INTERNATIONAL MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER Sirat-e Firoz Shahi (India) 2012-53 1. SUMMARY A unique copy of the Sirat-e Firoz Shahi is preserved at the Khuda Bakhsh Library. It is the only known copy of the text and is dated 1002 AH/1593-94 AD. It is an extended and enlarged version of the Futuhat-e Firoz Shahi, the short autobiographical writing of Firoz Shah. It would be apt to mention here that Sultan Firoz Shah (1351-88) was the last great ruler of the Tughluq dynasty. This dynasty, which was the last Turkish dynasty to rule over India rose to power in 1320 CE. It was replaced by the Syed dynasty in 1414. Firoz Shah is particularly famous for his measures of public charity and promotion of learning and sciences. The book, Sirat-e Firoz Shahi, offers a detailed account of these aspects of Firoz s reign, and is therefore a valuable historical document. The Sirat-e Firoz Shahi is not a consecutive history; it has a series of revealing though disjointed items of information relating to the political history and military campaigns of Firoz Shah, hunting expeditions, religions and sects of his times, socio-ethical and technical topics such as medicines, therapeutics, pharmacology, anatomy, astronomy, archaeology, etc. It is a valuable compendium of the many-sided activities of Firoz Shah and a laudatory appraisal of his accomplishments, contributions and the works of public utility, initiated and completed by him. The value of the Sirat-e Firoz Shahi lies in the information it provides on scientific and technical matters besides environmental details. Of particular interest is the detailed almost blow by blow account of the transportation of the Ashokan pillar to the Firoz Shah Kotla, together with the 12 coloured sketches/diagrams that provide the details of the entire process of uprooting the pillar from its original site, transporting it by road and river to Delhi and installing it above the Kotla structure. The pillar was dug out, covered with husk and sealed in animal skin, carried on massive carts and large barges to the Firoz Shah Kotla structure and installed at its top by gradually lifting it with pulleys. The entire episode shows one of the greatest achievements in civil engineering. 2. NOMINATORS 2.1 Name (person or organization) : (i) Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, Bihar (ii) Ms Roopa Srinivasan, Director, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 2.2. Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated : Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad is the Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, which has been declared as an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament (1969). The Institution is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Director is the custodian of the said document and is therefore responsible for its maintenance, cataloguing and preservation. Ms. Roopa Srinivasan is the Director, looking after matters related to the Memory of the World Register, in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 2.3 Contact person(s) : (i) Dr Imtiaz Ahmad, Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, Bihar (ii) Ms Roopa Srinivasan, Director, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Both of the above are in charge of the nomination process. : 1 :
2.4 Contact details (include address, phone, fax, email) (1) Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad, Director, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, Bihar, (India) Phone : (0091) 0612-2300209, 2371507, Fax : 0612-2370315 E-mail : pat_kbopl@dataone.in, kboplibrary@gmail.com (2) Ms Roopa Srinivasan Director Ministry of Culture Room No 320- C Wing, Shastri Bhavan New Delhi, India-110001 Phone: (0091) 011-23381822, Fax: (0091) 011-23381822 E-mail: railwayroopa@hotmail.com 3 IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE 3.1 Name and identification details of the item being nominated Title: SIRAT-E FIROZSHAHI Catalogue Number : (H.L.) Hand List No.99, Cat No. 547. Folios: 179. Size: 23.5 x 12 cms. (Page); 17.5 x 8.4 cms. (Text) Illustrations: 12. Script: Nastaleeq. Language : Persian. Date : Rabi Sani 1002 A.H./1593-94 AD Material: Handmade Paper. Description The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna, has one of the largest collections in the world of manuscripts related to the Islamic heritage. It is known internationally for its rare and unique collection of Arabic and Persian manuscripts. The manuscript Sirat-e Firoz Shahi is a highly valued possession of the Library for the reason that no other copy of the text is available anywhere else. The work describes the major events of the reign of Firoz Shah (1351-88). The available copy, however, was transcribed later, around 1593-94 CE. There is no trace of the original copy which was written during Firoz s reign. As such, this extant copy, though slightly later in point of time, is extremely valuable. It contains 179 folios, large in size, with 17 lines on each folio. It is written in nastaliq, on thick Indian paper and is plainly bound. It has gold and coloured ruled borders, the chapter headings and some sectional pieces are in red ink. The head-piece was illuminated but has now faded. An attractive feature is the sketches (misals), a dozen in number, describing the transportation of the Ashokan pillars to Delhi. It would be apt to mention here that Sultan Firoz Shah was the last great ruler of the Tughluq dynasty. This dynasty, which was the last Turkish dynasty to rule over India rose to power in 1320 CE. It was replaced by the Syed dynasty in 1414. Firoz Shah is particularly famous for his measures of public charity and promotion of learning and sciences. The book, Sirat-e Firoz Shahi, offers a detailed account of these aspects of Firoz s reign, and is therefore a valuable historical document. The book is divided into four chapters, each called a Baab. The first chapter is spread over the first 50 folios (introduction included). It begins with a brief mention of the accession of Firoz, maintains that it was welcomed by the people and pays glowing tributes to the qualities of the Sultan. The more important part then follows that offers a survey of political and military events of the first fifteen years (1351-66) of the : 2 :
