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 THE MUGHAL COURT & HINDI LITERATURE 35 books of various languages, and had translations made from Sanskrit into Persian and the vernacular. Poets were patronized and rewarded with great liber- ality. The magnificence of such a reign, like the glorious reign of Queen Elizabeth in England which was contemporary with it, could not but exercise a stimulating influence on all sides, and this was felt in Hindi literature as well as in other directions. Even those writers who lived far away from the influence of the court were helped by feeling that they could carry on their labours in peace under a govern- ment strong enough to secure good order, and tolerant towards Hindus as well as Muhammadans. Akbar pursued a deliberate policy of protection and encourage- ment of Hindu learning. The patronage extended by him, and others in high position, to Hindu as well as to Muhammadan writers, stimulated a great outburst of literary activity, and encouraged improvement in the standards of poetic art. The influence was of course felt most by those writers who lived in close touch with the court. Poets at Akbar's Court.— Akdar himself is the reputed author of a few detached verses in Hindi, in which he signs himself Akabbar Ray. They were probably composed in the Emperor's name by the court musician Tan Sen. Some of Akbar's great ministers of state were also authors. It was largely due to the influence of Raja Todar Mai (1523-1589) in making Hindus learn Persian that Urdu was developed and accepted as a language. Besides translating the Bhagavata Purana into Persian, Todar Mai was the author of some Hindi verses, the best being on morals {ntti) . Raja Birbal (1528-1583) was a Kanauji Dube Brahman, and was at first a poet at the court of the Raja of Jaipur. The latter sent him to the court of Akbar, where his ability soon brought him into favour. He was not only skilled in business so that he soon rose to a high position, but also possessed great musical and poetical talent. Akbar gave him the title of Kavi Ray (poet-laureate) and he received rapid promotion. He was famous as a poet for