Hazrat Amir Khusrau of Delhi

There were poets in the reign of Sultan Alauddin Khilji such as bad never existed before and have never appeared since. The incomparable Amir Khusrau stands unequalled for the volume of his writings and the originality of his ideals; for while other great masters of prose and verse have excelled in one or two branches, Amir Khusrau was conspicuous in every department of letters.

A man with such mastery over aft forms of poetry has never existed in the past. And in addition to his wit, talent and learning, he was an advanced mystic. He was one of the chief disciples of Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia, and a man of ecstasy and rapture.

This compact book introduces the reader to the genius of Khusrau's writings.

In a period of history which can boast of a splendid gallery of portraits, Amir Khusrau is one of the most attractive figures. I have not, in the present short work, tried to go into details, and my purpose has been primarily historical. My temperament as well as my training has prevented me from doing justice to the orthodox virtues of Khusrau's works-his hyperbolic praises, original figures of speech and hair-splitting distinctions. It is as a student of history that I have tried to approach him, and I humbly hope that, by relying entirely on contemporary authorities, I have done something to clear the way for the future biographer of Amir Khusrau.

My grateful thanks are due to Mr. Hamid A. Ali, I.C.S., for many helpful suggestions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**