Menu

Q) Describe the characteristics of Sultanate literature.

Ans.:-

1) Linguistic diversity –
-Persian was the official language but literature was produced in Arabic, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu.

2) Autobiographies and travelogues were written –
-Futuhat-e-Firozshahi (Firoz Tughlaq), Rihla by Ibn Battuta.

3) Rich historiography –
-most important literary contribution of Sultanate period is its history writing. Works like:

  • Ziauddin Barani – Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
  • Minhaj-us-Siraj – Tabaqat-i-Nasiri
  • Amir Khusrau – Khazain-ul-Futuh and Shams-i-Siraj Afif – Tarikh-i-Firozshahi provide detailed accounts of rulers’ lives, administrative reforms.

4) Regional and provincial language flourished – Bengali, Telugu.

5) Inclusion of Indian themes like:-
-Indian philosophy, music, science, social life. Eg. Nuh sipehr of Amir Khusrau.

6) Translation works – Sanskrit works translated into Persian.

7) Sufi and Bhakti influence - emphasizing devotion and love. 

  • This, the literature of sultanate era is a living document highlighting the cultural exchange, linguistic and historical synthesis of Indo islamic ideologies.