The History of Humāyūn (Gulbadan Begam) 9.1.1

9.1.1

Of these there are two: 1. ‘Humayun-nama. Written by Gul-badan Begam, daughter of Babar Padshah.’ This is on the first fly-leaf, which is of paper differing in colour and texture from that of the body of the MS., and identical with that of four blank sheets which are bound up at the end of the MS., perhaps to allow of writing in the missing portion of the work. 2. ‘Accounts of Humayun Padshah. Put together by Gul-badan Begam, a daughter of Babar Padshah and a paternal aunt of Akbar Padshah.’ This stands on the first folio of the MS., which by the original paging is folio 10, and by the British Museum marking folio 2 (a). In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate! There had been an order issued, ‘Write down whatever you know of the doings of Firdaus-makān and Jannat-āshyānī.’ At the time when his Majesty Firdaus-makān passed from this perishable world to the everlasting home, I, this lowly one, was eight years old, so it may well be that I do not remember much. However, in obedience to the royal command, I set down whatever there is that I have heard and remember. First of all, by way of invoking a blessing (on my work), and in pious commemoration, a chapter (juzv) is written about my royal father’s deeds, although these are told in his memoirs.