ManiUk at 20:21, 12 September 2021

2021-09-12T20:21:58Z

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{{short description|Mughal advisor at Akbar's court, appearing in many folk tales which focus on his wit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title= [[Minister (government)|Mantri]], [[Commander|Mukhya Mantri]], [[Sardar|Sardār of Akbar]]
| image = Birbal.jpg
| alt = Birbal
| caption = Birbal
| birth_name = Mahesh Das
| birth_date = 1528
| birth_place = sidhi(patapara)
Madhya Pradesh
| death_date = 16 February 1586 (aged 57-58)
| death_place = [[Karakar Pass]] near the [[Swat Valley]], [[Kabulistan|Kabul Province]] (in present-day [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]])
| religion = 
| occupation = Main advisor in the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] court of Emperor [[Akbar]]
| spouse =
| issue =
| succession = [[Minister (government)|Minister]] of [[Mughal Empire]]
| successor= * [[Tansen]] (disputed)
* Jyotish Govind ([[astrologer]] to Akbar, but it is half-disputed)

}}

'''Birbal''' ({{IPA-ur|biːrbəl|IPA}}; born '''Mahesh Das'''; 1528 {{ndash}} 16 February 1586<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bīrbal {{!}} Indian courtier|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Birbal|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>), or '''Raja Birbal''', was a Hindu advisor and main commander (''Mukhya Senapati'') of army in the court of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] emperor, [[Akbar]]. He is mostly known in the Indian subcontinent for the [[Fable|folk tales]] which focus on his [[wit]]. Birbal was appointed by Akbar as a Minister (Mantri) and used to be a Poet and Singer in around 1556–1562. He had a close association with Emperor [[Akbar]] and was one of his most important courtiers, part of a group called the ''[[navaratnas]]'' (nine jewels). In February 1586, Birbal 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. Birbal was one of the first officers to join Akbar's court, possibly as early as 1556, when he was twenty-eight years old. He also had a naturally generous nature and all these traits combined—elegant repartee, largesse, and poetical talent—made Birbal the ideal Mughal courtier.

Local folk tales emerged primarily in 19th century involving his interactions with Akbar, portraying him as being extremely clever and witty. However, it is highly unlikely that they are true considering the strict court etiquette of the Mughals, which would not have tolerated outspoken attitude of anyone like [[Birbal]], and these tales are not mentioned in any official Mughal document. As the tales gained popularity in India, he became even more of a semi-fictional legendary figure across the Indian subcontinent. These most probably fictional tales involve him outsmarting rival courtiers and sometimes even Akbar, using only his intelligence and cunning, often with giving witty and humorous responses and impressing Akbar.

Birbal - Revision history

ManiUk at 20:21, 12 September 2021