Abdul Lutif was a Mughal historian. He wrote a travel diary about his journey from Agra to Bengal through Bihar.[1] His diary has become an important source for historians.[2][3][4]
Early life
editLutif was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to Abdullah Abbasi.[2] His father was an official in the court of the Gujarat Sultanate.[2]
Career
editLutif was a Mughal royal official in Ahmedabad.[5]
Lutif traveled from Rajmahal, the former capital of Bengal Subah, to Ghoraghat in 1609.[5][6] He traveled with the Mughal subahdar (governor) Islam Khan I and Dewan Abul Hasan Shihab Khani Mutaqid Khan, under whom Lutif served, as part of a royal entourage.[5] The diary records their various stops on their way to Ghoraghat.[5] The diary ends on 15 October 1609 when they reach Ghoraghat and Islam Khan I continues his journey towards southern Bengal.[5] He continued to write but the full diary has not been found.[5]
Legacy
editMirza Nathan mentions Lutif as his friend in his book about Bengal, Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, describing him as an official at the Diwani office (revenue officer).[5]
Historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar discovered the diary of Lutif,[7] narrating his travels from Rajmahal to Ghoraghat, and translated it into English.[5][8] Sarkar describes Lutif as an official during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.[5] Despite only a small portion of the diary being discovered it provides an important glimpse for historians studying Medieval Bengal.[5][9]
References
edit- ^ Shodhak. Bhartiya Pragtisheel Shiksha Parishad. 1993. p. 18.
- ^ a b c Bengal, Past & Present: Journal of the Calcutta Historical Society. The Society. 1928. p. 143.
- ^ Bhattasali, Nalini Kanta (1928). Bengal Chiefs' Struggle. p. 11.
- ^ "Travel of Abdul Latif from Chausa to Munger in 1608 A.D - Bihargatha". www.bihargatha.in. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Akhter, Nasrin. "Abdul Lutif - Banglapedia". Banglapedia. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ Studies, Rajshahi University Institute of Bangladesh (1990). The Journal of the Institute of Bangladesh Studies. Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi. p. 23.
- ^ Karim, Abdul (1992). History of Bengal: From the fall of Daud Karrani, 1576 to the death of Jahangir, 1627. Institute of Bangladesh Studies, University of Rajshahi. p. 18.
- ^ Parishad, Bihar Purāvid (1981). The Journal of the Bihar Purävid Parishad. p. 29.
- ^ Sarkar, Jagadish Narayan (1985). Hindu-Muslim Relations in Bengal: Medieval Period. Idarah-i Adabiyat-i-Delli. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8364-1802-6.