HISTORY OF AKBAR

Abu’l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar Akbar was born on October 15,1542.He was popularly known as Akbar The Great.

Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expand and consolidate Mughal domains in India. Bairam Khan taught him the ruling and war techniques which made him a strong personality and a successful general. Akbar gradually enlarged the Mughal Empire to include much of the Indian subcontinent. His power and influence, however, extended over the entire subcontinent because of Mughal military, political, cultural, and economic dominance. To unify the vast Mughal state, Akbar established a centralised system of administration throughout his empire and adopted a policy of conciliating conquered rulers through marriage and diplomacy. To preserve peace and order in a religiously and culturally diverse empire, he adopted policies that won him the support of his non-Muslim subjects. Mughal India developed a strong and stable economy, leading to commercial expansion and greater patronage of culture. Akbar himself was a patron of art and culture. Although he could not read and write, he was fond of literature, and created a library of over 24,000 volumes in several languages. Akbar dedicated the first decade of his rule towards expanding his empire. Under the regency of Bairam Khan, Ajmer, Malwa and Garhkatanga were annexed into the Mughal territories. After consolidating the empire, Akbar concentrated on establishing a stable and subject-friendly administration at the center to govern his vast empire. The principles of Akbar’s administration were based on moral as well as material welfare of his subjects. He brought about several changes in existing policies to establish an environment of uniform opportunities to people irrespective of religion.
The Emperor himself was the supreme governor of the empire. He retained ultimate judicial, legislative and administrative power above anyone else. After consolidating the empire, Akbar concentrated on establishing a stable and subject-friendly administration at the center to govern his vast empire. The principles of Akbar’s administration were based on moral as well as material welfare of his subjects. He brought about several changes in existing policies to establish an environment of uniform opportunities to people irrespective of religion.
The Emperor himself was the supreme governor of the empire. He retained ultimate judicial, legislative and administrative power above anyone else. Akbar introduced reforms in judicial system as well and for the first time, Hindu customs and laws were referred to in case of Hindu subjects. The Emperor was the highest authority in Law and the power to give capital punishment rested solely with him. The major social reform introduced by Akbar was the abolition of the Pilgrimage Tax for Hindus in 1563 as well as the Jazia tax imposed on the Hindu subjects. He discouraged child marriage and encouraged widow remarriage. Akbar was probably the first Islamic ruler in India who sought stable political alliances through matrimony. He married several Hindu Princess including Jodha Bai. Akbar’s rule was marked by wide religious tolerance and liberal outlook. Akbar was profoundly religious himself, yet he never sought to enforce his own religious views on anyone; be it prisoners of war, or Hindu wives or the common people in his kingdom. He gave great importance to choice and abolished discriminatory taxes based on religion. He encouraged building of temples and even churches his empire. Out of reverence for the Hindu members of the Royal Family he banned the cooking of beef in the kitchens. He took several steps to unite the Muslim and Hindu society. For his contribution he was fondly called as Akbar by the people.

In 1605, at the age of 63, Akbar fell ill with a serious case of dysentery. He never recovered from it and after three weeks of suffering, he passed away on October 27, 1605 at Fatehpur Sikri. He was buried at Sikandra, Agra.