An Analytical Study of Elements of Secularism in Akbar’s Policies
Amit Kumar Singh
Assistant Professor, PG Department of History, Dev Samaj College for Women,
Ferozepur, Punjab, India
Yashdeep Kaur
Student, BA, 1
stYear Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepur City, Punjab, India
Abstract
13-14th century’s India witnessed bitter relations between Hinduism and Islam as followers
of these were becoming orthodox and rigid about each other’s existence. Akbar, a Mughal king tried to bridge the gap between two religions. He is one of the few rulers who ruled whole Indian sub-continent under one flag and worked for the welfare of his subjects. His religious policies like exemption freedom to follow one’s religion, posts given on capability rather than religion. Akbar wanted to establish strong empire which was impossible without the help of Hindus which comprised 90% of total population. He became religious tolerant and secularism highlighted his policies.
Keywords Akbar, Zizia, Secularism, Religious policy, Din-i-Ilahi
Introduction
Indian religions have coexisted and evolved together before the arrival of Islam under Delhi Sultanate. Ashoka, the great 2200 years ago, Harsha Vardhan 1600 years ago patronised and happily accepted and patronised secularism in its true essence. But with the establishment of Delhi Sultanate political doctrines of Islam as well as religious views were at odd with Indian religions. Sharia was imposed with great zeal on common people, whole India was in hue and cry. Akbar’s reign showed a beacon of light of religious tolerance in darkness of religious rigidness. Considering India with majority Hindu population, Akbar changed his administrative and religious policies. He maintained friendly relations with Rajputs, Sikhs, Buddhists and other sects. He worked for the welfare of humanity by abolishing slavery , making marriages based on consent and fixing the age of bride and bridegroom. He wanted to forbade sati but due to opposition from Hindus left it to the will of widow and legalised widow re-marriage.
Development of Akbar ‘s Religious Views
Religious Condition on The Eve of Akbar’s Accession
Population under Akbar’s rule comprised of both Hindus and Muslims. Difference in rituals and believes separated the Hindu and Islamic faith as Muslims often consumed beef while Hindus were forbidden even to harm cows . Islam forbade the practice of consuming alcoholic beverages while Hindus were allowed to drink these beverages while Hindus were allowed to drink the beverages .Hindus worshiped many deities while Muslims believed in teachings of Mohammed prophet .Moreover, the people both Hindus and Muslims were orthodox .Akbar diligently acted at this situation and followed the practice of religious tolerance and does preached and practiced secularism .Akbar declared no man should be interfered on grounds of religion and everyone should be allowed to follow the religion according to their faith and beliefs .Akbar marked his words and never condemned any religion and all his actions promoted torrents and peace .
Religious policies which influenced the idea of secularism
Abolition of pilgrim Tax
When Akbar went to Mathura in 1563 where he came to know that Hindus have to pay pilgrim tax. After detailed enquiry it came to light that pilgrim tax was levied on each pilgrim centre of the Hindus. Akbar considering this tax against wish of God ordered to abolish pilgrim tax throughout the empire, despite heavy loss to Royal treasure. The Pilgrimage tax was paid by non Muslims who visited to the Pilgrimage places situated in Muslim States while the Zizia tax was imposed on non Muslims who lived in territories controlled by Muslims.
Marriage with Princess of Amber
Akbar married Jodha Bai, the daughter of Bihari Mal of Amber which put an end to centuries old Hindu Muslim hatred. Firstly Nikaah the Muslim practice of marriage took place in the presence of Qasi and later Hindu practice of walking around fire Alta took place . This act of Akbar give an indication of bringing fusion of Hindu and Muslim communities Akbar showed full respect to Jodha Bai by allowing her to perform her prayers according to Hindu faith.
Abolition of Zizia
“This was the prelude two more important reform the following year 1564 namely the abolition of Zizia the politics which every non Muhammadan had to pay1” . This tax was
introduced in India by Mohammed Bin Kasin, the Conqueror of Sindh in 8th century. “ It represented a compromise between the strict injunction of Muslim law not to tolerate public celebration of non Islamic practices and the Desire of a vast Hindu population to perform their religious rites2”
Administrative reforms in favour of Non-Muslims
1 Edwardes, SM[1979],Mughal Rule in India, New Delhi, Asian Publication Services ,p31
2 Sharma, Sri Ram (1988) , The Religious policy of Mughal.emperors ,New Delhi , Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers private
Akbar noticed that Rajput were brave, loyal and self sacrificing to protect the honour and motherland Akbar give them key post in administrative and military positions. Akbar gave high administrative post on the basis of capability instead of religion and made Todarmal became Diwan-I-Allaha, Finance Minister ,Raja Man Singh . “The Hindus who ran the lower sections of accounts and revenue departments of the Empire were now compelled to learn language and thereby assured promotion to higher ranks in the administration3” . Akbar
started recruiting Hindus soldiers and commanders into his Army. “Akbar now begin showing an equal attention to religious man of all trades and begin granting subsistence allows allowances for the support of Hindu , Jain and Parsis scholars and their religion Institutions as well as those of the Muslims4”
Ban on Forcible Religious Conversions
The ancient period granted religious freedom to people but Muslim kings and Sultans in order to propagate Islam felled off from their grace and started forcibly religious conversions which indicated religious rigidness. Akbar as tolerant king put ban on forcible conversion of religions and even Prisoners were not forced to change their religion this policy highlighted the idea of secularism and peaceful coexistence of all religions. If a Hindu was forcibly converted to Islam he had freedom to change his religion from Islam to Hinduism. “Akbar who had already realise that his best was to act in such a manner that the Re collection of past revelries should be forgotten and that is subjects should unite together as one people now decided to carry his ideas into practice by arrangements design to exhibit himself as a Protector against danger and operation to assure them of Free exercise of the Ancient rights and privileges to open to them Hai office in state irrespective of phrase or Creed and to maintain a uniform standard of Justice5”
Religious Tolerance and Sulah-i-Kul
Akbar respecting the feelings of Hindus put ban on killing of cows and under the influence of Jainism, he put ban on killing of animals on auspicious days. “Akbar’s religious policy and his treatment towards the Hindus healed strife and bitterness and produced an environment of harmony and goodwill where they had been racial and religious and antagonism of most distressing character6”. “The emperor adopted many Hindu beliefs and
practices such as the transmigration of soul and the doctrine of Karma7”. He celebrated
many Hindu festivals like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, Shivratri .He started highest service to non Muslims.
