The Indian Mughal King Akbar

How was The Great Mughal Akbar

No doubt Akbar(Indian Mughal King -1556) descendant of Mughals read more brought the whole geographical area of India into one centralize rule. Before then him it was only one Hindu king who became successful in achieving this target and Akbar followed his policies to achieve the target of creating united India.   

Akbar was an intelligent and a progressive ruler although he was illiterate because during childhood he was suffering from diseases dyslexic. But instead of following the orthodox and autocratic Muslim policies of his ancestors, he restored the Hindu science and administration. To run such a large nation he followed the secular policies of ancient Hindu Kings like The great Ashoka, Chandragupta II and Samudragupta. 

Akbar was unlike his fanatic Muslim ancestors. He denied accepting that only Islam knows the truth of God. Akbar repressed the powers of orthodox Mullahs, Maulawees and Hafiz. He gave patronage to secular sect of Islam “Sufism”. Sufism is more likely Vedanta Hindu philosophy. Sufism proved that Islam can also co exist with other religion. Akbar was a true believer of Islam and he showed the good face of Islam first time in India in the form of Sufism and also showed that Islam is peaceful religion for non Muslims too.

Mongolians

Akbar’s ancestors like Babur and Mongolians were barbarians. They were mercenary. The main source of income was plundering other territories.  They had no set rule of administration of revenue, justice, finance, research in Fergana (now Uzbekistan) during 15^th century.

In 1565, when Akbar became the Emperor of India that time India was bleeding due to autocratic Muslim rule. So Hindu kings they were looking for a hope to save their kingdoms from Orthodox Muslims. Akbar proved himself a trustworthy non orthodox Muslim and developed matrimonial relationships with Hindu princess of Jaipur and allowed her to follow her religion. This policy of extending empire through matrimonial relationships, he learnt from the history of a Hindu King Chandragupta Maurya (323 BC).

Chandra Gupta Maurya

Like the Hindu King Ashoka (233 BC), Akbar also wanted to bring all the Faiths of India at one platform to make one large and united empire. As such large and united empire was created by Hindu King Ashoka from Afghanistan to south India; this was called Bharat (India).

The great Ashoka

Samudragupta's Navy Expedition

Akbar also created a large Navy which he learnt from the history of a Hindu King Samudragupta (4rth century). Samudragupta had large and strong navy and he ruled India along with Java, Indonesia, Sumatra Malaysia too. Samudragupta is called the Napolean of India. 
Hindus were very advance in Naval expeditions. Read more

Council of Nine Scholars of Akbar 

To run the administration of nation effectively, Akbar copied the system of a Hindu King Chandragupta II who had the council of nine scholars (experts) from different fields like finance, poem, war, music, accounts, mathematics etc.

Akbar has a very important role in deciding that how the Indian Muslim will be and how will they behave and act in society. 

In the time of Akbar Hindus were more orthodox than Muslims. Hindu tradition had banned the foreign travel. But Muslims used to go on foreign travels for Hajj. During the time of Akbar, European people used to sell like slaves in India. He did not like this tradition. He freed so many Europeans and passed them to the Portuguese Fathers, so many were Russians among them.

After Akbar, his descendents were fundamentalist Muslims and they did not continue the secular policies of Akbar.  Akbar had love for machines, he liked inventions through machines.  He established large machine halls in his palace. He himself worked in these machine halls with hammer.

Akbar

The shape of Akbar’s head was round; he had large black eyes, the nose tiny bit hooked. The face was beardless and he kept thin closely cut mustache. He had broad shoulders and long arms and hands.

Akbar used to drink little wine and only ate once a day. He lived mainly on rice, milk, fruits and sweets. He took meat four times a year.

Akbar’s two sons Danial and Murad died of excessive drinking. Oldest son Jahangir survived.

Akbar passed away on the night of the fifteenth of October, 1605.

Administration of Akbar - 

Akbar himself was illiterate. He was suffering from disease dyslexia. So he did not learn reading and writing. He hired nine ministers in his court; these ministers were master of their fields. He built his administration policies after  discussing with these ministers.

Akbar first divided his empire into twelve and later fifteen provinces and collected the land tax. To collect land tax he introduced new system of measurement, the form of a bamboo staff which was provided with iron rings at different intervals. He replaced the previous measurement instrument which was a leather strap.

Assessment of Land

The land was divided into four classes according to cultivation process  –

1 – First class      - a land with a constant rotation of crops

2 - Second class – a land which lakes one to two year to become productive

3 – Third class    - a land which takes three to four years

4 – Fourth class - a land which is uncultivated for last five years and can not be cultivated further.

The first two classes paid one third of the crop.  This rate of tax was really very high rate of tax.

The other two classes will be supervised by government official for considerable reduction in taxes and might be provided free seeds.

Coins were in culture. Akbar also introduced new coins.

Jagirdar (Land lord)

Jagirdars (Land owners) used to provide the men and horses for the imperial army. These Land owners were paid to hire men and horses for military expeditions, when there will be an expedition they will join expedition. But due to corruption these Landowners did not hire right number of men and horses for military expedition but keep taking money by showing false numbers on papers. Whenever King called them for military expedition they gathered general public and horses and given the imperial military dress. But this kind of army was useless for the Indian King. 

Religious movement 

Religious parliament

Ibadat Khana - Religious parliament in which Christians, Jews, Mohammedans, Brahmans, Buddhists and Parsee debated with each other on religion.

Akbar was inclined towards many of the Christians doctrines. He had his second son Murad instructed by the Jesuits in the Portuguese language and in the Christian faith.

Persian was the language of Mughal court. 

Akbar had broken the power of Islam in India. Ulemas power became week. They could not intervene into royal court. Akbar accepted this truth that there are many ways to reach Ishwar (Supreme personality of Godhead). ISLAM is not the only religion which knows the truth. The condition of Mullas and Ulems (Muslim leaders) became pathetic during Akbar’s rule.

Akbar found the truth with regard to the fate of the soul in the Sufi-Vedantic doctrine.

Vedanta

Sufism

Akbar was convinced that he stood nearer to GOD than other people. Hindus of the royal capital declared him to be an incarnation of a divinity. Akbar felt that he was the mediator between GOD and man.

In 1580, Akbar founded a new religion the “Din-i-Ilahi”, the religion of GOD.

In reality the new religion did not extend outside of Akbar’s court and died out at his death.

This time Europe was polluted by the horrors of witch persecution and the massacre of st. Bartholomew.

Reference – Naya Zamana by Jagdiswar Chaturvedi 
                       Akbar, Emperor of India, Richard von Garbe

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