________ was a petition presented by a nobleman to the Mughal emperor recommending that an applicant be recruited as mansabdar.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Tajwiz
Option (1) Taslim — Incorrect. Taslim literally means submission. The chahar taslim was a mode of salutation at the Mughal court, done four (chahar) times, beginning with the back of the right hand placed on the ground. It was a form of greeting, not a petition.
Option (2) Tajwiz — Correct. A person wishing to join the imperial service petitioned through a noble, who presented a tajwiz to the emperor. If the applicant was found suitable, a mansab was granted to him.
Option (3) Waqai — Incorrect. Waqai were actual records of events. Abu’l Fazl based the Akbar Nama on such records, along with official documents and oral testimonies.
Option (4) Nastaliq — Incorrect. Nastaliq was a style of calligraphy, Akbar’s favourite: a fluid style with long horizontal strokes, written with a reed pen called the qalam.
Note: This question is taken from the chapter ‘Kings and Chronicles’ which was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT and has been deleted from subsequent editions of NCERT, including the NCERT book (2026-27).
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “8.1 Recruitment and rank … For members of the nobility, imperial service was a way of acquiring power, wealth and the highest possible reputation. A person wishing to join the service petitioned through a noble, who presented a tajwiz to the emperor. If the applicant was found suitable a mansab was granted to him.… Tajwiz was a petition presented by a nobleman to the emperor, recommending that an applicant be recruited as mansabdar.” |