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The Emperor's Writings: Memories of Akbar the Great
Admirably researched and written in a magnificently evocative, compelling prose, The Emperor’s Writings narrates the true story of Akbar‘s life and times: his swift and spectacular rise to absolute power, amidst strife and intrigues, and often against overwhelming odds; his remarkably modern vision of a prosperous, diverse and tolerant India; and his eventful personal life, with friendships, enmities and love affairs, against the backdrop of the tragic conflict with Salīm (Jahāngīr), his only surviving son and successor.
The Emperor’s Writings offers ample food for thought on fundamental issues that preoccupy the world of today: love and duty, power and justice, and fundamentalism against diversity and tolerance.
The Emperor’s Writings offers ample food for thought on fundamental issues that preoccupy the world of today: love and duty, power and justice, and fundamentalism against diversity and tolerance.
- GenresHistoricalHistory
608 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Dirk Collier
9 books17 followersDirk Collier’s passion for Asian culture and history was aroused as a result of his travels throughout the continent, predominantly in China and India.
Apart from books, he has also written articles for various journals and occasionally lectures at universities and cultural institutions. Professionally, he is a lawyer and a businessman and serves on the board of several organizations.
Apart from books, he has also written articles for various journals and occasionally lectures at universities and cultural institutions. Professionally, he is a lawyer and a businessman and serves on the board of several organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 7, 2024
4.5🌟
Brb, about to book myself a one way ticket back to India to re-visit everything through a new lens.
“He was looking for the truth; they wanted to teach him the doctrine. He wanted to unite, conciliate, bring together; they only wanted to accuse, condemn and exclude. He wanted to free people’s minds; they only wanted to enslave them.”
Akbar in a nutshell. Wise and open-minded beyond his age and time, this book almost converted me to absolutism. I mean…if all world leaders were more like Akbar, I would gladly renounce to democracy.
On a more serious note, while some people remember Akbar as being “tolerant” towards other religions, I think the more correct term to use would be a “complete and wholehearted acceptance and celebration of all religions.”
The only thing missing in this book was a clear statement as to what exactly was fact/fiction prior to starting the first chapter, as it wasn’t entirely clear to me until I reached the appendix.
“To me, all religions are fundamentally equal: all of them are different paths towards the same mountain top, different rivers flowing to the same ocean, separate pools of water still reflecting the light of the same moon. That’s why the adherents of one religion should never despise the others - on the contrary, they should engage in respectful dialogue and endeavour to learn from one another, and thus more nearer to God.”
Brb, about to book myself a one way ticket back to India to re-visit everything through a new lens.
“He was looking for the truth; they wanted to teach him the doctrine. He wanted to unite, conciliate, bring together; they only wanted to accuse, condemn and exclude. He wanted to free people’s minds; they only wanted to enslave them.”
Akbar in a nutshell. Wise and open-minded beyond his age and time, this book almost converted me to absolutism. I mean…if all world leaders were more like Akbar, I would gladly renounce to democracy.
On a more serious note, while some people remember Akbar as being “tolerant” towards other religions, I think the more correct term to use would be a “complete and wholehearted acceptance and celebration of all religions.”
The only thing missing in this book was a clear statement as to what exactly was fact/fiction prior to starting the first chapter, as it wasn’t entirely clear to me until I reached the appendix.
“To me, all religions are fundamentally equal: all of them are different paths towards the same mountain top, different rivers flowing to the same ocean, separate pools of water still reflecting the light of the same moon. That’s why the adherents of one religion should never despise the others - on the contrary, they should engage in respectful dialogue and endeavour to learn from one another, and thus more nearer to God.”
May 28, 2022
An excellent book about the life of Akbar and Hindustan during his reign in the 16th century.
Written by a Western author Dirk Collier who researched Akbar for 7 years and has the historical facts almost perfect.
The only fiction is the letters written by Akbar to his son Salim -- Jahangir. All the text in the letters is as it happened.
