Historians note that more works in Persian on classical Indian music were written during the reign of which Mughal emperor than in any earlier period?

Historians note that more works in Persian on classical Indian music were written during the reign of Aurangzeb than in any earlier period of Mughal rule.

Why this is surprising:

• Aurangzeb is usually remembered for withdrawing royal patronage from music at his court, especially in his later years.
• He banned singing at the court around 1668 (in the 11th year of his reign), according to some historians.
• However, he did not ban music in society, and nobles and others continued to patronise it.

What historians say:

• The historian Satish Chandra and others have noted that the largest number of Persian books on classical Indian music was written during Aurangzeb's reign.
• Aurangzeb himself is said to have been an accomplished player of the veena (or had been fond of music in his youth).
• Music continued to flourish in the households of nobles, princes and royal women.

Important works of this period:

• "Tuhfat-ul-Hind": a Persian encyclopaedia of Indian sciences and arts, including music, written by Mirza Muhammad Khan for Aurangzeb's son, Prince Muizuddin (later Jahandar Shah).
• "Rag Darpan": by Faqirullah (Saif Khan), a translation and adaptation of an earlier Sanskrit work on music; it was written in 1666.
• "Shams-ul-Aswat": by Ras Baras Khan.
• Translations and commentaries on Sanskrit works on music.

The famous story:

• According to a well-known story, when musicians held a mock funeral for music to protest his ban, Aurangzeb told them to bury it deep so that no sound would come from it.
• Historians treat this story with caution.

Music in the Mughal period:

• Akbar's court was famous for musicians such as Tansen.
• Jahangir and Shah Jahan also patronised music; Shah Jahan was fond of dhrupad.
• Under the later Mughals, especially Muhammad Shah, the khayal style flourished.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Akbar, Jahangir and Humayun were great patrons of music, but the largest number of Persian works on music belongs to Aurangzeb's period.