Who Says Akbar Was Great

VhT.
'IOM
Who Says
AKBAR
Was Great ?
Who Says
Akbar Was Great ?
By
P.N. OAK
HINDI SAHITYA SAPAN

Delhi-UOOO! &**
*m Connaught Circus. New
SonxOthtt t by the same authc
Some
1 Bluink'r> of Indian Historical Research
Agra Red Fori Is A Hindu Building
CONTENTS
;
World Vbdlc Heritage
4. Some Missing Chapters of World History 1
Page
Preface
M
I The Need for Reassessment
I
II A Chronology of Akbar's Reign 16
III Akbar's Vicious Environment 52
IV Akbar*s Barbarities 70
V Immorality
VI Drink and Dope Addiction 120
O P.N. OAK VII The So-called Marriages were 126
Blatant Abductions
AU Rights Reserved by the Author
VIII Conquests 139
IX The Plunder Economy 153
166
X The Chaotic Administration
179
XI Akbafs Military
192
XII Taxes
203
XIII Greed
208
XIV Personality and Nature
215
XV Treachery
224
XV! Hypocrisy
:
P.B.— Rg^25
XVII Famines
H.B. — 1U. 300.00 244
XV III Fanaticism
Publishers Hindi Sahilya Sadan Ph, : J340064
XIX Malpractices
Distributors Hindi Sabiiya Sudan
New Delta- Ilouui
JO/90, Connaugltt Circus.
Edition June 2000 .«wm
J2Ph 2225770
Prinleri GoyalEnierpnses.Shahda.a. Delta-
264
XX Revolts Calo
\\t Buildings 282
322
PREFAC I
XXII Din-e-IIahi
Will lustreless Gems m In the preface to his eight-volume critical
369 study of mediaeval Muslim chronicles a well-known

XXIV Scribes.
historian, the late Sir H.M. Elliot observes thai
\\\ Akbar Tomb is a Hindu Palace the history or the Muslim era in India is an
399 "impudent and interested fraud."
Bibliography
Errata 401 But a mere vague realization of a fraud is
not enough. It has to be fullv probed for a
Index
proper appraisal of its gravity.
Other Books by the Author 415
Instances are not wanting of exposed pick*
Reviews and Reactions 417
pockets dexteriously picking ihe pockets of the
An Appeal to the Reader 422 very constables leading them handcuffed to lock-
ups.
Western scholars like Sir H. M.

Similarly
1
Elliot, who have seen through the "fraud' have

still been duped by mediaeval Muslim claims in
many respects. or instance they have failed to
I
realize that as m other spheres tall claims made

in favour of mediaeval Muslim rulers that they
founded cities and built tombs and mosques by
the hundreds are also "frauds All extant
mediaeval buildings whether forts, palaces, man*
sions, mosques or tombs are of pre-Muslim Rajput
origin. Historians, architects and archaeologists
have blundered, for example, in believing thai
Fatehpur Siku and the Red Forts at Agra and

Delhi wire founded by Mogul emperors- In m\
book titled "Taj Mahal was a Rajput Palace"* and
Its successor volume titled "The Taj Mahal
Hindu Palace/" Ihave already exposed the "fraud" children— as is fatuously claimed— millions
thai *hroudft the 'tallest'
of the mediaeval monu- of
people who had nothing in common with him
ments namely ihc Taj Mahal.
My other book the matter of religion, culture end
in
Research nationality,
-Some Blunders of Indian Historical But on a careful study of historical works on
also exposes some other frauds or misconcep-
Akbar I have felt that to clothe him in raiment
tions. of nobility and Divinity, putting him on a ped
to and throwing a halo of greatness around him
tal T
The present book on Akbar is intended
is doing a great disservice to logic,history,
palmed off.
expose vet another -fraud" glibly historical research and TRUTH.
namely that Akbar was a noble man and
a great
evidence led Misinterpreting events, failing to size them up
long. He was neither. Historical
in their logical context and losing sight of con-
in this book goes to prove that far
from ranking
temporary noting* about Akbar's atrocious career
as a man and ruler of exemplary conduct
Akbar
and Machiavellian mental make-up, is not only
cannot be classed even with ordinary law-abiding unsemantic but is an insult to human intelligence.
and God-fearing citizens, He was a law unto But that is exactly what most histories of Akbar's
himself. On a proper assessment he turns out to reign have done. Most of them have been haunted
be one of the most nnmnical, cruel* crafty and by the panegyric gloss of Abut Fazal's Akbar noma.
immoral rulers in world history, They haven't had the courage or insight of
Western scholar* who correctly regard the Akbar-
Closed minds who consider all questions as
nama to be a tissue of lies. Abul Fazal's own
finally settled, are likely to brush aside Akbar's
contemporaries, fellow-chronicler Badayum and
appraisal in this book, as biassed. Such an attitude 1
Prince Salim, call him a "shameless flatterer/

is derogatory to the search for truth.
Bloehmann remarks in the preface to his transla-
tion of Abul Fazal's Akbarnama "Abul that
Because of a time-lag of almost 400 years this
Fazal has far too often been accused by European
author could have had no reason or occasion for
writers of nailery and even wilful concealment of
any personal tiff or brush with emperor Akbar*
facts damaging to the reputation of his master**.
I would have, in fact, been very happy and
I wish to point out that in coming
to my
grateful to Divinity had Akbar really qualified for
greatness. It would have spared millions of his conclusions on Akbar's place in history I have
relied solely on the evidence recorded by preced-
abject subjects so much misery, torture and humi-
liation. And a total he was, it
foreigner that
ing historians. My own contribution is limited only
to sifting that evidence from piles of glittering,

would have been a matter of universal admiration
motivated and interested falsehoods, compiling
and unique distinction for him to love as his own
U.vj
" andexplanatory obser-

