Akbar-Birbal Stories

Emperor Akbar and Raja Birbal

Of the many legends that surround the two famous historical personalities, one the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar and the other, Raja Birbal- the most wise and witty- the two as narrated here and related to the induction of Birbal into the royal court of Emperor Akbar, as one of its famous ‘Nine Gems’.

As per the records available in our history, Akbar was the seventh generation of Amir Taimurlang,  the Turk Emperor of central Asia. Akbar was born to humayun (1508-1556) and Hameeda Banu (Mariam Makani). Akbar’s real date of birth, as commonly accepted by our learned historians, has been reckoned as 4 rajab 949 hijaree of 15th October, 15421, the day being Sunday. He was not an ordinary Soul, as is evident from the description of the dream, which Humayun had on 10th July, 1540 (Friday)2 in Lahore. Though, there is a mention of the dream in the book mentioned in the footnote, but I am putting it in my own words :
 
‘By the grace of Allah, he (Humayun) is going to be blessed with a son, the greatness of whom will be strikingly evident for his forehead.’

To begin with, Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) was the real founder of the Mughal Empire in India. He removed all individual distinctions based on religion, cast and creed and ruled the country for fifty years with the willing support of its people. He was the first muslim ruler who divorced religion for the state politics. His attitude towards Hinduism was conciliatory, as is evident from his general Farman in favour of the Hindus....