A Personal Letter from Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to the Crown Prince During his Deccan Conquests
Aurangzeb between his conquest of Hyderabad and Madras
There are three collections of Aurangzeb’s letters. First, the " Ruka'at-i-Alamgiri," or the " Kalimat-i- Taiyibat," collected and published by Inayat Allah, one of his principal secretaries ; second, the " Rakaim-i- Karaim," by the son of another secretary Abdul Karim Amir Khan ; and third, the " Dastur-al-Amal Aghahi," collected from various sources thirty-eight years after the emperor's death by a learned servant of Raja Aya Mai under the Raja's order. There is still another collection the name of the " bearing Adab-i-Alamgiri," and comprising letters written by Aurangzeb to his father, his sons, and his officers.
The son addressed is his eldest, Bahadur Shah, Shah Alam, who is famous for botching the conquest of Hyderabad, forcing Aurangzeb to ride down with 300,00 troops from Delhi, camping outside the Golconda fort. The letter begins:
Oh exalted, high-ranking son (Ālī Jāh Bahādur). I remember how savory your khichdi (an Indian dish made of rice and lentils) and biryani was during the (Deccani) winter.
I was hoping you could send me Salman, who cooks excellent Biryani. If you you happen to find a chef of his masterful skillset (in cooking Biryani), send him to me! How joyous will be the day when you visit me, my son, eating, and feeding others!
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