fldcnn £
and mandwJtfnS Pulled on one side by the traditionally djnncd-
s to
ruh off the fabc ploss pui on gory eW_
iii juvenile notions of Akbar's fancied greatness, and
episodes awl affairs,
on the other by damaging facts learned through
findings arc of far-re aching
importance mature, adult reading, writer aftej writer has betra-
inasmuch as they fell with Hie sledge-hammer of yed confusion and contradiction in his writings on
TRUTH a pari of the false and seductive facade Akbar. page after paj*e. or instance, on page 63
I
and carefully hiding the skeletons

ceiling and filth of Ins Akbar the Great, Vol. I. Professor
book
in the Akhar Clipboard of Indian
history. Ashirbadi Lul Shnvaslava hads Akbar's so-called
would do well to then heads marriage with the daughter of the Jaipur ruler,
Hi us lift
Bharmal, as "a significant, event in mediaeval Indian
from under the mds of myths, and have a second
history inasmuch as u was a voluntary affair on
look and entertain second thoughts on India's
both sides." And within half-a-dozen lines the
mediaeval history, to fathom, what Sir H. M.
learned professor somersaults and asserts "It must
EJli !
calls, us many 'frauds.**
however be said that the proposal had emanated as
book does not claim to be a complete
rhta Bharmal was hard-pressed and wanted to save his
chronological narrative of Akbar's life or reign. famih and state from ruination*"
It deals with Akbar's historical role with a differ-
Such confusion results from an inadequate
ent The scope of this hook is limited to force-
understanding and wrong interpretation of Akbar's
fully impressing on all concerned that Ak bar's
baste urges and motives.
image projected through official dossiers, institu-
nal literature and academic text books is totally The of TRUTH is that it should reconcile
test
all seemingly incompatible contemporary

evidence
unwarranted and far removed from facts.
into a homogenous whole, without leaving
any
Thi> book aims at lifting the thinking on
loose, dangling ends. This is what. I feel, 1 have
\kbar from its traditional ruts. Incidentally it
succeeded in doing in this book thereby providing
aho achieves it— a cohesive and rational
as 1 see
an unfailing key to the proper understanding and-
conciliation seemingly contradictory or
interpretation oi Akbar's actions and behaviour
incompatible currents running through narratives India, in
in particular and of Muslim rule in
of Akbar^ reign.
general.
Falsification of facts, glossing over
of uncdify-
mg episodes and wishful interpretation of events
—Peoo
is bound to result in an unsatisfactory, unconvinc-
ing notch pot eh. Tim is the feeling one gels on

reading the usual run of books on Akbar.
Chapter 1
THE NEED FOR REASSESSMENT
A KBAR, the third generation Mogul emperor of

™- India, who lived from 1542 to 1605 AD*, has
often heen represented as a great man and a noble
king. This assessment of his personality is
thoroughly unjustified.
Had been a mere matter of opinion or of

it
degree it wouldn't have mattered very much if

those who considered Akbar 'Great' chose to hail
him as such. But he was the very antithesis of
sireatness and nobility of character.
If a person donates, let us assume, Rs. 2 for a

charitable cause it would certainly be a matter of
opinion whether or not to glorify him as a generous
donor. If the donor is earning just enough for
mere subsistence his donation of even a modest
Rs. 2 - could be classified as a generous gift. On
the other hand if the donor were a millionaire a
donation or Rs, 2/- by him would have to be
classed as a low amount.
ludicrously But all
said and done he would still have to be bracketed
with donors, generous or otherwise. But when
throughout a person's life he is all along engaged
in usuryand extortion without ever parting with
of
so much as a farthing of his own, by no stretch
imagination can he be glorified as a donor,
and a
generous one at that.
Such is the case with Akbar's assessment in

\
Not a single act of his

Indian or world hfctoi
wsi free from cruelty, treachery, craving for revived and sought to be hoisted on a public
wealth or lust for conquest. And yd he is cited pedestal foi compelling obeisance a check-up on
as an exemp!ar> iuJer and an adorable man. It is whether the faith in Akbar's greatness is warranted
this perversion which rankles. hv fact! becomes not only relevant but impera-
tive.
Whenever such supposedly well-Settled issues
are raked too ea$U)

up for re-consideration it is those who seem 10 say
To "why rake up the
past.. .let byiinncs be bygones' wc have other
assumed that the person mghtg the review must
conveniently replies ought to realize that
too. The\
be actuated by malice or bias. It is suitable
forgotten that there could be something like an history is nothing else but raking up the past.
ruTu.Ni re-appraisal, righteous indignation for Moreover, they ought to know that they or their
relations cannot get away from test papers in
falsehood, and a solicitous concern for truth.
history in institutional or public service cxamina-
Among who fajl to see the need for a
others answer papers
iu>ns by scrawling a note across their
reappraisal are those who seem to argue that since
saying "Dear Mr. Examiner Since Akbar is dead
Akbar is dead and gone why worry about brand and gone why bother your own head and mine by
g even assuming that he was a miscreant?
him, me to write about his reign"* This shows
king
Frum a lay point of view this may be considered that whether we like itor not history is going to
to be sound advice. But on closer scrutiny it that so it is ihe duty of every
be with us. II is
uld be found that the suggestion is not as right-thinking Individual lo see that all that is
simple and innocuous as it looks. It is not this written or spoken m the name of history U the
author who wants to disturb the ghost o\' Ak bar's truth, the uhole truth and nothing but the truth.
memory. Tor whatever it may be worth, had it been
cd by universal consent to rest in oblivious
The very object of teaching or studying history
is to draw appropriate lessons from tl past^ that
repose. Jn spile of ourselves we rind that the
ghost ofAkbar 's greatness continues to be revived i
avoid cast mistakes, and derive inspiration from
and foisted on generation after generation of whatever has been glorious. This very object is
defeated if history is sought, as il vers l> fle n is in
school and college students. The myth of Akbat
India of mistaken notions ol secularism and
out
greatness being constantly rubbed Into the minds
is
iiu '-communal harmony, to be blurred or glossed
-i
of the people through classroom lessons and tesi
over, suppressed or misrepresented, and miscons-
papers and other literature. In social and govern-
trued,
mental business Akbar is held alofi as
an ideal
narch and a praiseworthy individual. All knowledge a ceaseless search far the
When is
the ghusl of his memory is thus being continually truth, and history is a search for the truth about a
5
role should
, RM**c«*ing Aktert people and the invaders' inimitable capacity to
country's P^' * to be an attempt
ûnderstood
de
not . therefore. **'^ '
Wnal this book tries

