an exemplary job and tried to keep himself away as much as he can from biasedness.
August 23, 2023
An excellent narrative of the reigns of each of the Mughal emperors.
June 16, 2022
Still reading the Prologue and I am appalled by how biased the author is. Why is this always so difficult for these so-called historians?
Firstly Aurungzeb is called a bigot several times in the Prologue. I realize the adjective is used in a descriptive sense but it is too strong a word to use here and carries deep negative connotations.
Secondly, here is an excerpt from the book: "Majorities tend to oppress minorities, as is painfully obvious in present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir, where the dwindling Hindu minorities have emigrated or are under considerable pressure to do so."
Just how biased is this and what place does it have in a historical account? As if Muslims are not oppressed by Hindus in present day India.
I can't take anymore of this. I am in no mood to read this guy condone and glorify the British and Hindus.
Firstly Aurungzeb is called a bigot several times in the Prologue. I realize the adjective is used in a descriptive sense but it is too strong a word to use here and carries deep negative connotations.
Secondly, here is an excerpt from the book: "Majorities tend to oppress minorities, as is painfully obvious in present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir, where the dwindling Hindu minorities have emigrated or are under considerable pressure to do so."
Just how biased is this and what place does it have in a historical account? As if Muslims are not oppressed by Hindus in present day India.
I can't take anymore of this. I am in no mood to read this guy condone and glorify the British and Hindus.
March 20, 2020
This book “the great Mughals and their India” is brilliantly written with all the details in the chronicle order. This book is perfect for those who are interested to know about the history and/or creation of mughal empire in the sub-continent. Also, this book provides enough separate detail about every Mughal emperor from Babar to the Aurangzeb.
May 21, 2018
The title of this concise yet sufficiently detailed book on the rise and fall of one of the greatest empires of the world is little misleading. The more appropriate title for this book should be ‘The Great Mughals and Their Quest for India’, as the book is more about the conquests and annexations of Indian territories in the expanding and later shrinking empire of Mughals and less about their Indian legacy and heritage.
It does not mean that the book does not touch on the crucial role Mughals played in the Indian art, culture, architecture, aesthetics, philosophy, politics, and conscience. It does discuss them, though, usually with brevity and where needed, but the book mostly focuses on the wars waged by the Mughals in conquering and defending Hindustan from their neighbors, rivals, and each other. This is the only thing which makes it a less tempting read but, nevertheless, it is an interesting and resourceful book on the topic.
Having said that, this history book by Dirk Collier is genuinely a useful primer on the Mughal empire and its everlasting impact on the history and culture of India. It is especially good for people like me who have only read about this vast topic sporadically before (also, in fallacious and biased textbooks). The book is primarily helpful in understanding the chronology of the Mughal rule of more than three hundred years, starting with Babur’s accidental conquest of Hindustan, leading to the apogee of the empire in Akbar’s reign, and then its slow and painful downfall which essentially began during Aurangzeb’s life and culminated with the British forces taking over India and incarcerating the last emperor Bahadur Shah.
The author has taken an impartial approach in writing the book. This book does not fall in Muslim or Hindu camp, although from the outlook it might seem tilted more towards Muslim narrative but the author did not lose objectivity or get swayed by the common misconceptions and fabrications of either side. On one hand, he credits few Mughals for their administrative achievements, unification of Hindustan, and pluralism, whereas, on the other hand, he does not shy in calling out some of them for their incapability, bigotry, and atrocities.
Reading about Mughal era has never been more crucial than now. There are widespread misbeliefs on both sides, which are widening the gulf between two biggest religions of this region. In contradiction to the common believes, the Mughal Empire, with few exceptions, is the epitome of co-existence and co-operation of people of different creeds, cultures, languages, and ethnicities. This should be a source of harmony instead of dissent among the denizens of the sub-continent. Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shikoh used to call the fateful encounter of Islam with the ancient Hindu civilization Majma-ul-Bahrain (مجمع البحرین), ‘the confluence of two oceans’. There can be no better way to put it than this.
