Rai Surjan Hada making Submission to Akbar, ca. 1590-95, by Shankar and Mukund, from the Akbarnama.

Rai Surjan Hada Making Submission to Akbar is an amazing painting done by Shankar with an outline done by Mukund around 1590–1595. This painting is from the Akbarnama which is like a diary of the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The painting is made with watercolour and gold on paper. It shows how good the Mughal miniature painting was then. The scene depicts Rai Surjan Hada, the ruler of the Ranthambhor rajputana, bowing down in submission to Emperor Akbar subsequently after Akbar had won the battle of the fortress in 1569. Akbar is sitting under a canopy which shows how powerful he is. There are people around like courtiers and soldiers which makes the scene look very lively. This painting is special because it combines the art of Persia with the art of India which was the style of Mughal art during Akbar’s time. The colours used are very bright like red and yellow and blue. There are also nice patterns which make the painting look very nice. The incredibly fine details perfectly represent the artistic finesse of the painters. The big fort and the rocks in the background make the scene look very important and exciting. This painting is not just, about Rai Surjan Hada giving up to Akbar. It also shows Akbar’s policy to make allies with the Rajput kingdoms. The way Rai Surjan Hada is shown in the painting is not insulting but very courteous. They wanted to show respect and work together after winning battles. Another important thing is that it shows the Mughal empire's military power, rich culture and administrative strength. It is also an example of how art, history, culture and politics are connected.