Celebrating Rahim

Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan (1556–1627), referred to in Mughal records as the ‘noble of nobles’, was one of the Nine Gems of Emperor Akbar’s court

Hailed upon his birth as a “pearl from the river of good fortune”, Rahim Khan–i–Khanan distinguished himself as an unmatched soldier, statesman, patron and poet in the courts of three generations of Mughal emperors.
Raised in the pluralistic environment of Akbar’s court, Rahim acquired proficiency in Persian, Arabic and Turki, among many others. His mother tongue was Hindavi, and he developed a refined taste and sensibility for poetry in different languages. Rahim’s atelier produced beautifully illustrated translations of the Ramayana and Mahabharata into Persian and a set of Ragamala paintings, among other Persian books and he is also credited with the translation of the Baburnama from Chaghatay Turki to Persian. Rahim Khan-i-Khanan is also credited with the construction of beautiful buildings, canals, tanks, pleasure gardens in Agra, Lahore, Delhi, and Burhanpur.
This book, published alongside a cultural festival of the same name that included an exhibition, concerts, plays and lectures, is the first to capture the manifold attributes of Rahim in a single, richly illustrated volume.
The various essays by renowned experts offer biographical perspectives to locate Rahim’s life and his artistic and political approach in the intellectual and imperial framework of the Mughal durbar; shine a light on exceptional literary talents, summarising his work from Persian to Hindi with popular dohās and lesser–known barvais; and also present Rahim in the context of the present. Several charming references, anecdotes and examples of Rahim and his poetry throughout help comprehend the making of Rahim as a legend in the world of Hindi poetry.
The accompanying music CD contains a remarkable selection of Rahim’s verses, also documented with translation in the second part of this volume, set to music with ragas and vernacular symphonies, performed for the first time by select folk and classical artists especially commissioned for the festival. These audio tracks are also available on the BooksPlus app for mobile devices.
Presenting a biographical, visual and musical narrative, Celebrating Rahim demonstrates the humanitarian and pluralistic legacy of Abdur Rahim Khan–i–Khanan in governance, art and life.