This book tries its best to bust many myths and misconceptions about the spread of Islam and expansion of Mughal rule in Hindustan. The spread of Islam in the region can be attributed to many factors but linking it with sword is the most preposterous idea. The author argues succinctly against this falsification and gives an example of Islamization on fringes, explaining that Islam mostly spread on the fringes of India, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, and Bengal, whereas the heartland of India, which was closest to the center of power, mostly remained predominately Hindu, even during the rule of religious bigots like Aurangzeb. This happened because power, not religion, was the primary motive of Mughal imperialists.
The zenith of Mughal empire reached during Akbar the Great’s reign, who was not only a great statesman, as well as an absolutist and shameless imperialist, but also a staunch proponent of syncretism. He was the forerunner of secular India and will remain a beacon of hope for secularists in this region.
The biggest lesson to be learned from the entire Mughal history is that it reached its glory when it did not discriminate its people based on religion and created an effective and just system for its people. Whereas, the empire got weakened and ultimately diminished when it opted for discriminating policies, injustice, and corruption.
The history of Mughal era is full of contradictions and paradoxes. It is a story of achievements and failures, war and peace, pluralism and bigotry, conquests and defeats, loyalty and infidelity, and love and rivalry. The impact of Mughals on Indian history and culture is everlasting and irreversible. It is the shared history of people of this land and should be a source of harmony and peace among them.
It does not mean that the book does not touch on the crucial role Mughals played in the Indian art, culture, architecture, aesthetics, philosophy, politics, and conscience. It does discuss them, though, usually with brevity and where needed, but the book mostly focuses on the wars waged by the Mughals in conquering and defending Hindustan from their neighbors, rivals, and each other. This is the only thing which makes it a less tempting read but, nevertheless, it is an interesting and resourceful book on the topic.
Having said that, this history book by Dirk Collier is genuinely a useful primer on the Mughal empire and its everlasting impact on the history and culture of India. It is especially good for people like me who have only read about this vast topic sporadically before (also, in fallacious and biased textbooks). The book is primarily helpful in understanding the chronology of the Mughal rule of more than three hundred years, starting with Babur’s accidental conquest of Hindustan, leading to the apogee of the empire in Akbar’s reign, and then its slow and painful downfall which essentially began during Aurangzeb’s life and culminated with the British forces taking over India and incarcerating the last emperor Bahadur Shah.
The author has taken an impartial approach in writing the book. This book does not fall in Muslim or Hindu camp, although from the outlook it might seem tilted more towards Muslim narrative but the author did not lose objectivity or get swayed by the common misconceptions and fabrications of either side. On one hand, he credits few Mughals for their administrative achievements, unification of Hindustan, and pluralism, whereas, on the other hand, he does not shy in calling out some of them for their incapability, bigotry, and atrocities.
Reading about Mughal era has never been more crucial than now. There are widespread misbeliefs on both sides, which are widening the gulf between two biggest religions of this region. In contradiction to the common believes, the Mughal Empire, with few exceptions, is the epitome of co-existence and co-operation of people of different creeds, cultures, languages, and ethnicities. This should be a source of harmony instead of dissent among the denizens of the sub-continent. Shah Jahan’s eldest son Dara Shikoh used to call the fateful encounter of Islam with the ancient Hindu civilization Majma-ul-Bahrain (مجمع البحرین), ‘the confluence of two oceans’. There can be no better way to put it than this.
This book tries its best to bust many myths and misconceptions about the spread of Islam and expansion of Mughal rule in Hindustan. The spread of Islam in the region can be attributed to many factors but linking it with sword is the most preposterous idea. The author argues succinctly against this falsification and gives an example of Islamization on fringes, explaining that Islam mostly spread on the fringes of India, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, and Bengal, whereas the heartland of India, which was closest to the center of power, mostly remained predominately Hindu, even during the rule of religious bigots like Aurangzeb. This happened because power, not religion, was the primary motive of Mughal imperialists.
The zenith of Mughal empire reached during Akbar the Great’s reign, who was not only a great statesman, as well as an absolutist and shameless imperialist, but also a staunch proponent of syncretism. He was the forerunner of secular India and will remain a beacon of hope for secularists in this region.