reign of Firoz. The major events mentioned are: a. Surrender of Khwajai Jahan; b. Exaltation of Qiwamul Mulk Maqbul, Khan-i Jahan c. The Lakhnauti campaigns d. Invasion of Jajnagar e. Campaigns against Nagarkot, Sindh and Thatta f. Campaigns in Gujarat, with a brief account of the revolt of Taghi during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq g. Hunting campaigns of the Sultan Although these events have been mentioned by Barani and, in more details by Afif, the value of the Sirat s account lies in the details about the Jajnagar campaign. It includes interesting details about the chief products of the area, the peculiar characteristics of its inhabitants, specially the tribals, and the rites performed at the temple by the devotees. The section on the hunting campaigns of the king includes a description of various birds and animals, their characteristics, diseases and treatment. They have been categorised into four groups, conforming to the four basic elements and twelve zodiac signs. Suitable seasons for shooting and hunting are also mentioned. The details show the Sultan s intimate knowledge of the techniques of hunting and environmental awareness. The second chapter or Baab is the longest one covering the folios 50a to 139b.The major themes of the narrative may be summed up as follows: a. abolition of tortures practised in previous reigns b. abolition of unlawful cesses and reversal of rate of khums c. mention of the names of previous sultans in the khutba d. suppression of heretical sects among the Muslims e. an account of different religious sects and sub-sects f. restoration of confiscated property to legal owners g. grant of stipends and allowances for promotion of education h. setting up of public academies for educational pursuits i. establishment of hospices and monastic houses j. status of zimmis and withdrawal of jaziya in case of converts k. religious beliefs and devout conduct of the Sultan and his visits to the abodes of shaikhs and sufis l. liberal attitude towards the nobles and converting their offices into hereditary ones m. public works of the Sultan n. cultivation of wastelands and promotion of irrigational facilities o. description of the city of Firozabad and the imperial structures p. detailed account of the transportation of two Ashokan pillars to Delhi and their installation, supplemented with 13 pictorial presentations q. admonitions and maxims of the Sultans r. setting up of Dar ul-shifa (hospitals) and Diwan-e Khairaat (Public Charities) The third chapter or Baab covers folios 139b to 149b.It covers the following major themes: : 3 :
a. Discussion of the prerogatives of the Caliphs and their superiority over all other Muslim rulers b. Investitures and robes of honours received by Firoz and his predecessors (from the caliphs) c. Noble character and virtuous disposition of the Sultan d. Prosperity and happiness that prevailed in the reign of Firoz, as contrasted with the turbulence of the preceding reign. The fourth and final chapter covers folios 149b to 179b. It deals with the scholarly aptitude and intellectual pursuits of Firoz Shah, which may be categorised as follows: a. The Sultan s knowledge of theology, law, ethics and politics, astronomy and astrology b. Writing and translation of works such as Dalail-e Firoz Shahi, Mizan-e Firoz Shahi, Tibb-e Firoz Shahi, Kitab-e Usturlab etc. and their preservation in the imperial library c. Some Hindi (Sanskrit?) works in the collection of the Sultan. d. Making and installation of astrolabes and other scientific instruments at the direction of the Sultan. e. Studies in human anatomy and medicine as well as detailed mention of methods of treatment and practicing of medicine. f. Mention of various arms and other instruments and equipment stored in the royal karkhanas. Some of the information here is also found in other works, but the value of the information given in the Sirat lies in its supplementary details based on information of a personal nature provided by the author. This chapter describes the king s attainments in the various branches of Islamic literature, and his encouragement of science and learning, including the following subjects:- Ethics and Politics: fol.153a. Astronomy and Astrology: fol.154a. The author says that several books and treaties on these subjects were written during this reign, and that many years were devoted to the construction of astrolabes. An astrolabe, made by the Sultan himself, was placed on the highest tower of Firuzabad (the capital city at Delhi). Then follows a description of other astronomical instruments invented by the Sultan; after which, accounts of the motions of the planets and their position in