Birbal's Life and Achievements

Study Notes

Birbal's real name is Mahesh Das, and he was born in 1528 in Trivikrampur, near the Yamuna river.
He came from a humble Brahman family.
His parents were Ganga Das and Anabha Devi, and he was born in Kalpi, Uttar Pradesh.

Birbal's life improved when he married into a wealthy family.
The exact date of his entry into Akbar's court is uncertain, but it's estimated to be between 1556 and 1562.

Gulbadan Begum, daughter of Babur, was the first woman in Mughal India to embark on the sacred Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.
At 53 years old, Gulbadan Begum left the harem in Fatehpur Sikri with 11 other women from the royal household, marking a significant departure from the traditional confinement of women.
The journey took six years to complete, covering a vast distance.
Historical records of this journey are incomplete, likely due to male court historians' attempts to preserve the "modesty and sanctity" of the women travelers and their pilgrimage.
Despite the lack of records, author and historian Ruby Lal's book, Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan, sheds light on Gulbadan's remarkable journey.
Gulbadan's pilgrimage was characterized by acts of bravery, kindness, and rebellion, as documented in Lal's book.