by Abd al-Hamid Lahori
Padshahnamah (Book of the Emperor) is an official chronicle commissioned by Shah Jahan and written by several court historians—including Abd al-Hamid Lahori and Muhammad Waris—between approximately 1046 and 1068 AH (1636–1658 CE) in Agra and Delhi. The work documents Shah Jahan’s reign in meticulous detail, covering events from his accession in 1628 to 1656, just before his imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb. It provides rich accounts of military campaigns, administrative reforms, court ceremonies, and major building projects (notably the Taj Mahal) in ornate Persian prose accompanied by exquisite miniature paintings. This chronicle epitomizes the high tradition of Mughal court literature, portraying Shah Jahan as an ideal ruler who combined justice, piety, and cultural refinement.
