Persian Literature
Art & Culture › Language & Literature · Topic 9.19
Persian literature in India, also called Indo-Persian literature, is the writing in Persian (Farsi), a Western Iranian language of the Indo-European family, produced in India from the Ghaznavid and Delhi Sultanate periods to the 19th century. Persian was the language of court and administration under the Sultans and the Mughals until the 1830s. Key works include Amir Khusrau's Khamsa, Barani's Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, Abul Fazl's Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari, Jahangir's Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri and Dara Shikoh's Majma-ul-Bahrain. Persian is not a classical language of India and not in the Eighth Schedule.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Language & Literature
At a Glance
- Also called Farsi, Indo-Persian, Parsi in old sources
- Language family Indo-European, Western Iranian
- Role in India Court and administration language, 13th to 19th century
- Famous translation Razmnama, the Mahabharata under Akbar
- Status Not scheduled, not classical in India
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Language & Literature
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows Hindi. Persian shaped the court culture, historical writing and vocabulary of medieval India and led to the rise of Urdu, which is covered next. Previous topic: Hindi Literature. Next topic: Urdu Literature.
Which Persian Chronicles and Authors Are Most Important?
| Author | Work and note |
|---|---|
| Al-Biruni | Kitab-ul-Hind (about 1030), in Arabic, on Indian society and science; came with Mahmud of Ghazni |
| Minhaj-us-Siraj | Tabaqat-i-Nasiri; Delhi Sultanate history to 1260 |
| Amir Islam Khan from 1608; Dacca made capital Mewar Settlement with…">Khusrau | Khamsa, Khazain-ul-Futuh, Qiran-us-Sadain, Nuh Sipihr, Tughlaq Nama |
| Ziauddin Barani | Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, Fatawa-i-Jahandari |
| Isami | Futuh-us-Salatin, a verse history |
| Shams-i-Siraj Afif | Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, Firuz Tughlaq’s reign |
| Babur | Baburnama, in Chagatai Turkic; Persian version by Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan |
| Gulbadan Begum | Humayun-nama, an account of Humayun’s life by his sister |
| Abul Fazl | Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari |
| Abdul Qadir Badauni | Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, critical of Akbar’s religious policy |
| Jahangir | Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, autobiography |
| Abdul Hamid Lahori | Padshahnama, history of Shah Jahan |
| Dara Shikoh | Majma-ul-Bahrain, Sirr-i-Akbar (Persian translation of the Upanishads) |
How Did Persian Reach Translations, Poetry and Administration?
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Translations from Sanskrit | Razmnama (Mahabharata), Ramayana, Atharvaveda, Lilavati by Faizi, Rajatarangini, Simhasana Dvatrimshika |
| Translation department | Akbar’s Maktab Khana in Fatehpur Sikri was the translation bureau |
| Poets | Amir Khusrau, Faizi, Urfi, Naziri, Bedil and Ghalib wrote Persian verse |
| Sabk-e-Hindi | The Indian style of Persian poetry marked by complex imagery |
| Administration | Terms such as diwan, farman, mansab, pargana and zamindar are Persian in origin |
| Sufi texts | Malfuzat such as Fawaid-ul-Fuad of Hasan Sijzi, record talks of Nizamuddin Auliya |
| Shift | English replaced Persian in higher courts and offices around 1837 under the East India Company |
| Libraries | Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library at Patna and Raza Library at Rampur hold major Persian collections |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names: Persian is also called Farsi in Iran and Dari in Afghanistan, and the Indian variety is Indo-Persian
- Spread: Persian came with Turkic and Afghan rulers, who used the language of Ghazni and Central Asia for courts
- Multi-ethnic: Persian writers in India were of many origins, and Hindu scribes such as Kayasthas and Khatris wrote in Persian for the administration
- Chachnama: The Persian translation of the Arabic history of Sindh was done in the 13th century and records the Arab conquest of Sindh
- Khusrau: Amir Khusrau (1253 to 1325), disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, wrote in Persian and Hindavi and is called Tuti-i-Hind, the parrot of India
- Barani: Barani discussed political ideas, and his works are among the best Sultanate sources
- Abul Fazl: He wrote Ain-i-Akbari, which has data on administration, revenue, army and provinces, and shaped historiography
- Badauni: Badauni translated Sanskrit works for Akbar but wrote a critical history
- Dara Shikoh: He argued that Sufism and Vedanta share a unity of ideas, in Majma-ul-Bahrain, the meeting of the two oceans
- Painting: Illustrated Persian manuscripts of the Mughal period, such as the Hamzanama, link literature with painting
- Urdu link: The Persian vocabulary of Hindustani gave Urdu its character
- Persian poets in Awadh: Lucknow and Delhi kept Persian poetry alive in the 18th century
