Mirza Haidar Dughlat as Depicted in Persian Sources

Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat, a maternal cousin of Babur, widely known for his magnum opus the Tarikh-i-Rashidi, was a man of many parts. His contribution to the development of fine arts had remained in oblivion till the Kazakhs decided to designate him as their national writer. He played an important role both in the making and depiction of Mughal history. His dedication and selfless service to the Mughals and the cultural heritage left behind by him in Kashmir, which he conquered and ruled for ten years, are recorded in the annals. Several important documents from different contemporary and later Indo-Persian sources are reproduced here both in the original as well as in English translations. Haidar Dughlat may have failed to win the approbation of his master but the legacy that he left behind still survives. This is amply illustrated in the documents written by the court historians and chroniclers put together in this volume.