Nizamuddin Ahmad
Khwaja Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad Bakshi was born in 1551 and died in 1621 or 1030 AH. He served as Akbar's Mir Bakhshi, a high-ranking official responsible for military administration. His father was Muhammad Muqim-i-Harawi. This family background placed him within the intellectual circles of late medieval India. The position of Mir Bakhshi required deep knowledge of state affairs and military logistics. Nizamuddin Ahmad held this office during the reign of Emperor Akbar. His service connected him to the highest levels of Mughal power.
His major work, the Tabaqat-i-Akbari, covers history from the Ghaznavids who ruled between 986 and 987 up to the thirty-eighth year of Akbar's reign. That final date corresponds to 1593-4 or 1002 AH. The text serves as a comprehensive general history of India during that period. It spans centuries of political change and cultural development. The author structured the narrative to include events from early Muslim invasions through the height of Akbar's empire. This scope made the work a vital record for future historians studying the era.
The Asiatic Society published the first edition of the Tabaqat-i-Akbari in Calcutta in 1927. Brajendranath De edited this initial volume alongside Baini Prashad. A second edition appeared between 1931 and 1935, edited by M. Hidayat Hosein. B. De translated the three volumes into English during the period from 1927 to 1939. These translations made the text accessible to Western scholars and students. The publication timeline shows how interest in medieval Indian history grew in the early twentieth century. Multiple editions ensured the work remained available for academic research over decades.
Modern historiography values the Tabaqat-i-Akbari as a key source for understanding medieval India. Scholars use it to analyze events from the Ghaznavid era through Akbar's reign. The work provides insights that other records lack due to lost sources. Its enduring significance lies in preserving details about political structures and military campaigns. Historians continue to reference Nizamuddin Ahmad's account when studying the Delhi Sultanate or the Mughal Empire. The text remains essential reading for anyone examining the transition periods in South Asian history.
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Common questions
When was Khwaja Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad Bakshi born and when did he die?
Khwaja Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad Bakshi was born in 1551 and died in 1621 or 1030 AH. He served as Akbar's Mir Bakhshi, a high-ranking official responsible for military administration.
What is the Tabaqat-i-Akbari by Khwaja Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad covering?
The Tabaqat-i-Akbari covers history from the Ghaznavids who ruled between 986 and 987 up to the thirty-eighth year of Akbar's reign. That final date corresponds to 1593-4 or 1002 AH. The text serves as a comprehensive general history of India during that period.
How many authorities did Khwaja Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad quote in his writing?
Nizamuddin Ahmad quoted twenty-nine different authorities in his writing. Some of these sources have completely disappeared from historical records. Modern scholars cannot access the original texts he relied upon.
When was the first edition of the Tabaqat-i-Akbari published by the Asiatic Society?
The Asiatic Society published the first edition of the Tabaqat-i-Akbari in Calcutta in 1927. Brajendranath De edited this initial volume alongside Baini Prashad. A second edition appeared between 1931 and 1935, edited by M. Hidayat Hosein.
Why is the Tabaqat-i-Akbari important for modern historians studying medieval India?
Modern historiography values the Tabaqat-i-Akbari as a key source for understanding medieval India. Scholars use it to analyze events from the Ghaznavid era through Akbar's reign. The work provides insights that other records lack due to lost sources.