Oct 13 2006
The Mughal Throne
The Mughal Throne By Abraham Eraly.
I got this book yesterday from the library and been captivated by it since then. I finished reading about Babur and now into Humayun’s age. Some truly valorous stuff this is. Babur ascended the throne of Fergana as a boy-king at the age of 12 and fought at least 10 wars by the time he was 22 when he became the king of Kabul. Then he turns his eye to the east to oust the reigning monarch Ibrahim Lodi and take the throne of ‘Hindustan’. A true saga this book.
A paragraph from the book…..
The noose was tightening around Humayun. He had to get out of Bengal. But by the time he got moving, the monsoon had once again burst over Bengal, turning the land into a quagmire. The imperial troops, especially the cavalry, suffered great hardship and losses trudging through the deep, viscous slush – it was as if the very soil of Bengal were clutching at Humayun’s feet and dragging him down to bury him. The Mughals were utterly dispirited and exhausted by the time they lurched back into Bihar to challenge Sher Shah.
The chapters so far cover Babur’s sacrifice of wine till the end of this life (offered to elicit divine grace) in his first war against a Hindu monarch – Rana Sanga, of the Rajputs, Humayun’s capriciousness, Sher Shah’s deceit and more interesting stuff.
Try to read the book if you get your hands on.
Without wax,
Mythili
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Interesting post.
Good looking book! Love books and food!:))I will try and get this!!Thanks!!
Happy Diwali!
Very interesting- Will try and read it
A nice blog you have here.
Asha – Thanks and Happy Diwali to you too
Artnavy – Thanks and let me know how you like the book.
Mythili,
Its been a while since I have stopped by here, you have got some interesting posts going on.. Will keep checking! Take care,
Cheers,
Nav
Mythili, a very Happy Deepavali to you and yours!
Seems a good read Mythili.Just love a bit of history from time to time.Will try and get it.Thanks for the review.
nice blog….BTW what is “vinDu” ??
does it refer to da telugu word vindu ??
Sher Shah’s deceit???
Hey, but he is my eternal hero!
*(This is one book I shan’t be picking up in a hurry)*
Jyotsna, Thanks for dropping by. The book is definitely interesting.Â
Harsha,
Yes. You are right. It should actually be Vindu in the url too… but please to ignore that typo. In any event this blog goes by the name Vindu (= feast).
Thanks for dropping by.
Shankari,
I shall rephrase my statement. Sher Shah did deceive but that was what “rajneethi” all about. He did deceive to gain the “takhth” of Hindustan. But later chapters revealed that he is the MOST efficient king ever to rule Hindustan – no, not even Akbar, the Great. Infact if you read this book, you form a totally different impression about Akbar. So please continue to adore your hero – cus he is indeed a great king. And don’t hurry NOT picking the book. Heh Heh!
This is the best book I have ever read. I completed the book in 2 weeks.
The way Aurangazeb took the throne was so disturbing. If Dara would have taken the throne, I think, the Indian scene would have been different.
Happy reading…
Utpal
website layout looking nice..
can I borrow the book.. or even better can you read me the book ?