destroy all ancient records and implant their own
spurious versions in Indian history. Even those
charter reign to find out
ifi
""grtjft and like Sir IT.M- Elliot who had the insight to detect
* d
anV character* at all 10
"^hThad
? Akbsr had any
laud,
the perversion and an "impudent
falsification as
whether we |i.known as
CaPP and interested fraud" could not fathom it* depth
'n
r Tha;; tf
be T
pported with factual and trace its ramifications.
accept In India term 'historian' is very often

the
SteU responsibility and willingly
abused. All those who earn money through teach-
the challenge. ing or administering history by virtue of their
of Akbars inennv
Over the centuries accounts employment in a school, college, university or the
and omission have and archives departments or by
matmc «*s of commission archaeological
under His
b«n carefully torn to shreds and swept writing books on history do not qualify to be
royal carpet" Those bits are no! easy to salvage termed historians/ The real test is whether history
and piece together in the blaze and
glamour of the is in a person's blood and bones, whether he is
red carpet which hides them. Attempts to salvage constantly pondering over Us missing links and
them have often met with only partial success inconsistencies, whether he is striving to find new
because many vital bits have been found missing. evidence to fill up the blanks, and whether in so
Piecing another laborious task,
them together is doing he is bringing to bear on history a fresh.
And lastly such piecing together is a thankless uninhibited, original outlook not wedded to any
task which far from bringing any reward, laurels dogma or creed ? Such a yearning naturally
or patronage frowned upon many quarters. presupposes a little out-of-the-way love for and
is in
1 1 ii because of such difficulties that practically identificationwith the country and the people
every historian chosen to toe the
has discreetly whose history is being investigated, and not a mere
Jilional line of glorifying Akbar, as the best mercenary connection with the teaching or adminis-
part of academic valour and called it a day, tering of history.
automatically ex
principle
A few Western scholars, well-intentioned and Incidentally this
Abyssinian*.
havl he courage of their conviction, because plains why the Turks, Arabs. Afghans,
free people, no doubt, possessed the Mongols, Uzbeks, Kazaks and Iranians who invad-
thousand years
impartial^ loattempt an honest but
ed and occupied India for over a
appraisal history. They
unfoiiunaich Jacked Ihc had no scruples in falsifying India's
intuition and insight or people
and fathom the alfoi had no love lost for India, Us euliurr
Muslim
invaders innate and inicnsc hatred for the Indian
XfiT.COM
The> came and stayed to exploit it ro its utmost,

In the victim's back. Here logic tells the investi-
They were lifa n'ts and the assertions made n,
gator thai since no man can Fatally siab himself
their chronicles ha\e to he handled verj carefully.
in the back the note is a fake and that it is a clear
Bui wh»\ we find is just the opposite. Mediaeval
ISCof murder This gives us one very important
Muslim . which a discerning historian
I r ik I
law of judicial investigation which is very useful

like Sir H.M. Elliot was constrained to term as
to historical research. Thnt law is that whenever
'impudent and interested frauds/' have been treat-
circumstantial evidence conflicts with a so-called
ed is >,icrosanei source materials for piecing to- document The document is a clear forgery. Here
gether India's history.
the word 'document* should include not only
A student of Indian history is likely to ask in writings on parchment but stone and copperplate
despair that if earlier Hindu records have been inscriptions and all other written record. This
burnt or otherwise destroyed by the Muslim very important law of evidence should alert the
aders. and
chronicles written by
if the student of history from putting implicit faith in
the
invaders themselves are nol to be believed in what any inscrip! ion or writing. It should also enable
remains as the source for the reconstruction him to prefer circumstantial evidence and reject
of
Indian history ? Fortunately we don't have the conflicting wrfting. If this important law is
to
throw our hands up kept in view many Muslim inscriptions and other
in despair. Those very falsi-
fied chronicles contain all the evidence wc writings in India will be easily detected to be
need to
reconstruct history on the chassis of motivated forgeries.
truth.
At some though the inscribers or
places
This leads us to the great importance of the writers themselves have made no claims scholars of
law of evidence for historical
research. A clear Indian history have committed the grave error
understanding of how evidence
is sjfted graded of connecting ihc writing with the creation of
and pieced together in a court
of law is essential the monument, Thus, for instance Akbar's
tor historical study,
inscription on the Buland Darwaza (gateway) at
Fatehpur Sikn, recording his victory over the
dead bod, ymg unc
»« Deccan. has been unwarremedly interpreted by
| a , med „„ , „
historian after imply that Akbar
historian to
«niurie» by human mgenuilv goes erected the lofty Stone galewu\ to comme-
Into t
This
«nd o„ (]„ hody morate his victory over the Deccan.
sa ;
speculation could never lead to an} decisive
J no in vest iga i j4
conclusion since the very assumption that the
«*• A, fc ttmc tSSJ" * «*" inscription on it commemorates the creation
of
Lind is noticed
9
_ nc Here the historian

human
needs to
felting to
very valuable guidelines on how confessions* arc to
rba'
tea common be appraised as. evidence. That code Specifically
legend n picnic
rec*Jfctf
name or other enjoins upon a magistrate to impress upon a sus-
«**** buffdifigs Akbar'* mscrip. make a
feirtoric pect he
thai is under no obligation to
*^ «»T, 0f
Btrtand
DanvLiz^ arc only a royal
confession but if lie made a confession or record i
lion* human weakness He wrote statement U would be definitely used

against
SL^f rtH «nimon anj
îa»oo
on the slate of an earlier
Hindu
*Sories him but never in his favour. Muslim chronicles arc
bolt] '.
v, 11If h also records in his hook and it is left to the
V incent in the nature of 'confessions.*
that Akbar used free to use it the
the Great Mogul"
»rThc appraiser, the historian to feel
'
Sri „tbar
his command to mouth
to ^ve masons and carvers at way he likes. It would not lie in anybody's
/rsenptions he desired, to insist those chronicles should either be
that
i\t the
This never
wholly believed or wholly rejected. is
variation in the example
Intfoducins a slight
done. Evidence is never a package
deal.
3^ abo%e we Shalt explain to the reader how a