The biggest lesson to be learned from the entire Mughal history is that it reached its glory when it did not discriminate its people based on religion and created an effective and just system for its people. Whereas, the empire got weakened and ultimately diminished when it opted for discriminating policies, injustice, and corruption.
The history of Mughal era is full of contradictions and paradoxes. It is a story of achievements and failures, war and peace, pluralism and bigotry, conquests and defeats, loyalty and infidelity, and love and rivalry. The impact of Mughals on Indian history and culture is everlasting and irreversible. It is the shared history of people of this land and should be a source of harmony and peace among them.
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May 4, 2022Historical facts of rise, fall and vengence. Emperialism is a lust deep entrached in gene.
December 14, 2025
Dirk Collier’s The Great Mughals and their India is an illuminating resource filled with interesting perspectives and dense facts. It sheds light on obscure details of the lineage and has some fascinating information on particular battles and stories. However, the text suffers from a largely negative portrayal of the six monumental emperors and their successors that feels disproportionate to their actual historical achievements.
If this were a reader's sole introduction to the Mughals, it would be genuinely confusing to understand how this dynasty managed to rule successfully from the First Battle of Panipat to the death of Aurangzeb, let alone why they retain such a continued impact in the public imagination across the subcontinent today. The narrative focuses so heavily on their shortcomings that it fails to explain the enduring legacy and administrative success that shaped the region.
For a more comprehensive view, I found William Dalrymple and Anita Anand’s Empire podcast to be far more instructive. They provide the necessary context to understand how a group of Muslim Turkic-Mongol outsiders became indigenous over the generations. It is this transition—not covered well here—that explains their deep alliances, their influence, and how they successfully governed a non-Muslim majority for hundreds of years.
If this were a reader's sole introduction to the Mughals, it would be genuinely confusing to understand how this dynasty managed to rule successfully from the First Battle of Panipat to the death of Aurangzeb, let alone why they retain such a continued impact in the public imagination across the subcontinent today. The narrative focuses so heavily on their shortcomings that it fails to explain the enduring legacy and administrative success that shaped the region.
For a more comprehensive view, I found William Dalrymple and Anita Anand’s Empire podcast to be far more instructive. They provide the necessary context to understand how a group of Muslim Turkic-Mongol outsiders became indigenous over the generations. It is this transition—not covered well here—that explains their deep alliances, their influence, and how they successfully governed a non-Muslim majority for hundreds of years.
May 19, 2022
I read it for Akbar but ended up being thoroughly engaged in the lives of the 6 Great Mughal Emperors and their not-so-great descendants. It's clear that Akbar is the author's favorite too but he did his best to present a complete picture -faults and all. Akbar was an enlightened ruler, great military strategist, able administrator,patron of arts etc. At the same time he's very much a controversial figure in India as far as his religious identity is concerned. The man believed in all religions and none of them at the same time. The author presents all the contradictions of the man and explores what made him so popular that he's still known by his sobriquet (Great). To understand that you have to understand the emperors who came before him as well as those who came after him. The first 6 Mughals were passionate about the empire they carved out and constantly had to fight internal as well as external enemies to stay on the throne. The quality of their enemies Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Sher Shah Suri speak much about the valor and cunning of the Mughals. Their history is littered with enough of their adventures,drama,addictions and romance that they provide enough material on their own for several films. The script writer wouldn't have to strain his imagination when the original itself is so unbelievable. Which explains why the Mughals are still fascinating to the current generation. Forget Taj Mahal. That's the least of their contributions.
January 31, 2022
The book has just touched on important key events which occurred in the Mughal era. I can say that it was not a great experience. It has only shown Akbar as a great leader and had devalued other rulers. Despite his religious beliefs and his carnages, Akbar has emerged as a great king. This is an injustice to other rulers. Jehangir was a more just ruler than Akbar. Stil Jahangir didn't get any appreciation.
March 15, 2018
This book gets you to a journey of Mughals Legend and how they thrived and later-on strived to keep intact their empire which was confronted by many adversaries at the end of its dismissal. Never had I read such an eloquent and well-written book about Mughal's history. Nearing to finish the book, I was a bit saddened at how the kingdom of Mughals came to a disastrous end.
