The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c13.101

c13.101

As regards the tradition of learning among the Hindus, Khusraw speaks with enthusiasm of their knowledge of science, mathematics and yoga.⁷ Indeed Hindu genius, sometimes under the patronage of Muslim rulers, sometimes quite independently, blossomed forth in a renaissance of literary and religious activity.⁸ Among names of Hindi writers of renown one comes across many Muslims like Mas‘ūd, Quṭb ‘Alī, Akram Faiḍī and Mullā Dā‘ūd.⁹ Khusraw has left some Hindī poetry which is regarded with respect even to-day.¹ Of greater merit as a Hindī poet was Malik Muḥammad Jaisī whose Padmāvat and Akhrāwat rank among the classics of the world owing to their vigour, beauty and imagery.² Muḥammad Shāh was an accomplished Hindī poet at Islām Shāh's court; when Kāmran suggested that he could gain international reputation if he wrote in Persian, he side-tracked the issue by a joke.³ Of deeper influence was Hindu culture in the realm of music. Khusraw and Ḥasan were both great musicians; their disciples were found in other Indian courts.⁴ Through these men a great tradition of the appreciation and knowledge of Indian music came to be established, which continues to this day.⁵