Mughal hunt
Also called: Shikar · Topic: The Mughal Empire: Babur to Aurangzeb · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Peasants, Zamindars and the State"
Meaning
The Mughal hunt, or shikar, was the emperor's royal hunting expedition. According to court historians, it was more than a sport. It let the emperor travel across his empire, see how people lived and hear their complaints himself. Court painters often painted hunt scenes. In the background they added small scenes of a peaceful, harmonious life to show that the emperor's rule was just.
Example
The court histories of Akbar's reign describe his hunting expeditions as tours where he listened to the grievances of ordinary people. Paintings of his hunts showed him as a ruler who brought justice and order.