April 22, 2018
This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the Mughal history without being bogged down by too much detail. The writer did a fantastic job of captivating readers attention.
I would only wish if Dirk Collier had used more maps, instead of using only a single map during the reign of Akbar.
All in all highly recommended.
I would only wish if Dirk Collier had used more maps, instead of using only a single map during the reign of Akbar.
All in all highly recommended.
July 5, 2020
The author couldn't get rid of his liberal stereotypes. Invitation to the liberal world view were inserted in an otherwise beautiful read
April 18, 2022
Mughal dynasty was established by Babur who was fifth generation descendant of great warrior Amir Timor. Great Mughals include Babar, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan & Aurangzeb. After death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Mughals till 1857 have been described as lesser Mughals, as they were emperors in name only.
It is written in very concise form but it has also been made sure that all important events are covered as well. Author has tried to remain neutral during most part of book, but he has been unable to hid his liking for Akbar and repulse for Aurangzeb. It is not a usual dull book of history as author has tried his best to keep things simple and interesting. It is good read for students of history and people preparing for competitive exams. Small sketch of great Mughals is as under;
Zahir-Ud Din Muhammad Babar (1483-1530) was prince of small principality of Fergana. After winning & losing throne of Samarkand several times, he diverted his attention towards subcontinent. At that time India was ruled by Lodi dynasty. He was purely driven by aim to conquer more territories and plunder and nothing Islamic, as his many battles were also against Muslims. In his memoir Tuzik-E-Babri, he has recorded many events of his life.
Humayun (1508-1556) was superstitious and little bit lazy as well. He laid the foundation stone of Delhi. He was expelled from India by Sher Shah Suri. Later, he re-captured his lost territories after death of Sher Shah Suri. He died after falling from stairs of his library.
Akbar (1542-1605) is considered the greatest of all Mughal emperors. He was a great warrior and strategist. His was very interested in Philosophy and Religion and established Din-E-Elahi as well. He strengthened his rule by providing several reliefs to his Hindu subjects.
Jahangir (1569-1627) birth name was Saleem, he was also called as Sheikhu by his father. He was a great patron of arts. He revolted against his father in 1599, and was part of conspiracy to kill Abu-Al-Fzal (one of Nauratans and biographer of Akbar).
Shahjahan (1592-1666) birth name was Khurram. His greatest contribution is building of Taj Mahal (in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to his 14th child). Author has debunked the myth that hands of architects were cut at completion of Taj Mahal, on the other hand they were rewarded fairly. He also built pea-cock throne. He was kept confined for last 08 years of his life by his son Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb Alamgir (1618-1707) was an orthodox Muslim who withdrew many favours from Hindus which were awarded by Akbar. He had to fight fierce battle for throne with his brothers. He was great military commander and spent most of his life fighting.
Lesser Mughals (1707-1857) were many in number, as Aurangzeb died there were seventeen contenders for throne. But three are worth mentioning here. Muhammad Shah (Rangila) occupied throne for almost 30 years, but did nothing to consolidate and administer country properly. It was in his rein that country was attacked and plundered by Nadir Shah. Shah Alam II was a good administrator; he tried to fight English & Marathas but failed. Third, Bahadur Shah Zafar was last Mughal emperor, after failed war of 1857 his sons and grandsons were killed by British and he was exiled.
It is written in very concise form but it has also been made sure that all important events are covered as well. Author has tried to remain neutral during most part of book, but he has been unable to hid his liking for Akbar and repulse for Aurangzeb. It is not a usual dull book of history as author has tried his best to keep things simple and interesting. It is good read for students of history and people preparing for competitive exams. Small sketch of great Mughals is as under;
Zahir-Ud Din Muhammad Babar (1483-1530) was prince of small principality of Fergana. After winning & losing throne of Samarkand several times, he diverted his attention towards subcontinent. At that time India was ruled by Lodi dynasty. He was purely driven by aim to conquer more territories and plunder and nothing Islamic, as his many battles were also against Muslims. In his memoir Tuzik-E-Babri, he has recorded many events of his life.