The battles, religion during the time are described. It was the greatness of the emperor that all religions found a place and were allowed to celebrate their festivals unhindered. Akbar was one of the most tolerant and broadminded rulers who had his heart in the right place.
The book has simple language and written in a readable flow. A masterpiece.
Written by a Western author Dirk Collier who researched Akbar for 7 years and has the historical facts almost perfect.
The only fiction is the letters written by Akbar to his son Salim -- Jahangir. All the text in the letters is as it happened.
The battles, religion during the time are described. It was the greatness of the emperor that all religions found a place and were allowed to celebrate their festivals unhindered. Akbar was one of the most tolerant and broadminded rulers who had his heart in the right place.
The book has simple language and written in a readable flow. A masterpiece.
November 28, 2013
Akbar, who ruled India from 1556 to 1605, is widely accepted as the greatest of the Moghuls and the greatest ruler of India in a thousand years or more. One has to go back to Ashoka (268-232 BCE), Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BCE) or Chandragupta Vikramaditya (380-413 CE) to find someone of comparable stature. He re-established, enlarged and strengthened the Moghul Empire founded by his grandfather Babur and lost by his father Humayun.
Akbar was a great warrior. He inherited the empire when he was only fourteen. Fortunately he had the guidance of the very able and loyal Bairam Khan. He recovered his territories and enlarged them. He also placed the civil, revenue and criminal administration of his territories on sound footings. The empire was so strong at the end of his reign that his son and grandson had practically nothing to do except indulge their passion of art, literature, philosophy and architecture. It was only his great-grandson Aurangzeb who started having problems, many of them of his own making, in managing the empire. The decline began when Aurangzeb died in 1707 and the empire ended in 1857. His most enduring legacy, however, is his tolerance for different faiths. Despite being illiterate, he had a keen inquiring mind with an unquenchable thirst for understanding. Under him the Moghuls were no longer alien conquerors, but rulers who belonged to India.
His one biggest regret in life was that his eldest son and successor Salim did not show signs of growing into an able and worthy successor. The author Dirk Collier creates an imagined scenario in which Akbar distils his learning of half a century of rule in a series of letter addressed to Salim that would guide him through his rule. Through these letters, and a few interludes of writings by others like Akbar’s favorite wife, his teacher and his personal physician the author has painted a vivid portrait of Akbar the man the ruler and the father. It traces his evolution from the teenager under the tutelage of Bairam Khan to a mature, confident and successful emperor who chose a very able set of advisers, but ultimately took his own decisions without being over-dependent on anyone. The most absorbing parts are in the beginning as he moves out of the shadow of his mentor Bairam Khan, and in the end as he prepares to hand over the reins to his son – hoping for the best but fearing the worst.
The book has many interesting discussions on the art of war, administration and on religion and philosophy. Some of my favorite quotes are – “Every person who honestly seeks the truth will have something important to say to you, but remember that no one will ever possess it entirely … Therefore, put your trust in those who seek the truth in humility. But keep a safe distance from those who claim to have found it.”
With such an open attitude towards religion Akbar was bound to come into conflict with religious leaders who claimed to know the truth with certainty. Several chapters of the book cover these discussions and disputes at length. At the end the book leaves us with a speculation whether Akbar remained a true Muslim in the end or not.
The discussion on religion is one of the chief highlights of the book. The other is the depiction of Akbar’s anguish at the realization that Salim might not prove to be a worthy successor. Another favorite quote of mine has been put in the words of Salima Sultana Begam – Salim’s step-mother and Akbar’s favorite wife: “Salim is quite smart, actually – in many respects, smarter and more talented than even his father! Unfortunately, he misses Akbar’s perseverance and resilience, but then, who does not? And anyway, does he have to be exactly like his father, in order to be a good king? Is it always necessary to be an exact copy of one’s predecessor? I would argue, it may be preferable that a conqueror be succeeded by a peacemaker, a wise man by a smart one, a visionary by a pragmatist.”
