Discussion on astrology’s influence in Mughal politics: launch of M.J. Akbar’s book ‘After Me, Chaos’ at India Habitat Centre

The India Foundation, in partnership with the India Habitat Centre, will host a discussion on the book After Me, Chaos: Astrology in the Mughal Empire by author and former Union minister M J Akbar. The event is scheduled for Wednesday at the Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre.

This session will bring together political leaders and scholars to explore the impact of astrology on power, decision-making, and succession politics during the Mughal period, a central theme of Akbar’s latest work.

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Participants include Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP national spokesperson Shazia Ilmi, and Come Carpentier, Distinguished Fellow at the India Foundation, alongside the author. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of the India Foundation, will moderate the discussion.

‘After Me, Chaos’ examines the Mughal court’s dependence on astrology and celestial signs, highlighting how emperors and princes used these forecasts to justify authority, strategise military actions, and predict succession outcomes. The book offers a novel viewpoint on how belief systems intertwined with political instability influenced the empire’s course.

This event is part of the India Foundation’s ongoing initiative to foster informed dialogue on history, politics, and civilisational studies, attracting academics, policymakers, and enthusiasts of India’s medieval history and its modern interpretations.