Who amongst the following chronicled the three volumes of 'Badshah Nama'?
A. Abdul Hamid Lahori
B. Abul Hasan
C. Waris
D. Abu'l Fazl
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A, C only
A. Abdul Hamid Lahori Correct. A pupil of Abu’l Fazl, Lahori is known as the author of the Badshah Nama. He wrote the first and second daftars, covering the first two decades of Shah Jahan’s rule (1627-47).
B. Abul Hasan Incorrect. Abu’l Hasan was a painter, not a chronicler; one of his paintings shows Jahangir holding up a portrait of his father Akbar.
C. Waris Correct. Old age prevented Lahori from going on to the third decade, which was then chronicled by the historian Waris.
D. Abu’l Fazl Incorrect. Abu’l Fazl wrote the Akbar Nama, the history of Akbar’s reign. Shah Jahan had the Badshah Nama modelled on it, and Lahori was Abu’l Fazl’s pupil.
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): “4. The Akbar Nama and the Badshah Nama … A pupil of Abu’l Fazl, Abdul Hamid Lahori is known as the author of the Badshah Nama. Emperor Shah Jahan, hearing of his talents, commissioned him to write a history of his reign modelled on the Akbar Nama. The Badshah Nama is this official history in three volumes (daftars) of ten lunar years each. Lahori wrote the first and second daftars comprising the first two decades of the emperor’s rule (1627-47); these volumes were later revised by Sadullah Khan, Shah Jahan’s wazir. Infirmities of old age prevented Lahori from proceeding with the third decade which was then chronicled by the historian Waris.… Fig. 9.5 This painting by Abu’l Hasan shows Jahangir dressed in resplendent clothes and jewels, holding up a portrait of his father Akbar.…” |