T. C. A. Raghavan28 Celebrating Rahim 29

‘Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan (1556–1627), the only son of Akbar’s regent, Bairam Khan, is a prominent figure in Mughal political, military and intellectual history during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir. Rahim’s political achievements include the re-establishment of Mughal control over Gujarat after a major rebellion (1584), the conquest of Sindh (1592), campaigns in Berar and Ahmednagar in the 1590s and a long tenure as Governor of the Deccan in the 1590s and in the first two decades of

the 17th century. Like many prominent families at the heart of the imperial system, his family, too, faced annihilation on account of internecine conflicts within the royal family and the consequent civil wars. Rahim’s last days were spent as a prisoner of the very court he had served with distinction, and he was also to see the physical destruction of his family at the hands of feuding princes.

Rahim was at the centre of the court’s patronage of Persian literature. His translation of Emperor Babur’s memoirs from Turkish into Persian in 1589 is a milestone in Mughal literary history. Many Persian poets gravitated to Rahim, and his personal library was a centre of patronage for calligraphers, book binders and painters. However, he also stands out in areas outside the traditional parameters of intellectual and political achievement of the Mughal nobility in India and has come down to us as a Hindi poet of distinction. Major works attributed to him range from mixed Sanskrit and Persian verses on astrology, as in Khet Kautukam; eight verses in a traditional bhakti idiom on devotion and attraction to Krishna of the gopīs of Vrindavan, as in Madanāshtaka;1 sensuous and erotic verses in Nagarshobhā,2 Shringār Sorthā;3 and those in a nāyak-nāyikā bhed format, as in the Barvai Nāyikā Bhed.4 The latter is an important work because it is the first to use in Hindi the Sanskrit genre of nāyak-nāyikā bhed and also the first to use the barvai5 couplet. Rahim is,

THE REVIVAL OF RAHIM IN

MODERN INDIAT. C. A. Raghavan

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Jahangir weighing Prince Khurram against gold and silver, watched by the courtiers ‘Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Mahabat Khan, Khan Jahan and others. The prince is seated on weighing scale, richly decorated with gold, rubies, and other precious jewels. The official beside the prince is identified as Jahangir’s Commander-in-Chief, ‘Abdur Rahim Khan-i Khanan, from an inscription on his cloak. Neatly folded textiles and jewels are laid out to be given away by the Emperor as an official records the event. Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper; 29.5 x 44.3 cm (sheet) 19.6 x 30cm (image); c. 1615. British Museum, Museum number: 1948,1009,0.69 © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Empress Nur Jahan entertaining Emperor Jahangir and Prince Khurram who later rebelled with the close support of Khan-i-Khanan. The Empress’s control of court politics was disliked by Khan-i-Khanan; later she deployed Khan-i-Khanan to subdue Mahabat Khan, an erstwhile favourite who had caused a major rebellion. The Empress was also an accomplished painter, hunter as well as creator of textiles and perfumes, and a patron of gardens. Here she is depicted relaxing with her husband, Jahangir, and Prince Khurram in 1621, at what is most likely the Ram Bagh Garden at Agra which was remodeled by her. Opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper; Album folio with painting; 25.2 x 14.2 cm (9 15/16 x 5 9/16 in.); c. 1640–50. “Jahangir and Prince Khurram Entertained by Nur Jahan,” Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.: Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F 1907.258.

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Description: This is a beautifully illuminated and illustrated copy of Kulliyāt-i-Sa‘dī, comprising 390 folios with two miniatures that are said to be later additions. 17

Provenance: It was transcribed in Shiraz in the month of Ramazan, A.H. 938/A.D. 1532. It was then presented to Munim Beg Khan-i-Khanan (d 1575), another important noble of the Akbari court. Eventually, it reached Muzaffar Gujarati (d 1591) and was brought to Mirza Khan (‘Abdur Rahim) by ‘Ali Mardan Bahadur,18 after Khan-i-Khanan’s victory over Sultan Muzaffar Gujarati, at Sarkhej in Gujarat (A.D. 1583).

Date and scribe: The last folio provides the date A.H. 938/A.D. 1531–1532; scribe not known. Autographed note: ‘Abdur Rahim appended a note:19

Allah-o-Akbar. In Gujarat, after victory [over] SultanMuzaffar Gujarati, ‘Ali Mardan Bahadur gifted [this book] in [A.H.] 992 (A.D. 1583). I went over the whole [manuscript] and made a selection[from it]. Only20 [a humble one].

Below this note, in the same hand, there are verses of Persian poets Shaikh ‘Abdur Rahman Jami(d 1492), Zahir Faryabi (d 1201) and Amir Khusrau (d 1325). These verses are inscribed in a cursive nasta‘līq font, but not in fine calligraphy.21 The verses are illegible and could not be identified or translated.

Other notes: In the central part of the flyleaf, there is another important note from the pen of Munim Beg Khan-i-Khanan.22 The note provides details of the contents:

This [book] Kulliyāt-i-Hazrat Shaikh, Quddisa-sirru-hu (may his grave be hallowed) was sent to thisfaqīr [subdued one] Khan in Balad-i-Pur Sarūr-i-Jaunpur23 by Al-aziz Kuj (the dear wife of) Bahadur Khan ‘Ali. A reward of 500 rupees along with it. Dated [A.H.] 976 (A.D. 1569). The number of awrāq (folios) is 394, the total number of abyāt (couplets) in the matn (text in central columns) and hāshiya (margin) are 19714, (out of which) 14986 are in the central text and 4728 in the margin. There are two Shamsas (medallions), an illuminated Dibāch-i-Musawwar (preface) and four Shirazi [styled] Lawh (emblem).

[Signed] Al ‘Abd [the slave] Mun’im bin Miran. May God forgive their sins and cover their faults.‘Arzdīda (transaction attestation): This flyleaf has four ‘arzdīdas.

Seals: The flyleaf note contains a few seals, of which some are defaced.24

Annotation: There are many Fathnāmas (eulogies of victory) regarding the victory at Gujarat and verses composed in praise of Mirza Khan (Khan-i-Khanan). After this grand show of his power, he was made the governor of Gujarat. Along with the affairs of the court, Khan-i-Khanan also continued his academic and cultural pursuits and established his library. The notes on these manuscripts, ‘arzdīdas and seals exhibit the importance given to this copy of Kulliyāt-i-Sa‘dī. Amongst the books for ethical and moral training, Gulistān and Būstān of Shaikh Sa’di (d A.H. 691/A.D. 1291) have been essential primers. In the above note, apart from information about the occasion when the said manuscript was gifted, he adds, after his name, ‘Abdur Rahim Ibn Bairam, that he studied the work and made a selection from it.

Collection: Raza Library, Rampur. (MS. No. P. 3224b)

KULLIYĀT-I-SA ‘DĪ

Abdul Rahim appended a note:

''Allaho Akbar.----Page No.1

detail of the contents:

''This [book] kulliyat ----Page No.1

manuscript:

Allah-o-Akbar. in 35----Page No. 2

Sultan Ali Mashhadi:

Risala----Page No. 2

and who sincere:

"In the name of God----Page No. 3

Abdul Rahim appended a note:

''Allaho Akbar.----Page No.1

detail of the contents:

''This [book] kulliyat ----Page No.1

manuscript:

Allah-o-Akbar. in 35----Page No. 2

Sultan Ali Mashhadi:

Risala----Page No. 2

and who sincere:

"In the name of God----Page No. 3

Abdul Rahim appended a note:

''Allaho Akbar.----Page No.1

detail of the contents:

''This [book] kulliyat ----Page No.1

manuscript:

Allah-o-Akbar. in 35----Page No. 2

Sultan Ali Mashhadi:

Risala----Page No. 2

and who sincere:

"In the name of God----Page No. 3

Illuminated opening folio, Kulliyāt-i-Sa‘dī. 1531-32; Raza Library, Rampur, MS No. P. 3224b. Courtesy: Chander Shekhar.

Chander Shekhar104 Celebrating Rahim 105

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