The Rajput Policy Of Akbar

 

Describe the Rajput policy of Akbar 

Akbar Ki Rajput Neeti Ka Varnan

Akbar's Rajput Policy 

Akbar's Rajput policy had an important contribution in the expansion and consolidation of the Mughal Empire . Akbar was a visionary and prudent politician. He understood very well that without the cooperation of the mighty, brave Rajputs, it was impossible to establish a permanent state in India. Its predecessors had fought long and fierce battles with the Rajputs but they failed to establish their dominance over Rajasthan. In this struggle with the Rajputs, those sultans also had to bear the loss of immense public and wealth. Therefore, Akbar adopted such a Rajput policy .So that he could get the cooperation of the Rajputs and with their cooperation establish such an empire which is based on peace cooperation because only such an empire could be permanent. Therefore, his Rajput policy was not motivated by opportunism, selfishness or narrow motives, but the ideal of this policy was to establish an empire in which Rajputs also get equality, respect and their traditional freedom. 

Due to the liberal Rajput policy of Akbar  -

The reasons for the liberal Rajput policy of Akbar were as follows:

 (1) Stability of the Empire - It had become clear from the history of the last 350 years that the empire could not be stabilized by fighting continuously with the Rajputs, the leader of the Hindus. Therefore it was necessary that he should be made an ally of the empire. So friendship with Rajputs was a political necessity. 

(2) The need for balance of power - Akbar had to face the rebellion of Turani nobles and Afghans from the beginning. The rebellion of Abulmali and Mirza Hakim, the rebellion of Bairam Khan, the conspiracy of the Mirzas and the ambitions and rebellion of the former Uzbeg officials made it clear to Akbar that he could not depend on these nobles. Therefore, the military power of the Rajputs was capable of curbing such rebellious and treacherous elements. 

(3) Administrative-economic necessity - Some scholars, in which Dr. Satish Chandra, Iqtdar Alam are prominent, see the Rajput policy of Akbar in the context of the strong kings and landlords of the country. These scholars are of the opinion that this class was a local power in the whole of North India. They were almost all Rajputs and local political, military and revenue collection powers were concentrated in their hands. Since the establishment of Turkish rule in India, there was tension and conflict between the Ottoman ruling class and the local landlord class. Iqtadar Alam is of the opinion that Akbar made 'agreement' with these local zamindars and more broadly with the Rajput kings. By this peace was established, revenue collection was regular and peaceful and the roots of the Mughal Empire were strengthened. Therefore, there was an economic need for friendship with the Rajputs. 

(4) Foreign form of the Mughal Empire— Dr. a. B. Ale. Pandey is of the opinion that Akbar wanted to end the foreign form of the Mughal Empire and give it an indigenous form, so he considered it necessary to get the cooperation of the Rajputs.

(5) The effect of religious liberalism - Dr. Satish Chandra also considers the background of Akbar's religious liberalism as important. In fact, the basis of Akbar's Rajput policy was his policy of religious tolerance. Without this his Rajput policy could not have been successful. He removed the main cause of dissatisfaction among Hindus and Rajputs by removing religious taxes. He stopped conversion and rejected the Islamic form of the state. Due to this the Rajputs got equality and respect. The reason for this religious liberal policy was his birth in a Rajput household, the influence of liberal Muslim scholars on him, his liberal personal character and the influence of Rajput wives, etc. 

(6) Geographical reasons - Rajasthan is the region to the south and south-west of Delhi. The routes from Delhi and Punjab to Gujarat, Malwa meet Rajasthan. The security of these routes was necessary and it was necessary to maintain peace in this area near Delhi and the emperor could expand and control the empire in the far east, west and south. Therefore, the Rajput policy of Akbar was not to get money from Rajasthan but to establish peace. For this it was necessary to assure the Rajputs that the Mughal emperor neither wanted their kingdom nor wanted to interfere in their internal affairs. On this basis, peace and cooperation could be obtained from the Rajputs. 

The nature of Akbar's Rajput policy—

1562 AD From this there was a gradual development of the Rajput policy of Akbar, although its objectives were completely clear and continuity can be seen in it throughout the reign. Akbar had made it clear to the Rajput kings through his policy that he did not want to take over their kingdom and did not want to interfere in their social, economic and religious life. He wants the Rajput kings to accept the dominion of the new kingdom. 

Dr. R. According to P. Tripathi , accepting this dominance had the following four meanings- 

First , they kept giving some amount symbolically to the central government of the state in the form of kiraj.

Second , entrust the responsibility of protecting those rights to the central government through their external policy and mutual war. 

Thirdly , they continued to provide fixed military aid to the center as needed. Fourth, they consider themselves to be an integral part of the empire, not a separate entity. In return, the emperor had opened all the highest positions of the empire to the Rajput kings. Now there was no discrimination on the basis of religion or caste in government service, everyone had equal opportunities. 

