Canberra, 30 January 2021 By the end of the 16th century, Akbar’s fame had already spread to Europe—the story of an emperor who had conquered the whole of the exotic Hindustan; an emperor of extraordinary wisdom; an emperor who practised great religious tolerance at a time when the contemporary Tudor dynasty did not know the […]
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Indian History Part 83 Shah Jahan Section II: An Emperor’s Ambition Laid Low
November 22, 2020 
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Canberra, 22 November 2020 Even after the Khan-i-Jahan Lodi was chased down and killed, the Deccan campaign continued. Gradually all the major Shahi kingdoms—Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golconda—were involved in the conflict in different ways and to different extent. The fortunes of these three kingdoms and that of the Mughal forces in the Deccan ebbed and […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 81 Akbar Section IV: The Conquering Emperor; 3. The Gujarat Campaign
July 24, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 24 July 2020 Gujarat, situated to the south-west of the Mughal province of Malwa and shored by the Arabian Sea was a rich kingdom, mainly because of its seaports that facilitated a flourishing maritime trade. It was geographically large and consisted of the territories and districts of Surat, Broach, Kaira, Ahmedabad, large parts of […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 80 Humayun – The Sentimental Dreamer Section I: A Royal Inheritance
April 10, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 10 April 2020 On his deathbed, Babur introduced his eldest son Humayun as his successor to a specially convened council of nobles and ministers. He then went on to advise the prince, to whom he had bequeathed his kingdom, ‘do naught against your brothers, even though they may deserve it’, an instruction that the […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Dynasty Section IV: Rebellions and Declining Fortunes
January 1, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 1 January 2020 In the period 1596-99, two important events took place in the Deccan that lead one to believe, indirectly, that the fortunes of Vijayanagara was once again on the rise. The first was the annexation of the Nizam Shahi kingdom of Ahmadnagar by the Mughals under the instruction of Emperor Akbar. The […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 77 The Aravidu Rule Section I: Aravidu Rule is Formalised
December 14, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra 14 December 2014 Even before the Shahi kings departed from Vijayanagara, steeped in their own dissentions and confusion, a power struggle for control had started to crystallise in the defeated kingdom with the son of Rama Raya, Timma, questioning his uncle Tirumala’s claim to becoming the Regent. By the time the departing Shahis had […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 75 The Tuluva Dynasty Section VII: The De Facto Reign of Rama Raya
October 23, 2019 0 Comments
Singapore, SilverKris Lounge, 23 October 2019 Sadasiva was very young when he was declared king. There is some confusion regarding his parentage with some sources claiming that he was Krishna Deva Raya’s son and others stating that he was Achyuta Raya’s son. These claims were made by historians before several inscriptions were unearthed at a […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 75 The Tuluva Dynasty Section II: Krishna Deva Raya – Coming to Power
August 4, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 4 August 2019 Krishna, the stepbrother of Vira Narasimha II and son of Narasa Nayaka and Queen Nagala Devi, assumed the throne with the assistance of the sagacious minister Saluva Timmaraya on 15 July 1509. He would have been between 20 and 25 years of age at this time. Krishna immediately moved to secure […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 74 The Saluva Dynasty Section II: An Inglorious Demise
July 6, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 6 July 2019 Saluva Narasimha left behind two young sons—Timmabhupa and Immadi Narasimha—and on his deathbed commended them to the care of his loyal general Narasa Nayaka. Narasa, who belonged to the Tuluva family and was the son of the famed Iswara Nayaka, was immediately declared the ‘protector’ of the young princes. He placed […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 67 The Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar Section VI: The Beginning of the End
October 1, 2018 0 Comments
Singapore, 1 October 2018 Husain Nizam Shah II was enthroned on the death or murder of his father. Whether the old king was murdered is not clear and would therefore depend on the narrative that one believes in. On becoming king, Husain bestowed favours and rewards on anyone who approached him, irrespective of the services […]
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