While studying Aurangzeb, the three books that intrigued me were the Masir-I-Alamgiri, Letters of Aurangzeb and Anecdotes of Aurangzeb. The Masir-i-Alamgiri is a chronicle written by Saki Mustad Khan that records births, marriages, deaths, p...
While studying Aurangzeb, the three books that intrigued me were the Masir-I-Alamgiri, Letters of Aurangzeb and Anecdotes of Aurangzeb. The Masir-i-Alamgiri is a chronicle written by Saki Mustad Khan that records births, marriages, deaths, postings, promotions, demotions, felicitations, victories and defeats of war during the reign of Aurangzeb.All three books have instructive passages from well-known Persian poets and Koranic verses. Aurangzeb even quotes Plato and Aristotal. The language and style of his comments is polite, sweet, simple and figurative. Again, a larger meaning in conveyed by a short sentence. At times there is a play of words showing Aurangzeb’s mastery over Arabic literature. ‘The Anecdotes of Aurangzeb’ tell us that he believed, “A king must work hard to reign, and it is ingratitude towards God, injustice and tyranny towards man, to wish to reign without hard work.”
Tags : Aurangzeb,Masir-I-Alamgiri,Letters of Aurangzeb,Anecdotes of Aurangzeb,Saki Mustad Khan,Persian poets,Koranic verses,Plato and Aristotle,Arabic literature,Mughal Empire