A personal tragedy

Book: Empire of the Moghul: Ruler of the world
Author: Alex Rutherford
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780755347575
Price: 495

It is never easy to fight with perception. And if that perception lasts for a sustained period, it becomes even harder to counter. Somewhere at the back of the mind, Alex Rutherford must have had this consideration before attempting the third installment of the Moghul quintet. Considering that this installment is entirely dedicated to Akbar, and his rebellious son Salim, the author has for the first time entered into a territory where every Indian has some perception or other already in place, unlike in the case of Babur or Humayun. And since these perceptions have been strengthened by the imagery that has been established almost entire by the visual or cinematic medium, this perception is not at all easy to break. Under the circumstances, a weak heart, business minded author would have confirmed to the imagery and would have sold a few more copies. But Alex Rutherford is different and courageous at the same time and has taken the perception head on.

One of the most interesting aspect of this installment is the way it has tried to bring-forth personal life of emperor Akbar. A man who is almost universally held awe and respect. A man whose ideas were well ahead of his time. It is the story of his struggle to keep his house in order. Or more than that, to even inspire an awe or respect within his household. The author has carefully sketched the story in a way that it achieves to humanize one of the most powerful emperors who has ever ruled any realm.

The book delves into the relation that Akbar had with his Rajput queen that was necessitated keeping political strategy in mind. The relation never comes out of that shadow and is definitely a  heartbreak. And if that was not enough, Akbar's guilt of not treating Bairam Khan respectfully at the end, betrayal by milk-brother Adham Khan and milk-mother Maham Anga, his own failure to inspire awe in his sons, collectively tells the personal tragedies of a man who for once, really ruled like a ZilleIlahi—the shadow of God. The author has captured the anguish, the dark thoughts that pass through Akbar's mind and how effectively the emperor managed to rule his realm even though he had to grapple with problem at home.

Apart from the domestic front, the book also manages to keep its readers hooked up during scores of battles and campaigns that Akbar takes during his lifetime. One of the most interesting of all his campaigns is the campaign of Behar and Bengal. Akbar's advanced cavalry and infantry, drawn almost entirely out of tribes from Central Asia, Persia and Turkish tribes, had to face a relief that was relatively unknown to most of them. The downpours in Behar and Bengal, coupled with swollen, alligator infested rivers and a relief not suitable for heavy cannons, all made the campaign a difficult endeavor to undertake. How Akbar managed to quell the rebellion under the circumstances, is worth a read.

Another aspect of the novel that will interest readers is Akbar's never-ending quest for a universal religion. His conflicts with clergy of all shapes and colours make for an interesting read. My personal favourite is his interactions with Catholic clergy and Protestants. It strikes you hard that in an era when Europe was too busy with inquisition, here was a man that was trying to find a middle path for followers of all religion.

Like both the previous installments, there are a few departures from history, but they are perfectly under the ambit of creative liberty. All in all, the readers will enjoy a book that is as much dip in history as it is in personal agony and then, redemption.