Akbar’s Rajput Policy – 2
Significance of the Policy:
Akbars policy on the whole proved quite successful. It procured great advantages for the Mugal empire.
1. Valuable service of Rajputs and break up of Rajput unity:
Hitherto the Rajputs were the enemies of the Muslim empire but as a result of Akbar’s Rajput policy they became friends of the empire and began to shed their lifeblood for its progress and prosperity. Thus by this wise and farsighted policy foes were converted into friends. Moreover the Rajputs got divided among themselves.
2. Reconciliation of the Hindus:
Akbar’s good treatment towards the Rajputs won over the Hindus as well. The Rajputs were the military leaders of the Hindu community and when they joined the Mughal service the Hindus in general became reconciled to Akbar’s government.
3. Development of Indo Muslim culture:
One of the momentous effects of Rajputs policy was that Hindus and Muslims came into close contact with each other. They began to exchange their ideas and thoughts. The result was a synthesis of Indo muslim culture. Hindus began to study urdu and Persian. Muslims likewise made their contributions towards hindi and Sanskrit. Similarly a national school of art was created and Hindus and Muslims worked together for the development of Indo Muslim art.
4. Progress and prosperity of empire:
The Rajputs hereafter began to serve the empire in military, political, administrative and economic spheres. They fought in distant lands and won many conquests for the empire. They played a great part in the smooth running of the administration and also in the development of art and literature.
5. Rajput’s and Akbar’s successors:
After the death of Akbar relations of Mughal kings with the Rajput recieved a setback. The religious fanatics of the Mughal court and Ulemas did their best to influence the thoughts of Jahangir on Hindus. Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb could not follow the policy of religious toleration towards the Hindus and thus their relations came under heavy strains under the successors of Akbar.
