Reviews

Summary

The Reviews section presents brief critiques of several books. The first review discusses the Mirat‑i‑Ahmadi, a Persian chronicle of Gujarat edited and translated as part of the Gaekwad’s Oriental Series. The reviewer praises the work’s detailed account of provincial administration under the Mughals and its valuable charter material, while lamenting that only excerpts had previously been available. The second review considers an anonymous history of Persia under the Safavi dynasty, noting that although the translation has merit, the original author was a poor historian and the book adds little to our knowledge of social and economic conditions. The third review examines Les Sikhês: Origine et Développement de la Communauté, a French survey of the Sikh sect from Guru Nanak to the twentieth century. The reviewer appreciates the scope of the work but criticises its lack of critical depth and reliance on secondary sources, cautioning that it reads more like a partisan pamphlet than an impartial history. Finally, the section reviews S. R. Sharma’s Mughal Empire in India, 1526–1761, Part II. This volume compiles extracts from English and Persian sources and is commended as a readable introduction for undergraduates, though the reviewer notes that it offers little new research. Collectively, the reviews emphasise the need for rigorous scholarship and caution against popular works that recycle earlier studies. The article is meticulously organised with an introduction, several analytical sections and a concluding discussion. The author draws on a wide range of sources, including primary texts, inscriptions, chronicles and modern scholarship, and consistently references them in notes and bibliographies. The argument is developed logically, with careful consideration of opposing views and potential counterarguments. Technical terms are explained for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with the subject. Throughout, the article emphasises the importance of situating the topic within its broader historical, cultural and intellectual context, and it often suggests directions for further research. In addition to the substantive analysis, the article places its findings in relation to existing scholarship, discussing how it confirms, refutes or refines earlier interpretations. It outlines methodological challenges such as dating of sources, textual corruption and biases in historical records, and explains the criteria used to evaluate evidence. The author also reflects on the contemporary relevance of the study, suggesting how a better understanding of the past can illuminate present cultural dynamics.