Key Points

The event was graced by several distinguished leaders, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

Addressing the gathering, Singh highlighted India's rising global stature, noting that the country is currently the world's fourth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest in the near future.

"...At present, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world. India is heading towards becoming the 3rd biggest economy...," Singh remarked, adding that India's political stability contrasts sharply with the turmoil in some neighbouring South Asian countries. "If you look at some South Asian countries, you will realise how stable India is...Considering Pakistan's current state, only the Almighty knows what the future holds for it. I don't want to talk about the future," he said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, also present at the event, lauded the book for its unique exploration of history and culture. "This book basically gives you an insight about how, during the Mughal times, they determined things," Doval said, appreciating Akbar's research-driven narrative.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia praised MJ Akbar for his literary prowess, describing him as a distinguished figure in Indian literature. "Akbar Sahab is a luminous figure in the landscape of Indian letters. He is an intellectual who, on one hand, writes with the authority of a scholar, yet at the same time possesses the grace of a storyteller," he said.

He went on to describe Akbar with three apt phrases: first, a maker of narratives; second, a craftsman of sentences; and third, a patient sculptor. Scindia also made an intriguing comparison between historians and astrologers, noting Akbar's distinct approach to history. "If the jyotish is well called the historian of the future, the historian is justly called the jyotish of the past; that is the kind of historian today's author, MJ Akbar sahab, represents," Scindia said.

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan shared his reflections on the importance of astrology, acknowledging its historical significance. "Leaders like Akbar valued astrology and astronomy highly, studying them thoroughly and using their insights in governance and everyday life. I have noticed that these practices were held in great esteem. Astrology, particularly the study of zodiac signs, was regarded not just as superstition but as a means to understand human behaviour and harmonise individual lives with society..."

- ANI