Akbar the Great (1543-1605), the greatest of the Mughal emperors of India, was not only the most powerful and wealthiest monarch of his time, but undoubtedly, also the most enlightened one. A firm proponent of universal tolerance and religious freedom for all, he welcomed to his court, representatives of all religions known to him: Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Parsis, Jews, and even Jesuit priests from the Portuguese settlements in Goa. At a time when Europe found itself plagued by bloody religious wars, he succeeded in unifying the various creeds of Hindustan under his victorious banners, and created the strong Mughal Empire that still amazes us with the splendour of its art and architecture. Akbar’s Farewell offers ample food for thought on fundamental issues that preoccupy the world: love and duty; power and justice; and fundamentalism against diversity and tolerance. Admirably researched and written in a magnificently evocative, compelling prose, it narrates the true story of Akbar’s life and times, his swift and spectacular rise to absolute power, often against overwhelming odds, and his remarkably modern vision of a prosperous, diverse and tolerant Hindustan, against the backdrop of his eventful personal life, his relationship with his favourite wife, and tragic conflict with Salim (Jahangir), his only surviving son and bitter rival. Much more than a brilliantly written, moving historical novel, this book offers a unique historical perspective on the heart and soul of the Indian subcontinent.