longitude and latitude, of the determination of time, and of prognostication connected with the ascendant of the world are given. The author closes this section with the remark that volumes of books on astronomy and astrology and astrolabes constructed, at the Sultan s instructions, were preserved in the royal library. Medicine: fol.165a. Under this section the author treats of the structure of the human body and the anatomy of its several parts; diseases of the various parts of the body and their treatment. It is observed here that the Sultan was wonderfully well versed in the science of medicine, and that the work Tibb-e Firoz Shahi written by his order and dictation, contained prescriptions for diseases not found in other works. War Instruments and Arms: fol.179b. This section describes the war instruments and arms preserved in the royal armoury, most of which were made according to the designs given by the Sultan himself. The work ends with a versified epilogue in praise of the Sultan. 3:2 Inventory & Catalogue : The manuscript has been catalogued with full details in Descriptive Catalogue of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts (Persian - Vol. VII) prepared by Maulavi Abdul Muqtadir under the supervision of Sir E. Denison Ross, the first edition of which was published with a Preface by Sir Denison Ross in London of which second and third editions were published in 1921, and 1977 respectively. Full detail of the manuscript as per the catalogue is enclosed as Annexure I. Further the manuscript can be referred to through the printed Hand List of Manuscripts (Persian) of the Library, Vol. I. It is also available on the Library s website www.kblibrary.nic.in. It may also be referred to through card catalogue of manuscripts (author wise and title wise) maintained by the library. It has also been catalogued for the National Electronic Database created by the : 4 :
National Mission for manuscripts, a Mission set up by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 3:4 History of the Manuscript : The manuscript was written, possibly, at the direction of Sultan Firoz Shah himself, as is evident from the contents. The name of the author is, however, not known because the last page, containing the colophon is missing. The exact circumstances in which Khuda Bakhsh acquired this manuscript are not known. However, it has been a part of the original 4000 manuscripts with which Khuda Bakhsh set up the Oriental Public Library at Patna in 1891. Khuda Bakhsh (1842-1908) was an ardent bibliophile who lived during the tumultuous days of the decline of the Mughal Empire and the Upsurge of 1857. These circumstances decimated the old Muslim ruling aristocracy and dealt a death blow to the patronage of learning and art by them. The libraries of many ruling chiefs, besides the Mughal Emperor, were plundered and rare manuscripts went on sale. Khuda Bakhsh, in spite of being a man of small means, spared no effort to obtain as many manuscripts as he could, not only from within the subcontinent but also from distant cities such as Cairo, Damascus and Istanbul. He spent almost all his earnings to develop this rare collection. As his reputation spread, many persons gifted rare manuscripts in their possession to him. Official appreciation of his noble effort and public spirit led to the conferment of the title of Khan Bahadur on him in 1881 and Commander of the Indian Empire (CIE) in 1903. The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, during a visit to this Library on the 29 th of September, 1925, paid rich tribute to Khuda Bakhsh in the following words: I revere the memory of the great founder who spared no pains or money to present India with such a rare collection. 3 Legal Information: 4.1 Owner of Documentary Heritage (Name & Contact details): Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library Ashok Rajpath Patna 4.2 Custodian of the Documentary Heritage : Director Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna Ashok Rajpath 4.3 Legal Status Category of ownership : Public Trust : The manuscript is owned by Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna. It is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, with a Governing Board headed, ex-officio, by the Governor of Bihar and consisting of four nominees of the Central Government, four nominees of the State Govt, one representative of the Founder s family, the Accountant-General of Bihar (ex-officio) and the Director of the Library, who is also the Member-Secretary. 4.4 Accessibility : The manuscript is accessible on request for consultation during the office hours of the library (Saturday to Thursday) from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on public holidays. Due formalities are to be completed for acquiring some folios of it in CD form. This facility, however, is restricted to scholars only. : 5 :
