Abu'l Fazl obtained the chronicle of events beginning at the Nineteenth Year of the Divine Era for the Akbar Nama from which source, by his own account?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The Record Office of the emperor
Option (1) Copies of the orders issued to the provinces since the Accession — Incorrect. Abu'l Fazl took great pains to get the orders sent to the provinces from the Accession. He used these copies as a separate source of his work.
Option (2) The Record Office of the emperor — Correct. The chronicle began in the Nineteenth Year because the Record Office was established by Akbar in that year. Abu'l Fazl gathered many events from its pages.
Option (3) Reports submitted by ministers and high officials — Incorrect. The reports of ministers and high officials told him about the affairs of the empire and of foreign countries. They formed another source.
Option (4) Rough notes and memoranda of well-informed men — Incorrect. He also collected the rough notes of sagacious and well-informed men. This was one more source he gathered with effort.
NCERT (2026-27): “8. The Ain-i Akbari of Abu’l Fazl Allami … |