Medieval History (Part-I)

Sikhism is one of the largest organized religions in the world, with over 25 million followers globally. It was founded by Guru Nanak Dev in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent during the late 15th century. The faith emphasizes monotheism, equality, justice, and service. The term Sikh means "learner" or "disciple," reflecting the religion's focus on spiritual learning and devotion to God.

Key Sikh practices include prayer, meditation (Naam Japna), and community service, exemplified by langars (free community kitchens). The Khalsa, initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, upholds Sikh principles with discipline and courage. Sikhism continues to inspire millions with its message of faith, justice, and humanit.

About Raskhan:

• Syed Ibrahim Khan (1548–1628) was an Indian Sufi Muslim poet who became a devotee of the Hindu deity Krishna.
• Raskhan was his takhallus (pen name) in Hindi.
• He accepted Krishna as the supreme god (Svyam Bhagavan) and became a Vaishnava.
• He died in 1628 AD.
• His samadhi is at Mahaban, about six miles east of Mathura.
• He translated Bhagavata Purana into Persian.
• The poetry of Raskhan focuses on Lord Krishna.
• Rachnavali is the collection of Raskhan’s poetry.
• His poetry is in the form of Doha, Padawali and Savayya.
• Raskhan’s Khariboli writings are numerous, the five most important being the Sujana Raskhana, the Premavatika, the Danalila, the Astayama and a collection of Padas (rhymed couplets).

Ghiyas Ud Din Balban (1216–1287) was the ninth Sultan of Delhi and the most prominent ruler of the Mamluk dynasty, also known as the Slave dynasty. Born to a Turkic family, he was sold into slavery and rose to power through his service under Sultan Iltutmish. Upon ascending the throne in 1266, Balban implemented a “blood and iron” policy, emphasizing military strength and strict governance to suppress internal unrest and safeguard his rule.

In addition to his military and administrative measures, Balban’s theory of kingship asserted the Sultan’s divine authority, positioning him as God's representative on Earth. His reign was also marked by efforts to strengthen the central authority, laying the groundwork for the subsequent Tughlaq dynasty.

About Akbar

• Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, reigned from 1556 to 1605 and is often celebrated as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
• Ascending to the throne at a young age, he rapidly expanded the Mughal Empire to encompass much of the Indian subcontinent.
• Renowned for his visionary policies, Akbar implemented administrative reforms promoting religious tolerance and cultural integration, establishing a legacy of pluralism and governance resonating throughout the empire.
• His commitment to fostering dialogue between different faiths and his patronage of the arts laid the foundation for a vibrant cultural renaissance.

The Chishti order is a Sufi order within the mystic branches of Islam which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, Afghanistan about 930 CE. The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami ("the Syrian").

The most famous of the Chishti saints is Moinuddin Chishti popularly known as Gharib Nawaz meaning "Benefactor of the Poor" who settled in Ajmer, India.

The Mahabharata is one of ancient India's two great Sanskrit epics, the other being the Rmyaa. It tells the story of the Kurukshetra War between two sets of cousins, as well as the destinies of the Kaurava and Pava princes and their descendants. The Mahabharata is credited to Maharishi Vyas, and the Bharta version has 24,000 poems, but the Mahabharta has 1 lakh verses and 1.8 million words, making it 10 times longer than the "Iliad and Odyssey combined" and four times longer than the Ramayana.

Abul Fazl Allami is the most significant historian of the time of the Great Mughals. He was killed in 1602 at Jahangir's order. He was born around 1550. In shaping Akbar's religious beliefs and policies, his father, Shaikh Mubarak, a revered scholar and sufi, was crucial. In Akbar's court, his brother Faizi was a poet laureate.

• He was a superb scholar and author who firmly believed in eclecticism, was a capable and devoted state worker, a man of incredible grit, and Akbar's close friend. Abu'l Fazl was raised in Agra, the Mughal capital. He read a lot of Arabic, Persian, Greek philosophy, and Sufi literature.
• He was also a persuasive debater and free thinker who regularly disagreed with the hardline ulama. Akbar was impressed by Abu'l Fazl and thought that he would make an excellent advisor and representative for his views.
• The state's liberation from the grip of religious orthodoxy was one of the emperor's primary goals. Abu'l Fazl moulded and defined the ideals associated with Akbar's reign in his capacity as court historian.
• The Emperor hired him to write a history of his reign, and he turned out two excellent books. His chronology and account of the events are both generally accurate. Although clever, his style is too rhetorical and complex to engage the reader directly.
• It is also distinguished by his patron's fawning, whom he saw as a superhuman. Abul Fazl cannot be viewed as a completely neutral and objective historian.

Fawazil was balance between the income and expenditure of iqta-holders.

The iqta system which grew slowly in West Asia, implied that a Turkish chief was allotted a piece of land as iqta from which he could collect the land revenues and taxes due to the state.

In return, he had to maintain a body of troops for the service of the ruler.