History of Shahjahan

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. 1. Childhood and youth. 2. Rise to prominence. 3. Eclipse and rise. 4. Rebellions. 5. Minor conquests and disturbances. 6. Extinction of Ahmadnagar. 7. Bijapur and Golconda. 8. Trans-Oxiana. 9. Relations with Persia. 10. Cultural  institutions. 11. Some aspects of administration. 12. Last phase. Bibliography. Index.

The aim of this work is to fill a gap in the histpry of the Chaghtai dynasty. The period coverd by it extends from 1592 to 1657. The War of Succession, which followed the serious illness of Shahjahan.

Shahjahan is commonly portrayed as gross voluptuary, ?cruel, treacherour, abd unscrupulous. ?Like other Asiatic rules of his own and a later age, he had little scruple in removing those, even of his nearest kin, who stood in his path, like them, he was not averse from sensual pleasures, but he was no idler; he had a high ideal of his kingly duties, and there is overwhelming evidence to prove that he led a strenouous life.

Dr. Saksena treats his subject with praiseworthy impartiality. Shahjahan, in his hands is not ?the virtuous sovereign with hardly a blemish on his character depicted by contemporary Indian chroniclers, nor on the other hand, is he the monster of moral depravity described by some European travelers who have flavoured their pages with the scandalous gossip of the purliens of the court.

Shahjahan?s reign was the most glorious epoch in the Medieval period. There was peace and prosperity and an all-round development of art and literature. The most gorgeous buildings were erected in this reign, and the most ambitious military campaigns were undertaken. But underneath this glittering array of pomp and magnificence, signs of decline are also noticeable, and the source of a large number of disastrous tendencies which culminated in a crash after the death of Aurangzib, may with justice be traced to the reign of Shahjahan.