Translation under the Mughals

The establishment of Mughal rule in Delhi saw the entry of Persian and the gradual waning of Sanskrit influence. Even before that the noted traveler and writer Alberuni translated Sanskrit classics into Arabic. It is said that Akbar maintained a translator's bureau (maktab khana) in his court, with the primary intention of bridging the divide between the Hindus and Muslims of his kingdom. The texts that were translated were Hindu religious works in Sanskrit. This apparently helped the Muslims understand the Hindus better and paved the way for more inter-religious cooperation. The texts that were translated included the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Yoga-vashishta. Dara Shikoh was a scholar himself and was interested in the philosophy of the Upanishads. His translation was to understand Hindu philosophy better and enquire if there were common meeting grounds for Islamic and Hindu philosophies. Firozeshah Tughluk commissioned translations of Sanskrit religious works into Persian, like many other rulers before and after him. These translations were done with the specific purpose of understanding another religion and to explore possible ways of better cooperation with another faith. These can also be thought of as political acts rather than mere linguistic exercises.