Who called Saqi Mustaid Khan’s work ‘Maasir-i-Alamgiri’ the ‘Gazetteer of the Mughal Empire’?
The prominent modern historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar called Saqi Mustaid Khan’s work, the ‘Maasir-i-Alamgiri’, the ‘Gazetteer of the Mughal Empire’. This Persian chronicle is considered the official history of Aurangzeb’s reign, detailing events from 1658 to 1707 with considerable accuracy, making Sarkar’s designation apt. The correct answer is (A) Jadunath Sarkar.
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The celebrated historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar coined the term ‘Gazetteer of the Mughal Empire’ for the Maasir-i-Alamgiri. Written by Saqi Mustaid Khan, this work is a detailed and authoritative historical chronicle covering the entire fifty-year reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. Sarkar used this phrase because the text, compiled from official records and state papers, provides an exhaustive, year-by-year account of imperial activities, including orders, appointments, campaigns and court ceremonies, serving as an indispensable historical reference.