A History of Agriculture in India v2.c55.s7: Birth of Islamic Architecture and Hindustani Music

v2.c55.s7.1

The rule of Khaljis was not totally sterile. During this period, Indian architecture saw a remarkable development by the introduction of the Islamic arch and the dome. It also witnessed the birth of Hindustani music. The pioneer of the cultural movement was Amir Khusrau (A.D. 1253-1325), the celebrated poet and musician, known as *Tuti-i-Hind*, or Parrot of India, a tribute to his eloquence. He was the son of a Lachin Turk, who came as a refugee to India from Balkh. His father settled in Patyali, where Khusrau was born. In due course Khusrau shifted to Delhi, where he received the patronage of the Khalji and Tughlaq kings. His preceptor was Nizamuddin Auliya, the celebrated Sufi saint. Khusrau acquired such proficiency in Indian music that he even defeated Naik Gopal, a renowned Hindu musician from South India. Gopal used to be carried about by a band of twelve hundred disciples, who served as his palanquin-bearers. The contest between the two was held in the court of Ala-ud-din Khalji. He composed three poems, viz. the *Qiran-us-Sa'dain*, the *Miftah-ul-futuh*, the *Nuh Sipahr*, and a book of prose, the *Khaza'in-ul-futuh*. They contain information about contemporary history and social conditions. His poem called *Dewalrani Khizr Khan* is intermixed with contemporary historical events, and the *Tughluk-nama* deals with the rise and fall of Khusrau Khan, the usurper, and the accession of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlak.