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Akbar
and Birbal (pronounced as Beerbal) stories are very famous and popular in India
among all ages of people.
There
was a Mogul Emperor in India, Akbar the Great (1542-1605). He is known as Akbar
the Great for his contributions in the areas of art,architecture and music His
full name was Jalaludden Mohammed Akbar Padshah Ghazi and he ruled India from
1560 to 1605. Akbar was the third Mughal Emperor to rule over India in the 16th
century. He himself was illiterate, but he invited several learned people in
his court. Among these people, nine were very famous and were called "Nav
Ratna" (nine jewels of the Mogul Crown) of his court. Among these nine
jewels, five people were more famous
-
Tansen for his singing art,
- King Todarmal was a financial wizard,
- Abul Fazal was a great historian whose brother
- Faizi was a great poet,
- King Maan Singh for his chivalry, and
- Birbal for his valuable advice.
Akbar's
son Prince Sultan Salim, later known as Jehangir (pronounced as Jahaangeer),
wrote that nobody could make out that Akbar was an illiterate. Akbar was a very
hard-working King. It is also said about him that he slept only three hours a
night.
Birbal
(1528-1583) is surely one of the most popular figures in Indian history equally
regarded by adults and children. Birbal's duties in Akbar's court were mostly
administrative and military but he was a very close friend of Akbar too,
because Akbar loved his wisdom, wit, and subtle humor. He was a minister in the
administration of Mogul Emperor Akbar and one of the members of inner council
of nine advisors. He was a poet and an author too.
It
is believed that he was a son of poor Braahman of Trivikrampur (now known as
Tikavanpur) on the banks of River Yamuna. According to a popular legend he died
on an expedition to Afghanistan at the head of a large military force due to
treachery. It is also said that when Birbal died, Akbar mourned him for several
months.
The
exchanges between Akbar and Birbal have been recorded in many volumes. Many of
these have become folk stories in Indian tradition.
He wrote under the pen-name, 'Brahma' and a collection of his
poems is preserved in the Bharatpur museum. Though popularly known as Birbal,
his real name was Maheshdas. It is believed that he belonged to a poor Brahmin
family of Trivikrampur (now known as Tikawanpur) on the bank of the River
Yamuna, but it was only by virtue of his sharp intellect that he rose to be a
minister at the court of Akbar. According to the popular legend, even his
death, while he was on an expedition to Afghanistan at the head of a large
military force, was due to treachery. Akbar had found in Birbal a true friend
and sympathizer. Of the handful of followers of the Din-e-Elahi, the new faith
preached by Akbar, there was only one Hindu - Birbal.
Many
courtiers were jealous with Birbal and often plotted for his downfall. There
are many stories found on this issue too. There are a couple of other stories
too which are of the same time and type and are as interesting as Birbal's ones.
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