Humayun (1508-1556) was superstitious and little bit lazy as well. He laid the foundation stone of Delhi. He was expelled from India by Sher Shah Suri. Later, he re-captured his lost territories after death of Sher Shah Suri. He died after falling from stairs of his library.
Akbar (1542-1605) is considered the greatest of all Mughal emperors. He was a great warrior and strategist. His was very interested in Philosophy and Religion and established Din-E-Elahi as well. He strengthened his rule by providing several reliefs to his Hindu subjects.
Jahangir (1569-1627) birth name was Saleem, he was also called as Sheikhu by his father. He was a great patron of arts. He revolted against his father in 1599, and was part of conspiracy to kill Abu-Al-Fzal (one of Nauratans and biographer of Akbar).
Shahjahan (1592-1666) birth name was Khurram. His greatest contribution is building of Taj Mahal (in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to his 14th child). Author has debunked the myth that hands of architects were cut at completion of Taj Mahal, on the other hand they were rewarded fairly. He also built pea-cock throne. He was kept confined for last 08 years of his life by his son Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb Alamgir (1618-1707) was an orthodox Muslim who withdrew many favours from Hindus which were awarded by Akbar. He had to fight fierce battle for throne with his brothers. He was great military commander and spent most of his life fighting.
Lesser Mughals (1707-1857) were many in number, as Aurangzeb died there were seventeen contenders for throne. But three are worth mentioning here. Muhammad Shah (Rangila) occupied throne for almost 30 years, but did nothing to consolidate and administer country properly. It was in his rein that country was attacked and plundered by Nadir Shah. Shah Alam II was a good administrator; he tried to fight English & Marathas but failed. Third, Bahadur Shah Zafar was last Mughal emperor, after failed war of 1857 his sons and grandsons were killed by British and he was exiled.
June 28, 2022
What a strange book - this is the TMZ/ Pinkvilla version of history. Its also a non fiction book supposedly historical in which the author quotes liberally from his fictional book (which is about letters that Akbar, an illiterate man, wrote to various people) to explain how Akbar may have thought. Like the evidence for Akbar's motivations is a fictional book...
Still the pinkvilla part is super interesting and revealing. I did not know e.g. that Humanyun's wife had been in love with Humayun's brother or that Humayun was OBSESSED with astrology to the point that it caused his death (although it didn't predict it), Akbar was VEGETARIAN and didn't even eat garlic onions or leeks, and he prayed to the sun. He also once abused his son Shah Jahan by calling him baccha e lada or son of a catamite - which seems counter intuitive that a father would call a son that.. (my commentary not Collier's)
He writes not as a historian. After every ruler's death, he spends a few pages talking about whether the ruler was a good human or not.. Not sure why only Muslim rulers need to fulfil this category of good human-ship when most rulers around the world are basically ruling. At one point, Akbar is accused of having imperialist ambitions because he wants to capture the kingdom of Queen Durgavati - but I mean Durgavati also is only protecting her kingdom for her infant son not so that she can hold free and fair elections in the 15th century.
I also found his usage of the world imperialist to be problematic ... It really feels like this book was written by a liberal who is terrified of an Indian right wing audience .. not knowing that Indian right wing audience doesn't read books. Like why does it need to be repeated that a king who rules based on convincing people of his divine right to rule has ambitions of expansion - given that all his Uzbek cousins are trying to do the same thing? Its a dangerous practice because the British also had imperialist ambitions and in India today it is being argued that 'invasion' by the British was the same as 'invasion' by the Mughals - which is funny because after Babur, none of them saw Uzbekistan. After Akbar, they were all born in India and most of them were more Rajput than Uzbek. (to be fair to Collier, he makes these arguments also). I do not understand why this book keeps harping on the imperialist ambitions of kings - its like tautological .. a king is an imperialist..
At one point he compares Sher Shah Suri to Adolf Hitler - which is so strange .. Sher Shah Suri was not genocidal. He was one of greatest administrators that India has ever had - the roads he built stand to this day, he invented the word rupiya now currency in three different countries .. Collier says he was a good administrator but consistently describes Babur Sher Shah and most Mughals as cunning, wily, bloodthirsty, cruel .. like all stereotypes used by the Indian right wing to describe Muslims. And the only good Muslim is Akbar who of course was more of an eclectic spiritualist..
I mean I am still reading this book - but quoting a fictional book as evidence for history is really quite ambitious on his part. Also the greatest book on Mughal history (which Collier quotes constantly) is the Peacock throne by Abraham Eraly.. Read this one for random gossip about Mughals (which is equally interesting).
Still the pinkvilla part is super interesting and revealing. I did not know e.g. that Humanyun's wife had been in love with Humayun's brother or that Humayun was OBSESSED with astrology to the point that it caused his death (although it didn't predict it), Akbar was VEGETARIAN and didn't even eat garlic onions or leeks, and he prayed to the sun. He also once abused his son Shah Jahan by calling him baccha e lada or son of a catamite - which seems counter intuitive that a father would call a son that.. (my commentary not Collier's)
He writes not as a historian. After every ruler's death, he spends a few pages talking about whether the ruler was a good human or not.. Not sure why only Muslim rulers need to fulfil this category of good human-ship when most rulers around the world are basically ruling. At one point, Akbar is accused of having imperialist ambitions because he wants to capture the kingdom of Queen Durgavati - but I mean Durgavati also is only protecting her kingdom for her infant son not so that she can hold free and fair elections in the 15th century.
I also found his usage of the world imperialist to be problematic ... It really feels like this book was written by a liberal who is terrified of an Indian right wing audience .. not knowing that Indian right wing audience doesn't read books. Like why does it need to be repeated that a king who rules based on convincing people of his divine right to rule has ambitions of expansion - given that all his Uzbek cousins are trying to do the same thing? Its a dangerous practice because the British also had imperialist ambitions and in India today it is being argued that 'invasion' by the British was the same as 'invasion' by the Mughals - which is funny because after Babur, none of them saw Uzbekistan. After Akbar, they were all born in India and most of them were more Rajput than Uzbek. (to be fair to Collier, he makes these arguments also). I do not understand why this book keeps harping on the imperialist ambitions of kings - its like tautological .. a king is an imperialist..
At one point he compares Sher Shah Suri to Adolf Hitler - which is so strange .. Sher Shah Suri was not genocidal. He was one of greatest administrators that India has ever had - the roads he built stand to this day, he invented the word rupiya now currency in three different countries .. Collier says he was a good administrator but consistently describes Babur Sher Shah and most Mughals as cunning, wily, bloodthirsty, cruel .. like all stereotypes used by the Indian right wing to describe Muslims. And the only good Muslim is Akbar who of course was more of an eclectic spiritualist..
I mean I am still reading this book - but quoting a fictional book as evidence for history is really quite ambitious on his part. Also the greatest book on Mughal history (which Collier quotes constantly) is the Peacock throne by Abraham Eraly.. Read this one for random gossip about Mughals (which is equally interesting).
April 11, 2020
This book demonstrates the wide insight view of Mughals Dynasty from Babur to Last absolute ruler Aurangzeb. How the unknown India for Mughals become familiarized to them with a sudden change in mind of Babur ? The long lasting reign of 331 years comes to end in 1857 after disorder and because of many competitors like Marathas, Afghani and Britain equipped with techniques, power and latest arms respectively. However, all these things once belonged to Mughals.
The rise of Mughals were not due to their relentless power but due to discipline, better strategies adopted in wars and above all their policy of ruling without biases. This policy had made them eligible to rule in a country where multi-religions, multicultural, multi-traditional and areas attached to various languages existed.
The decline was occured because of strict policies regarding religion and also the expansion of empire was creating difficulties for governors to hold and collect taxes. Meanwhile, as the weakest point ever existed in Muslims history i.e. civil war created weakness in the whole empire. After reading this book, with melancholy it is summarized as " No More Great Mughals because India is no More Theirs".
