Interesting history behind construction of Akbar's Bridge

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Abhay

@history_geek

Rocker

+ 5

Posted: 9 years ago

The following information about a movie related to a bridge constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar was shared few days back.

We had a good discussion on that thread.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/jodha-akbar/4504147/documentary-on-akbar-based-on-a-real-life-incident-jodha-mentioned

Now the historical information about the same bridge and this incident has been posted. Pictures of that bridge and a poem related to it are also present.

Title : Documentary based on a Real Life event related to Mughal Emperor Akbar & his Hindu Wife | With Rudyard Kipling's Poem - Akbar's Bridge, Illustrations & Historical Inputs

Link : https://mariam-uz-zamani.blogspot.in/2015/11/documentary-akbar-bridge-jodha-munim-khan-kipling-poem.html#.Vj4XgW51Sn8

Akbar had decided to build a grand mosque in the province of Jaunpur in mid-1560s to please the Almighty, so that his wife ( called Jodha Bai in common memory) bears him a child. The work commenced & the governor - Munim Khan resorted to excessive extraction of money from the people of the area for the purpose. Akbar came there and a widow complained to him about the excesses of Munim Khan, and convinced him to build a bridge instead of a mosque. Akbar consented.

This story is supported by historical accounts also, which are listed in this article.

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RadhikaS0

@RadhikaS0

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

Abhay

Thanks for an interesting article. :) Akbar is a most fascinating person and one can keep reading about him endlessly and keep coming up with new gems about him every time. 😊

Question that comes to mind is, why Jaunpur? What is special about Jaunpur, which is now just another small city? Why did Akbar decide to build a mosque here? Why not in other more important centers of the Mughal empire?

Well, the fact is that till the Mughals conquered the plains of Bihar and Bengal, all the way to Bangladesh, Jaunpur was an important outpost of the Mughal empire in the east. And how did the Mughals assert their authority over any region? Simple - by constructing forts and palaces and mosques there. Munim Khan, an extremely loyal noble since the time of Humayun, took great care to uphold the Mughal prestige through extensive architectural construction in Jaunpur and the nearby areas. The intended mosque was one more step in this direction. Incidentally, many nobles under Munim Khan got quite a few mosques constructed in Jaunpur.

19th century drawings of the Jaunpur palace (no longer exists) show that it was constructed in a style that bore the distinctive stamp of Akbar. The royal bath or hammam at Jaunpur resembles that at Fatehpur Sikri. It had provision for hot and cold baths. This should still be existing.

Jaunpur is quite close to Benaras / Varanasi. Those who visit Benaras can travel further to Jaunpur and witness the beautiful Akbar's Bridge.

Edited by RadhikaS0 - 9 years ago

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Bond_7

@Bond_7

Rocker

Posted: 9 years ago

Thanks for the pics Abhay😊

Its interesting that the bridge is in good condition even today.

The "Shahi bridge" is indeed beautiful.

This action of Akbar reminds me of the saying "Service to humanity is service to God"

Can't thank you enough for your humongous contribution.

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karkuzhali

@karkuzhali

Inactive

Posted: 9 years ago

Abhay,

Thank you very much for the interesting account of the circumstances leading to the construction of "Akbar's Bridge" as well as Kipling' s motivation to the write the poem about it. The pictures captured at various times speak volumes about the greatness of Akbar and his unquestionable love towards his subjects.

Interestingly, the fact that Salim was born in the same year when the bridge was completed was definitely due to the blessing from the potter's widow!

Saraswathi Aunty.

Originally posted by: history_geek

The following information about a movie related to a bridge constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar was shared few days back.

We had a good discussion on that thread.
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/jodha-akbar/4504147/documentary-on-akbar-based-on-a-real-life-incident-jodha-mentioned

Now the historical information about the same bridge and this incident has been posted. Pictures of that bridge and a poem related to it are also present.

Title : Documentary based on a Real Life event related to Mughal Emperor Akbar & his Hindu Wife | With Rudyard Kipling's Poem - Akbar's Bridge, Illustrations & Historical Inputs

Link : https://mariam-uz-zamani.blogspot.in/2015/11/documentary-akbar-bridge-jodha-munim-khan-kipling-poem.html#.Vj4XgW51Sn8

Akbar had decided to build a grand mosque in the province of Jaunpur in mid-1560s to please the Almighty, so that his wife ( called Jodha Bai in common memory) bears him a child. The work commenced & the governor - Munim Khan resorted to excessive extraction of money from the people of the area for the purpose. Akbar came there and a widow complained to him about the excesses of Munim Khan, and convinced him to build a bridge instead of a mosque. Akbar consented.

This story is supported by historical accounts also, which are listed in this article.

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karkuzhali

@karkuzhali

Inactive

Posted: 9 years ago

Dear Abhay and Radhika,

I thought you will be interested in the article "Mughul Painting under Akbar: the Melbourne Hamza-nama and Akbar-nama paintings" by John Guy.

It is about the paintings displayed in the Art Gallery of Melbourne.

The author gives an exquisite account of how Akbar was personally involved in the production of art, and states in Abul Fazl's words as, " The emperor directed that many books be illustrated, His majesty having indicated the scenes to be painted..." He says that his(Abul Fazl) description of the procedures followed at the court atelier reveal an extraordinary patron involvement in the very process of the art of production and that he outlines clearly the criteria employed in making qualitative judgements of the works themselves.

He is quoting Abul Fazal's words, "Each week the several superintendents and clerks submit before the king the work done by each artist, and His Majesty gives a reward and increases the monthly salaries according to the excellence displayed.His Majesty looks deeply into the matter of raw materials and set a high value on the quality of production. As a result, colouring has gained a new beauty and finish a new clarity...Delicacy of work, clarity of line and boldness of execution, as well as other fine qualities have reached perfection and inanimate

objects appear to come alive..."

The author also writes about Akbar's intellectual interests in enjoying history and religious debates and how for this purpose " copies of famous books, lavishly illustrated and sumptuously bound, were prepared for the Imperial Library."

Abhay, the article is very interesting to read and we get to know more and more of his another admirable quality of appreciation of art.

I have given the link below and I do not know if you had already wrote about it in your blog. I want to know if these paintings are kept elsewhere in India.

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/essay/mughal-painting-under-akbar-the-melbourne-hamza-nama-and-akbar-nama-paintings/

Saraswathi Aunty

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Donjas

@Donjas

Dazzler

Posted: 9 years ago

This is very interesting information. Thank you.

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Zhanna

@alffim

Navigator

Posted: 9 years ago

Dear Abhay! Thank you! It is very interesting! Once again, I convinced that Akbar was perhaps unique ruler! Even today, very few public figures will decide to choose not external religiousness but inner meaning of Creed (Belief).

Edited by alffim - 9 years ago

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Coolpree

@Coolpree

Explorer

Posted: 9 years ago

Abhay, Thanks for sharing these interesting facts. the Jaunpur bridge is so beautiful and so unique. Do we even have a another bridge of this kind in India with Chathri's attached to it?
How poignant is the fact that Salim was indeed born in the year this bridge was completed?
Jaunpur is where my Naana ( maternal granfather) comes from. I remember visiting his ancestral home as a child but sadly don't remember the bridge :(

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AngelDara

@AngelDara

Navigator

Posted: 9 years ago

Thank u for this wonderful information Abhay

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harshal

@harshu27

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#10

thnx abhay for sharing d info along wid d pics...its really fascinating to know that d bridge still xists in good shape... 😛 after so many centuries... 😛

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Interesting history behind construction of Akbar's Bridge

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