The first four Mughal emperors, Babur, Humayun, Akbar and Jahangir, had some very definite tastes in food and drink. At our Online Talk #Mughlai, author Parvati Sharma will explore some of these tastes and opinions - from Babur's famous yearning for the melons of Kabul to Akbar's 'political vegetarianism', which was one of his many ways of building an empire - to try and paint a more intimate portrait of the early Mughal court in Hindustan.

About the speaker

Parvati Sharma has written two historical biographies of two Mughal emperors: ‘Jahangir: An Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal’ and ‘Akbar of Hindustan.’ She has also published a collection of short stories called ‘The Dead Camel and Other Stories of Love;’ a novella, ‘Close to Home;’ and two books for children, ‘The Story of Babur’ and ‘Rattu & Poorie’s Adventures in History: 1857.’ She lives in New Delhi.