This book probes medieval India from different angles. Its themes spread evenly across six centuries (12001800) study the realities of state formation social fabrics and cultural mores. On Delhi Sultanate it deals with the social identity of government officers exercise of sovereign authority and political assimilation of local elements. Depending on the letters of Ain Mahru it maps the expansion of state power in the outlying regions. An attempt has also been made to trace the growth of scientific approach and the introduction of technical devices. Turning to the Mughal era the book documents the modes of crossing rivers in various geographical situations. It analyzes the political discourse of Muhammad Baqir (1612) on the functions of an ideal monarch principles of governance and difficulties of nobles. It opens a window into the convivial meetings at the Mughal court (1626) besides deliberating on the wondrous phenomena embedded in contemporary histories. Equally important it assesses the scholarly literature on the history of South Asian Islam. This book identifies diverse strands in the cultural ethos of medieval Panjab while appreciating the memories of Dulla Bhatti in modern imagination. Relying on the observations of Mirza Hasan Qatil it delves into the social stratification among the Hindus and Muslims. In a complementary exercise it looks at the verses of Nazir Akbarabadi to understand religious diversity in a major metropolis. Overall this volume widens our knowledge of medieval India in its complexity and richness. About the Author Surinder Singh is the author of books titled The Making of Medieval Panjab: Politics Society and Culture c.1000c.1500 and Medieval Panjab in Transition: Authority Resistance and Spirituality c.1500 c.1700. He has coedited books such as Sufism in Punjab and Popular Literature and PreModern Societies in South Asia.
