The Impact of Persians on Indian Subcontinent From the Advent of Islam up to the Rule of Salatin-i-Delhi

Abstract

Mutual socio-cultural interchange between India and Persia inevitably followed as the political interests of the two regions were interlinked. Geographical proximity and political amity played a very vital role in the maintenance of cordial relations and the brisk exchange of men, commodities, and ideas. In the history of culture, Persia had been playing a dominant role along with India from time immemorial. The interplay of the Persians’ role in Indian subcontinent from the advent of Islam up to Salatin-i-Delhi can easily be seen in the fields of politics, religion and socially in the form of significant cultural objects such as architecture, miniatures, manuscripts, calligraphy, coinage, book binding, carpets, jewelry and pottery, etc. The Persian style of history writing influenced the pattern of historiography in India. Likewise, Persian poetry and prose writing also played a key role to enrich Indian literature. All the contemporary chronicles confirm the continuous presence of the Persians at the Indian courts and the continuous exchange of ideas, men, and commodities between the two lands.