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Babar’s letter to his son Humayun written on Jan 11, 1529

A letter to a son - https://www.dawn.com/news/1509078?ref=whatsapp

For years, the Mughal contribution to India has steadily been airbrushed from textbooks and public consciousness. But in these febrile times of hysteria and hyperbole, it is useful to read *Babar’s letter to his son Humayun written on Jan 11, 1529:*

*“Oh my son! The realm of Hindustan is full of diverse creeds. Praise be to God … that He has granted unto thee the empire of it. It is but proper that you, with heart cleansed of all religious bigotry, should dispense justice according to the tenets of each community. And in particular refrain from the sacrifice of cow, for that way lies the conquest of the hearts of the people of Hindustan; and the subjects of the realm will, through royal favour, be devoted to thee.*

*“And the temples and abodes of worship of every community under the imperial sway, you should not damage. Dispense justice so that the sovereign may be happy with the subjects and likewise the subjects with their sovereign. The progress of Islam is better by the sword of kindness, not by the sword of oppression.*

*“Ignore the disputations of Shias and Sunnis; for therein is the weakness of Islam…”*

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