Previous Year Question

Ibrahim Adil Shah II was a ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur. He ruled from 1580 to 1627 CE and occupies an important place in the cultural history of the Deccan as a major patron of music, literature and art.

Ibrahim Adil Shah II had a special interest in music. He prepared the collection of compositions relating to music and poetry in the Dakhani language known as ‘Kitab-i-Nauras’. The work is deeply associated with music, Ragas and devotional expression.

The idea of ‘Nauras’ was related to the Indian aesthetic concept of Rasa. In his cultural experiments, Ibrahim brought together elements of Indian music and the Dakhani-Persian courtly culture.

Kitab-i-Nauras reflects his reverence for various spiritual and cultural symbols, including Saraswati and Ganapati. Because of this syncretic cultural outlook, he is also associated with the title ‘Jagatguru’.

He also attempted to establish a new city called Nauraspur, associated with his musical and cultural vision. Its purpose was to develop a major centre for art, music and courtly culture.

Ali Adil Shah also belonged to the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, while Quli Qutab Shah belonged to the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. Akbar II was a much later Mughal emperor. None of them was the author of Kitab-i-Nauras.