Persian Lexicography During India's Mogul Period

Lack of support of Safavid court of writers and artists made them to migrate to the Indian subcontinent. Gurkanis'(India's Mogul emperorship) warm welcome of Persian writers increased these migrations.The effect of Persian culture and language which was the official language of court contributed to the flourishing of all literary genres especially lexicography in this era. Lexicography can be categorized into three periods: first pre Moguls(7-9 century A.H.);second Mogul's era(10-13 century A.H.); third post Moguls(14 century A.H.). During the first period lexicographers relied merely on gathering poetic terms and disregarded vernacular or written language. Therefore, dictionaries written in this period are not deemed as comprehensive. The most serious works concerning lexicography are written during the second period, i.e. Mogul's emperorship. The most accomplished works in this genre –which is the subject of this paper-belong to this period. The third or recent period refers to the dominance of Britain over the continent and the disempowering of Moguls, a period in which the colonizers did their best to eliminate Persian language and substitute English language.