would not be In the two instances we have mentioned above
even though genome
absolutely useless as
Let us assume that the the so-called suicide notes are
to justif\ an event Yei
found lying unclaimed had evidence to shield the arraigned murderer.
person whose body is
as trash. They
those notes won't be thrown away
urted from his home with a genuine note written the hands of the
are very valuable evidence in
xai signed by himself saying that he was going out and the
prosecution to trace the other accomplices
commit suicide which need not be investigated,
circumstances of the murder.
£ven in such a case if the man has died of a stab
record
»ound in the back it can clearly be inferred thai thus be seen that while a written
It will
crime home
though the man left his house with the intention of can prove very valuable in bringing the
if ever be used in
a commiittmi suicide, before he could carry out his to the wrong-doer it can seldom
the
Hi resolve he was intercepted and murdered. In this his defence In Indian history on the contrary
written word has been taken to
be gospel truth
very curiously the 'suicide document' is corroborate it
nne and yet the death is not suicide without bothering to confront or
but is this primary
murder. This gives us another valuable with circumstantial evidence. It
law of evaluation of evidence that has
dence thai a document may slip in the proper
be genuine but its irrational, irreconcilable, absurd
and
connection with the event could be spurious.
led to many
In
anomalous conclusions in Indian history.
i°o the circumstantial
evidence will be
crucial. The general rule of worldly caution respeel
in the law of evidence, is that ma
confession he
The Indian Criminal
Procedure Code lays down
10 it
b,,m»l to
statement! ihc 0M*»>" > man of the world he
<
that as a lull
voluntary historian i it
anv
*, rinn * Inch need noi .md wept-
rthing 10 iavc his ow n liberty to vise his discration will i
my pan
i
tMrcTed.BuiifiMhc count or thai statemenl môr rejecting the who i oi >i evidence
allowed some
which implicate
Innts lo Tail i mi i i fi can never lie in the mouth of the
he has
Incriminate him, or a partisan witness to instil
him thev can certainly be used 10 iiapect "i accused
accept or
and will be regaled and made use or as very i
l,,i i the judge, appraiser oi historian
reject the whole evidence. In a conn ol law all

strong evidence.
evidence |l properly silted ll is never treated
arryinjrour discussion a step further we shall
as a package, Sometimes valuable hints from
point "out. Hits rime in favour of the
suspect
now arc taken while the rest is rejected I
that ai times even a clear confession

is [I
or accused,
accused. trash. At Othet times the whole statement
dmissihlc as evidence to incriminate the
used ruthlessly to confront and contradict the
ilce hypothetical cast In which a long-
..
accused at every stage but never in his favour.

married Hindu couple is sitting in the drawing
room of their home. A visitor happens CO come and If,
subsequent pages of this
therefore, in ihe
the conversation develops into a violent quarrel in
book the reader finds lis sometimes quoting a
which the host murders the visitor. As a good partisan chronicler like Abu Fazal or Badayuni lo I
Hindu wife who always prefers to nrc-deceasc her bring home to Akbar his manv misdeeds, and at
husband the wife helps the husband to abscond and (hers we refuse Lo accept ai their face value the
tell* the police that he murdered ihe visitor In assertions of (hose chroniclers we do so on very
such case though the wife is apparently the sound ground* explained above. In fact not using
murderer yet B court of law trying her would no! such discretion and cautio winnow, select, -aft
place much reliance even on her own incriminating and appraise all ihe evidence would amount to
confession In such a case the judge will have at committing tile greatest academic folly and grave
injustice in Ihe field of academic teaming, and
the back of his mind ihe possibility of a Hindu wife in
impersonating for her husband as the real criminal, the search for Truth
It will also consider the faci that a Hindu wife is
having explained the importance of the
Alter
not prone to commit murders, She is noi generally
law or evidence in historical research we shall now
invoked in quarrels with outsiders; she
violent
turn to ihe other equally important requirement
generally handle murder- weapons; that a
man namely logic or instance, to anybody who asserts
I
won't generally murder a man. etc. etc.
that Akbar was great and noble we would like to
Thin ihc court will be very chary in using even n
put U few questions. The first question i* that il
dcarcut confession .is e\ iderice of ihc crime,

ihc present 20th ccntuT) parliamentary democrat
These instances should suffice to convince a
13
13
relations with Rana
^dually from mediaeval «£"*>*
history If* afforded by Ins
who died .n 1707 AD,

evolved vcrv Pratap. Both sworn deadly enemies of one
sverc
/«d if emperor Aurangwb If then Rana Pratap is to be admitted
as
" NVC been very barbarous and another.
i hiiÊ Akbar who a patriotic, brave, and righteous
son of ihc soil who
h& great grander
ZSFE* could
100 years be described fought, back-to-lhc-watl to save
Hindusthan from
Reeded Aurangzeb by over cign domination, does it noi
follow that Akbar
virtues? And .fat all
alTc very epitome of all
murder Rana
whai made his son WBS an alien villain who wanted to
*kbar was such an ideal man self-aggrandizement
turn out to be virtual Pr&tap like many others, for
grandsons and great grandsons
question we would like to pose and for cnsalving Hindudom?
beasts? The second
born and bred in a country's Wc thus sec alone is enough to
how logic
is thai when princes
own ancient tradition very seldom blossom into debunk and expose spurious claims
in history-
jdeal rulers how could Akbar. alien in parentage. Armed with and the law or evidence when we
Uw
and mentality develop an inordi-
studv accounts of Akbar's reign
we come across
religion, culture
And to the hilt our
nate love for the Indian people? if he staggering proof to corroborate
did he merge or identify grandfather of Aurangzeb
developed such a love surmise that as the great
For a
himself wth the religion, language and culture of Akbar was even worse than the former.
of history, there-
the vast majority of the people he ruled over? The proper studv and understanding
we should like to pose is that can a Tore, it is not so much
documents as logic and the
third question
are indispensable. Logic
and
drunkard and a drug-addict who is illiterate and who lav, of evidence which
the law of evidence enable

