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Introduction
Akbar and Birbal (pronounced as Beerbal) stories are very famous and popular in India among all ages of people.
There was a Mogul Emperor in India, Akbar the Great (1542-1605). His full name was Jalaluddin Mohammed Akbar Padshah Ghazi and he ruled India from 1560 to 1605. He himself was illiterate, but he invited several learned people in his court. Among these people, nine were very famous and were called "Nav Ratna" (nine jewels of the Mogul Crown) of his court. Among these nine jewels, five were more famous - Tansen, Todarmal, Abul Fazal, Maan Singh and Birbal.
1. Tansen for his singing art,
2. Dasvant - a great painter
3. King Todarmal was a financial wizard,
4. Abdu us-Samad - a brilliant calligrapher and designer of Imperial coins
5. Abul Fazal was a great historian whose brother
6. Faizi was a great poet,
7. Mir Fareh-ullah Shirazi - financier, philosopher, physician and astronomer,
8. King Maan Singh for his chivalry, and
9. Birbal for his valuable advice.
Akbar's son Prince Sultan Salim, later known as Jehangir (pronounced as Jahaangeer), wrote that nobody could tell that Akbar was an illiterate. Akbar was a very hard-working king. It is also said about him that, he slept only three hours a night.
Birbal (1528-1583) is surely one of the most popular figures in Indian history, equally regarded by adults and children. He was a minister in the administration of Mogul Emperor Akbar and one of the members of inner council of nine advisors.He was also a very close friend of Akbar, loved for his wisdom, wit, and subtle humor.He was a poet and an writer too.
It is believed that he was a son of poor Brahmin of Trivikrampur (now known as Tikavanpur) on the banks of River Yamuna. According to a popular legend he died on an expedition to Afghanistan at the head of a large military force due to treachery. It is also said that when Birbal died, Akbar mourned him for several months.
The exchanges between Akbar and Birbal have been recorded in many volumes. Many of these have become folk stories in Indian tradition. Birbal's collection of poetry published under the pen name "Brahm" are preserved in Bharatpur Museum at Rajsthan in India.
Many courtiers were jealous of Birbal and often plotted his downfall. There are many stories found in this issue too. There are a couple of other stories too which are of the same time and type and are as interesting as Birbal's.
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