Babur : The Chessboard King

Description

Babur, the visionary founder of Timurid Empire in Hindustan, had a fair share of early struggle following his father’s tragic demise in AD 1494. Then on, Babur embarked on an unyielding pursuit of power amid treacherous political landscapes, the narrative unveils his moniker, ‘the chessboard king,’ portraying his adept navigation through political intricacies and adversities.

From his ascent to rulership in Ferghana amidst familial threats to fleeting victories and losses in Samarkand, the book paints a poignant picture of Babur’s journey. It portrays his retreat to tribal lands after relinquishing hopes of reclaiming Ferghana, eventually establishing a mountainous kingdom in Kabul, a pivotal milestone preceding his ambition to expand into Hindustan. Recounting his initial endeavour to penetrate Hindustan in AD 1505, his alliances, and subsequent setbacks after Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah’s demise, leaving him as the sole Timurid prince in power, the book opens a window to Babur’s failed second attempt to enter Hindustan, encapsulating the initial thirteen to fourteen tumultuous years of his reign, marked by exile, fleeting victories, and delicate alliances.

Gripping, anecdotal and deeply researched Babur: The Chessboard King delves into Hindustan’s economic landscape during Timurid rule and portrays Babur as a multifaceted ruler, challenging the typical depiction of an infallible conqueror and a good human being. Meticulously sourced from the Persian manuscript of the Baburnama and other primary sources, this book represents a milestone in Babur’s biographical genre, essential for comprehending the ambitions of this enigmatic king.

ISBN :  978-0670099542; Pages : 480 ; Hardcover ; Publisher :  Vintage

About the Author :

Aabhas is a practicing architect and author. He has writes both fiction and non-fiction. His books include ‘Restart-An Architect’s Journey to the Parliament House’ and ‘Crossing the Line’ inspired by Marxist ideology, Modi Again.

Appreciation :

Aabhas questions standard narrations on the life and times of Babur. As we look at Bharatavarsha’s past in new ways, this book is a welcome addition to the corpus. ― Bibek Debroy

Meticulously researched, richly footnoted and referenced, and written with a narrative flow that makes it interesting for the reader. ― Vikram Sampath

Babur: The Chessboard King ruthlessly demolishes the edifice of false narratives and pieces together cogent, logical, reasonable, and illuminating accounts from exhaustively researched primary sources. May his tribe increase! ― Ashwin Sanghi

Using primary sources, such as Baburnama, Aabhas gives us rare insights into the Turkic conquerors who invaded India in pre-modern times. ― Amish Tripathi