us to locate the needle
swallows principality after Indian principality for no
writings.
ostensible reason except self-aggrandizement be a of truth in a haystack of false
with noble motives? Fourthly we should of
man like to
H LvJ»| seen how an accurate reconstruction
an invading gang of dacoits claims records we
ask that if
histon is "possible from even falsified
that it looked after the children of a village with ten* of Akbar s
would like to indicate how a reappraisal
der filial care better than their slaughtered parents importance.
role assumes considerable
could, will any man endowed with reason pay any in the
Firstly such a reappraisal is necessar>
heed to that claim? Likewise when histories claim record of history
thai Akbar who killed or conquered one Indian interest ot truth, to put the
ruler after another did so only to lavish more loving straight.
care on the Indian people than those slaughtered logic compel us to

Secondly requirements of
or conquered Indian rulers ever could one must conclusions from
debunk absurd and illogical
at once di*mi*i Mich a claim as nonsensical. reign.
available evidence of Akbar'a
Anoiuvi easy tally to assess Akbar** role in

XhT.l-jM—
14
IS
Tr nidi wrong conclusions We allowed to

prone to pi am Ml} , readymade conclusion*
persist tliQ viilK the rationality of man. and make
without questioning. whal has actually
Tins is
j,,„, tfl &CCCp1 and put up with similar illogi-

|
happened In India in the field of history. False

deductions in all fields of knowledge and
,.il
nolens of secularism and Hindu-Muslim amity
education* have permanently incapacitated and precluded
i ii If Akbar is to be accepted a$ great students and scholars, teachers and professors,
authors and orators from prying deeper into true
and noble Ran a pratap. Rani Durgawati and a
Other Hindu princes and princesses would history. Such terror which prevents any free ques-
be classed as villains who wanton)) tioning and cross-examination of long-standing

have to
opposed the 'great and noble' Akbar. dogmas and shibboleths is unacademic The late
American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had
Fourthly the presumption of Akbar's greatness said that to be able to find the truth, one
must
mounts to saying that an alien could love and
.i
feci free to search for it. A student or teacher of
nurture his Hindu subjects better than their own Indian history has never felt free to piy into true
rulers Indian history. His inquiring faculty has been
deadened and his voice has been gagged so that he
Fifthly,would connote that an illiterate
it
may accept unquestioning!) all that is dinned into
monarch who had all the vices on earth could still even be illogical and unscientific. The
his cars if it
very loving, considerate and efficient.
pathetic belief in Akbar's nobility also makes
Sixthly, it leads to the absurdity that though nonsense of the Law of Evidence.
Akbar's ancestors and descendants were all very A of Akbar's role thus assumes
reappraisal
cruel yet he alone was almost a saint, an angel and great importance not only for a correct understand-
an ideal man. ing of dial sordid chapter but also for academics
in general.
If Akbar was so noble how did his sons,
Our two earlier books: The Taj Mahal is a
grandsons and great grandsons turn out to be
Hindu Palace; and Some Blunders of Indian
\icioui sadists? How were all of Akbar's Muslim
Research, have attempted cleaning some
Historical
courtiers and generals vicious and cruel?
other parts of the Augean Stables of history
Such anomalies and contradictions which It is hoped that this book would prove to be
follow from the assumptions of Akbar's greatness yet another beacon in reconstructing history so
Hid nobility if thiust down the throat of genera- its other chapters may be equally purified by
thai
lion* of students, they will permanently impair and climirtlMmL' the dross of falsehood contaminating
benumb students* rationalism and make them them.
n
birth was Badruddin (meaning 'The full moon of
2 11
religion"* Mohammad Akbar. The adjective

"Afcbar" means "very great" or "senior."
A CHRONOLOGY
OF AKBAR'S REIGN
March Akbar was circumcised. Circum-
1546:
tnay have, over the centuries come
to We
cision
the main events of as a sacred and indispensable
Muslim
4 chronoloeical survey of regarded
A ^kbar's reign is ncccssar)
before we proceed to religious rite but it owes its
origin to necessities of
roles as man and king to evaluate his desert hygiene. Since Islam had Us birth in the
discuss his
not wash them-
may. however, be stated that Arabian desert where people could
M
in historv. It
Place was found as a way
\anous dates given hereunder
are all approxi- selves for months citcumcision
the
phymosis. Circumcision owes
Though there have been ever so many out of complaints of
mate needs tf
recorded the events of the Its origin,
therefore, to the
chroniclers who have and cannot have an>
Muslim rulers, hygiene in waterless deserts,
lives and reigns of mediaeval In countries like indta
where
religious significance.
counters and princes yet they differ hopelessly on is enjoined as a
water plenty and a daily bath
is
they narrate since they were becomes irrelevant even for
the dates and events
necessity, circumcision
mamlv concerned with eking out a soft living m physic^ well-being, much
more so for spmtual
times by humouring
those dangerous and turbulent bliss.
their patrons, by recording
and reading out to
I5S6: Akbar's father
callous Monday January 27.
them concocted, flattering panegyrics
disregard of accuracy or truth.
in
Humayun died in Delhi, His ^«*»£*

Puuiu
inside the
from a staircase of a building
fall
Thursday, November 23, 1542: Akbar was born He was earned, about
QUa on Frtday, January 24.
1
at Umarkot in Sind where his father Humayun.

having been defeated by Sher Shah, and made
flee leasing his crown and throne in
to
India, had
*
"
Akbamama gives the date if Oclobci

U On
hirtndai
P-S*
^
and Akbar
sought the hospitality of the local Hindu
chieftain instead or Thursday
*>
Sunduv
23 to October IS.
Rana Virisal alias Rana Prasad- Akbar's name hack from November
ai
Vincent Smith *uy? an page 10 of his book "Akbar-

