Question

In this extract, Abu’l Fazl gives a vivid account of how and from whom he collected his information: ... to Abu’l Fazl, son of Mubarak … this sublime mandate was given. “Write with the pen of sincerity the account of the glorious events and of our dominion-conquering victories … Assuredly, I spent much labour and research in collecting the records and narratives of His Majesty’s actions, and I was a long time interrogating the servants of the State and the old members of the illustrious family. I examined both prudent, truth-speaking old men and active-minded, right-actioned young ones and reduced their statements to writing. The Royal commands were issued to the provinces, that those who from old service remembered, with certainty or with adminicle of doubt, the events of the past, should copy out the notes and memoranda and transit them to the court. (Then) a second command shone forth from the holy Presence-chamber; to wit – that the materials which had been collected should be ... recited in the royal hearing, and whatever might have to be written down afterwards, should be introduced into the noble volume as a supplement, and that such details as on account of the minuteness of the inquiries and the minutae of affairs, (which) could not then be brought to an end, should be inserted afterwards at my leisure. Being relieved by this royal order – the interpreter of the Divine ordinance – from the secret anxiety of my heart, I proceeded to reduce into writing the rough draughts (drafts)which were void of the grace of arrangement and style. I obtained the chronicle of events beginning at the Nineteenth Year of the Divine Era, when the Record Office was established by the enlightened intellect of His Majesty, and from its rich pages, I gathered the accounts of many events. Great pains too were taken to procure the originals or copies of most of the orders which had been issued to the provinces from the Accession up to the present day… I also took much trouble to incorporate many of the reports which ministers and high officials had submitted, about the affairs of the empire and the events of foreign countries. And my labour-loving soul was satiated by the apparatus of inquiry and research. I also exerted myself energetically to collect the rough notes and memoranda of sagacious and well-informed men. By these means, I constructed a reservoir for irrigating and moistening the rose garden of fortune (the Akbar Nama).

List all the sources that Abu’l Fazl used to compile his work. Which of these sources would have been most useful for arriving at an understanding of agrarian relations? To what extent do you think his work would have been influenced by his relationship with Akbar?

Answer 1

1. Abu’l Fazl collected information from official records and documents of the Mughal state.
2. He consulted old and experienced officials who remembered important past events.
3. He also questioned servants of the state and members of important families.
4. He examined the statements of both elderly and younger people and reduced their accounts to writing.
5. He used royal orders, reports, notes and memoranda sent from different provinces.
6. He also collected information from ministers and high officials about the affairs of the empire.
7. For understanding agrarian relations, revenue records, provincial reports, official orders and information from local officials would have been the most useful because they contained details about land, cultivation, peasants and revenue collection.
8. Abu’l Fazl was very close to Emperor Akbar and greatly admired him. Therefore, his writings often presented Akbar and his administration in a favourable manner.
9. His close relationship with Akbar may have influenced him to highlight the emperor’s achievements and give less attention to weaknesses or criticism.
10. Even so, his work remains an important historical source because it was based on detailed research, official records and information collected from many people.