Medieval India — (C) The Mughal Empire — Question 2

(a) Akbar's policy towards the Rajputs — The Rajput policy of Akbar proved to be one of his greatest achievements. He entered into marriage alliances with Rajputs. Bhara Mal, the ruler of Amber, married his younger daughter, Harkha Bai to Akbar. Akbar not only gave complete freedom to his wives who followed Hinduism but also gave an honoured place to their parents and relations in nobility. The Rajputs were also made equal partners in the Mughal government, it considerably affected the public policies of the Mughals and greatly helped in the growth of a composite culture. Thus, the Rajput policy of Akbar ended the centuries old animosity between the Muslim rulers and the Rajputs.

(b) Akbar's policy of religious tolerance — Akbar took a number of measures to promote greater understanding between the Hindus and the Muslims. The major steps taken by him were:

1. He abolished the poll tax or jizyah as well as pilgrim tax, which the non-muslims were required to pay.
2. He abolished the practice of forcible conversion of prisoners of war to Islam.
3. Akbar enrolled a number of Hindus into the nobility.
4. He built a hall called Ibadat Khana or the hall of prayer at Fatehpur Sikri. At this hall, he used to call selected theologians of all religions, mystics and intellectuals and discuss religious and spiritual matters with them.
5. Akbar issued a declaration or mahzar, making him the supreme or final arbiter in religious matters and replaced the power of Ulema by the power of the Emperor.
6. He promulgated a new faith called Din-i-Illahi. The basic purpose of forming it was universal harmony or Sulh-kul.
7. Akbar set up a big translation department for translating works in Sanskrit, Arabic and Greek into Persian. The books taken for translation were the Singhasan Battisi, the Atharva Veda, the Bible, the Quran, the Mahabharata, the Gita and the Ramayana.

(c) Social reforms introduced by Akbar — Akbar introduced a number of social and educational reforms which were pivotal in upliftment of women. Some of his reforms were:

1. He abolished the practice of forcible Sati. However, the women who committed Sati of their own free will were allowed to do so.
2. Akbar legalised widow remarriage.
3. Akbar was against anyone having more than one wife unless the first wife could not bear children.
4. He raised the age of marraige to 14 for girls and 16 for boys.
5. He revised the educational syllabus giving more importance to moral education, mathematics and secular subjects like agriculture, geometry, astronomy, logic and history.