Birbal

Birbal
Mantri, Mukhya Mantri, Sardār of Akbar
Birbal
Birbal
BornMahesh Das
c. 1528
Kalpi, Mughal Empire
Died16 February 1586 (aged 58)
Malandari Pass, Kabul Subah, Mughal Empire
FatherGanga Das
MotherAnabha Davito
Military career
AllegianceMughal Empire
ServiceMughal Army
Years of service1572
RankMansabdar
ReligionHinduism
Din-e-Ilahi

Mahesh Das (Hindi pronunciation: [məɦeːɕə d̪ɑːsə]; 1528 – 16 February 1586[1]), popularly known by his title Raja Birbal (lit.'The Quick Thinker'), was an Indian minister and commander of the Mughal Empire. He is mostly known in the Indian subcontinent for the folk tales which focus on his wit. He was appointed by Akbar and was one of his most important courtiers, part of a group called the navaratnas (nine jewels). In February 1586, he led an army to crush an unrest in the north-west Indian subcontinent where he was killed along with many troops in an ambush by the rebel tribe. He was the only Hindu to adopt Din-i Ilahi, the religion founded by Akbar.

Local folk tales emerged primarily in 19th century involving his interactions with Akbar, thus became even more of a semi-fictional legendary figure across the Indian subcontinent. However, these stories have generally been described as fictional by modern historians.[2]

  1. ^ "Bīrbal | Indian courtier". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Khanna, Culture of Medieval India was invoked but never defined (see the help page).