CONTENTS

Page

ABBREVIATIONS h
ABSTRACT j

CHAPTER-I
INTRODUCTION 1-25

Mughals in Historical Perspective 4

Mughal-Persian Boundaries 6
Persia and Persians in Historical Perspective 6
The Legacy of Indo-Persian Culture in Mughal India 9
Definition of the Terms: Persians and Mughal Court 13
Chronological and Subjective Scope 14
Significance 15
Objectives 16
Research Procedure 17
Chapters Description 17
References 22

CHAPTER-II
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PERSIANS IMPACT ON
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT FROM ANCIENT TIMES UPTO
THE ESTABLISHEMENT OF MUGHAL EMPIRE IN 1526 A.D. 26-57

(A) Persians impact on Indian Sub-continent during Ancient Times 27

Achaemenids 30
Sassanids 35
(B) Persians impact on Indian Sub-continent from the advent of
Islam up to the establishment of Mughal Empire in 1526 A.D. 37
Advent of Islam 37
Arabs 38

l
 Parsees (Zoroastrians) in India 39
Ghaznavids 42
Ghorids 43
Sultanate of Dehli 44
References 52

CHAPTER-III
ROLE OF PERSIANS IN THE MUGHAL
POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION 58-112

Causes of the Migration of Persian Emigrants towards Mughal India 61

The Role of Nobility at the Mughal Court 62
Racial and Religious Groups of Nobility at the Mughal Court 63
Persians in the Politics and Administration of Babur and Humayun 63
Table-1.A Persian Emigrants during Baburs Reign
Who were assigned Ranks in Administration/Army 65
Table-1.B Racial Composition of Baburs Nobility
During 1526-1530 A.D. 65
Table-1.C Persian Emigrants during Humayuns Reign
Who were assigned Ranks in Administration/Army 70
The Role of Bairam Khan 70
Persians in the Politics and Administration of Akbar 73
Table - 1.D Persian Emigrants during Akbars Reign
Who were assigned Ranks in Administration/Army 74
Table-1.E Racial and Religious Composition of Mughal
Mansabdars 500-3000 and Above
During 1595 A.D. 75
Table-1.F Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Central Ministers
During 1556-1605 A.D. 76
Table-1.G Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Provincial Governors
During 1556-1605 A.D. 77
Persians in the Politics and Administration of Jahangir 79
Table-1.H Persian Emigrants during Jahangirs Reign
Who were assigned Ranks in Administration/Army 80

m
Table-1.I Racial and Religious Composition of
Mughal Mansabdars 5005000 and Above
During 1621 A.D. 81
Table-1.J Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Central Ministers
During 1605-27 A.D. 82
Table-1.K Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Provincial Governors
During 1605-1627 A.D. 83
Role of Itimad-ud-Daullahs Family 83
Role of Nur Jahans Junta 85
Role of Mahabat Khan 86
Persians in the Politics and Administration of Shah Jahan 88
Table-1.L Persian Emigrants during Shah Jahans Reign
Who were assigned Rank in Administration/Army 89
Table-1.M Racial and Religious Composition of
Mughal Mansabdars 5005000 and Above
During 1637-1638 A.D. 90
Table-1.N Racial and Religious Composition of
Mughal Mansabdars 500- 5000 and Above
During 1656-1657 A.D. 91
Table-1.O Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Central Ministers
During 1628-1658 A.D. 92
Table-1.P Racial and Religious Composition of
Over All Provincial Governors
During 1628-1658 A.D. 93
Role of Ali Mardan Khan 93
Persians in the Politics and Administration of Aurangzeb Alamgir 95
Table-1.Q Supporters of the Contending Princes
In the War of Succession during 1658-1659 A.D. 96
Table-1.R Persian Emigrants during Aurangzebs Reign
Who were assigned Rank in Administration/Army 97
Table-1.S Racial and Religious Composition of
Mughal Mansabdars 1000-5000 and Above
During 1658-1678 A.D. 98

n
 Table-1.T Racial and Religious Composition of
Mughal Mansabdars 1000-5000 and Above
During 1679-1707 A.D. 99
References 104

CHAPTER-IV
ROLE OF PERSIANS IN THE
RELIGIOUS LIFE OF MUGHAL INDIA 113-153

The Establishment of a Ithna Ashari Safawid Dynasty in Persia 114

Safawid Order and its Propaganda 117
Safawids Assistance to Babur and Humayun 119
Ithna Ashariyah-Sunni Contrasts in India 122
Confrontation between Ithna Ashariyah and Sunni Nobility
At the Mughal Court 123
The Religious Role of Persians during the Mughal Regime 125
Persians Role in Religion during 1526-1556 A.D. 127
Persians Role in Religion during 1556-1605 A.D. 129
Akbars Divine Light Ideology 130
Persians Role in Religion during 1605-1627 A.D. 134
Tradition of Nazr 136
Jahangirs Divine Light Ideology 137
Persians Role in Religion during 1628-1707 A.D. 139
A Brief Role of Some Mystical or Sufi Orders during the
Mughal Regime, who Arrived India via Persia 140
Silsila-i-Chishtiya 142
Silsila-i-Suhrwardiya 142
Sislila-i-Qadriya 142
Sislila-i-Naqshbandiya 143
Shattariyah Method of Mysticism 143
References 146

o
CHAPTER-V
ROLE OF PERSIANS IN THE LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE OF MUGHAL INDIA 154-206

The Causes of Migration of Persian Men of Pen towards Mughal India 157
Persian Language and Literature during 1526-1556 A.D. 160
Persian Language and Literature during 1556-1605 A.D. 166
Indo-Persian and Persian Schools 167
Persian Language and Literature during 1605-1627 A.D. 178
Persian Language and Literature during 1628-1707 A.D. 182
Persian Language and Literatures Impact on other Spheres of India 187
Role of Persian Language in the Creation of Urdu 188
Table-5.A Persian Poets and Scholars who Migrated
India or Born there during 1526-1707 A.D. 190
References 198

CHAPTER-VI
ROLE OF PERSIAN NOBLEWOMEN AT THE MUGHAL COURT 207-246

Maham Begum 209

Hamida Bano Begum 210
Anarkali 212
Qurishi Khanum-e-Tabrizi 215
Jamileh Esfahani 215
Nur Jahan 215
Qandahari Mahal 232
Mumtaz Mahal 233
Sati Khanum 236
Dilras Begum 237
References 239

p
CHAPTER-VII
ROLE OF PERSIANS IN MUGHAL
CULTURE, ARTS AND SOCIETY 247-314

Persians Role in the Society of Mughal India 249

Some Persian Cultural Customs, Traditions in Mughal India 252
Noroz (Nauroz-i-Jalali) 254
Rasm-i-Sijda (Act of Prostration) 254
Nishat Afroz Jashn and Aab-Pashan 255
Khushroz or Mina-Bazaar 255
Persians Role in the Artistic Activities of Mughal India 256
Calligraphy 258
Carpets and Rugs 260
Coinage 261
Book Binding 262
Medicine 263
Music 264
Painting 267
Painting during 1526-1556 A.D. 269
Painting during 1556-1605 A.D. 271
Khwaja Abd-al-Samad Shirazi 272
Mir Syed Ali Tabrizi 273
Painting during 1605-1627 A.D. 274
Aqa Riza 275
Abul Hasan 275
Ustad Mansur 276
Painting during 1628-1658 A.D. 276
Painting under 1658-1707 A.D. 277
Architecture 278
Mughal Gardens 281
Use of Tiles and Mosaics in Mughal Architecture 283
Use of Glasses and Mirrors in Mughal Architecture 284

q
 Architecture during 1526-1556 A.D. 285
Architecture during 1556-1605 A.D. 286
Humayuns Mausoleum 287
Architecture during 1605-1628 A.D. 288
Nur Afshan Bagh 289
Nur Manzil or Zahra Bagh 289
Tomb of Itimad-ud-Doullah 290
Tomb of Anarkali 290
Architecture during 1628-1658 A.D. 290
Tomb of Nur Jahan 292
Asaf Khans Tomb 292
Taj Mahal 293
Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khass 295
Tomb of Qandahari Mahal 296
Chini Ka Rouza 296
Rang Mahal 296
Moti Masjid 296
Jamma Masjid Dehli 297
Shalamar Garden Lahore 297
Chashma Shahi Bagh 297
Nishat Bagh 298
Architecture during 1658-1707A.D. 298
Table-7.A Persian Artists, Craftsmen, and People
With Diverse Skills Who Emigrated India
During 1530-1707 A.D. 299
References 302

CHAPTER-VIII
CONCLUSION 315-339

Persians Political and Administrative Role 318

Table-8.A Persian Emigrants in Mughal Politics and Administration 318

r
 Persians Religious Role 323
Persians Role in Language and Literature 327
Table-8.B Persian Poets and Scholars who Migrated
India or Born there during 1526-1707 A.D. 328
Role of Persian Noblewomen 331
Persians Role in Arts, Culture and Society 332
Table-8.C Persian Artists, Craftsmen, and People with Diverse Skills
Who Migrated India or Born there during 1530-1707 A.D. 333
Future Prospects & Suggestions 337
References 339

ANNEXURES i-xlii
ANNEXURE-I
List of the Persian Supporters to Dara Shikoh
In the War of Succession during 1658-59 A.D. i

ANNEXURE-II
List of the Persian Supporters to Aurangzeb
In the War of Succession during 1658-59 A.D. ii

ANNEXURE-III
Persian Traders/Tourists who Arrived India
During the Reigns of Humayun to Shah Jahan iii

ANNEXURE-IV
Mughal-Safawid Relations:
In the Historical Perspective of Qandahar vi

ANNEXURE-V
Humayuns Exile and his Flight to Persia xxv

MAPS x1iv-x1v

The Mughal Empire during 1526-1707 A.D. x1iv

Iran in Safawid Period x1v

BIBLIOGRAPHY x1vi-1xi