Akbar’s policy towards the Rajputs: Rajputs were the powerful enemies of the Mughals. Akbar was a farsighted statesman and the realised the value of Rajput alliances in his task of building an Empire in India for setting up his dynasty. He adopted a very liberal policy towards the Rajputs. As he was bom in the house of a rajput, he had a sense of gratitude and feeling of affection towards them. He tried to win their support by adapting measures like friendly relations, co-operation, matrimonial alliances and appointing many Rajputs as Mansabdars.
At the same time he did not show any weakness towards the Rajputs and never hesitated from taking armed action against them. Akbar settled for friendly alliances, with the Rajput states of Amber, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer as those rulers accepted unconditional submission to the Emperor. He married Jodha Bai, daughter of Biharimal of Amber (Jaipur). Raja Surjan Rai of Ranathambore voluntarily accepted the overlordship of Akbar. Ramachandra, the ruler of Kalinjar surrendered to Akbar in 1569C.E.
Some of the Rajputs were not willing to accept the sovereignty of Akbar. lie attacked Chittor (Mewar) and defeated its ruler Uday Singh in 1568. Uday Singh and his son Rana Pratap Singh continued to fight the Mughals till their death. The important battle fought between the Mughals and Rana Pratap Singh was the battle of Haldighat in 1576. Mewar was completely occupied by Akbar after the death of Rana Pratap Singh.
Akbar freely admitted Rajputs in the royal service. Some of the important persons who held positions of trust and responsibility were Raja Todarmal, Raja Bhagwan Das, Raja Mansingh and others. Akbar’s Rajput policy drew.the Rajputs closer to the muslims and helped in the growth of an Indo-muslim culture which represented the best elements of both.
Religious Policy of Akbar: Akbar was the most enlightened ruler among the Mughals. He was liberal-minded and tolerant of other religions. His aim was to wipe out the differences that kept people apart, and bring about unity amongst them. He openly pronounced his faith in the principle of universal toleration (Sulahi-Kul) and tried to eliminate the deep lDoted antagonism of Muslims towards Hindus.
He permitted Hindus to worship their Gods and he did not compel them to convert to Islam. Akbar abolished the Pilgrimage tax in 1563 and the Jeziya in 1564, a tax imposed on non-muslims. He appointed Plindus to high administrative posts on the basis of merit. For example, RajaTodarmal was appointed as the revenue minister and several other Hindus were appointed as Governors and mansabdars. He disestablished Islam as the state religion. He respected the sentiments of Hindus and banned cow slaughter. He also participated in Hindu festivals like Rakhi, Holi, Diwali and Shivaratri.
Akbar established the Ibadat Khana (Prayer Hall): at Fatehpur Sikri and held religious discussions. In 1582 C.E., he invited the different religious leaders for discussions, to understand ‘ the essence of their religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, and Zorastrian. He tried to minimize the influence of the Ulemas.
Akbar issued the infallibility decree in 1579 C.E. (Mehazar): According to it, Akbar became the supreme arbiter of Justice in civil and religious matters. He collected and codified the essences of all religions and openly declared his idea of a universal religion called Din-i-Ilahi (Tauhid-i-Ilahi) in 1581 C.E. It was an eclectic creed containing the good points of many of the religions. This religion was based on divine monotheism. It was an honest attempt to unite people of different faiths into a brotherhood based on generally accepted concepts. The Din- i-Ilahi was not a religion in the real sense, it was a socio-religious order.
Akbar’s concept of monotheism and divine religion can be described as ‘There is no God but Allah and Akbar is his Khalifa”. Its followers were awarded four grades, determined by the sacrifice of property, life, honour and being religious, in the service of the Emperor. Din-i-IIahi was a national religion, but it did not become popular, because Akbar never forced anybody to join it. He encouraged intercaste marriages,’ he acted as a national ruler and not as the King of the Muslims. The followers of Ilahi were very small in numbers and after the death of Akbar, it vanished completely.
