Who was the major ruler under whom 'Hamzanama' was painted ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4: Akbar.
The correct option is 4: Akbar. The *Hamzanama*, or the *Dastan-e-Amir Hamza*, is a monumental and seminal illustrated manuscript that was commissioned by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) early in his reign. This colossal project, containing 1,400 large-format paintings on cotton cloth, was begun around 1562 and took nearly fifteen years to complete (c. 1577). The production of the *Hamzanama* is historically crucial as it marks the formal beginning and consolidation of the Mughal school of painting, serving as the first major work of the imperial *karkhana* (workshop) where Persian and indigenous Indian artists collaborated to forge a new, dynamic, and narrative style of miniature painting. Akbar's deep personal interest in this epic romance and his patronage elevated painting to an unprecedented level of importance within the Mughal court.

The incorrect option is 1: Dara Shikoha. Prince Dara Shikoh (1615–1659) was the eldest son of Emperor Shahjahan, placing his period of patronage nearly a century after the *Hamzanama* was created. Dara Shikoh was indeed a great art lover, philosopher, and patron, but his artistic interests were primarily focused on Sufi themes, portraits, and commissioning lavish albums, such as the *Dara Shikoh Album*. He inherited and appreciated the Mughal art tradition, but he was not the ruler who initiated this specific, foundational masterpiece of the Mughal style. Therefore, attributing the *Hamzanama* to his patronage is incorrect from a chronological and art-historical perspective.

The incorrect option is 2: Babur. Babur (reigned 1526–1530) was the founder of the Mughal Empire and a man of culture and letters, but his short reign was dominated by establishing political control and military campaigns. Although he appreciated Persian arts, he was known to have disliked the fantastic nature of the *Hamzanama* stories, as recorded in his memoir, the *Baburnama*. The large-scale, collaborative royal workshop responsible for the manuscript's execution only fully developed under his grandson, Akbar, making it impossible for Babur to be the major ruler behind this particular commission.

The incorrect option is 3: Shahjahan. Shahjahan (reigned 1628–1658) was Akbar's grandson and a celebrated patron, but he is more famous for his contributions to Mughal architecture, such as the Taj Mahal. In painting, his era focused on highly refined naturalism, exquisite court portraits, and albums, which moved away from the bold narrative drama of Akbar's initial commissions like the *Hamzanama*. By Shahjahan's time, the *Hamzanama* had already been dispersed, and the style had evolved considerably, confirming that he was not the patron responsible for its creation.