Dr. Tripathi has further written that it is noteworthy that Akbar had taken full control over almost every conquered Muslim state, but he did not add any major state to the Sultanate. Akbar could not make his policy successful only through treaty talks. For this he also had to fight. Shakti was used in Merta and Ranthambore. Marwar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer accepted the suzerainty of the emperor without any confrontation. Mewar considered the emperor's proposal to be insulting and fought for a long time. Dungarpur , Banswara , Pratapgarh , MewarLeaving the side and accepted the submission of the emperor. Akbar followed a policy of equality in granting internal autonomy to all Rajput kings, whether he had fought or not. If the Rajput kings accepted Akbar's proposal, it was because it brought them peace , prosperity , order , which Mewar could not give them . When the emperor granted them internal autonomy, there was no justification for the emperor's protest.

 There is no such evidence that Akbar forced the Rajput kings to establish marriage relations and make personal appearances. Only the kings of Amber , Jaisalmer and Bikaner had established matrimonial relations with Akbar. The Hada or Dungarpur, Banswara kings of Bundi did not accept it but Akbar did not discriminate against them on this basis. As a universal power, Akbar held power over the important forts of Rajasthan and Rajasthan was constituted as Ajmer Suba . The jagirs of Rajputs were called ' Watan Jagirs' , in the matter of succession also Akbar (Bikaner) intervened. But all these actions were in the form of symbols of the power of the emperor. Their aim was not to reduce the autonomy of the Rajputs. to say that theyIntegrating them into the Mansabdari system and calling them only ' zamindars ', done to reduce the importance of those Rajput kings, is an attack on Akbar's honesty. This type of work must have been done during the time of his successors. The benefit of this policy was not only for the Mughal Empire but also for the Rajputs. Akbar appointed Rajput kings to high posts. As Mughal generals and subedars, they went to remote areas of India and they got knowledge of Indian politics and administration. On being Mansabdar, the era of peace and order started among the Rajput kings.

According to the study of Irfan Abib , Rajasthan was a prosperous state of the Mughal Empire at that time . When Akbar went out, he appointed Bharmal as the head of the administration in Delhi in his absence . These works established the greatness of the Mughal Empire  through Rajput-Mughal cooperation.

Result of Rajput policy

Akbar's Rajput policy had the following important consequences-

(1) The Mughal Empire received the services of the best Indian soldiers . The bravery and loyalty of the Rajputs contributed significantly to the expansion and organization of the Mughal Empire. Till now he had opposed the power of Delhi but now he has become a strong supporter of it. He sacrificed his life for the defense of the empire by going to the remote areas of India . 

(2) This also established peace in Rajasthan because now the Rajput kings could go to the remote areas of the empire free from the concerns related to the security of their states. 

(3) The elite class of Rajput mansabdars was organized in the Mughal Empire . As they held high positions in the empire, they had considerable influence in the court and on the emperor, and they became the same power of the empire as the Turani or Iranian nobles. 

(4) The conquest of Rajasthan completed the political unity of India , the development of Rajasthan and paved the way for the expansion of the Mughal Empire in the south. 

(5) The cooperation given by the Rajputs in the Mughal Empire established a close relationship between Hindu-Muslim cultures and this started the process of coordination in the cultural field. Due to this new ideals and standards were established in the fields of art and literature and peace was established in India for a long time. 

critical review-

Akbar's Rajput policy has also been criticized . It is said that this policy did not have a good effect on the Rajputs. This destroyed the unity of Rajputs. 

Now there were three types of kings among the Rajputs-

The first was the Rana of Mewar who had become a symbol of Rajput pride and valor by fighting the Mughal Empire. 

Second , they were Rajput kings who accepted subjugation but did not establish marriage relations. 

In the third category, there were those kings who had established marriage relations with the Mughals, such as the kingdoms of Amer , Bikaner and Jaisalmer . 

There was a difference between these three categories. Dr. Raghuveer Singh has bitterly criticized these marriages and explained their ill-effects in detail. This did not benefit the Hindu society. It has also been said that under this policy the independence of the Rajput kings gradually decreased and they became dependent on the grace of the Mughal emperors, like other amirs. Due to this his indomitable desire to be free started vanishing. Being out for too long made the administration in their respective states faulty and lax. The interference of the Mughal emperors in their internal affairs also increased. The Rajput kings tried to take the help of the Mughal emperor in their partisan disputes which was detrimental to the Rajput interests. The above criticism cannot be considered completely baseless, but it is a historical fact that the conflict between Rana Pratap and Akbar was not a religious war., It was a war between independence and imperialism . The acceptance of Akbar's submission by the Rajput kings was not cowardice or selfishness , not even a victory for temptation, but it was a victory of logic and realism . If faults arose in it, then it arose after the reign of Akbar . In relation to the success of Akbar's Rajput policy , the viewpoint of some historians can be quoted. 

According to Dr. Ishwari Prasad , “ Most of the credit for the phenomenal progress of Mughal Indian art goes to Rajput-Mughal cooperation.” 

Dr. A. Ale. Srivastava has written that, "With their cooperation, not only did the Mughal rule get security and stability, but an unprecedented rich cultural consciousness emerged in the country, Hindu-Muslim cultures were harmonized, which is an invaluable gift of the Mughal rule ."