Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c4.s2.t3.12

c4.s2.t3.12

3. Practical arts and Compendiums.—There are a few books on practical arts which are quite useful for a study of contemporary social life. For example, the *Kitab-i-Nimat Khana-i-Nasir Shahi*, a compendium of culinary art, gives numerous recipes for making scents, cosmetics, ottos, and for preparing a variety of foods and delicacies². Another, named *Hidayat ur-rami*, gives a comprehensive guidance to archers and those interested in the use of bow and arrow³. The most important book, however, of this nature is the *Fiqh-i-Firuz Shahi*. It is a compendium of civil and ecclesiastical law and has an interesting history. It was originally compiled by one Ya'qub Karrani who died without finishing the book. The posthumous work was brought to the notice of Firuz Shah Tughluq who ordered its revision and enlargement and thus the book took its present shape. It gives legal precepts which were probably meant for the guidance of the Judiciary, but this is by no means certain. It may be safely said, however, that these semi-judicial compilations, even though they may not be compared with modern legal codes, do not on that account lose their historical value. They reflect the social conditions in a more lucid manner than other books and are to be valued accordingly.¹ Another book, not exactly a compilation of ‘ecclesiastical decisions, advices, and admonitions’ (vide Ethe) but rather a kind of political guide to a prince and a code of political ethics, is the Fatawa-i-jahandari of Ziya-ud-din Barani. Together with another earlier compilation of a similar nature the Adab-ul-muluk of Fakhr ud-din Mubarak Shah, it throws some light on the political ideas of the times. But the tone of these compilations is theoretical rather than practical. In any case, their value in elucidating social developments is very little. We are not required to go into a closer examination of their contents for our present purposes.²