upscools
UPPCS Pre 2001

Mughal Memoirs and Language

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which of the following Mughal Emperor wrote his autobiography in Persian?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept While many Mughal histories were commissioned (written by others), only two emperors wrote their own life stories. The language used reflects the cultural shift of the court over time.

Explanation Jahangir wrote his autobiography, the Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri (or Jahangirnama), in Persian. His ancestor Babur also wrote an autobiography (Baburnama), but he wrote it in his native Chaghatai Turki. Jahangir’s work is noted for its frankness and detailed descriptions of nature and art.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Babur = Turki; Jahangir = Persian. This distinction is a frequent point of historical examination.
Logic 2: Akbar and Aurangzeb did not write autobiographies; their reigns were recorded by court historians like Abu'l Fazl (Akbarnama) and others.

Active Recall

Question

What topics did Jahangir focus on in his memoirs?

Answer

He wrote extensively about his personal life, artistic tastes, the flora and fauna of India, and his administrative challenges in Bengal.

Core Insight

The shift from Turki (Babur) to Persian (Jahangir) illustrates the total 'Persianization' of the Mughal administrative and literary landscape by the 17th century.

Practice Navigation