Humayun the weak son of a conqueror father
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Humayun the weak son of a conqueror father

Archive Manager by Archive Manager
Jun 13, 2010, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

THE second in the sequence of history-fiction, on the Moghul Empire by Alex Rutherford is on Humayun, the man who inherited Hindustan from his father Babar and lost it to Sher Shah. He recaptured the throne nearly 14 years later, only to die within six months of reaching Delhi.

In history lessons we have been taught that Humayun was a drug addict and drunkard and was very headstrong, he would not listen to anybody.

The novel, Empire of the Moghul: Brothers at War largely built on history, expectedly romanticises Humayun, his many weaknesses and his strength of character. He was put into the habit of opium by the mother of his half brother Kamran, who obviously was working on a plot to weaken Humayun. Kamran was the eldest half-brother and had resented Humayun inheriting the throne. Humayun had two other brothers Askari and Hindal. Humayun gave parts of the kingdom to keep peace in the clan. But the brothers hated him and plotted to get rid of him. Humayun was too slow in taking action. His advisors saw his vacillation and urged him to make a decision.

If Babur had to surrender his sister Khanzada to Shaibani Khan to save his life and that of his followers, Humayun surrendered his infant son Akbar, merely five months old, to Kamran to save his and family’s life. He recovered Akbar nearly a year later.

Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah, who chased him from Delhi and Agra. He moved, literally like a vagabond, to Lahore, Kandahar, Kabul and finally Persia. He was ‘exiled’ to Persia by Kamran, who kept Akbar as the surety. Humayun was forced to give up Koh-i-Noor to the Shah of Persia to earn the goodwill, who also forced him to become a Shia. With his support, Humayun made a comeback, at least half way. Humayun snatched the girl whom Askari had loved all his life. The brothers never reconciled. Hindal was killed by Askari. Humayun sent Askari on pilgrimage to Mecca, where he never reached. It is believed that Humayun killed him. Kamran was blinded in both the eyes by Humayun’s orders and sent to Mecca. The scene is described in detail in the book, quoting diaries. Sher Shah was by then dead. Humayun raised a force and defeated Sikander Shah and reoccupied the throne. He died six months later, falling from the stairs of the library and observatory he was constructing, leaving behind a teenage son, who proved more worthy than him. For, he not only retained the kingdom, but expanded it and laid a strong foundation for Moghul-Muslim rule for two centuries. If Sher Shah had lived a decade longer, the Mughal dynasty would not have taken roots here.

The book has dramatised the major events in Humayun’s life, using primary sources like the diary of Humayun and his half sister Gulbadhan. The narration is racy and interesting, keeping the reader hooked. The author mentions the events and scenes that had been fictionalised. The battle scenes are all elaborate and so are the descriptions on the costumes.

The fight between the four sons of Babur sets the tone for the macabre fratricide that befalls the successive Mughal kings.

Alex Rutherford is the assumed name of the authors of the series. The authors are Diana Preston and her husband Michael.

(Headline Publishing Groups, 338, Euston Road, London NW1 3BH, )

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Third NZ National Hindu Conference provides action plan for larger collaboration

Next News

13th Triennial Conference of Bharatiya Vastrodyog Mahasangh Interest of the workers and the nation should stand hand-in-hand-KC Kannan

Related News

Failure to understand ‘actual’ Pak designs led to ineffective war against terror

Political distress in Pakistan, a boon for terrorists

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

China forces Tibetan parents to learn Mandarin

Chinese authorities detain 170 Tibetans for opposing grazing land confiscation orders

Thirty-four ‘from outside J&K’ buy properties in new Union Territory

J-K: Not only humans, Pak sponsored terror didn’t spare even nature

Taliban hijab decision might further strain engagement with the international community: UN

Afghanistan: UN female staff ‘directed’ to wear hijab at the office in Taliban’s newest decree

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Failure to understand ‘actual’ Pak designs led to ineffective war against terror

Political distress in Pakistan, a boon for terrorists

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

China forces Tibetan parents to learn Mandarin

Chinese authorities detain 170 Tibetans for opposing grazing land confiscation orders

Thirty-four ‘from outside J&K’ buy properties in new Union Territory

J-K: Not only humans, Pak sponsored terror didn’t spare even nature

Taliban hijab decision might further strain engagement with the international community: UN

Afghanistan: UN female staff ‘directed’ to wear hijab at the office in Taliban’s newest decree

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Gyanvapi structure row: KVT trust chairman demands handover of Shivling to Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Gyanvapi structure row: KVT trust chairman demands handover of Shivling to Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Gujarat AIMIM leader Danish Qureshi arrested for disrespecting  Hindu Gods

Gujarat AIMIM leader Danish Qureshi arrested for disrespecting Hindu Gods

Union Minister Amit Shah to inaugurate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav conference in Delhi tomorrow

From ‘Swaraj to New India’; Amit Shah to address an international seminar at DU tomorrow

Union Minister launches National Emergency Life Support courses

Union Minister launches National Emergency Life Support courses

  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies