‘Akbar was master of his emotions’

“Fictional autobiography is arguably the most challenging, certainly the most ambitious, but in my opinion, definitely the most authentic genre in historical fiction,” says Belgian writer Dirk Collier, author of the enchanting The Emperor’s Writings, a fictionalised biography of the greatest of Mughal emperors, Akbar.
“Such a noble endeavour will always be, to a certain extent at least, doomed to failure. Complete self-effacement is impossible; the author’s character and personal experience will inevitably influence his or her perception of the facts at hand. Historical fiction can, of course, never replace history, but it attempts to contribute to historical understanding: It aspires to bring history back to life, and in this attempt, it starts where real history leaves off,” says Collier, in an email interview.Excerpts from the interview:

How difficult was it to get the voice of (or, as you mention in the book, reading into the mind of) Akbar right in this fictionalised biography that relies heavily on facts? Did you want this one to be an authentic account of Akbar’s life even though it’s a work of fiction?
I wanted to empathise with Emperor Akbar; I wanted to portray, as faithfully as possible, the kind of man he was and wanted to be (which, incidentally, is a quite important distinction, in every person’s life); I wanted to read into his mind, describe his feelings, the things he wanted for himself and “his” Hindustan, his joys, regrets, hopes and disappointments. Did I succeed in this ambitious goal? I guess only Akbar himself has the right to corroborate this, but as pretentious as it may sound, and as incomplete as any book necessarily will be: I am confident that he would have been quite pleased with The Emperor’s Writings.

Full interview here Asian Age

Back on stands after 337 years

A book depicting India during the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb — which was first published in 1673 at Kent in England — has been reprinted by the Asiatic Society. 

The book by John Ogilby, who interestingly never visited India and wrote it on the basis of travelogues and other materials available to him, is now up for sale for general public. 

It will be priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,500. Ogilby was born in England in 1600 and died in 1676. According to historians, he was a versatile man — a trainer in horse riding, dancing, and a brilliant cartographer. The book was printed by Ogilby at his own press at his home in Kent. A copy of this rare book was found in the library of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad two years ago. It is said that the book was donated to the Parishad by a Kolkata-based merchant

Yathindra Nath Pal, who was also a collector of rare books.

Full report here Indian Express

Empire at a crossroads

Thirty years into Shah Jahan’s reign, as his empire descends into intrigue and civil war, two real-life European travellers, Venetian Niccolao Manucci and French Francois Bernier, find themselves mixed up in the battle. Sudhir Kakar’s novel follows a conceit straight out of Salman Rushdie’s Enchantress of Florence (which also featured Manucci), presenting not one but two viewpoints on the Mughal court. Manucci and Bernier take turns narrating events, often contradicting or correcting each other.

The two physicians have a mutual antipathy, so it’s just as well that they end up ranged on different sides of the tussle for the Peacock Throne. Manucci, a more exuberant personality, serves under the generous if self-absorbed Dara Shikoh. The more supercilious Bernier becomes part of the retinue of Danishmand Khan, Shah Jahan’s foreign minister, who eventually sends him to Aurangzeb’s camp to observe matters. Kakar uses these two alternating accounts to outline the crossroads at which the empire finds itself, oscillating between Dara’s brand of Sufism (which incorporates some dubious astrology) and Aurangzeb’s austerely Sunni Islamism.

Full report here Timeout Mumbai

Tale of mystery and intrigue

A peek into the life and times of a great prince, warrior and statesman.

There's something about history that holds you in thrall. Mughul history has all the ingredients of a masala movie, but what makes it absolutely intriguing is that its true.

Puffin's Akbar begins with the 15-year-old bride of Humayun travelling through unkind deserts. What makes this particularly pathetic is she is nine months pregnant. Humayun was in the midst of battle – fighting for his crown.

According to legend, it looked like the baby would be born in an inauspicious time. But then the midwife who came in to help with the process was “so fierce and threatening that the young queen recoiled in fright”. The jolt set her back the whole process by a few hours, so the baby Akbar managed to enter this world at the astrologically perfect time.

Full report here Hindu