The book deals with Indian society and culture during The Mughal Age which forms a fascinating chapter in our study of the history of this period. There are several scholarly works on the political history of the period. But it is difficult to find a scholar who has written on the basis of contemporary sources a history of the Indian society and culture of this period.
Dr. Chopra’s provocative work represents the painstaking attempt at a lively account of the daily life of the people, their food and drinks, like and dislikes, manners and customs, fairs and festivals, sports and games, position of women etc. Another striking feature of this book is a critical study of the literature Persian, Sanskrit and Hindi, produced during this period. Attracted by the liberal patronage of the Mughal court, many Persian intellectuals and poets migrated to India. The influx of Persian scholar and poets to India was a major factor in the development of Indo-Persian literature. Some of the greatest Hindi writers of the Hindi literature, viz. Tulsidas, Surdas, and Rahim belong to this period. Dr. Chopra has not only critically examined their work but has also quoted relevant verses from their compositions.
Dr. P.N. Chopra, Chief Editor. Towards freedom project, Indian council of Historical Research is an eminent historian and has 35 authoritative publications to his credit including the four volumes of the Gazetteer of India. His other publications include A social, Cultural and Economic History of India (3 volumes) History of South India (3 volumes) India-An Encyclopedic Survey, India's Major Non-Violent Movement, India's Struggle for freedom Role of Associated Movements, Who's and Who of Indian Martyrs (3 volumes) Quit Indian Movement of 1942, Main Currents of India History, A Century of Indian National Congress etc.
I am glad to present to the reading public the book entitled "Society and Culture during the Mughal Age". It deals with almost all aspects of society and culture as well as literature-Persian. Sanskrit and Hindi produced during the Mughal Age. I hope this volume will be useful not only to the scholars and litterateurs interested in the past but also to the students of contemporary social affairs by indicating elements in our rich and composite heritage that have stood the test of time and deserve to be preserved. Besides assisting me throughout, Dr. (Mrs.) Prabha Chopra has prepared the index of this volume. I am also grateful to Dr. Agam Prasad for publication of this book.
India inherits an ancient civilization which is the result of diverse forces operating for many millenniums. Many races Greeks, Sakas, Pallavas, Kushanas, Huns and others-that from time to time found their way to this country contributed consciously or unconsciously to its evolution. It is, therefore, endowed with that dynamic character which explains its exceptional vitality. We possess the will to assimilate whatever appears to us good in the life and thought of the peoples with whom we happen to come into contact. The advent of Islam, however, presented a challenge at the outset to the process of synthesis and fusion that had been going on for centuries in the past. Unlike the earlier invaders, Muslims came to India with a well-defined faith. Simple and clear-cut, Islam had nothing in common with the elaborate, ritualistic and absorptive Hinduism. Its well-defined social system, philosophy, laws and a strong monotheistic outlook made its absorption in Hinduism impossible. Throughout the medieval ages, the problem, as Jawaharlal Nehru put it, was how these "two closed systems, each with its own strong roots, could develop a healthy relationship."
For seven centuries the struggle for supremacy went on. On the one hand, there was the "influence of Islam and the philosophy of life represented by it. On the other hand, there has been the pervasive influence of Indian culture and civilisation." The initial clash was inevitably followed by rapprochement, fusion and mutual adjustment.
The Iranian-Arab culture, which the Turko-Afghan conquerors brought with them, was a composite culture, Arabs having absorbed the ancient civilizations of Iran and Egypt and the remnants of the Graeco-Roman civilization. Characteristically enough, the Arabs had accepted in course of time some of the ancient traditions and legends of these countries as part of their own national heritage.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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