Book Review [78] : Baburnama

'Baburnama' i.e. the memoirs of Zahiruddin Muhammed Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire of India, is the masterpiece of world literature in general and Chagtai Turkish in particular.  This is generally considered one of the earliest autobiographies of a Muslim ruler. 

It starts with the death of Umar Shaikh Mirza (father of Babur) in 1494 and the ascension of Babur at the throne of Ferghana (now in Kyrgyzstan). At that time Khurashan, Ferghana, Northern and Western Afghanistan were ruled by Timurid Sultans (i.e. descendants of Timur Lame) but Uzbeks under Muhammed Shaybani Khan were gaining ascendancy in central Asia. Uzbeks as well as Timurids contested for the prize possession of Samarkand after the death of the Sultan of Samarkand in 1494, Babur rallied the Timurids and conquered the Samarkand thrice but he escaped all three times, such was the ferocity of Uzbeks. Babur wrote in great detail about the geography, flora, fauna and culture of Ferghana. He had a keen eye of an inquisitive scholar. 

Babur leaves Central Asia and enters Afghanistan as a prince in exile. He conquers Kabul in 1504 and brutally raids and massacres scores of Afghans. He continued the brutal Timurid customs of making victory tower from the skulls of the defeated soldiers. He tries again to conquer Samarkand and with the help of Shah of Iran he defeats Uzbeks in 1511  but he flees again in 1512 and this time he decides to forge his kingdom in Hindustan. He starts his Indian campaign in 1519 by taking Bajaur. He defeats Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat in 20 April 1526 by his astute leadership and use of Ottoman and Uzbeks strategies, and establishes his dynasty at Agra. He always misses his home and its climate. He dislikes India because of its alien customs, lack of running water, its hostile people and a different religion. 

Babur overcomes the ultimate challenge of Rana Sanga and his allies in the Battle of Khanua on 17th March 1527. The Rajputs and their allies were annihilated in this epic battle and the canons of Babur win, and Indians again loose a great defining battle. Babur then storms Chanderi and kills its defenders. Baburnama finishes in Sept 1529, just little more than a year he dies. 

Despite of all his shortcomings (his victory tower of human skulls, his disrespect of his enemies by calling them Kafir/Infidels etc) he was a great leader, keen observer, ferocious soldier and a great writer. Baburnama remains a great work on Central Asian history and the early Mughal Empire. 

Highly Recommended (8/10)