I
TneGrcal Mogul" thai many Persian and English author*

name
write the erroneously a-> Amarkol. In FaCl it <* Vincent on
be Amarkol. muaUj referred WiWplM ,i',
Smith who ii wrong. The original name could only

After Muslim occupation it must have been chanted W
fi
Akb#r,
Umarkot io make appear Muslim in origin*
il
.
18
19
,hic nalace He was buried in

W"*-. •
r:!,^ believed ,„Ma

where Akbar had encamped.
Those hmld.ngs had
cm
l,c,
K
dlei his
depicted on
The
deaih.
I: -«he Hindu Shako
palace
Chakr.
all sides.
in ,
T
which
been ruined through successive
November
Pantpat against
S,
Muslim onslaught*
from ihe beginning of (he 8th century
1556.
the
A.D.
Akbar won the battle of

Hindu warrior Hemu, making
flow in the centre
Akbar the master of the Delhi-Agra-
Fatehpur Sikri
therefore lived and
Akba .hcrHumayun. region. On page 29 of his hook Vincent Smith says
palace
d.cd in $ usurped Hindu Probably Hemu would have won
but for tI,
accident that he was struck in the eye
father s death in Delhi, by an arrow
at ihc time of hit which pierced his brain and rendered him
two months old) was m uncon
Akbar (then 13 years and scious. His army scattered and made no further
the Gurudaspur district
of the Punjab at Kalanaur,
Khan, engaged
resistance Hemu's elephant (led to the jungle."
accompanied b> h is guardian Behram
in military operations against Sikandar Sur. The date of Akbar's marriage is unknown.
first
According to the practice of marrying the paternal
For about a fortnight the news of
Humayun's
uncle's daughter Akbar was married to
Ruqaiya
courtiers look
death was either suppressed or the Begum the daughter of his uncle Hindal. He was
time to pro claim young Akbar king. bethrothed to her in November 1551.
February //. Akbar was proclaimed king

1556: Early I Akbar was married to Abdulla
ui Delhi in absentia Three days later thai is on Khan's daughter. This was Akbar \ second
February 14. 1556, Akbar was formally enthroned marriage. His guardian Behram Khan had frowned
in K the plinth o! an ancient Hindu on this match. This was probahtv the beginning of
\mccnt Smith is mistaken in observing the feud between Akbar and hi* guardian Behram
page : r his book! that -the ornamental Khan which ended in the laiter's assassination.
and subsidiary buildings subsequently

May 1557: Sikandar Sur surrendered after a
acted and visited mast than once by Akbar
long siege of Mankot h was during this campaign
t disappeared Such canards of Akbar having
that Behram Khun, the guardian of Akbar a as
fabulous buildings and townships which beihroihcd Akbar's lather's sisieis daughter
to
mysteriously disappeared without lea\
Stilima Begum Obviously Akbar had his eye on
trace have been gullibly believed in and
her because this betrothal so angered him that he
repeated by historians like Vincent Smith. ordered the royal elephants to be •.lauipcdcd into
mat ion is thai Akbar was proclaimed Behram Khan's tent.
the rums f a.iuent Hindu buildings
,
1
21
Behratn Khan
«^h« later at .tiillundur
AfC and agam the or believe
: ic
»»t pi-imco
Ttsah^Be e ,mto frighten Bchram
to
Sikri
assert that Akbar built Fatehpur
repeated
elephant ««"l«
e
£im mtadication of havhtg
January 1561 Behram Khan was assassinated
!U-M|* envy uJ ro y3 , ,re.
:
£Ufl at Siddhapur Pultun In Gujarat. He was obviously

murdered by assassins sent by Akbar since for
later aeain
Aera1 ,avvi
*~ in ^gr* Akbar made
After reiiirn to
.
•" . , ,
three years earlier Akhar had vigorously hounded
of bullying ht. iruard.an
elephant the
mstrumem him out of office, stripped him of all power, inflicted
,n
Bchram IChan. several defeats on him in open battles and finally
exiled him. Ultimately he was cornered and
,tffl 4 />removed his seat of govern*
**kbar
Sikri. This clearly murdered. Soon after his murder his wife accom-
fr. m Aura to Fatehpur
before Akbar. panied by her thiec-ycar-old son, who later became
rve Tat Fatehr- Silii existed the Muslim Abdur Rahim IChan Khanan, was brought to
the change is given by
ffe reason for Akbar s nurse A k bar's harem and forced to play wife to him.
hronicler Ferishta. He says* that
accidentally overheard that
was Adham Khan
S S£
it
March 29, 1561: Akbar** generals
bam Anaga
design to imprton Akba.
Scared Mohammad Baz Bahadur the
defeated
and Pir
and no longer considering himself
safe in ruler of Mandavgad at Sangrur near Dewas in
bv this
cause which determined Akbar Great atrocities were committed in
to
^ ra '-was the
" This shows that all talk and belief that
central India.
this campaign by Akbar "s generals.
Asra
Fatehpur Sikri just for the heck of
Akbar moved to April 27\ 1561: Akbar left Agra post haste
Agra because he felt
burin. Me had to quit because he was informed that Adham IChan had
insecure there. That he could
move at short
himieir been holding back the women of Baz Bahadur's
with bag, baggage retinue,
notice to Fatehpur Sikri harem, and choice spoil.
the entire court, a
harem of 5000 women and a
animals shows that June 4, 1561.Akbar relumed to Agra after
menaceric of 1.000 wild
Fatehpur Sikri was a captured township
composed seizing the women and adding them to his own
that we see now in it. and
some harem and appropriating the captured booty.
of all the buildings
It is. therefore, a
great blunder of history
more June 1561: himself led an attack against
Ak bur
ihc people of eight villages in Etah district (Sakit
p 121. vol H Hisiorj of ihe Rise ol the Mahomedai*
Pargana). In Parokh village a house was set on fire
four volume*) nil the year A D, 1612,
I
Power in R
were burnt to
Trom the original Pen and about a thousand Hindus
Mummed Ratlin FtfMlM, iroruliilcd
59 A
John Bri^s. I0fifl reprint, published by S Dey death-
Snambttar St reel. Calcutta-
sar.wM
22
23
r , f<A/ undertook an ex*
*kh.ir
(( Kfrm Zaman Ah Kuli khan) of forging inter-communal marital tics, We ihall
deal with this matter in greater detail in a subse-

