Dr. K.S. Lal describes the multifarious activities of Khusrau: “The interests and activities of Khusrau were multifarious. Although he cannot be accepted as a good historian like Barani, yet whatever he wrote, he did it with honesty and truth. Hence his historical and literary works are regarded as the most significant source material for the history of pre-Mughal period.”
Amir Khusrau was born in village Patiali in Uttar Pradesh in 1253 A.D. He was born poet and genius as a writer. He adorned the courts of all the Sulians from Balban to Ghiasuddin Tughluq. He was primarily a poet and not a historian but his writings constitute a very significant source material.
Dr. Mahdi Hussain remarks about his versatile personality: “Besides being a born poet, Khusrau was a soldier a warrior and traveler. He travelled to distant lands in India. With the armies of Sultan he travelled to Deogiri in the south, Lakhnauti in the East and Multan in the West.”
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Mirza Muhammad Wahid writes about him: “He was the first and by far the most prominient representive of Indo-Muslim culture.” He had a great love for Music and was popularity known astute-e-Hind. His following works need special mention:
1. Qiran-us-Sadain:
This historical masnavi is composed in the form-of poetry and the meeting between Kaiqubad and Bughra Khan has been highlighted in it.
2. Miftah-ul-Futuh:
It is composed in verse. Military campaigns of Jalaluddin Khalji have been described in this book.
3. Dewal Rani And Khizr Khan:
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In this masnavi Amir Khusrau describes the story of love adventures of Khizr Khan with Dewal Rani.
4. Nuh-i-Sipihr:
This poetic work highligts the political and social conditions of the reign of Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah.
5. Khazain-ul-Futuh:
It is written in the form of prose and it contains description of the victories of Alauddin Khalji.
6. Toghluq Nama:
It is also an historical masnavi. The victory of Ghiasuddin Tughluq against Khusrau Khaij has been highlighted in this book.
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Besides these historical books, Khusrau wrote some literacy books such as five Diwans, Khamsa, Aziz-i-Khusravi and Afzal-ul-Wayad. They also throw ample light on the socio-cultural history of that period. In fact, the works of Amir Khusrau are a treasure- house of knowledge as regards the life and condition of the people of India.