The Institutes of Akbar 73.11

73.11

His Majesty shews much regard to the art, and takes a great interest in the different systems of writing; hence the large number of skilful caligraphists. Nasta’líq has especially received a new impetus. The artist who, in the shadow of the throne of His Majesty, has become a master of caligraphy, is Muhammad Husain of Kashmir. He has been honoured with the title of Zarrinqalam, the gold pen. He surpassed his master Mauláná ’Abdul-’Aziz; his maddát and dawáir shew everywhere a proper proportion to each other, and art critics consider him equal to Mullá Mír ’Alí. Of other renowned caligraphists of the present age, I must mention Mauláná Báqir, the son of the illustrious Mullá Mír ’Alí; Muhammad Amín of Mashhad; Mír Husain i Kulankí; Mauláná ’Abdulhay; Mauláná Daurí; Mauláná ’Abdurrahím; Mír ’Abdullah; Nizámí of Qazwín; ’Alí Chaman of Kashmír; Núrullah Qásim Arsalán. His Majesty’s library is divided into several parts: some of the books are kept within, and some without the Harem. Each part of the Library is subdivided, according to the value of the books and the estimation in which the sciences are held of which the books treat. Prose books, poetical works, Hindí, Persian, Greek, Kashmírian, Arabic, are all separately placed. In this order they are also inspected. Experienced people bring them daily and read them before His Majesty, who hears every book from the beginning to the end.