Akbar (1556-1605) PDF

# AKBAR (1556-1605) Humayun did not live long to consolidate his power. In 1556 he died from a fall from his library building in Purana Qila - at Delhi. Akbar was only 13 years of age when he was proclaimed the Emperor of India. It was a difficult position for the empire. The Afghan chiefs were sti...

# AKBAR (1556-1605) Humayun did not live long to consolidate his power. In 1556 he died from a fall from his library building in Purana Qila - at Delhi. Akbar was only 13 years of age when he was proclaimed the Emperor of India. It was a difficult position for the empire. The Afghan chiefs were still in occupation of the greater portion of Sher Shah's dominions. However, Bairam Khan, Akbar's tutor and his father's trusted officer, rose to the occasion. He became the Regent and looked after the kingdom until 1560. ## Second Battle of Panipat: Soon after Akbar's accession Hemu - a nephew of Sher Shah Suri, captured Agra and was on the march to Delhi. The Mughal forces met Hemu's army on the historic battlefield of Panipat in November 1556. After a fierce battle, the Afghan army was defeated and Hemu was captured and killed. That was the end of Afghan resistance to the Mughals. ## Akbar takes the Reins of Government into his own hands: In 1560 Akbar had finally taken over the reins of administration in his own hands. Bairam Khan chose to go to Mecca. On his way to Mecca, he was slain by an Afghan in January 1561. Akbar's claim to greatness lies in four of his astonishing achievements: * Political Unification of the Subcontinent * A System of Orderly Administration * Land Revenue System * Racial and Religious Conciliation in the country ## AKBAR'S CONQUESTS: ### POLITICAL UNIFICATION OF THE SUBCONTINENT Akbar followed a policy of conquest for the expansion of his empire. Some of his important conquests between 1560 and 1576 were those of Malwa, Garh - Katanga, a number of Gond and Rajput principalities, the major part of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal and Bihar. After the conquest of Gujarat Akbar extended his authority over the Deccan. The Mughals annexed Berar in 1596. That began a permanent footing in the Deccan. The Mughals gained a victory over Ahmadnagar in 1597. Khandesh was included in the Mughal Empire in 1601. In the Deccan Akbar's dominions included Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golconda. Akbar's authority had also become firmly established in Assam in the East. In the North-West the frontiers of the Empire extended up to Kabul and Kandahar. ## AKBAR'S MANSABDARI SYSTEM, REVENUE REFORMS AND POLICY OF RELIGIOUS PACIFICATION Akbar was a statesman and a brilliant administrator. ### 1. Mansabdari System and the Army: Akbar created "an Imperial Service based on merit and graded according to military rank". It was called Mansabdari System. The lowest rank was that of 10, whereas the highest was 5000 for the nobles. The princes received higher mansabs, the rank of 7000 each. The Mansabdars held their appointments directly from the Emperor. They got their remuneration in cash, not in land grants. In addition to meeting their personal expenses, the Mansabdar had to maintain out of his salary a required quota of horses, elephants, mules and carts. The Mughal Mansabdars acted both as military commanders and civil administrators. Mansabdari status was not hereditary. ### 2. Land Revenue System : Land revenue reforms were introduced in 1580 when Todar Mal became the Diwan-i-Ashraf (head of the land revenue department). Todar Mal devised a system based on: * a survey and measurement of land * classification of land according to its productive capacity * fixation of rates payable in cash or kind by the cultivators Another important change that Akbar made was the introduction of the dahsala system. Under this system the average produce of different kinds of lands as well the prices of the last ten (dah) years were collected from the government records. The land revenue was fixed at one-third of the average produce. The benefit of the system was that there was now no necessity of settling the land revenue every year. The state advanced loans to the needy farmers. As a result, agriculture flourished that boasted trade and industry also. ### 3. Law and Justice: Akbar regarded speedy administration of justice as one of his important duties. The Chief Qazi was the foremost judicial officer in the realm. He nominated Qazis for the provinces. The bigger towns had their own Qazis. The villagers settled their disputes through the institution of the Panchayats. The Emperor's Court was the final court of justice. ## RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS PACIFICATION Akbar sought to bring about racial and religious pacification in the country. The Jiziya (poll-tax on the Non-Muslims) was abolished. State services were opened for the Hindus. The Emperor patronised Hindu writers and artists. He had matrimonial alliances with the Rajput families. In 1580 the Emperor promulgated a new cult called Din-i-Ilahi. It was based on the belief that there is only one God and required its members to accept virtues such as courage, chastity and justice. It also demanded loyalty to the Emperor. The new cult could not have many followers and it was never imposed on the people. Akbar ranks with the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka as one of the greatest rulers of India.