- Faizi: Abul Fazl’s brother Faizi was Akbar’s poet laureate (Malik-ush-Shu’ara), and he translated the Lilavati of Bhaskara II and the Nal Daman story from the Mahabharata into Persian
- Hamzanama: The illustrated Hamzanama, begun under Akbar, had around fourteen hundred large paintings, and was a landmark of Persian storytelling and Mughal art
- Gulbadan Begum: Her Humayun-nama is one of the few early accounts by a woman of the Mughal household, and is valued for its details of family life
- Official end: Persian ceased to be the court language of the Company in 1837, and later Urdu and English took its place
- Related: Sufi context is covered in Bahauddin Zakariya,…">Sufism (Chishti, Suhrawardi Silsilas), and manuscript care in National Mission on Manuscripts
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Author and work: Barani, Badauni, Abul Fazl, Lahori
- Translations: Razmnama and the Maktab Khana
- Sufi texts: Malfuzat of Nizamuddin Auliya
- Language: Persian as court language
- Common errors: Baburnama is not originally Persian, and Al-Biruni wrote in Arabic
As an analytical point, Persian literature in India was a shared court language that carried Indian knowledge to Persia and Persian ideas to India. It is also a main source for medieval history, so Persian manuscripts need trained readers.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Sources Medieval chronicles
- Composite culture Razmnama and Dara Shikoh
- Policy Manuscript care
What Came Next?
Next comes Urdu, which grew from the meeting of Persian and local languages. Next topic: Urdu Literature.
Key People and Terms
- Malfuzat Sayings of Sufis
- Tazkira Biographical record
- Farman Royal order
- Masnavi Narrative poem
- Ghazal Lyric poem
- Maktab Khana Translation bureau
Related Topics in Maarg Manthan
Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.
- Court Chronicles and Persian Literature (Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnama, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri) (Medieval History)
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Akbarnama: Abul Fazl.
- Razmnama: Mahabharata translation.
- Tuti-i-Hind: Amir Khusrau.
- Majma-ul-Bahrain: Dara Shikoh.
- Persian replaced in courts: about 1837.
Do Not Confuse With
- Baburnama and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri Turkic memoir versus Persian memoir
- Abul Fazl and Badauni Court historian versus critic
- Persian and Urdu Court language versus mixed new language
Memory Hook
Khusrau sings, Barani records, Abul Fazl organises, Dara unites.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about composite culture and sources. These points give a frame.
- Composite culture Translations and syncretism
- Sources Medieval history writing
- Preservation Manuscripts and libraries
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Persian literature is a bridge between Indian and Persian cultures. Examine.”
How to Answer
- Role Court language.
- Exchange Translations.
- Legacy Words and history.
- Way Preserve manuscripts.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Persian literature in India?
Persian literature in India, or Indo-Persian literature, is the writing in the Persian language produced in India from the Delhi Sultanate to the 19th century. It includes chronicles, poetry, Sufi texts, memoirs and translations of Sanskrit works such as the Razmnama.
Who wrote the Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari?
Abul Fazl, the court historian and minister of Akbar, wrote the Akbarnama and its third part, the Ain-i-Akbari. The Akbarnama narrates Akbar's reign and ancestors, while the Ain-i-Akbari describes administration, revenue, the army, provinces and the culture of the empire.
Which language family does Persian belong to?
Persian belongs to the Western Iranian group of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family. It is therefore a distant cousin of Sanskrit. It is known as Farsi in Iran and Dari in Afghanistan, and was the court language of many Indian states.
What is the status of Persian in India today?
Persian is not a classical language of India under the 2004 scheme and is not in the Eighth Schedule, as of November 2026. It is studied in universities, and its manuscripts in libraries such as Khuda Bakhsh at Patna and Raza at Rampur are conserved as heritage.
Why is Persian literature important for UPSC?
Prelims asks which chronicle belongs to which author, such as Barani's Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi or Badauni's Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, and about translations like the Razmnama. Mains uses it for medieval sources, composite culture and Dara Shikoh's synthesis of Sufism and Vedanta.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Razmnama is a Persian translation of the Mahabharata.
Made under Akbar.
2 Ain-i-Akbari was written by Badauni.
By Abul Fazl.
3 Amir Khusrau was called Tuti-i-Hind.
The parrot of India.
4 Persian was replaced in company courts around 1837.
By English and vernaculars.
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