Amir Khusrau (b. A 653), the greatest Persian poet of India, was considered the first to produce a replica to Nizami's Khamsa under a definite plan. No doubt, it was a courageous attempt but Khusrau had full faith in his eloquence and command in Persian. The proof lies in the fact that the following five Masnawis (Khamsa) were completed within a short period of over two years only:
1. Matla'ul Anwar, in the metre of Nizami's Makhzanul Asrar.
2. Shirin wa Khusrau, on the model of Nizami's Khusrau wa Shirin.
3. Majnun wa Laila, parallel to Nizami's Laila wa Majnun.
4. Aina-i-sikanderi, in the meter of Nizami's Sikander Nama.
5. Hasht Bihisht, on the model of Haft Paikar of Nizami.
Being the earliest attempt by a recognized master, a critical study of Amir Khusrau's Khamsa was long over due.
As far as my knowledge goes no scholar is known to have filled this long left gap. The importance of the work prompted me to take up the assignment but the exhaustive study of all the five poems of the 'Khamsa' would have been a stupendous task and I did not find myself capable of undertaking it. That is why I proposed to continue my study to the Aina-i-Sikanderi alone. The plan was accepted by Prof. J. A. Boyle of Manchester University (U.K.), and the work was completed under his guidance as part of my Post-Doctoral work during my stay in U.K.
The monograph is divided into five chapters:
Chapter I is devoted to Khusrau's plan of writing Khamsa, the motive behind Nizami's imitation; Khusrau's limitations, success and failure; opinions about his achievements.
In Chapter II, after a brief survey of the legend of Alexander as prevalent in eastern land, a critical study of the Aina-i-Sikanderi is taken up under these heads:
(a) The title of the book, the date of its composition and the lines contained in it, the circumstances under which it was written, the poet's limitations, etc.
(b) Literary value of the poem.
(c) Demerits of the Masnawi.
Chapter III deals with a comparative study of the Aina-i-Sikanderi with Nizami's Sikander Nama and Firdausi's Shah Nama wherein the details of the story and literary merits are discussed.
Chapter IV deals with the conclusion.
Chapter V comprises bibliography, etc.
The present monograph is yet another of revealing the versatile and multifaceted personality that Amir Khusrau was. It is now left to the scholars of Persian literature to decide as how far I have been able to achieve the goal of presenting a comparative study of Khusrau's Aina-i-Sikanderi.
The book of Prof. Maria Bilquis makes a critical and comparative study of Amir Khusrau's Aina-i-Sikanderi, which is the fourth poem in Khusrau's "Khamsa", composed in the metric style of the Sikander Nama of Nizami Ganjavi. Khusrau has delineated some of the events and expoits of Alexander's adventures which were elaborately and coherently described by Nizami about a century before.
The classical Khamsa of Nizami consists of five masnawis (poems), which are composed with thoughtful expressions and rare diction of Persian poetry of Iran. These masnawis have become internationally popular and loved by the scholars of Persian language and literature. Nizami's Khamsa and its style has been followed by several later Persian poets. Amir Khusrau is perhaps the earliest Indian Persian poet to have produced the same designating as Khamsa-i-Khusrau following the scheme and style of the Khamsa of Nizami with great care and precession. He completed his Khamsa within a brief period of over two years in AH 699 (AD 1299-1300). The Rampur Raza Library has a very rare illustrated manuscript copied in AH 855 (AD 1451) most probably at Herat in the Timurid style of Bihzad school, which has been studied by Prof. Maria Bilquis for the preparation of her book 'A Critical and Comparative Study of Amir Khusrau's Aina-i-Sikanderi.' I have included two illustrations of this Khamsa-i-Khusrau in this book for the larger interest of the readers.
The author has critically examined and compared the Khamsa of Amir Khusrau with that of the celebrated poet Nizami of Ganja. The book presents the most intensive study of the Khamsa of Khusrau with specific reference to the work of Nizami whose style and diction, according to the author, is far superior than that of Khusrau.
Beginning with praise of Allah, the Prophet (PUH), Hazrat Nizamud-Din Auliya and the Sultan Alaud-Din Khalji in whose time he had composed the Khamsa and objects to the assertion made by Nizami that Alexander was a Prophet.
Khusrau treats Alexander as a saint (Wali). After mentioning the achievements of Alexander, Khusrau describes his innovations such as astrolabe; the looking glass and tents made of cotton cloth instead of hide and gives the construction of the famous mirror of Alexander.
Khusrau concludes his Khamsa with a long and finely composed epilogue in which he describes his own achievements, laments the passage of time and appeals the readers of his work not to overlook the merit of his composition. It is hoped that the book will receive attention of Persian scholars in India and abroad.
I thank His Excellency Shri Vishnu Kant Shastri, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Chairman, Rampur Raza Library Board and its members and the Publication Committee of the Library for allowing the publication by the Rampur Raza Library. Thanks are also due to the Secretary, Government of India Department of Culture for providing sufficient funds for the publication programme of the Library.
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