Khan, who were n quent chapter.
H \,s brother Babadut
, remade to surrender. Jto was the first
March 1562; A D Baz Bahadur, the ruler of
:
o*u courtiei*
*S rcoli agains. Akbar
slo be followed by
by his
revolts galore by Hlmosl
M and a v gad. finally surrendered and agreed to be a
minor courtier at Akbar's eourt.
and subordinates
of Akbar's male relations A senior nobleman and tela-
,11
Akbar's lechery, irca- May
1562 16, :
protest and disgust or

\r.
i
ion of Akbar bearing the name Sbamsuddin Atga
chery. usun Mid cunning- Khan was murdered outside Akbar** bed-chamber
Agra ostensibly
Akbar fcfl by Adham Khan who had led Akbar's army in the
January 14. 1562', on the date differ
Sangrur battle. Authorities
to visit saint Ifflamuddiii
GhistTs shrmc in Aimer.
thisincident as on other important dales. The
shrine were con-
Obviousl) ftkbar's visits to that Tabakat-i-Akbari chronicle written by Nizamuddin
His ieal intention was to
reduce
temporary ruses this gruesome murder to the succeeding
attributes
e and patriotic Rajput rajas to submission Some others place it as late as 1565 A,D.
year
cmc after the othet Some years later when this
being thrown from
Adham Khan was punished by
object was achieved he Mopped going to Ajmcr. livesecond storey of the palace apartments
it. the
Port in Agra. Being only hall dead, he was again

Rajasthan was to com-
sally of his hi
This first
hauled up and hurled down a second time.
plete the humiliation and submission ot the
Jaipur
1562 A Akbar asked for a petty sum
D
Raja Bharmal and compel htm to sunender
:
ruler.
Earlier Bharmal Rs. IgfromKhwajaJahanthe treasure! 1 he lattei
his daughter for Akbar % harem.
replied that the treasury was absolutely empty and
subjected to cruel and devastating raids by
even that petty amount was not available
\\t-j.\'- general Sharfuddm, and three Jaipur
Minister
princes were held in captivity! under pain of tor-
1162 A. D : Munim Khan die Chief
turous death unless Bharmal consented lo surrender ol Akbar rebelled and fled He W&S captured
his daughter for Akbar*s harem, and grandson at Sarwat in Saharanpu. district and rcinsi
Manvingh and son Raja Bhagwandas to reside In He was the second grandee of Akbar's cou,
perpetual tutelage at Akbar's Court as hostages 10 rebel against \kbar
ensure the Jaipur Hindu royal family's permanent
Novemi IS&\ Shariuddm the ^^
,
iithinisw Whs blatant i-.-i ol kidnapping a

Jaipur ratal
ii;i been mnusiiliablv and atrociously
who had terroraed and hounded the
Bharmal in eaung his Rajput prideiifldsu
glorified in Indian history us a scry noble gesture
24
25
was another harem
hi* daughter to AH*W*
he was passing alongside the Parana Qila in Delhi
ubar's court to revolt. An arms was
his way from the Nizamuddin shrine lo the Red
bi,i*I l«m and he was hounded away first to
Mecca. Foil (The Red Fort in Delhi is a very ancient
Oujerataitd then u
building and was not built by Shahjahan as is
\ ftw days later Abu I Mali, another senior mistakenly asserted), This attempt on Akbar's
courtier, declared WW on Akbar. Like everyone life was made because he was nosing about to
efce around Akbar he was of such a bcastfo nature abduct good-looking vvives, mothers, sisicrs and
a princess and murdered daughters from many families,
that Bl K.ihul he married
his mother-in-law
March IS64 : Akbar is said to have abolished
A.D, Akbar is said to have been tiger-
>3 :
which was levied by
1
the .liziya tax Muslim sultans
hunting 5 al Mathura. References to 'hunting in
on Hindus for the preceding 800 years. This
Muslim chronicles arc not to be taken literally abolition ishoax as we will describe later. Akbar
\
\cr> often they mean hunting down Rajput rulers.

is also believed to have forbidden the enslavement
It is common knowledge that military operation* of prisoners of war in 1562 and abolished
are b closel) Accordingly hunting
guarded secret. the tax on Hindu pilgrims in 1563. It will be
expeditions of Muslim monarchs were mere con- pointed out later that these are canards and
temporary ruses to throw he people off their I motivated myths blindly believed in by writers of
guard This Mathura 'hunting* enln in Muslim history books without undertaking any investiga-
chronicles, therefore, only proves that Akbar was tion.
at Mathura on one of those missions to destrov
Hindu places of pilgrimage 1564 A.D. : Khwaja Muazzam (maternal uncle
Ancient Mathura has
been razed to the ground in successive Muslim
of Akbar, being half
queen brother of the
mother Hamida Banu Be gam) became ihe
bus Some of these were by Akbar. It will
fifth courtier to revolt against Akbar, He was
awn later that he visited every ma ior centre
then sent a prisoner to a dungeon in Gwalior fort
of Hindu pilgrimage
place
to similarly destrov those
where he became mentally deranged and died. I
January Se pi ember 1 564 Akbar forced Mi rza Muba-
12. 1564 : A poisoned arrow was
:
shot at Akbar with rak Shah, ruler f i Khandesh to surrender his

a view to assassinate him while daughter for Aklnu's harem. This again was no
QtMOgfe on page 47 o! Vincent Smith's book marriage but abduction since the poor, helpless girl
tiic Great Moguf apiiv records thai "i.gcrv have was seized and carried away to Akbar's court by the
•«r> ntiir Mnihura lor inan> u year." What was principal eunuch Ait mad Khan.
Akfcar buuttuji then
27
Uzbek who was

