Thousands of forgotten news reports are reshaping our understanding of Aurangzeb and the Mughal world.

While Europe was inventing newspapers, Mughal India had its own news network.

From the late 16th Century, armies of scribes, agents and secretaries compiled akhbarat - brief news reports on court intrigue, military campaigns, appointments, finances and gossip.

Written in Persian on brittle paper in hurried hands, they formed the Mughal empire’s information network: part intelligence brief, part official circular, part news bulletin.