AKBAR THE GREAT

Akbar….the real founder of Mugal Empire in India. His father Humayun did rule over Delhi and Agra, but his reign wasn’t very strong. It was only during Akbar’s rule, the Mugal Empire extended from Afghanistan and Godavari river in the south and from Himalayas to Bengal in the east.

This descendent of Chenghis Khan and Taimur Lang, was born on 15 October 1542 at Amarkot in Sindh.  Akbar’s father died when he was barely 13 years old. So Akbar’s guardian Bairam Khan looked after the empire in Akbar’s name. But in 1560 Akbar took the reins in his hands.

Then Akbar married Rajput Princess Jodhabai in 1561. She was the daughter of Raja Biharimal of Amber in Rajasthan and they got married at Sambhar. Raja Biharimal’s  grandson Man Singh was Akbar’s chief general of army.

Akbar was tolerant towards all other religions. He cancelled the pilgrimage tax on Hindus and remitted the Jiziya, a toll tax on non-Muslims. This endeared him to all his subjects. From 1561 to 1601 he carried on many military campaigns and expanded his empire with the help of the Rajputs.

Akbar was a shrewd statesman and a very able administrator. He brought about many social and economical reforms. Though he was illiterate, he encouraged art, literature and crafts. He began his own new creed, Din-e-ilahi; by taking all good points from different religions like Hindu, Islam, Christian and Zorastrian. He was liberal in religious views and his court boasted of many Hindus like Raja Man Singh, Raja Todarmal, Birbal and Tansen, on important posts.

Akbar built many magnificent buildings like the Red Fort of Agra in 1565 and the entire city of Fatehpur Sikri from 1571 to 1578.

Following a brief illness, Akbar died on 17 October 1605. He was buried at Sikandara near Agra. This famous tomb, Akbar Ka Makbara is still visited by many tourists every day.