Jalaluddin Akbar (1556-1605) was considered the greatest of all the Mughal emperors, for he not only expanded but also consolidated his empire, making it the largest, strongest and richest kingdom of his time. He was the third emperor of the Mughal Empire, after Babur and Humayun.
Akbar is also known for the extraordinary officials that were associated with his court. Nine in numbers, they are called Akbar’s Navratna.
This article will provide information about Navratnas of Akbar within the context of the IAS Exam.
It is a part of the History section (GS 1) of the UPSC Syllabus.
The candidates can read more relevant information for their upcoming exam from the links below:
| Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) | Akbar’s Successors |
|---|---|
| Mughal Empire [Babur, Humayun] & Sur Dynasty | Humayun (1530-1556) |
| Later Mughals & Decline of Mughal Empire | India under the Mughals |
Navratnas or Akbar’s Nine Gems
Navratnas is a group of nine extraordinary people. The Navratnas or the nine famous intellectuals of Akbar’s court and their details are tabled below:
| Akbar’s Navratnas and their Brief Details | |
|---|---|
| Abul Fazl | Akbar’s chief advisor and author of Akbar Nama; Grand Vizier or Prime Minister of Akbar |
| Faizi | Akbar’s poet laureate; Education Minister of Akbar and Mentor of Shahzadas |
| Tansen | A Hindu singer who converted to Islam; Culture Minister and Singer of Akbar |
| Birbal | A noble known for his wittiness; Foreign Minister of Akbar |
| Todar Mal | Akbar’s finance minister |
| Raja Man Singh | Chief of Staff of Akbar’s Mughal Army; trusted general of Akbar |
| Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana | Defence Minister of Akbar; a noble and a renowned poet |
| Fakir Aziao-Din | Religious Minister of Akbar |
| Mullah Do Piaza | Home Minister of Akbar |
Kickstart your IAS preparation now and complement it with the links given below:
- Daily Current Affairs
- IAS History Questions
- Medieval History Questions of UPSC Prelims
- UPSC Mains GS-I Strategy, Structure & Syllabus
- 100 Difference Between Articles
Abul Fazl
- The author of the Akbar Nama, Abu’l Fazl grew up in the Mughal capital of Agra.
- He was widely read in Arabic, Persian, Greek philosophy and Sufism.
- Moreover, he was a forceful debater and independent thinker who consistently opposed the views of the conservative ulama.
- These qualities impressed Akbar, who found Abu’l Fazl ideally suited as an adviser and a spokesperson for his policies.
- Abu’l Fazl both shaped and articulated the ideas associated with the reign of Akbar.
- Abul Fazl, one of Akbar’s friends and courtiers, wrote three volumes of History of Akbar’s reign, titled Akbar Nama.
Faizi
- Faizi was a lyrical poet of a high order.
- His ghazals contain different aspects of the beauty of his beloved, pangs of separation.
- Faizi ghazals often represent him as a philosopher.
- Faizi was also a prolific writer.
- Faizi on account of his intellectual disposition, extraordinary intelligence, profound scholarship and poetic genius won the heart of the Emperor and finally achieved the highest distinction of the poet-laureateship at the court of Emperor Akbar.
- He became one of the confidants and great favourites of Akbar and occasionally accompanied him on his expeditions and visited Bengal, Punjab and Kashmir.
Tansen
- Tansen went to Akbar’s court in 1556, and soon became a great favourite of the Emperor.
- Akbar would call upon Tansen to sing at any time during the day or night.
- Tansen remained Akbar’s court singer till 1585 when he died. He composed several new ragas.
- Tansen’s tomb is in Gwalior. It is a place of pilgrimage for musicians.
Birbal
- Stories of Akbar and Birbal are extremely popular in India.
- The several instances when Birbal uses his wit and intelligence to calm the ire of Emperor Akbar and amuse him at the same time.
Todar Mal
- Members of Hindu castes inclined towards education and accountancy were also promoted, a famous example being Akbar’s finance minister, Raja Todar Mal, who belonged to the Khatri caste.
Raja Man Singh
- Raja Man Singh of Amber (later known as Maharaja of Jaipur) was serving as army commanders in Akbar’s armies and members of his council.
Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana
- Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana also known as Rahim, was a composer in the times of Mughal emperor Akbar, and one of his main nine ministers (Diwan) in his court, also known as the Navratnas.
- He is most known for his Hindi couplets and his books on Astrology.
- The village of Khankhana, named after him, is located in the Nawanshahr district of the state of Punjab in northwest India.
Fakir Aziao-Din
- He was one of Akbar’s chief advisors, and belonged to his inner circle.
- Akbar regarded his advice in high esteem.
Mullah Do Piaza
- He was among the Mughal emperor Akbar’s chief advisors.
- Akbar regarded his advice in high esteem and included him among the nine gems of the Mughal court, or Navratnas, as he was known for his intelligence.
- He had a close competition with Birbal, but he always lost at the end.
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