Amir Khusrau and his Contribution | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Amir Khusrau was a renowned Sufi poet, musician, and writer who lived from around 1252 to 1325. He served as the poet laureate in the courts of various sultans, starting from Balban to Ghiasuddin Tughluq. He was affectionately called Tuti-e-Hind, meaning 'the parrot of India.'

Birth and Early Life:

• Amir Khusrau was born near Etah in Uttar Pradesh.
• His father,Amir Saifuddin, originally from Balkh, was a mystic and a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi.

Career Beginnings:

• After the death of Khusrau's grandfather, he joined the army of Malik Chajju, a nephew of Sultan Balban.
• His poetry gained recognition in the Royal Court, where he was honored.

Patronage and Travels:

• Bughra Khan, son of Balban, became Khusrau's patron after being impressed by his poetry.
• In 1277 A.D., Bughra Khan was appointed ruler of Bengal, but Khusrau chose to return to Delhi.
• Khan Muhammad, Balban's eldest son, invited Khusrau to his court in Multan.
• Khusrau accompanied Khan Muhammad to Multan in 1279 A.D., a significant center of knowledge and learning at the time.

Military Involvement and Loss:

• In 1283 A.D., Khusrau fought against a Mongol invasion and was captured but managed to escape.
• Khan Muhammad was killed in battle, and Khusrau wrote elegies in his memory.

Later Life and Achievements:

• After the death of Kaikubad, a Turk soldier,Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji became king and respected Khusrau, giving him the title “Amir.”
• Khusrau's poetry became popular in the court, and he wrote about Alauddin Khilji's reign.
• He composed various works, including Khazain ul-Futuh and romantic masnavis.
• Under Qutubuddin Mubarak Shah, Khusrau wrote Nuh Sipihr and Ijaz-e Khusravi, and he created a horoscope for the king's newborn son.
• He also wrote Tughlaq Nama during Ghiyasuddin Tughluq's reign.

Death:

• Amir Khusrau passed away six months after his spiritual master,Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, and was buried next to him in Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi.

Amir Khusrau’s contribution to poetry, literature and history

Amir Khusrau’s contribution to regional language 

• Contribution to Hindavi Development: He played a role in the evolution of the Hindavi language.
• Equality of Languages: He believed that Hindavi was on par with Persian in terms of linguistic richness.
• Grammar Comparison: He drew parallels between the grammar and syntax of Arabic and Hindavi, emphasizing their similarities.
• Regional Languages Observation: Amir Khusrau, writing in the early 14th century, observed the distinct regional languages in various provinces. He listed languages such as Sindhi, Lahori, Kashmiri, Kubari (Dogri), Dhur Samundari (Kannada), Tilangi (Telugu), Gujar (Gujarati), Mabari (Tamil), Gauri (North Bengal), Bengali, Awadh, and Delhi and its surroundings (Hindavi).
• Languages' Utility: Khusrau noted that these languages had been effectively used for common purposes throughout history.
• Absence of Some Modern Languages: Languages like Assamese, Oriya, and Malayalam were not mentioned by Khusrau.
• Emergence of Modern Regional Languages: Khusrau's observations highlighted the significant development of modern regional languages in India.

Contributions to Music 

Amir Khusrau, known as the master of both music theory and practice, introduced various Persian and Arabic ragas such as aiman, gora, and sanam. He is often credited with inventing the sitar, although there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.

• The tabla, also attributed to him, likely evolved in the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century.
• Khusrau is considered the "father of Qawwali," a form of devotional music among Sufis in the Indian subcontinent. He also introduced the ghazal style of singing to India.
• He played a significant role in incorporating Persian, Arabic, and Turkish elements into Indian classical music and is credited with originating the khayal and tarana styles.

Amir Khusrau was an eminent poet not a historian

Historical Value of Khusrau's Works:

• Khusrau's writings are considered to have significant historical value.
• He recorded his observations and events that occurred during the reigns of various Sultāns in Delhi.

Innovations in Indo-Persian Historiography:

• Khusrau expanded the field of Indo-Persian historiography by creating new genres.
• He wrote history in both prose and verse, showcasing his innovative approach.

Focus on Social and Cultural Aspects:

• His writings also emphasize social and cultural aspects such as festivals, food, and clothing.
• This focus on everyday life is an example of 'embedded' history, providing a deeper understanding of the period.

I.H. Siddqui says 

Amir Khusrau was the first Indian born historian and wrote from an Indian perspective and his work reflects a strong sense of identity with the country and Sultanate. 

Barani

Differences between Barani and Khusrau as Historians:

• Barani often quotes Khusrau to support his views on historical events.
• While Barani does not discuss the rise of the Tughlaq dynasty, Khusrau provides detailed information about it.
• Khusrau presents facts more accurately than Barani, especially regarding Muhammad bin Tughluq.
• Khusrau's timeline of events is considered more precise than Barani's.

Criticism

Peter Hardy:

• Khusrau was a poet, not a historian.
• His treatment of the past lacked unity in theme and chronology, writing about it solely for aesthetic purposes.
• Khusrau's writings did not seek explanations for events beyond the Islamic theosophic framework, viewing them as reflections of God's will without human agency.
• His works were often created under the direction of reigning monarchs or for presentation to them, sometimes even with themes selected by rulers.
• Khusrau's primary concerns were religion, love of art and literature, demonstrating literary ability, praising rulers, gaining reputation, and receiving rewards for literary performances.
• The writer exaggerated the achievements of patrons while glossing over their shortcomings and failures, omitting details that could portray them negatively.
• Khusrau never claimed to be a historian, and his works suffered from exaggerations, factual and topographical errors, and lack of chronological sequence.
• He provided fanciful accounts of insignificant events with verbose style, poetic imagery, and literary art forms, while missing important socio-political events and economic conditions.
• Khusrau was not a deliberate liar but omitted what he did not want to express.
• His accounts lacked the basic requirements of a historian such as objectivity, unbiasedness, and historical value.