Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana

Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana (1556-1627) (Devanagari:अब्दुल रहीम खान-ए-खाना, Urdu/Persian: عبدالرحيم خانخان) , also known as Rahim (रहीम) was a poet in the times of Mughal emperor Akbar, and one of his main nine ministers (Diwan)in his court, also known as the Navaratnas; he is most known for his Hindi couplets and his books on Astrology. [ [http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Abdur_Rahim_Khankhana Abdur Rahim KhanKhana at Old poetry] ]

Biography

Mirza Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana was the son of Akbar’s trusted caretaker, Bairam Khan who had Turk ancestry. His mother was the daughter of Jamal Khan of Mewat. Abdul Rahim was born in Lahore.

After Bairam Khan was murdered, his wife became the second wife of Akbar, which made Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khan his stepson, and later he became one of his nine prominent ministers, the Navaratnas, or nine gems.

Although a Muslim by birth, Rahim was a devotee of Lord Krishna and wrote poetry dedicated to him. He was also an avid Astrolger, and the writer if two important works in Astrology Khet Kautukam and Dwawishd Yogavali are still popular. [ [http://kallirai.com/aboutus.aspx Abdur Rahim Khankhana at kallirai] ]

He is well known for his strange manner of giving alms to the poor. He never looked at the person he was giving alms to, keeping his gaze downwards in all humility. When Tulsidas heard about Rahim's strange method of giving alms, he promptly wrote a couplet and sent it to Rahim:

"Aisi deni den jyu, kit seekhe ho sain"
"Jyon jyon kar oonchyo karo, tyon tyon niche nain"

"Sir, Why give gifts like this? Where'd you learn that?
Your hands are as high as your eyes are low"

Realizing that Tulsidas was well 'Aware' of the 'Truth' behind creation, and was merely giving him an opportunity to say a few lines in reply, he wrote to Tulsidas in all humility: "Denhar koi aur hai, bhejat jo din rain"
"Log bharam hum par kare, taaso niche nain"

"The Giver is someone else, bestowing, day and night.
The world gives me credit: so, down are my eyes."

His two sons were killed by Akbar's son Jehangir and their bodies left to rot at the Khooni Darwaza because Rahim was not in favour of Jehangir's accession to the throne at Akbar's death.

His tomb is situated ahead of Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi. Later, in 1753-4, marble and sandstone from this tomb was used for the making of Safdarjung's Tomb, also in New Delhi [ [http://www.indiaprofile.com/monuments-temples/tomb-delhi.htm Safdarjang's Tomb] ] [ [http://www.indiaandindians.com/important_places_in_delhi.php Important places in Delhi] ] .

Popular couplets of Rahim

"Bade badai na karain bade na bole bol
"Rahiman heera kab kahe lakh taka mero mol"."

"The truly great never reveal their worth. Nor do those who are truly worthy of praise, praise themselves. Says Rahim, when does a diamond reveals it's value."

"Rahiman dekhi baden ko, laghu na dije daari"
"Jahan kaam aawe sui, kaha kare talwari"

"Says Rahim, when you are introduced to an important/rich person, do not ignore or forget your poor friends. For if, for example, you need a needle to successfully complete a job, of what use is a sword!"

"Rahiman dhaga prem ka, mat todo chatkay"
"Toote se phir na jude, jude gaanth pad jaye"

"Says Rahim, don't allow the (delicate) thread of love (between individuals) to snap. Once it snaps, it cannot be rejoined and if you do rejoin it, there is a knot in it.

"Rahiman ya tan soop hai leejeeaye jagat pachhor"
harikan ko udijan dey garuay rakhee bator

“Says, Rahim, this mind (body) is like a sieve (windrowing machine), sort out your friends through it. Let the light (bad) ones and go (fly in the wind) and carefully keep the heavy (good) ones.”

"Kheera mukh te kaatye, maliyat laun lagye"
"Rahiman karue mukh ko chahiyat eehi sazaye"

"To cure a bitter cucumber,we cut its head off and rub in salt. Says Rahim to cure a bitter mouth we should apply the same remedy"

"Je Rahim uttam prakrati, ka kari sakat kusung"
"Chandan vish vyapat nahi, liptat rahat bhujang"

"Says Rahim, How will evil corrupt, he who has an excellent character? After all does the sandalwood become poisonous by having snakes lie around its trunk?"

"Kahee Rahim sampati sage, banat bahut bahu reet"
"Bipati kasoti je kase, te hi saanche meet"

"Says Rahim, people will find many many ways to be related to fortune. But only he is a true friend, who stands by you in misfortune"

"Rahiman ve nar mar chuke, je kahu mangan jahi"
"Unte pahele ve mue, jin mukh niksat nahi"

""Says Rahim, he who has to beg is no longer a man. But those who refuse were never men to begin with.""

Major works

Apart from writing various "doha"s, Rahim translated Babar's memoirs from Chagatai language to Persian language, which was completed in AH 998 (1589-90). His command over Sanskrit was very good. [cite web
url=http://www.poemhunter.com/abdur-rahim-khankhana/biography/poet-33381/
title=Biography of Abdur Rahim Khankhana
accessdate=2006-10-28] He wrote two books on Astrology, "Kheta Kautukama" and "Dwawishd Yogavali".

References

External links

* [http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/3e860/ Abdul Rahim Khankhana tomb, New Delhi]
*worldcat id|lccn-n82-39967