Agra:
The nine gems of Akbar’s court will soon adorn Fatehpur Sikri Fort, with Agra Development Authority (ADA) and Uttar Pradesh tourism planning to install their statues in the premises of the monument.
Despite his illiteracy, Mughal ruler Akbar appreciated the presence of artists and intellectuals. His passion for knowledge and interest in learning from great minds meant that men of great intellect received patronage from the emperor. Such men went on to constitute the nine courtiers, also known as ‘navratnas’, of Akbar’s kingdom. The navratnas are Abul Fazl, Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, Birbal, Mulla Do-Piyaza Faizi, Raja Man Singh, Raja Todar Mal, Fakir Aziao-Din and Tansen.
According to ASI, Mughal institutions such as the ‘Ibadat-Khanah’, ‘Din-i-Ilahi’, ‘Tarikh-i-Ilahi’ , Jharokha-Darshan, the doctrine of Sulh-i-Kul and policy of liberal patronage to indigenous arts and literatures, were founded here.
Under the plan, the statues of the nine courtiers would be built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh and will be set up in the interpretation centre coming up in the Fort complex. Fatehpur Sikri was the capital of Mughal Emperor Akbar for 13 years, from 1572 to 1585. The complex of monuments was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986.
Dinesh Kumar, regional tourist officer, said, “We plan to install the statues the way Akbar used to hold court meetings with them. Tourists will also be provided information about them in detail. Although the place for their installation has not been finalized yet, we are trying to get it done in the interpretation centre. A meeting with the divisional commissioner will soon be held to get his permission.”
The interpretation centre will provide a glimpse of history and culture of the Mughal era as well as facilitate tourists’ visit to the Fort. Its construction work is likely to be completed by next month, Kumar added.
Perhaps the most famous of the ‘navratnas’ is Birbal, a Brahmin advisor in the court of Akbar. He is mostly remembered in folk tales that focus on his wit.
In 1586, he led an army to crush an unrest in the north-west Indian subcontinent, which failed tragically when he was killed along with many soldiers in an ambush by the rebel tribe.
Towards the end of Akbar’s reign, local folk tales emerged involving his interactions with Akbar, portraying him as extremely clever and witty. Birbal’s defeat was one of biggest military setbacks during Akbar’s reign and his death is said to have caused the Mughal emperor much grief.
In the folk tales, Birbal is mostly shown as being younger than Akbar, religious and surrounded by envious Muslim courtiers. These tales involve him outsmarting them and sometimes even Akbar, using only his intelligence and cunning, often by giving witty and humorous responses and impressing Akbar.
Mulla Do-Piyaza is a character from a series of folk tales featuring the Mughal emperor Akbar and his witty courtier Birbal. Mulla Do-Piyaza, also portrayed as witty, is Birbal’s rival. Even though these folk tales originated at the end of Akbar’s reign (1556-1605), Mulla Do-Piyaza began to appear later, popularized by writers in the late 19th century. Most scholars consider him to be completely fictional.
The next most heard of navratna was perhaps Tansen, a prominent Hindustani classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of compositions. He was also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the plucked rabab (of Central Asian origin). Akbar gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.
Abul Fazal was the vizier of the Mughal emperor and author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar’s reign in three volumes, (the third volume is known as the Ain-i-Akbari). He was the brother of Faizi, the poet laureate of Akbar.
Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, another ‘navratna’ was a poet known for his Hindi couplets and his books on astrology. The village of Khankhana, which is named after him, is located in the Nawanshahr district of Punjab.
A poet and scholar of late medieval India, Shaikh Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak was popularly known by his pen-name, Faizi. In 1588, he became the Malik-ush-Shu’ara (poet laureate) of Akbar’s Court. He was the elder brother of Akbar’s historian Abul Fazl. Akbar recognized the genius in him and appointed him tutor for his sons and gave place to him among his decorative ‘navaratnas’.
Man Singh, the Rajput Raja of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur in Rajputana, was a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, while Todar Mal rose to become the finance minister in Akbar’s darbar. He was born in Laharpur, Uttar Pradesh in a Hindu family.
Faqir Aziao-Din was a mystic and a chief advisor in emperor Akbar’s court. Akbar regarded his advice on religious matters in high esteem.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Agra / by Aditya Dev, TNN / December 14th, 2014