Akbar was not satisfied with abolition of Zizia and promoted the idea of secularism by granting freedom to all religions and abolished the ban on construction of churches and temples. Akbar himself went to meet III Guru of Sikhs and offered the land . Akbar
3 Ibid., p18
4 Srivastava, A.L. , (1973), Akbar the great volume 2 , Agra, Shiva Art Printers, p.310 5 Ocit., p.41
6 Sonali, Akbar’s religious views and his policy towards Hinduism (online) available on
URL-http://www.historydiscussionnet/history-of-India/akbars-religious-view-and-his-policy-towards-hindus/279
7 Mahendra Yadav, Religious policy of Akbar on September 23 2013 (online) available on URL-
regularly held religious discussions where representatives of various religions were called and he built Ibadat Khanna to offer prayer to almighty god.
Policy of Religious Equality
“ Not only did he sweep away all discriminations against the non -Muslims but he raised Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity to a place of equality with Islam8”. “ All
these relations were given equal rights of propaganda, proselytism building of their places of education and worship, and celebrating their festivals openly and publicly9”. Akbar
considered all religions equal and showed full respect to all of them . He banned the slaughter of animals for many days in year. “ He upheld the Hindu ideals of life by ordering the translation of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and other religious books of the Hindus and asking his offices and nobles to read and follow them10”. Thus, the religious policy of
Akbar placed all religions at one place and showed positive patronage to all that was good in different religions.
Akbar as a Founder of Din-i- Ilahi
“ Many years’ close and comparative study of religions had made Akbar feel the insufficiency of Islam for being the national religion of India with its vast Hindu population , its ancient and highly developed religious and deep rooted cultural traditions11”. “Nor did
he find Hinduism , Jainism , Zoroastrianism and Christianity suitable for the above purpose12”. Akbar consulted the representatives of different religions and put forward his
idea of having a religion which is combination of merits of all and defect of none . Din-i-Ilahi
believed in unity and oneness of almighty god . The members who have embraced Din-i-Ilahi had to pray three times a day and there was no predefined prayer. “ Akbar occupied the position of a preceptor or Guru and Abul Fazal that of a high priest13”. Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi to make social unification a reality by social reforms. “He opines that the intention of
Din-i-Ilahi was to find a common ground between then din or the religion and duniya or materialistic or non spiritual affairs14”
While respecting the faith and beliefs of Rajput and Hindu subjects , Akbar did not forget the demands of humanity . He banned female foeticide and marriage was not considered valid without the consent of both Bride and bridegroom . The practice of Sati was made voluntary according to the will of widow and remarriage of widows was legalised . By implementing the above policies highlighted the idea of secularism, Brotherhood, peace and harmony. “The question of secularism is only one of the great many cases in which Akbar insisted that we should be free to examine whether reason does or does not supported any existing custom or provides justification for ongoing policy for example he abolished all
8 Op.cit.,p.318 9 Op.cit., p.318 10 Op.cit., p.318 11 Op.cit., p312 12 Op.cit., p.312 13 Op.cit., p.313
14 Sansar Lochan, Akbar’s Religious policies and ideologies (online) available on URL-
special taxes on Non-Muslims on the ground that they were discriminatory since they did not treat all citizens equal15”
Conclusion
Laconically, it can be extrapolated that Akbar was ordinary man while ascending the Throne but became THE GREAT after following the Policy of religious tolerance thus promoting secularism .It is not wrong to make it palpably lucid that Akbar laid the foundation of idea of secularism on which Indian Constitution is based Akbar proved to be a visionary the only king who thought ahead of times and preached his subjects the idea of peaceful coexistence and self respect. Akbar earned name and fame in the society due to the implementation of the policy of secularism. Being aware of the fact, that India had religious diversity, he laid down the foundation stone of religious similarity where people may not discriminate each other on basis of religion . Akbar developed the policy of SULH-I-KULL which lead to universal tolerance of all religions.
REFERENCES
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2. Edwardes ,SM(1979), Mughal rule in India, New Delhi: Asian Publication services
3. Yadav, Mahendra , Religious policy of Akbar on September 23, 2013, (online), URL- http://www.importantindia.com/5082/religious-policy-of-akbar/
4. Sansar Lochan, Akbar’s Religious policies and ideologies on December25, 2016(online) available on URL- http://www.sansarlochan.in/en/akbars-religious-policies-and-ideologies/
5. Sharma,sri ram(1988),The religious policy of the mughal emperors, New Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers private Limited., p.2,
6. 6..Sonali, Akbar’s Religious views and his policies towards Hindus (online) available on URL- http://www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/akbars-religious-view-and-his-policy-towards-hindus/279 7. Srivastava, A.L, (1973), Akbar the great Vol.2, Agra, Shiva art printers,
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