Raja Birbal --An unassuming man

Akbar the Great who ruled over Hindustan for fifty years described Raja Birbal as a perfect man. An impeccable and glowing tribute to an exceptional human from an exceptional monarch!

Children in India who grow up reading Akbar Birbal comics are familiar with Birbal's wit and intelligence.
While doing research for The Final Puzzle, I began to deeply admire the character of a man who lived more than four centuries ago. Of all great human qualities, the one that I believe is the most difficult to demonstrate is true humility.
Humility did not mean being silent. Nor balking from standing up for what is right. Birbal had no qualms disagreeing with the Emperor time and again. It is a testament to Akbar's character as it is to Birbal's, that the Emperor took the criticism in his stride and did not demolish those who disagreed with him.

I realized that good qualities--- kindness, hard work, and honesty—have remained unscathed through time. What has changed, and will continue to change is tolerance of bad behavior.


Would Raja Birbal have got more credit for his personality had he made an attempt to publicize his merits? He didn't, but he lived a life very few could claim- as the most indispensable man for the Emperor of India, molding policy despite the attacks on his character and life. The story details two attempts on Birbal's life and two contemptible attempts to malign him.

Which brings me to the most important realization during my journey writing this book.
One can be as perfect as Birbal, yet be the target of vicious attempts.

So do what you believe is right. Do not measure your success by the absence of enemies. In fact, the higher you rise, the more you will encounter jealous humans who will go to any extent to justify their attacks against you.

This will continue as long as humanity exists. But what we all bank on is this-- that there is sufficient good, sufficient common sense and a sufficient number of fair-minded individuals who are motivated to find the facts and draw their own conclusion about what really happened.
When that ceases to exist, humanity will face an existential threat. On that theme, which is prescient even today, I would encourage readers to read the free book by P.P Sinha referenced below.


As a bonus, the hardcover copy has poems by Raja Birbal, a rare treat to read his actual work.

I obtained the book through an interlibrary loan.

Akbar had once said, “The difficulty is to live in the world and to refrain from evil   for the life of a recluse is one of bodily ease.” Raja BirbaTs character exactly reached that high standard. In spite of the earthly bonds,Birbal was essentially a non- worldly man in his attitude; and  though apparently fettered he maintained complete freedom"- 

Reference - Raja Birbal Life and Times

The questions I want readers to ask

To be meaningful, a story has to elicit at least one thought-provoking pause.

What made me pause when I read " The Final Puzzle"?

Share your thoughts here or on my FB page.

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Birbal's wife

Mahesh Das a.k.a. Raja Birbal rose to fame from humble beginnings.
He lost his father young and was raised by his uncle. I have attempted to stay true to the narrative of his early life as documented in nonfiction books.
His wife was from a wealthy Brahmin family. Not much is known about her besides that. 

Mahesh calls his wife Lakshmi. It was not uncommon for women to be given a different name after marriage. In fact, this practice continues in certain parts of India today.

The state of his marriage has not been the subject of discussion in any of the online resources I used. The difference in their social class by birth, failure of their sons to achieve recognition in Akbar's court, and daughter Sobha's closeness to the palace are all documented.

His wife may have been a pious lady with an unblemished character. Her personality as imagined for this story is a work of fiction.

The leading lady- Radha

Radha is smart, sassy and highly skilled.
She exercises excellent control over her emotions and seldom gives into an impulse.
" She is beautiful because she is brave," says Akbar about Radha in the book. Yet, when Akbar saw her for the first time, it was not her bravery which he found attractive.

There are no accounts of a woman of Radha's description in any of the history books. She is purely fictional.
Is it possible that someone, albeit by a different name existed?

Yes, of course!

The first clue was when I researched how Raja Birbal got his title.
The name Birbal was derived from Birbar, the Persian term for Veer Var.
Veer Var refers to "a brave one".

Odd, isn't it to confer that title to someone with modest military skills at best? Mahesh Das a.k.a.  Raja Birbal was an artist, poet, and singer.  Chapters 12 of the Final Puzzle sets up the premise, and chapter 27 answers how Mahesh Das became Raja Birbal.

That was also the foundation of a female character hidden from the public eye with a close connection to Mahesh Das.
 In the final days leading up to his disappearance or death, Raja Birbal was described as acting out of character. His behavior, possibly by Badaoni's accounts was that of a negative, frustrated and argumentative person. That does not jive with what we know about his life in general.
Which begs the question- was someone impersonating him in his absence? Who would have done that and why? Or was he himself acting in such a manner with a specific goal in mind?
Find out about Radha. She may be able to help solve that mystery.

The Final Puzzle- how it all started

I tucked in my kid one night with a story about Akbar and Birbal etched in my memory. I reflected on Raja Birbal, confidante and close friend of the third Mughal Emperor Akbar who ruled over Hindustan for five decades. Raja Birbal was a highly intelligent man, I thought. Hard to believe he was killed by his enemies ( something I had read many years ago, but not paid much thought).

If the stories I read in comic books were even half true, he had survived several attempts on his life. So how did they get him this time? Or did they? And who were his enemies?

I went to Wikipedia to find out more.

"His body was never found."

That was the sentence that spurred my curiosity. I was between jobs and had the luxury of time on my hands.

The next few months allowed me to dig deeper into many facets of life in Mughal India. I utilized free resources online ( references below). 

Raja Birbal was a brilliant, yet unassuming man. But, he has not received the recognition he deserved. 

The final puzzle is a fictional narrative of his life-- challenging the description of his final days as the world knows it.

References:

Raja Birbal- Life and times