Why in news?

PM Modi, at the 25th Jahan-e-Khusrau festival, described this festival as carrying the “fragrance of the soil of Hindustan.”

Jahan-e-Khusrau, a three-day festival, brings together artists from across the world to celebrate the legacy of Amir Khusrau.

Amir Khusrau, known as Tuti-yi-Hind (Parrot of India), is regarded as a key figure in North India’s Ganga-Jamuni culture. He made significant contributions to Indian classical music, qawwali, and developed Hindavi, a precursor to modern Hindi and Urdu.

What’s in today’s article?

• Khusrau: The ‘Indian Turk’
• Khusrau: The Poet of the Sultans
• Khusrau: The Devoted Disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya
• Khusrau’s Enduring Legacy

Khusrau: The ‘Indian Turk’

• Much of what is known about Khusrau comes from his own writings, which contain autobiographical information.
• Early Life and Family Background
  • Amir Khusrau’s father migrated from Central Asia to India in the 13th century, escaping the Mongol invasions led by Genghis Khan.
  • He entered the service of Sultan Iltutmish (1211–36) and married an Indian Muslim woman.
  • Their second child, Abu'l Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrau, was born in 1253.
• Cultural Synthesis in His Identity
  • Khusrau embraced both his Turkic and Indian heritage, a theme reflected in his writings.
  • Various scholars described him as a symbol of cultural fusion, and he often referred to himself as an “Indian Turk.”
• Birthplace
  • Though Patiyali (Etah, Uttar Pradesh) is widely believed to be his birthplace, Khusrau himself never mentioned it in his writings.

Khusrau: The Poet of the Sultans

• Amir Khusrau became a professional poet at age 20 and remained so until his death.
• He initially served princes and nobles before securing a permanent place in the Delhi Sultanate’s court.
• Role of Praise Poetry
  • In medieval Islamic culture, praise poetry was a key tool for rulers to establish their cultural and political legitimacy.
  • Court poets relied on royal patronage and faced fierce competition.
  • Khusrau also served at least five Delhi Sultans:
    • Muizuddin Qaiqabad
    • Jalaluddin Khalji
    • Alauddin Khalji
    • Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah
    • Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
  • He also had many influential patrons over five decades, showcasing the exceptional quality of his poetry.
  • He wrote in Persian, the court language, as well as Hindavi.
• Honors and Recognition
  • Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji conferred on him the title of ‘Amir’.
  • Historian Ziauddin Barani recorded in Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi that Jalaluddin held Khusrau in great esteem, and that Khusrau served as keeper of the Qur’an in his court.

Khusrau: The Devoted Disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya

• Amir Khusrau was the most beloved disciple of the Chishti saint Nizamuddin Auliya. The saint held him in high regard, once declaring:
  • “He (Khusrau) is the keeper of my secrets, and I shall not set foot in Paradise without him.” - Nizamuddin Auliya (Quoted in The Life and Works of Amir Khusrau, 1929)
• Balancing the Court and the Khanqah
  • Khusrau was respected both in the royal court and in the Sufi khanqah. Despite navigating two different worlds, his loyalty was never questioned.
    • “Neither the king nor the saint ever suspected his loyalty, as he frequented both with equal respect and honor.” — Saifullah Saifi wrote in Sufi Poet Amir Khusrau: A Link between the Court and the Khanqah (2011)
• A Shared Fate in 1325
  • Master and disciple passed away within months of each other in 1325.
  • Upon hearing of Nizamuddin Auliya’s death, Khusrau is believed to have expressed his grief through these poetic words:
    • “Beauty sleeps on the bed, her hair across her face. Come Khusrau, let’s go home, night has set over this place.”

Khusrau’s Enduring Legacy

• A Timeless Poet
  • Even 700 years after his death, Amir Khusrau’s lyrical beauty, wordplay, and diverse themes continue to captivate audiences.
  • He wrote across genres, from royal eulogies to folk songs, riddles, and word games.
  • “On the one hand he wrote eulogies for kings and princes, on the other hand he wrote riddles, jingles, and homely songs.” — Saifi
• A Bridge Between Cultures
  • Khusrau blended Persian and Turkic traditions with local influences, helping shape Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, a Hindu-Muslim syncretic culture.
  • He also praised Hindu philosophical thought:
    • “The Brahmans of India have a greater wealth of philosophical thought than what Rumi revealed.” - (wrote in masnavi Nuh Siphir, quoted in Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation, ed. G.N. Devy)
• Musical Contributions
  • Khusrau’s ghazals and qawwalis remain popular, performed in Sufi dargahs and Bollywood. His famous compositions include:
    • Chhaap Tilak
    • Zehal-e-Maskeen
    • Sakal Ban Phool Rahi Sarson
  • He is also credited with shaping Indian classical music, including:
    • Crafting dozens of ragas
    • Developing ornate khayal music
    • Inventing the sitar and tabla (though evidence remains limited)