4.5 Copyright status : The copyright of the catalogue, the images etc. is vested in Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna. Care is taken to keep the manuscript safe (under double lock & key system). The Director of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library is legally responsible for safe keeping of the material. The responsibility is being exercised by keeping the manuscript under proper security and making it available to scholars only under strict supervision of the Director, or his nominee, under secure conditions. 5 JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION / ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA The uniqueness of the manuscript lies in the fact that there is no other copy of the same available in any other manuscript repository. The significance is with regard to the information provided on scientific experiments, especially making of astrolabes; details of medicines and medicinal prescriptions that were in use in the public hospitals set up Sultan Firoz Shah; veterinary sciences, archaeology and civil engineering, especially the transportation of the Ashokan pillar from Topara to Delhi and the sketches/diagrams explaining the entire process. Such elaborate details on these subjects are not found in other contemporary works. They provide useful insight into the scientific, technological and environmental conditions of the 14 th century in the Indian subcontinent. 5.1 Authenticity a) There are several notes and seals of the times of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, at the beginning and end of the copy, although most of these are faded. b) The paper, ink, paintings, designs and style, further confirm its authenticity. c) The contents are corroborated by other texts belonging to the 14 th century CE. 5.2 World significance The history of Turko-Afghan rule in the Indian subcontinent is of momentous significance, as it marks the coming together of two major civilisations: Indian and Islamic. The period saw considerable interaction between the two and the evolution of common patterns. Such synergetic traditions grew in intellectual and cultural spheres as well, and are commonly acknowledged. Developments in science and technology, however, have not been adequately documented or studied, if compared to certain other domains. This particular text is valuable as it sheds light on this somewhat neglected topic. Its study and the spread of its contents among a wider circle of researchers and scholars would enable a better appreciation of the process of evolution of common and innovative trends is science and technology in Medieval India. The manuscript is unique and irreplaceable since no other copy exists of the same. 5.3 Comparative Criteria (1) Time : The manuscript contains text and sketches prepared during 16 th century, at a time when the foundations were being laid of a remarkable cultural efflorescence in the Indian subcontinent. It is important to note that interest in the contents of this work was so avid in those days that a copy of the original text was prepared. Though the original is now lost, the copy has, fortunately, survived and it offers to the reader both the information about the scientific and technological progress of Firoz s reign and the interest taken in it by the Mughal rulers. Thus the innovations mentioned in the text left their impact over a period of more than two centuries (2) Place : In the absence of the colophon, it is difficult to pin-point the exact city or town where it was written. In all probability, the original text was prepared at Delhi, and the available copy at Agra, the main hub of intellectual and cultural developments in north India in the medieval period. The impact of these developments was felt over the greater part of the subcontinent in contemporary and later times. : 6 :
6. Information: 6.1 Rarity : (3) People : The life-style of the aristocracy, the learning of the scholars and the talents of technically-qualified professionals, artisans, masons and builders belonging to the 14 th century in the Indian subcontinent are clearly brought along with their innovative genius in various domains as well as their awareness of environmental issues. (4) Subject & Theme : The manuscript is a valuable history of Firoz Shah, with a focus on his intellectual, scientific and philanthropic measures. The information available in these pages is complemented and corroborated by other contemporary sources and enriches our understanding and perception of an important, though little-known, facet of Turko-Afghan history. (5) Form & Style : The manuscript is written on Indian paper and is in the form of a book. It contains 179 folios, large in size, with 17 lines on each folio. It is written in Persian language and in the nastaliq script, on thick Indian paper and is plainly bound. It has gold and coloured ruled borders, the chapter headings and some sectional pieces are in red ink. The head-piece was illuminated but has now faded. An attractive feature is the coloured sketches (misals), a dozen in number, describing the transportation of the Ashokan pillars to Delhi. (6) Social / Spiritual / Community Significance: The testimony of Sirat-e Firoz Shahi offers an insight into the entire process of transportation of Ashokan pillars, with rare visuals, and suggests that the same technique was adopted in the Mauryan period (4th C.B.C.), as well, when these pillars were originally built. It is a valuable evidence for archaeologists. The contents, especially the sketches, make it a rare surviving example of a rather less-known facet of Turko-Afghan rule in the subcontinent. Being the only available copy, it is not only rare but unique. 6.2 Integrity : The available text of the manuscript is intact. While it appears that there are a few minor folios missing at the end of the text, and some are improperly arranged, the manuscript is otherwise an integral whole. Thus, the substantial part of the historical narrative and scientific information remains safe and intact. In its present state, it is properly bound and appropriately preserved. : 7 :