William Hawkins

One of the first Englishmen to come to the Mughal court during the reign of fourth Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Captain William Hawkins was sent as ambassador by the British King James I to the Mughal court. Though favourbaly received by Jahangir, he was unsuccessful in securing the permit to settle at Surat due the opposition of the Portuguese and the merchants of Surat. He was given a mansab of 400 by Jahangir. 
 

Hawkins remained at the Mughal court from 1609 to 1611. He has left a valuable account of his experiences in India.

Adham Khan's Conquest of Malwa

                                Tomb of Adham Khan/ Wikimedia Commons

One of the powerful nobles of the Mughal empire during Akbar’s reign, Adham Khan was the son of Maham Anaga, the foster mother of the Mughal emperor Akabr. He was sent by Akbar to conquer Malwa in 1561 which he accomplished with oppressive measures.

According to some school of thought, one of the causes for the invasion of Malwa was Adham Khan’s infatuation for Rupmati, the queen of Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa. Baz Bahadur, who had hitherto neglected the administration of his kingdom, awoke from his slumber and faced the enemies but was defeated in the battle of Sarangpur and fled to Khandesh and Burhanpur. All his treasure and several other wives fell into the hands of Adham Khan whose methods to conquer Malwa and their oppression in the Malwa kingdom have been described by the contemporary historian Badauni, who had accompanied the Mughal army. 

When it was found that Rupmati ran the risk of being captured by Adham Khan, a eunuch of Baz Bahadur's harem caused wound to her with a sword. She later consumed poison and killed herself.

After hearing that Adham Khan, who was known for his contumacious spirit, had retained all the ladies, dancing girls, musicians and singers of Baz Bahadu and other spoils, Akbar was displeased and proceeded to Malwa. His movement was so fast that messengers sent by Maham Anaga were not able to communicate Adham Khan about the impeding visit of Akbar.

Irked at Adham Khan’s behaviour,  Akbar, who now wanted to come out of the influence of Maham Anaga and his son, appointed Shamsu-d din Muhammad Khan Atga as Prime Minister. This incensed Adham Khan so much that he murdered Atga. 

Unable to bear his handedness, Akbar got Adham Khan killed in Agra in 1562. His mother Maham Anaga who exercised undue influence on Akbar, died of anger and grief forty days after his son’s death.

Akbar, however, accorded due respect to both of them after their death and got them respectfully buried in a tomb in Mehrauli in Delhi.

Bhavabhuti, one of the greatest dramatists of ancient India

In importance, Bhavabhuti is second only to Kalidasa, the greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist. He resided in the court of Yasovarman of Kanauj in the early 8^th century. Three of his plays have survived: Malati and Madhava; The Deeds of the Great Hero (Mahavircharita); and “The Later Deeds of Rama” (Uttararamcharita).

Bhavabhuti’s greatness rests on his deep understanding of sorrow. As a matter of fact, in his treatment of the pathetic, according to the critics, he edges past even Kalidasa.

Malati and Madhava is a love story which tells the rescue of the heroine from the jaws of death for more than once.

Mahavircharita and Uttararamcharita tell the story of Lord Rama.

Bhavabhuti in his Uttararamcharita has concluded with the full reconciliation of Rama and Sita in place of the grim ending to the story in which Sita allows herself to be swallowed up by the earth to prove her innocence.

.

Bhaskaravarman of Kamrup

A contemporary of Harshvardhan (Harsha) of Kanauj and Sasank, the Gauda king of Bengal, in the first half of the seventh century AD, Bhaskaravarman was the ruler of Kamarup in modern Assam. 

When Sasank, the arch-enemy of Harsha, was increasing the extent of his empire, Bhaskaravarman felt the need of checking his advance.  On the other hand, Harsha was looking for the opportunity to avenge the death of his elder brother and predecessor Rajyavardhana who was killed by the King of Bengal.  The common cause of the both resulted in an alliance between Harsha and Bhaskaravarman.

However, Sasank proved to be a formidable adversary. The combined enemies of Harsha and Bhaskaravarman failed to achieve any tangible results. It was after the death of Sasank that the Gauda kingdom of Karnasuvarna (in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal) became a part of the Kamarupa kingdom.