Though
orthodoxy ruled in medieval India and consequently trammelled the process of
learning to some extent, medieval Indian literature bears its very first
testimony in authoritative biographies. Baburnama
by Mughal Emperor Babur himself depicts Hindustan with grand prose, though with
a rather distorted view. Ain-i-Akbari
and Akbarnama by Abul-Fazl are
some of the only other instances of the vast body of biographies created during
the Mughal era. Furthermore, the verses of the Sufi saints and other saint poets
of the Bhakti Movement in Medieval India Produced
a Literature for the first time that was sensitive to the aspirations of
the masses. Numerous regional languages like Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, and Bengali
also achieved their distinguished identities during the Mughal era, which later
helped generate a vast body of classic regional literature.
Mughal Court Literature
The
Mughal emperors were not only patrons of art and architecture but also of
literature. Babur’s Baburnama
stands as a remarkable autobiographical account, blending Persian literary
style with vivid descriptions of India’s geography, flora, fauna, and society.
His grandson Akbar further enriched the literary tradition by commissioning
Abul-Fazl to write Akbarnama
and Ain-i-Akbari. These works
were not mere chronicles but encyclopedic records of administration, culture,
and philosophy, reflecting the intellectual vibrancy of the Mughal court.
Jahangir
continued this tradition with his Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri,
a memoir that combined personal reflections with political observations. These
texts collectively highlight how Mughal rulers used literature as a medium to
project their authority, document their reigns, and shape historical memory.
Sufi and Bhakti Contributions
Parallel
to courtly literature, the Sufi and Bhakti movements gave rise to a more
popular and devotional literary tradition. Sufi poets like Amir Khusrau
enriched Indo-Persian literature with their mystical verses, blending Persian
with local dialects. Their poetry emphasized love, unity, and spiritual
transcendence, appealing to both elite and common audiences.
On the
other hand, Bhakti saints such as Kabir, Tulsidas, and Surdas composed verses
in vernacular languages, making literature accessible to the masses. Kabir’s
dohas (couplets) challenged orthodoxy and emphasized personal devotion, while
Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas in
Awadhi became a cornerstone of Hindi literature. Surdas’s devotional songs
dedicated to Krishna added lyrical beauty to medieval Indian literature.
Together, these traditions democratized literary expression and reflected the
spiritual diversity of the era.
Rise of Regional Languages
The
Mughal era also witnessed the crystallization of regional languages into
literary mediums. Urdu, born from the fusion of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and
local dialects, emerged as a vibrant language of poetry and prose. Poets like
Mir and later Ghalib carried forward this legacy, though its roots lay in the
Mughal period.
Similarly,
Marathi literature flourished under saint poets like Tukaram, whose abhangas
(devotional hymns) resonated deeply with the common people. Bengali literature
saw contributions from poets like Chandidas, while Hindi literature was
enriched by the works of Raskhan and others. This linguistic diversification
ensured that literature was not confined to the elite but became a shared
cultural heritage across regions.
Legacy and Impact
Medieval
Indian literature in the Mughal era was thus a confluence of imperial
chronicles, mystical poetry, and regional expressions. It reflected both the
grandeur of the Mughal court and the spiritual yearnings of the masses. The
blending of Persian with vernacular languages laid the foundation for modern
Indian literary traditions. Moreover, the democratization of literature through
Bhakti and Sufi poetry ensured that voices from diverse social strata found
expression.
The
Mughal era, therefore, stands as a pivotal chapter in India Literary History,
where tradition met innovation, and elite scholarship coexisted with popular
devotion. Its legacy continues to shape Indian literature, reminding us of the
rich cultural tapestry woven during this period.