NAME: Eiti Sharma

ROLL NO: 22/309

SUB: Early Mughal
CA Assignment

SUMMARY OF “HISTORIANS &

HISTORIOGRAPHY DURING THE REIGN OF AKBAR”
by HARBANS MUKHIA
[CH2: I. Sheikh Abul Fazal
II.Treatment of History in the Akbar Nama]

Abul Fazl's "Akbar Nama" is a detailed chronicle of the reign of

Mughal Emperor Akbar, beginning from the earliest human history
and extending to the 46th year of Akbar's rule. Abul Fazl starts the
narrative from Adam to emphasize Akbar's place at the pinnacle of
human progress. However, he hurries through the earlier parts of
history, focusing mainly on Akbar's reign. The "Akbar Nama" is
divided regnally, with each reign treated as a unit, but with events
within a reign presented in chronological order. When it comes to
Akbar’s period, the narrative becomes an annual chronicle, with
events documented in the sequence they occurred, often breaking
the continuity to maintain chronological integrity.

The "Ain-i-Akbari," a part of the "Akbar Nama," is a gazetteer-like

compilation divided into five books. These books provide detailed
descriptions of the imperial establishment, the army, various
administrative roles, revenue systems, and a broad survey of the
Hindu social and philosophical landscape. Despite its comprehensive
nature, Book IV on Hinduism is considered weak due to its reliance
on secondary sources without critical evaluation. The final book
contains Akbar’s sayings, a conclusion, and an autobiographical
sketch of Abul Fazl.

Abul Fazl's work is heavily based on sources such as official

documents, memoirs, and oral testimonies, although he rarely
acknowledges them directly. He often alters or summarizes these
sources, sometimes changing their meaning to suit his narrative.
This method reflects his belief that writing history backward from a
desired notion—like Akbar’s prominence—can validate that idea.
While the "Akbar Nama" is an official history controlled by Akbar's
approval, it still demonstrates Abul Fazl's effort in rigorous research
and systematic data collection, marking a significant advancement
in the historiography of his time.

This document is traditionally regarded as a historical record of

Akbar's reign, yet it is more accurately described as a glorification of
Akbar and his empire rather than an objective account of world
history. Although Abul Fazl defines history as a chronological record
of world events, his narrative focuses almost entirely on Akbar,
presenting his reign as the most glorious in human history. The
earlier sections of the Akbar Nama, which begin with the fall of
Adam, cannot be considered a world history because they
selectively pick and distort facts to create a backdrop against which
Akbar's supremacy can be highlighted. As such, the work is not a
true chronological account of world events; instead, it is a deliberate
attempt to position Akbar as a central, almost divine figure.

The Akbar Nama lacks a coherent method for explaining the

causation of historical events. Unlike historians who formulate
general principles to understand cause and effect in history, Abul
Fazl's generalizations are based on individual events. These
generalizations are often not comprehensive enough to provide a
broad understanding of causation. Abul Fazl treats history as a
series of isolated events, each connected to the moral character of
the individuals involved. He tends to begin his accounts with
statements like "One of the occurrences was..." and proceeds to
derive moral lessons from each event. These lessons are often
tailored to suit the specific event, lacking the universality needed for
them to be considered genuine historical principles.

A significant feature of Abul Fazl's writing is his blending of historical

narrative with mystical explanations, especially when dealing with
events involving Akbar. For instance, he describes events like
Akbar's horse crossing a flooded river as being guided by Akbar's
"sacred person," a phrase that emphasizes his semi-divine nature.
This mystical reasoning is often used to explain away inconvenient
events or phenomena, reinforcing the idea that Akbar's actions are
divinely ordained and beyond ordinary human understanding.

Abul Fazl's work is also grounded in certain assumptions that shape

his portrayal of historical events. The first is the belief in Akbar's
semi-divine status, implying that any opposition to him is destined
to fail. Loyalty to Akbar is depicted as a supreme virtue, while
disloyalty is considered a grave error that inevitably invites divine
retribution. The second set of assumptions revolves around human
nature, which Abul Fazl sees as the primary driver of historical
events. However, when it comes to Akbar, his actions are portrayed
as divinely inspired and beyond the realm of human reasoning.
Overall, Akbar Nama is less a historical document and more a
political and philosophical treatise aimed at glorifying Akbar's reign.
It uses selective historical narratives and moral lessons to construct
an image of Akbar as a ruler whose greatness is unparalleled,
thereby reinforcing his authority and the legitimacy of his rule.

This text presents a unique perspective on historical events,

focusing on human nature and categorizing people based on their
morality and political behavior. Abul Fazl divides people into three
groups: those who are wholly good, those who are inherently
wicked, and those who are fundamentally good but susceptible to
evil influences. This classification is not merely a moral one; it
intertwines morality with political conduct. He assesses individuals’
actions through their loyalty or hostility toward Emperor Akbar and
his empire. For him, political actions are equated with moral actions.

This approach can be seen as practical given the context of 16th-

century India when the Mughal Empire was consolidating its power
and modifying its political institutions to create a strong centralized
state. His writings reflect the need for loyalty to the monarch as a
moral imperative, aligning himself with Akbar both intellectually and
practically.

His writing style in "Akbar Nama" is notable for its complexity and
ornate verbosity, contrary to his claim of simplicity. His style is
characterized as impersonal, lacking modulation and interest, with
inserted verses that do not integrate well into the narrative. Despite
his meticulous effort in constructing the text, his reflections are
often seen as neither profound nor engaging, lacking the vivid
storytelling of other historians like Herodotus or Badauni.

While "Akbar Nama" introduces a new pattern of historical writing

by dividing the narrative into two parts—the historical account and a
gazetteer—the style has been criticized for its lack of engaging
detail. The work is also marked by its secular stance; he refrains
from religious fanaticism and does not follow the convention of
praising saints. This could be due to the maturing state policy on
religion under Akbar, with which he was closely involved.

Fazl’s secular outlook also aligns with the emerging secular culture
of contemporary Europe, suggesting his awareness of broader
intellectual currents. However, his interpretation of Akbar’s reign
retains a semi-mystical element, reflecting the limitations of the
intellectual awareness at Akbar’s court, which did not fully embrace
the role of science and technology.

Though often criticized for flattering Akbar excessively, Abul Fazl’s

exhaustive research makes "Akbar Nama" a significant work in the
history of Indian historiography, representing a detailed yet complex
attempt to write a comparatively authentic historical account.

In conclusion, Abul Fazl's "Akbar Nama" is both a historical narrative

and a gazetteer that presents the reign of Akbar as the culmination
of human progress. By starting from Adam and emphasizing Akbar's
achievements, Fazl crafts a history that aligns with his patron's
vision. Though the work is based on extensive research and various
sources, his method of selectively acknowledging these sources and
altering their meanings to fit his narrative reflects his intent to
portray Akbar's reign in a specific light. Despite these biases, the
"Akbar Nama" remains a significant work of its time, showcasing a
meticulous compilation of historical data and official records