• ISBN13: 9788126928514
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: History
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: N/A
• Publication Date: July 28, 2022
• Pages: 812
• Original Price: INR 1595.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 880 grams

The Ain-i-Akbari, or the “Constitution or Institutes of Akbar” was written by Akbar’s Vizier, Abul-Fazl Allami in the 16th century. It is a detailed document which describes the administration of Akbar’s empire. It is actually the third volume of Akbarnama, which records information regarding Akbar’s reign—to use modern terminology—in the form of administration reports, statistical compilations, or gazetteers.
Volume I has two “books.” Book First has 90 ains or regulations, which describe different segments of administration and occupations. There is an ain on the imperial mint, the process of minting coins, and extraction of precious metals. Many other aspects of Akbar’s administration on ensigns of royalty, royal seals, the imperial kitchen, perfumes, cloths, the arsenal of weapons, imposition of fines, regulations for admission to court, buildings, and building materials have been covered in various ains.
Book Second has 30 ains which describe the division of Akbar’s army, details of infantry, and animals used during war, like horses, camels, elephants, mules, etc. There are segments on mounting guard, donations, alms, hunting, the wages of keepers of animals, amusements and games, and the grandees of the empire, among others.
The book makes a highly interesting reading and gives complete information about Akbar’s administration. It will be useful for historians as well as students, teachers, and researchers in Indian History.

H. Blochmann was a German orientalist and scholar of Persian language and literature. He translated the original Persian text of Book First and Book Second of The Ain-i-Akbari (which comprise this volume) into English in 1873.