question_answer

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow ?Moistening the rose garden of fortune?

In this extract Abu?l Fail gives a vivid account of how and from whom he collected his information:

... to Abu?l Fazi, son of Mubarak ... this sublime mandate was given. ?Write with the pen of sincerity the account of the glorious events and of our dominion-conquering victories ... Assuredly, I spent much labour and research in collecting the records and narratives of His Majesty's actions and I was a long time interrogating the servants of the State and the old members of the illustrious family. I examined both prudent, truth-speaking old men and active-minded, right actioned young ones and reduced their statements to writing. The Royal commands were issued to the provinces that those who from old service remembered, with certainty or with adminicle of doubt, the events of the past, should copy out -the notes and memoranda and transit them to the court. (Then) a second command shone forth from the holy Presence-chamber- to wit-that the materials which had been collected should be ... recited in the royal hearing, and whatever might have to be written down afterwards, should be introduced into the noble volume as a supplement, and that such details as on account of the minuteness of the inquiries and the minutae of affairs, (which) could not then be brought to an end, should be inserted afterwards at my leisure.

Being relieved by this royal order - the interpreter of the Divine ordinance - from the secret anxiety of my heart, I proceeded to reduce into writing the rough draughts (drafts) which were void of the grace of arrangement and style. I obtained the chronicle of events beginning at the Nineteenth Year of the Divine Era, when the Record Office was established by the enlightened intellect of His Majesty, and from its rich pages, I gathered the accounts of many events. Great pains too, were taken to procure the originals or copies of most of the orders which had been issued to the provinces from the Accession up to the present-day ... I also took much trouble to incorporate many of the reports which ministers and high officials had submitted, about the affairs of the empire and the events of foreign countries. And my labour-loving soul was satiated by the apparatus of inquiry and research. I also exerted myself energetically to collect the rough notes and memoranda of sagacious and well - informed men. By these means, I constructed a reservoir for irrigating and moistening the rose garden of fortune.

(The Akbar Nama)

(a) Who was Abul Fazi?

(b) Enumerate the sources he used to compile his work.

(c) Name any two administrative and two literary projects compiled by him at the order of Emperor Akbar.

Or

Kings and traders

Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29), the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a ?work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amukuw Wyada. About traders he wrote

A king should improve the harbours of his country and so encourage its commerce that horses, elephants, precious gems, sandalwood, pearls and other articles are freely imported ... He should arrange dial the foreign sailors who land in his country on account of storms, illness and exhaustion are looked after in a suitable manner.

Make the merchants of distant foreign countries who import elephants and good horses be attached to yourself by providing them with daily audience, presents and allowing decent profits. Then those articles will never go to your enemies.

(a) Who was the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara and why?

(b) Mention the name and theme of the work compiled by him.

(c) Why do you think the King was interested in encouraging trade? Explain.

 

Answer:

(a) Abul Fazal was the son of Shaikh Mubarak Nagari and was the vizier of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar.

(b) He integrated the servants of state and the old members of the illustrious family. The Royal Commands, which were issued to the privinces, that those who from the old service remembered with certainty or with adminicle of doubt, the events of the post, should copy out the notes and memoranda and transit them to the court, originals and copies of the most of the orders which had been issued to the provinces from the accession upto the present day.

(c) Administrative Project: Manzil-Abadi, Sipah-Abadi.

Literary Project: Ain-i-Akbari, Raga?at.

Or

(1) Krishnadeva Raya was the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara because there was magnificent growth and prosperity in the empire during his rule.

He built lots of tanks by making embankments on the river water of Tungbhadra and various other steams running through hills.

He strengthened the fort and developed the urban centers as an attractive place for traders.

He had a well prepared army and his concept of Amara - Nayaka helped in expansion and consolidation of the empire. His empire was a strong one which started to fall to enemies after his death but there was peace during his empire.

Therefore Krishndeva raya was most famous and able ruler of Vijayanagara.

(2) His work is called Amuktamalyada written in Telugu.

The theme is that the king should manage the relations with the traders who import the items of importance such as elephants, horses, sandalwood etc in such a way the traders should feel attached and attracted to the Vijayanagara and not move to other enemy empires.

(3) King was interested in encouraging trade because Vijayanagara used to have traders coming from foreign land and selling items such as elephants, horses etc. which are of vital importance for army and the items such as precious gems and sandalwood etc which are vital for the prosperity of the empire.

Thus he wanted to make cordial relations with the traders by giving them gifts and allowing to have a decent profit margin.

Thus if the king is able to make such relation with the traders then they will not go to enemy kings.