The Lesser-Known World of Mughal Emperor Jahangir

This volume depicts the life and times of the Mughal emperor Jahangir in the light of his memoir: Jahangirnamah , popularly known as Tuzuk-i Jahangiri . With its fresh treatment of source material and a vivid account of historical events, the book tells the history of Jahangir's India through his intimate and confessional memoir incorporated in the genre of Mughal manuscript painting. The work is noteworthy for historical portraits, his visual realism, remarkable knowledge of natural history, and perceptive and detailed descriptions of the world around him. Moving away from conventional historical writing, this book emphasises upon a psychological study of an individual, his innate qualities, behavioural moves and instinctive affinities. Jahangir's memoir reveals deeper facets of him as a person as well as a poet, aesthete, connoisseur of painting, and a keen observer of nature, both human and wildlife. The author also includes other contemporary literature of the period that narrate Jahangir's life, such as Akbarnama, Ma'asir-i Jahangiri, Iqbalnama-i Jahangiri, Intikhab-i Jahangiri, Tatimma-i Waqi'at-i Jahangiri, Zakhirat-ul Khwanin , Jesuits accounts and travelogues. He further analyses the influence of European Renaissance art on the history of Mughal paintings. First of its kind, this book will greatly interest scholars and researchers of medieval history, Indian history, Mughal history, art history, popular culture, South Asian studies, as well as the general reader.