Akbar: The Greatest Mogul

This book on Akbar from the pen of a distinguished author fills a serious gap in historical literature on India. Akbar was, undoubtedly, one of the most remarkable kings who ever lived and the present-day reader’s interest is often whetted by tantalizing references to his uniquely successful mode of governing a multi-racial and multi-religious society. But if an interested person were to visit a library or bookshop, looking for worthwhile modern publications on Akbar, he/she would find surprisingly little to browse through. Akbar, The Greatest Mogul, based mainly on the accounts left behind by those who personally knew that Emperor well, is the result of several years of research and reflection. For the first time an author of international standing has presented a clear picture of Akbar’s religion, which hitherto, had been obscured by controversy and confusion. Professor Burke has demonstrated that the Emperor’s religious outlook guided all his other activities and that, to make an intelligent review of his policies as a ruler, it is necessary first correctly to comprehend this aspect of his complex personality. The lucidly written text should please the general reader and the scholar alike, while the extensive notes will serve the more serious savant who may wish to delve into the subject further. Perceptive sketches of Akbar’s ancestors – Timur, Babur and Humayun – in the opening part of the study add further value to it by providing an insight into the character and achievements of the founding fathers of the celebrated Mogul dynasty in India.