Author Description

"The Indian courtier, writer, musician and Sufi Amir Khusraw (1253-1325) is widely regarded as one of his country's greatest poets. As a writer in India, he was conscious of the larger Persian literary world as well as local tastes and preferences and wrote a vast amount of innovative prose and poetry that is a record of and commentary on the politics of his times. Today, the "parrot of India" is considered by scholars to be the architect of an Indian culture that synthesized Muslim and Hindu elements and produced, among other things, Hindustani classical music and the performative qawwali tradition." "This book presents Amir Khusraw in the context of the society in which he lived, and explores his enduring relevance to contemporary South Asian language and culture. Accessible yet authoritative, it features a glossary, chronology and guide to further reading, and will prove an indispensable resource for readers of all backgrounds."--BOOK JACKET.