The Mughal State
and Culture 1556-1598: Selected Letters and Documents from
Munshaat-i-Namakin
By-
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli
Insha collections
compiled in India during the medieval period are an important source of
information for the history of the medieval state and society. But scholars
working in the area were severely handicapped in their attempts to use this
potential source because properly edited texts of the majority of these
collections were not available.
Munshaat-i-Namakin is one such Insha
collection that was compiled during the last years of Akbar’s reign. It covers
the period 1556 to 1598. Its compiler, Abul Qasim Namakin, was a nobleman of
eminence and served under Akbar and Jahangir.
It
is one of the largest collections dating from the Mughal period. The documents
provide extremely valuable information on a wide range of subjects relating to
the political, institutional, social, cultural, legal and even religious
aspects of Akbar’s reign. Besides, it contains scores of appointment orders
relating to different branches of the cnetral as well as provincial
administration, providing specific information about the duties and functions
of state officials. It also contains copies of important diplomatic
correspondence some of which are not available anywhere else.
Insha was a popular
branch of literature during the medieval period. in addition to those who were
interested in it as a matter of taste, it was an essential reference tool for
those who aspired to enter government service. Insha collections, which
contained specimen documents and drafts for various occasions served as guides
for acquiring the necessary skill in the art of drafting, which was an
important requirement for government servants.
Apparently
many of the documents in the collection were received by the compiler when he
was a Mughal officer working in different capacities. Selections from the
writings of other distinguished writers have also been included. Munshaat-i-Namakin
is a unique source of history as well as a book of great literary interest for
it contains the only available specimen, of a number of documents for various
categories.
Ishtiyaq
Ahmad Zilli
retired as Professor of History, Aligarh Mulsim University. His academic work
relates to mainly Sufism and Indo-Persian hitoriography.
ISBN 81-7304-738-3 2007 540p. Rs.1350/ Pounds 70
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