Mughal Emperor Akbar Essay -- Emperors Akbar India Essays

Mughal Emperor Akbar Topic: What were the contribution of the Mughal emperor Akbar to the creation of an Indian national Identity? What were the greatest obstacles to his achievement in this? The greatest of the Mughal’s emperors, Akbar, attempted the creation of a national identity for India by his numerous reforms, literal and cultural development, and policies of integration and organization. His reforms included a liberal policy toward the non-Muslims, religious innovations, the land revenue system and the famous Mansabdari system. His policy of religious toleration became the most significant aspect during his reign. Akbar established a new religion, the Din-i-Ilahi. But Akbar’s attempt to create a national identity and a social equilibrium through his religious and political innovations was met with many obstacles and much opposition. Akbar’s approach to the problem of effectively governing a vast empire, made up of various ethnic groups, was to identify his interests with those of the country and set himself to unite all his subjects. Akbar introduced a policy of reconciliation and assimilation of Hindus, who represented the majority of the population. Akbar understood the importance of tolerance, which was paramount to his dynasty’s long-term viability. The Hindus could only be reconciled by equality of treatment and respect for their institutions. Their employment was beneficial to the empire, as many were better businessmen than the Muslim invaders who were uneducated. Having defeated the Rajputs, the most militant of the Hindu rulers, he allied himself with them, by recruiting many capable Hindu chiefs with the highest ranks in government and by conferring honours upon them. To further build alliance with the Rajputs, he encouraged intermarriages between Mughal and Rajput aristocracy, setting himself as an example by marrying daughters of three leading Rajput chiefs. Akbar’s acts of tolerance were aimed at the Hindu community as a whole and not just at the Rajputs, who became one of the pillars of the empire. His efforts to win over the Hindu population included reforms like, allowing all Hindus to practice their own religion without disturbance, and Akbar further flattered them by personally participating in the ... ...letely destroyed by his great-grandson, Emperor Aurangzeb . - 2000 words - Assessment 84% - Has never been submitted anywhere except to the university for assessment. BIBLIOGRAPHY SECONDARY SOURCES Allan J. & Dodwell H.H., The Cambridge Shorter History of India, London, Cambridge University Press, 1934. De Riencourt, Amaury., The Soul of India, Revised edn., Great Britain, Honeyglen Publishing, 1986. Lamb, Beatrice Pitney., India: A World in Transition, New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1963. Ratman, T., Report on India, London, Oxford University Press, 1943. Rawlinson, H.G., India: A Short Cultural History, New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1952. Thapar, Romila., A History of India, vol. 1, London, Penguin Books, 1990. Watson, Francis., A Concise History of India, Great Britain, Thames and Hudson, 1974. accessed 5 August, 2004. accessed 5 August, 2004. accessed 4 August, 2004. accessed 5 August, 2004. accessed 4 August, 2004. accessed 2 August, 2004. accessed 27 July, 2004 accessed 25 July, 2004. accessed 25 July, 2004. accessed 28 July, 2004. accessed 2 August, 2004