Page 31 - Journeys Through Society-7

Miniature paintings depicting Akbar’s court

Relations with Rajputs religions. For this he also built the Ibadat Khana or the

Akbar pursued a policy of matrimonial alliance with hall of worship, where scholars of different religions
the Rajputs. He understood the importance of Hindu- regularly held discourses. Akbar believed in the
Muslim unity and cooperation in order to build an all- principal of Sulh-i-kul, i.e., universal peace. He realised
India empire. that there were elements of goodness in each religion
and essentially every religion aimed at love and
Akbar adopted a number of liberal measures—
harmony.
forbidding soldiers to enslave the women and children
of rebellious villagers and remitting pilgrim taxes. His Based on his understanding of various religions, he
marriage to Jodhabai, daughter of Raja Bharmal of founded his own religion called the Din-i-ilahi or the
Amer (Jaipur), secured for him the crucial support of ‘Divine Faith’. The main features of this religion were:
the powerful ruler of Amer. belief in one God and recognition of the emperor as
the representative of God on earth. Din-i-ilahi was not
Raja Todar Mal, and Raja Man Singh were some Rajput
a religion in any strict sense. It had no rituals to be
chiefs who held high ranks in Akbar’s court. It is
performed, no sacred books, no priests, no temples or
evident that Rajputs emerged as dependable allies.
mosques, etc. It was only a code of moral conduct. It
They were also employed in the task of governance.
aimed at achieving peace, tolerance and harmony.
Rajputs were given complete freedom to follow their
Very few people accepted it and Akbar did not impose
religion, build temples, celebrate their festivals and to
it on anyone. Raja Birbal accepted it, but Raja
wear their caste markers. Akbar’s Rajput policy was an
Mansingh completely disapproved of it.
important factor that contributed to the consolidation
and further expansion of the Mughal Empire. The Revenue System

Religious Policy Land was the main source of revenue under the
Mughals. Land was surveyed and measured with
Akbar understood that he had to be tolerant towards
bamboo sticks called jarib joined together with iron
his Hindu subjects. So, he propagated a policy of
rings at the ends. According to the Ain-i-Akbari, land
peaceful co-existence. Thus, the first thing he did on
was grouped into four categories—polaj, which was
becoming the emperor was to abolish the jaziya,
land always under cultivation, parauti, land
which was a tax on non-Muslims, in 1564 CE. He
occasionally left fallow to regain fertility, chachar and
forbade the forceful conversion of prisoners of war to
banjar depending on whether it was cultivated
Islam. Akbar is often seen as a secular monarch as his
occasionally or regularly. Each was further classified
court was adorned with scholars from different
into good, middling or bad.
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