The rise of Mughals were not due to their relentless power but due to discipline, better strategies adopted in wars and above all their policy of ruling without biases. This policy had made them eligible to rule in a country where multi-religions, multicultural, multi-traditional and areas attached to various languages existed.
The decline was occured because of strict policies regarding religion and also the expansion of empire was creating difficulties for governors to hold and collect taxes. Meanwhile, as the weakest point ever existed in Muslims history i.e. civil war created weakness in the whole empire. After reading this book, with melancholy it is summarized as " No More Great Mughals because India is no More Theirs".
August 19, 2021
An excellent book which tells about Mughal history and how these Timurid offsprings traveled from Central Asia to establish their rule over the subcontinent. How the Mughals were able to to unite Hindus and Muslims and synergize there strengths to defeat anti-Mughal forces within and outside of of Hindustan. Similarly, it also states the reasons behind eventual downfall of the Mughals and the rising polarity among various factions of the subcontinent involving Muslims, Hindus and Sikh communities.
It also gives the account of cruel power struggle, vandettas and realpolitik involved among the Mughal lineage in quest of succession for the coveted throne.
The book also sheds light on the cultural legacies and architectural marvels of Mughal Era, which will continue to fascinate human world for the times to come.
It also gives the account of cruel power struggle, vandettas and realpolitik involved among the Mughal lineage in quest of succession for the coveted throne.
The book also sheds light on the cultural legacies and architectural marvels of Mughal Era, which will continue to fascinate human world for the times to come.
September 7, 2023
One of the best books I have read on the Mughals. The author has put in a detailed research and for the reader's ease of reading, has conveniently divided the chapters into separate mughal rulers.The rise and fall of the empire has been described in various chapters with each chapter explaining the ascension of one mughal emperor and explaining his demise due to various reasons.After reading the book one can not help but to think about how the history would have shaped differently, had these rulers tried to put the interests of the common people in front of them rather than engaging in bloodbath for power.
October 7, 2020
The Great Mughals And Their India by Dirk Collier is the detailed hisrory of one the greatest emire of the world known as the Mughal empire. Starting from its founder, Babur, Dirk Collier has presented the life scenerio of every king of the dynasty in very detailed and wonderfull manner.
Apart from that the author has also sheded light on the life history of every rival king of Mughal dynasty. I found this book quite helpfull as it provides the detail of every Mughal monarch in very heart-touching way.
Apart from that the author has also sheded light on the life history of every rival king of Mughal dynasty. I found this book quite helpfull as it provides the detail of every Mughal monarch in very heart-touching way.
December 1, 2022
“I came a stranger into this world and a stranger I depart. I know nothing of myself, what I am, or for what I am destined.” – Aurangzeb
“Mughal Empire” – it always fascinated me, and I wanted to read about it since I have seen “Jodha Akbar” (movie). This thirst quenched by this book.
An enchanting piece of work. This book is brilliantly written with all the details in the chronicle order. Details which are excited enough to keep you reading and will not let you get bored with too many details. It gives historical facts of rise, fall and vengeance.
“Mughal Empire” – it always fascinated me, and I wanted to read about it since I have seen “Jodha Akbar” (movie). This thirst quenched by this book.
An enchanting piece of work. This book is brilliantly written with all the details in the chronicle order. Details which are excited enough to keep you reading and will not let you get bored with too many details. It gives historical facts of rise, fall and vengeance.
November 25, 2018
Awesome
January 27, 2019
It's a fascinating and riveting saga that brings alive a spectacular bygone era.
April 1, 2019
Exciting read
January 1, 2020
Very interestingly written. I would want to know more about certain lesser known historical characters. Would welcome any recommendations.
May 31, 2020
I have a great interest in reading about Mughals of India.
December 6, 2020
it s an amazing book which tells us a lot about the history of the Mughals and their rule in India. I will recommend this book to people who are interested in historical writings.
June 6, 2021
A scintillating account of the Indian Subcontinent's history, marked by anecdotes and life lessons that never fail to captivate your intrigue. Although, sports a ginormous list of dates and stuff.
September 30, 2021
good look at mughal history by non indian author
November 5, 2021
One of the best books I have read on the Mughal history.
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