A review of the book 'Mughal Farmans and Nishans in the BISM Collection' written by Manoj Dani.
This volume unveils forty-five rare farmāns and nishāns—imperial orders issued by the Mughal royal family—exploring their intricate details, from the calligraphic elegance of the Tughrā, the official lexicon used therein, to the formal endorsements of administrative officials. It offers readers an opportunity to dive into the rich tapestry of these decrees, allowing them to effortlessly browse and understand their key differentiators.
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Coming up: A review of the book 'Mughal Farmans and Nishans in the BISM Collection' written by Manoj Dani.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the author or publisher.
Little bit about the author:
Mr. Manoj Dani is a lifetime member of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal, Pune. He has been conducting research on the Third Battle of Panipat for over a decade. He has uncovered new historical insights by studying manuscripts, paintings, documents and maps from the museums and the archives in India, the UK, the USA, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. His English book, 'Battle of Panipat in Light of Rediscovered Paintings', was published in 2020, followed by his Marathi book 'Ajñyāt Panipat' in 2023 and 'Paris Sangrahalayatīl Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahārāj Yanchi Bakhar' in 2024.
Currently residing in the USA, Mr. Dani completed his education in Ahmednagar and Pune, earning a degree in Computer Science. During his studies, he received several academic honors, including first rank in Mathematics in Maharashtra and appearance on the merit list. He also holds two patents in Computer Science and has held key positions in both Indian and American companies in the IT sector.
Mr. Dani has written numerous articles on historical topics such as the Ganeshotsav at Shaniwar Wada, the Battle of Sinhagad, the Siege of Ajinkyatara Fort, an unpublished painting of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Mahārāj and the diamond-studded turban of the Chhatrapatis of Satara. He is also credited with bringing to light the first image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Mahārāj's grandfather, Lakhuji Jadhavrao. Currently, he is studying the architecture and the history of the Shaniwar Wada. He plans to write more on these topics in the future.
Let me read a brief description of the book:
QUOTE
This volume unveils forty-five rare farmāns and nishāns—imperial orders issued by the Mughal royal family—exploring their intricate details, from the calligraphic elegance of the Tughrā, the official lexicon used therein, to the formal endorsements of administrative officials. It offers readers an opportunity to dive into the rich tapestry of these decrees, allowing them to effortlessly browse and understand their key differentiators. These decrees are housed at the Bharāt Itihās Samshodhak Mandal (BISM) in Pune. Many were unpublished to date. This work includes color photographs of the decrees, transliterations of the Persian text and their translations, followed by remarks and their historical significance.
These farmāns and nishāns hold immense value for historians, featuring the names of renowned figures such as Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, Rajaram Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Bajaji Nimbalkar, Janoji Nimbalkar, Aurangzeb, his sons, Nana Saheb Peshwa, Sadashivrao Bhau, and local chieftains. These documents, rich in detail, also reflect the internal workings of the Mughal state. Whether appointing provincial officers or granting land rights, each farmān and nishān sheds invaluable light on the executive machinery of the Mughal Empire, along with the historical events mentioned therein.
This work will be immensely useful for scholars of Mughal and Maratha history, manuscript collectors and indeed, everyone fascinated by the power structures and intricate bureaucracy that underpinned one of the most remarkable empires in South Asia.
UNQUOTE
As mentioned in the description of the book, it showcases a carefully curated selection of farmāns (imperial orders) and nishāns (orders issued by Mughal princes or high-ranking nobles), offering high-resolution reproductions alongside transcriptions, translations, and contextual analysis. These documents, some issued by emperors like Aurangzeb, are critical for understanding the political, administrative, and religious history of the time.
Some of the documents highlight a notable shift from the era of Aurangzeb, when Hindus were deliberately insulted by referring them with the title “muti’-ul-islam” (meaning “obedient to Islam”), to a later period under Alamgir II, when the Peshwa was respectfully addressed as “Peshwa-Ji”. The shift in Mughal recognition of Marāthā documents reflects the growing strength and influence of the Marāthā Empire.
Manoj Dani’s treatment of these sources reflects deep expertise. Each document is contextualized historically, with attention to script, language (mostly Persian), seals, calligraphy, and margins. The annotations provide insight into the recipients, administrative intentions, and implications of these edicts.
Since BISM holds many documents pertaining to the Deccan region, the book also touches on Mughal-Maratha relations, governance in Maharashtra, land grants, and interactions between imperial officers and local chieftains. This makes the work valuable not just for Mughal historians but also scholars of early modern Maharashtra.
One of the book’s standout features is its accessibility. By including transliterations and translations, Dani ensures that readers without expertise in Persian can engage with the primary sources. The color photographs of the original documents add a visual dimension, allowing readers to appreciate the artistry and calligraphy of Mughal chancery practices.
The preface of the book is penned by Shri Gajanan Bhaskar Mehendale, eminent historian of Maratha history.
Final Verdict:
Manoj Dani's ‘Mughal Farmans and Nishans in the BISM Collection’ is a scholarly triumph which is a meticulously researched and beautifully produced reference work. Its combination of visual, textual, and analytical elements makes it a standout contribution to Mughal studies, though its specialized nature may limit its appeal to niche academic audiences. For historians, archivists, and enthusiasts of Indian history, this book is an indispensable resource that illuminates the bureaucratic and cultural sophistication of the Mughal Empire.
I give this book 4.25/5.
The book is available only in Paperback and yet to be made available in Hardcover, Kindle and Audible formats. I would love to hear the Audible version sometime in the near future with the various farmans being read in the royal court style like they used to be during the reign of the Mughals. That in itself would be worth the price of the book. Also, the book is not yet available on Amazon USA at the time of recording this review. I have given the respective buy links in the show notes. Please check them out for the latest prices.
Before I finish, I would like to make an earnest appeal. It has been an experience so far that a book like this, which is written with a lot of hard work with original references, does not become as popular as a novel or movie. I sincerely hope you purchase this book and reverse this trend as books like these need to reach the maximum number of people.
Last but not the least, thank you for spending your valuable time listening to this book review. Really grateful. Please don't forget to subscribe to the Historylogy podcast on your favourite podcasting app and also feel free to leave a review. Also, please check historylogy.com for all previous episodes. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you. Take care and bye!