The Mughal Dynasty in India

The Mughal Dynasty in India 
Stories of Akbar and Birbal


Stories of Akbar and Birbal are extremely popular in India. The several
instances when Birbal uses his wit and intelligence to calm the ire of Emperor
Akbar and amuse him at the same time, are told to children from a very early
age. It used to be part of the oral tradition of storytelling, but in recent years
these stories have been compiled into books by various authors.
Akbar was the third Mughal Emperor to rule over India in the 16th century.
He is also known as Akbar the Great for his contributions in the areas of art,
architecture and music. It said that in his reign, Hindus and Muslims lived side
by side in syncretisic harmony. He was illiterate himself, but provided
patronage to fine arts and literature. In his court he had Nine Jewels or ‘Navr
tans.’ These were poets, musicians, advisers and learned men.
The Story of how Birbal came to Akbar’s court
Emperor Akbar loved to go hunting. On one such trip, he came across a
young man named Mahesh Das. In the meeting that occurred, the Emperor
was extremely impressed by the wit of Mahesh Das. The Emperor gave
Mahesh Das his ring and asked him to come and visit him in his palace at any
time.
A few years later Mahesh Das decided to try his luck in the city and to
take the emperor up on his offer. He reached the city of Agra where Emperor
Akbar had his fort on the banks of the Yamuna River. At the gate of the fort he
was greeted by the guards. He told them that he had come to visit with the
emperor. The guards looked at him in disdain (since he was not very well
dressed) and asked him why they should let him in. He showed them the ring
that was given to him by the emperor as proof. One of the guards realized that
this individual obviously was of importance to the emperor and gave him
permission to enter, based on one condition:the young man would share half of
what he received from the emperor with the guard.
Mahesh Das promised to do so and was given access into the court of
Emperor Akbar. He bowed to the emperor as he went in and showed him the
ring. The reputedly benevelont Emperor Akbar recognized the ring and the
young man and immediately offered him anything he wanted. The young man
thought a while, and asked the emperor for fifty lashes of the whip.
The emperor was amazed but he knew that Mahesh Das was a very
astute young man and asked him for his reason for his wish. Mahesh Das
revealed to the emperor that deal that he had made with the guard outside the
fort. The emperor was thoroughly amused and angry at the same time. He
awarded the fifty lashes to the guard for his impertinence and his habit of
bullying people. He rewarded Mahesh Das by including him in his court and
giving him all the comforts he could desire. He also bestowed on him the
name of Birbal.
Till this day, stories of Birbal’s wit are told to children in India.
Reader’s Theater -
Divide the students into groups and give each group this and
other stories of Akbar and Birbal. Students will rewrite the story in Reader’s
Theater format and enact it in for the rest of the class. After the presentation of
each story, students will provide input on the moral behind each incident.
As a follow up, they will write a story where wit was used to amuse
or as way out of a sticky situation. This can be from personal experience or a
story that they might have heard or read.
Other Lesson Ideas :
* Research on the lives of Akbar and Birbal
* Comprehension questions
1) Describe the characters of Akbar, Mahesh Das (Birbal) and
the guard.
2) What can you tell about the Mughal Dynasty based on the
information from the story?
3) If you could give a title to the story, what would it be?
4) What would you ask Emperor Akbar and Birbal if you met
them?
5) What would you have asked Emperor Akbar if you were in
the place of Mahesh Das (Birbal)?