Author: Khwandamir
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Baini Prashad
Publisher: The Asiatic Society
Year: 1996
Language: English
Pages: 92
ISBN/UPC (if available): N/A
Description
A work on the Rules and Ordinances established by the Emperor Humayun and on some Buildings erected by his order.
Of the four works available on the reign of Humayun only one had been commissioned by him in 1533 and this was Khwandamir’s Qanun I-Humayuni [Humayun-nama]. The other three were written at the behest of Emperor Akbar who had ordered Abul Fazl to compile a history and who in turn got relations and officers of the royal family to provide him with written material for his work.
A manuscript of Khwandamir’s book was available in the Asiatic Society of Bengal which was translated into English by Sudasukh Lal, the munshi of Sir Henry Elliot and is preserved in the British Museum in London. The original Manuscript also found its way to London and another copy is believed to be in the Institute of Oriental Languages.
Contents
1. Preface
2. Introduction
3. The Fragrant Account written by the black pen in the Garden of Accession of thet Sun, the Heaven of Bene-violence and Munificence
4. An Account by the eloquent pen of certain Innovations by the King, the Regulator of human Affairs of Fortune and Desires
[a] Division of the populance into three classes of Davlat, Sa ‘adat and Murad
[b] Division of the days of the week for transaction of the business of the classes of Davlat, Sa ‘adat and Murad
[c] Account of Humayun’s Court
[d] Emblems of the three classes and appointment of their leaders
[e] Futher subdivision of the three classes into twelve in accordance with the renks of the people and their emblems
[f] The importance of the digit twelve
[g] Institution of the four Departments of Fire, Air, Water and Earth
5. Seattering the shining Jewels of description in Praise of the Assembly of Entertainment and Banquet; and receiving the cash of consummation of desires from the Innovations of the Victorious and Triumphant Badshah
[a] Chahar Taq Boats
[b] Offerings by Officials and the grants of titles
[c] The Floating Market
[d] The Floating Garden
[e] The Movable Palace
[g] The Tent of the twelve Signs
6. An account of the Crown and the Dress by the highly perfumed pen
7. Description by the eloquent pen of the Buildings which were erected by the Just King
[a] Wonderful building at agra
[b] Palace in Agra Fort
[c] Building in the Gwaliar Fort
[d] Foundation of the city of Dinpanah
8. Publication by the eloquent pen of the account of some other Innovations [of the King]
[a] Anniversary festivities
[b] Mushammad Hindal MIrza’s marriage Festivities
[c] New Year Festivities
Birthday Festivities
9. Arranging the Carpet of Mirth, and an account of the Supplementary Innovations of the Badshah
[a] Carpet of Mirth
[b] Beating of drums three times a day etc
[c] Tabal- i- Adal
10. Concluding Poem Bu Khwandamir
11. Indesx