This book does a very good job of bringing a major historical figure alive in the readers’ minds and letting them view this great ruler in a modern perspective. The style is lucid and readable. Overall, a very satisfying read.
Akbar was a great warrior. He inherited the empire when he was only fourteen. Fortunately he had the guidance of the very able and loyal Bairam Khan. He recovered his territories and enlarged them. He also placed the civil, revenue and criminal administration of his territories on sound footings. The empire was so strong at the end of his reign that his son and grandson had practically nothing to do except indulge their passion of art, literature, philosophy and architecture. It was only his great-grandson Aurangzeb who started having problems, many of them of his own making, in managing the empire. The decline began when Aurangzeb died in 1707 and the empire ended in 1857. His most enduring legacy, however, is his tolerance for different faiths. Despite being illiterate, he had a keen inquiring mind with an unquenchable thirst for understanding. Under him the Moghuls were no longer alien conquerors, but rulers who belonged to India.
His one biggest regret in life was that his eldest son and successor Salim did not show signs of growing into an able and worthy successor. The author Dirk Collier creates an imagined scenario in which Akbar distils his learning of half a century of rule in a series of letter addressed to Salim that would guide him through his rule. Through these letters, and a few interludes of writings by others like Akbar’s favorite wife, his teacher and his personal physician the author has painted a vivid portrait of Akbar the man the ruler and the father. It traces his evolution from the teenager under the tutelage of Bairam Khan to a mature, confident and successful emperor who chose a very able set of advisers, but ultimately took his own decisions without being over-dependent on anyone. The most absorbing parts are in the beginning as he moves out of the shadow of his mentor Bairam Khan, and in the end as he prepares to hand over the reins to his son – hoping for the best but fearing the worst.
The book has many interesting discussions on the art of war, administration and on religion and philosophy. Some of my favorite quotes are – “Every person who honestly seeks the truth will have something important to say to you, but remember that no one will ever possess it entirely … Therefore, put your trust in those who seek the truth in humility. But keep a safe distance from those who claim to have found it.”
With such an open attitude towards religion Akbar was bound to come into conflict with religious leaders who claimed to know the truth with certainty. Several chapters of the book cover these discussions and disputes at length. At the end the book leaves us with a speculation whether Akbar remained a true Muslim in the end or not.
The discussion on religion is one of the chief highlights of the book. The other is the depiction of Akbar’s anguish at the realization that Salim might not prove to be a worthy successor. Another favorite quote of mine has been put in the words of Salima Sultana Begam – Salim’s step-mother and Akbar’s favorite wife: “Salim is quite smart, actually – in many respects, smarter and more talented than even his father! Unfortunately, he misses Akbar’s perseverance and resilience, but then, who does not? And anyway, does he have to be exactly like his father, in order to be a good king? Is it always necessary to be an exact copy of one’s predecessor? I would argue, it may be preferable that a conqueror be succeeded by a peacemaker, a wise man by a smart one, a visionary by a pragmatist.”
This book does a very good job of bringing a major historical figure alive in the readers’ minds and letting them view this great ruler in a modern perspective. The style is lucid and readable. Overall, a very satisfying read.
March 23, 2015
The book is heavy due to thick pages and big font sizes, it becomes difficult to carry it around while travelling. However, because of that, you take your time to read this book and this book leaves you with a lot of wisdom. Akbar though suffered from dyslexia, he had vast knowledge that he acquired by listening to the books being read to him. He also tried to establish a secular and democratic rule under him. Dirk colliers tries to romance history and you will again fall in love with history even if you never fell in love with it during your school days.
May 5, 2014
Take your time to read this phenomenal book about Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Empire. It's full of wisdom and interesting notes. It's written with enough action and adventure to not make it sound boring over time. It's/was and will be still fantastic! I recommend it to everyone!
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December 5, 2013Excellent - really well written! Enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews