Mughal Arcadia : Persian Literature in an Indian Court

At its height in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Mughal Empire was one of the largest empires in Eurasia, with territory extending over most of the Indian subcontinent and much of present-day Afghanistan. As part of the Persianate world that spanned from the Bosphorus to the Bay of Bengal, Mughal rulers were legendary connoisseurs of the arts. Their patronage attracted poets, artists, and scholars from all parts of the eastern Islamic world. Persian was the language of the court, and poets from Safavid Iran played a significant role in the cultural life of the nobility. Mughal Arcadia explores the rise and decline of Persian court poetry in India and the invention of an enduring idea--found in poetry, prose, paintings, and architecture--of a literary paradise, a Persian garden located outside Iran, which was perfectly exemplified by the valley of Kashmir. Poets and artists from Iran moved freely throughout the Mughal empire and encountered a variety of cultures and landscapes that inspired aesthetic experiments which continue to inspire the visual arts, poetry, films, and music in contemporary South Asia. Sunil Sharma takes readers on a dazzling literary journey over a vast geographic terrain and across two centuries, from the accession of the first emperor, Babur, to the throne of Hindustan to the reign of the sixth great Mughal, Aurangzeb, in order to illuminate the life of Persian poetry in India. Along the way, we are offered a rare glimpse into the social and cultural life of the Mughals. This Book Is A Study Of The Creation And Demise Of A Poetic Utopia At The Mughal Court In Early Modern South Asia. The Mughals Set Up An Empire In Northern India In The Early Sixteenth Century Based On A Perso-islamic Model But Ruled Over An Extremely Diverse Populace. In Order To Enhance Their Reputation In The Islamic World, The Mughals Welcomed Poets, Artists, And Scholars From Different Persophone Societies, Many Of Whom Migrated To India Either To Flee Persecution Or In Search Of Better Economic Prospects. Poetry Was Central To All Forms Of Courtly Life At This Time, Giving Poets A Prestigious Role, Especially Those Who Were Native Speakers Of Persian, Sometimes Leading To Tensions Between Émigré Poets And Local Indian Ones. While The Vibrant Life In Cities Was The Usual Subject Of Topographical Poetry, The Apex Of This Cosmopolitan Age Was The Court's Preference For The Valley Of Kashmir As A Setting For The Practice Of Poetry, One That Symbolized The Idea Of The Empire As Arcadia. Due To Several Historical And Political Reasons, Around The Mid-seventeenth Century The Mughal Court Lost Its Appeal As A Refuge For Literati, Marking A Major Shift In The Movement Of Individuals And The Centers Of Persian Literary Culture.-- Introduction: Lingua Persica -- Mughal Persian Literary Culture -- The Mughal Discovery Of India -- Celebrating Imperial Cities -- Mughal Arcadia -- Conclusion: Paradise Lost. Sunil Sharma. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book is a study of the creation and demise of a poetic utopia at the Mughal court in early modern South Asia. The Mughals set up an empire in northern India in the early sixteenth century based on a Perso-Islamic model but ruled over an extremely diverse populace. In order to enhance their reputation in the Islamic world, the Mughals welcomed poets, artists, and scholars from different Persophone societies, many of whom migrated to India either to flee persecution or in search of better economic prospects. Poetry was central to all forms of courtly life at this time, giving poets a prestigious role, especially those who were native speakers of Persian, sometimes leading to tensions between émigré poets and local Indian ones. While the vibrant life in cities was the usual subject of topographical poetry, the apex of this cosmopolitan age was the court's preference for the valley of Kashmir as a setting for the practice of poetry, one that symbolized the idea of the empire as Arcadia. Due to several historical and political reasons, around the mid-seventeenth century the Mughal court lost its appeal as a refuge for literati, marking a major shift in the movement of individuals and the centers of Persian literary culture.-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Introduction: Lingua Persica 14 1. Mughal Persian Literary Culture 29 2. The Mughal Discovery of India 76 3. Celebrating Imperial Cities 102 4. Mughal Arcadia 138 Conclusion: Paradise Lost 180 Notes 214 Glossary of Persian Literary Terms 246 Bibliography 248 Acknowledgments 266 Illustration Credits 268 Index 270 Mughal rulers were legendary connoisseurs of the arts, whose patronage attracted poets, artists, and scholars from all parts of the world. Sunil Sharma explores the rise and decline of Persian court poetry in India and the invention of an enduring idea of a literary paradise, perfectly exemplified by the valley of Kashmir