Give an account of Akbar’s Rajput Policy.

I. Features of the Rajput Policy :

When Akbar noticed that the Rajputs were brave, devoted, loyal and
self-sacrificing to protect their honour and besides their qualities they
possessed the feelings of friendship, he got devotee or praiser of their
virtues. He seated them on key posts, established wedding relations
with them, and never strove to hurt their religious feelings. The
following are the chief traits of Akbar’s religious policies :
(i) Uniform treatement : Akbar was the first Muslim ruler who
understood the Rajput’s feelings. He could assess that the Rajputs
would not hesitate in laying down their lives to save their honour. So
he gave them proper positions at first through his feelings of co-
existence. They too were at liberty to adhere to their religious
performances and religious policies.
(ii) Wedding relation with the Rajputs : Akbar established matrimonial
alliances with the Rajputs. He married the princesses of Bikaner,
Marwar and Jaisalmer. They were at liberty to follow their religions.
The dais for planting of Tulsi can still be seen in Jodhabai’s palace. He
had never hurt the feelings of the Rajputs while making treaties with
them. Key posts were given to the relatives of the queens.
(iii) Positions according to qualifications : While evaluating eligibility
Akbar never had a prejudice for the Muslims or against the Hindus. He
assigned key posts to Raja Bharmal, Bhagwan Dass, Man Singh and
Birbal, etc. in commensuration with their abilities and qualities. His
reliable soldiers and commanders were the Hindus. The top mansab
of 7,000 was given to Raja Man Singh.
(iv) Use of force : When some Rajput rulers kicked Akbar’s proposal of
friendship he took resort to using force and defeated the Rajput rulers
but never hit their feelings. When the rulers of Amber, Jodhpur and
Jaisalmer accepted his suzerainty they were given due honour.
Maharana Pratap and Udai Singh of Mewar never bowed their heads
before Akbar. They kept wandering in the forests life long and
opposed the Akbar.
(v) Tolerance towards the Hindus : The Hindus were at liberty to
celebrate their festivals. They could got new temples constructed and
the old ones repaired. He got the pilgrim tax and the Jizya exempted
which levied on the Hindus. This impressed the Rajputs too.
II. Results of Akbar’s Rajput policy.
(i) Rajputs were loyal to Mughals : Akbar having been pleased with
Rajputs loyalty, gave them key posts in the military. This strengthened
the roots of Mughal Empire on the one hand and extracted the
feelings of hatred and animously from the hearts of the Rajputs
against foreign rules in due course of time on the other hand since
they had acquired due honour.
(ii) Helpful in the expansion of Mughal Empire : Akbar captured Kabul,
Qandhar and the remote southern regions of India with the Rajput’s
help. Now the army was so powerful as to meet any foreign challenge.
(iii)Round of wars in Rajasthan ended : Now the possibility of
confrontation between the Mughals and the Rajputs was hushed up.
There was peace and orderliness all over which made the people’s life
secure and they engaged themselves in developing trade and
efficiency in practising many arts.
(iv) Pacification of Rajput’s ego : The Rajputs were fighting and
sacrificing their lives only for the sake of pseudo prestige. The breach
between them had widened but Akbar’s Rajput policy bridged the gulf
and the Rajputs could seek prestige, wealth and position. Man Singh
got Mansab of 7,000. Many high military and civil posts were given to
Rajputs. Thus the ego of the Rajputs was pacified.
(v) Admixture of literature and art : A healthy admixture of the art
and literature and architecture reflected itself due to the amity
between the Mughals and the Rajputs. The Panch Mahal at Fatehpur
Sikri is a fine model of the same.