Birth of salim : The painting has been composed vertically by mughal painter Ramdas .

He
used water colour in tempra technique on paper.
ARTIST-RAMDAS : Ramdas was miniature painter in akbar regime ( 1556-1605) . He
worked on many miniature paintings. His one of the major productions is the illustration of
the autobiography of the first mughal emperor babur - the baburnama , the manuscript was
presented to akbar in 1589. He contributed to several of the major productions of the royal
workshop during the final two decades of the mughal emperor akbar.
Subject matter / history - This painting is one of the illustrations from the akbarnama,an
official chronicle written by abul- fazl on akbar` s life and reign . In 1564 akbar lost his
newborn twin sons from one of his wife after which he was worried about having a male
successor for his empire. He visited the sufi shaikh salim chishti at sikri and prayed for a son
. In early 1569 , one of his wife become pregnant . She went to sikri and gave birth there to
a son who was named salim after the shaikh.
This miniature has been painted very beautifully in mughal style by ramdas in 1590 A.D .
The theme of this painting is based on an episode of akbar nama. It was on the occasion on
birth of prince salim at fatehpur sikri ( as we know prince salim was the son of akbar and
jodha bai , he ruled for 22 years . His actual name was "Nur I din muhammad salim " and he
was famous as jahangir . He was born on 31st aug 1569 in fatehpur - sikri , india and died
on 28th oct 1627 . He was the 4th ruler of the mughal empire ruled from 1605 to 1627 . He
also loved to do paintings and fine arts . )
this painting is a combination of three scenes , first an aerial view of the zenana and the birth
chamber, second a central courtyard where musicians play music and outside the wall
where
alms are distributed to beggars . The uppar portion shows akbars wife surrounded by
midwives . The royal heir is being taken care of by all the ladies present . It is an aerial view
of the enclosure as we can also see the rooftop where a peacock is perched . Beyond this is
a persian style rocky landscape. The central compartment is lined by a white wall which also
acts like a background for the musicians playing instruments in its front. On the right side a
lady attendantbpasses a tray of sweets to the male servant breaking the good news. The
enthusiasm of the servants and the musicians is portrayed by their dynamic poses playing all
kinds of instruments of that time from drums to trumpets. The lower compartment separated
with the brown boundary wall has a crowed surging a head with blessing s and praises for
the new born and the king . The court servants are seen distributing alms to all present .
There is an atmosphere of excitment and celebration all over.
The strong colour contrasts and the marked european influence , especially in the scenery
and apparel are evident in this painting.

Bibliography - Mughal india : Art, culture and empire By J.P losty and malini roy ( The british
library publishing division -9th nov,2012 )
Painting,Mogul: painting,Mogul Empire, India,islamic painting,ministryofculture By Beach
,Milo Cleveland - Publication date 1981
Publisher - Freer gallery of art Washington