Description
Referred to in Mughal records as the ‘noble of nobles’, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan (1556–1627) was one of the legendary Nine Gems (Navaratnas) of Emperor Akbar’s court. Hailed upon his birth as a “pearl from the river of good fortune”, Rahim distinguished himself as an unmatched soldier, statesman, patron, and poet across three generations of Mughal emperors.
Raised in the pluralistic environment of Akbar’s court, Rahim mastered Persian, Arabic, and Turki alongside his mother tongue, Hindavi. His renowned atelier produced beautifully illustrated translations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata into Persian, alongside a celebrated set of Ragamala paintings. He is also credited with translating the Baburnama from Chaghatay Turki to Persian, and constructing beautiful buildings, canals, and pleasure gardens across Agra, Lahore, Delhi, and Burhanpur.
Published alongside a grand cultural festival, this volume is the first to capture Rahim’s manifold attributes in a single, richly illustrated book. Renowned experts offer biographical perspectives, situating his artistic and political life within the Mughal durbar. The essays shine a light on his exceptional literary talents—from popular dohās to lesser-known barvais—helping readers comprehend his legacy as a legend in Hindi poetry.
Bonus Audio Feature:
The accompanying music CD contains a remarkable selection of Rahim’s verses, set to ragas and vernacular symphonies, performed by select folk and classical artists. These audio tracks are also available on the BooksPlus app for mobile devices.
Collaborating Foundations:
This publication is part of a monumental conservation effort led by the InterGlobe Foundation and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). Together, they have worked to conserve Rahim’s grand mausoleum—the very structure that inspired the Taj Mahal—and revive his literary works to pass on India’s rich, pluralistic heritage to future generations.
Table of Contents:
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- The Revival of Rahim in Modern India
- Rahim in his World and in Ours
- Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan: A Biographical Note
- The Donor is Somebody Else
- Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan as Patron and Benefactor
- Nihavandi on Rahim as Interpreter, Translator, and Poet
- From the Pen of ‘Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan
- His Persian Translation of Bāburnāma
- Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan and his Worlds of Poetry
- Briefly Put: Rahim’s Barvai Couplets
- Life and Love in the Couplets of Rahim
- Rahim, Building his Wife’s Mausoleum
- Appendix
- Verses in Music
- Timeline & Glossary
- Extended Bibliography and Further Reading
- Contributors and Participants & Credits
Contributors: Shakeel Hossain, TCA Raghavan, Harish Trivedi, Iqtidar Husain Siddiqui, Eva Orthmann, Sunil Sharma, Chander Shekhar, Mehr Farooqi, Richard Cohen, Rupert Snell, Wheeler M. Thackston, Allison Busch, and Ratish Nanda.
Celebrating Rahim: Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan
By Shakeel Hossain and Deeti Ray
Book Specifications:
- Category: History / Biography & Poetry
- Pages: 272
- Illustrations: 93 illustrations, includes an exclusive Music CD
- Dimensions: 8.66 x 11″ (220 x 280 mm), Hardcover (hc)
- ISBN: 978-93-85360-27-5
- Date of Publishing: 2017
- Language: English