CJ vhdulla Khan fitf HajlBegum itllasBega Bet'um
r ,nhe Vfalwa
region became the childless senior widow of Humayun o
;rêr to revolt agaiÂkba, lefi I
liiruHN- to Mecca but ordered the
const rucl innof Humtiyun's tomb in the mc
Akbar is Mid to have ordered while. The o n is said to have been completed
I 1
1
'
..ear
fe
Nagarchain to be
d
bu.lt when she returned three years laier.
fi/ : seen mile, to the south of Agra n

1 rosier mother.
1
:
Hi** own moth lama
fine buildings and
magnificent was Ha mid a Banu Bcgam This buiidh of
met ol the
^dem, * said to have ordered, can be found

he
Humayun "s tomb by a childless widow is another
is is yet another
hoax Akbar did canard Humayun ties ruined m the cellai I a
jnvwh
buildings, captured Rajput palace
mid even a single building. All
gardens 01 gateways ascribed to
1365 vkhiii is said to h J
urn usurped or eonquered by him from :
rebuilding (after demolish ins thc earlier fort) the

India Hindu niiei
Red Fort Another \ersion says that as
in Agra.
early as 1561-1563 Akbar had started raising some
Kii flman. a leading courtier
buildings in thc fort. Bin rding U ishta
rebelled against Akbar. He thus became the
what the chronicles call "the fort" was the ancient
>c%emh leading figure of Akbars court to revolt.
wall surrounding Agra at) \kbar have
ordered a few repairs to the cltj wall battered at
1564 dun Nabi appointed to look after
royal grants 10 fakirs and other indigent persons,
places during successive Muslim invasions H
proved to be rapacious and unwon]
minor repair work hai> been fraudulently magnified
and misrepresented by erring hi
ordered his general A saf Khan
building of the Hindu Red Fort in That
1 ravage Ram Durgawati's kingdom with a view Akbai could start building a whole oFNagar«
annex her excellently governed principality and chain, his foster mother could order .1 palatial
tomb deceased monarch if u ma u
for thc ind 1
11
that beautiful queen for his own harem.
thai at the same time Akbar could thc
demolition and rebuild if :he Red Fort in Agra
Lmtinl56i Twin 50ns Hasan and Husatn
while engaged in h war against Rani fawati I
ar. Chough Akbar had a host

id faced with rebellions bv main oftljs court*!
romclcrs swarming around h.m
the is absurd in the extreme.
,h nwl,,w of '***
7a a
* «* has Hit been
Thc IW,ns dlcd 1565*66 A saf Khan the general who had
2 [h
*«•«« a month of 1
29
...tft kingdom was another wined out. Almost ill chroniclers unanimously
record that Akbar thoroughly enjoyed the 'spirt*
The Ranis realm
stood
U.n,
h "<
"°2i LoS ,
against his erstwhile, May 1567: Khan Zamau andbrother Baha-

dur who had been in open revolt for over two
Ins
years were defeated and killed. Several other
Ubar's brother Mohammad

Hakim, adherents of the rebel leaders were executed bv
firr/r/Jtf;
Punjab. Akbar arrived being trampled to death by elephants.
.,„ inv aded the
his brother,
hie n February 1567 to stem
;; May- June 1567Akbar ravaged India's richest
While at Lahore Akbar organized a
vtf^ or and most famous Hindu pilgrim centres namely
Ind hunt. AH gê «, thin a circumference
\llahabad and Benaras fVaranasi). People fled
Akbar enjoyed the murder-
10 miles was killed- in terror as Akbars armies ran amuck.
using the sword, lance.
ous sport for five days
m nd lasso. July 18 \ 1567 Akbar returned to his capital
i
Agra from his 'Operation ravage'.

Taking advantage of Ak bar's absence from
At about the same time another revolt led by
the Delhi-Agra-Fatchpur Sikri region a host of
yet another courtier named Iskandar Khan was
his relations classed as Mirzas and holding
high
He was another important courtier
ranks at Akbar's court revolted against him. Akbar suppressed.
to revolt besides the other uncountable Mirzas.
had, therefore, to hurriedly leave Lahore to return
to Agra
September 1567 Akbar began preparations
:
April 1567 : On
way back while Akbar
his to invade Chittor. On October 20, Akbar formed
his camp extending for 10 miles to the north-east
was campjng at Thancshwar in the Punjab two
sects of priests called Kurus and Purus complained
ofthe Chittor Mil.
to htm about a dispute between them regarding women burnt
February 23. 1568: Brave Rajput
the sharing of the offerings made at the local themselves in amass pyre to escape molestation
Hindu -shrine by an unending stream of pilgrims. hands of Akbar* s barbarous Muslim hordes.
at the
Akbar had them lined up armed with swords,
The next morning Akbar rode into the fortress
sticks and daggers and made them
annihilate one and ordered a general massacre in which 30,000
another. To ensure that both sides got killed were slaughtered. Many thousands were taken
he kept reinforcing the weaker side
with a band prisoner to be turned into slaves. The holy threads
of fid fanatic Muslims and saw to ii
that both of those slaughtered, weighed 74£ raaunds.
the pries! iy factions numbering about S00 were
n
Akhm returned to Agra,

U, confined in the solitary recesses of the burqn
uuaiu rose in revolt during mediaeval Muslim rule.
The Miffli
fort, a strong. Akbar is *aid to have inspected
April 1570 :
frfejiarv JJ»*
Ranihambhore
the newly built mausoleum of his father emperor
uonaf.hc-nu.uJiancl.ui was
loMorili Ihi m ay ii, On pace 74 of his book Vincent Smith
*W Swrjan had tn surrender the
bTccd l« n look eight or nine years to build. Mirak
I
within 3i monU Mtrza Ghiyas was the architect This is a canard.
Buiula
Humayun lies buried in a captured Hindu palace
kalanjur fort (in dis-
fogim/i* in which he lived.
r possession of Raja Ramehand of
trict)
1
,'
Rewa) was besieged and captured' concubine bore to Akbar a

JutteS, J 570 A
B ,
„ (he famous singei was surrendered by son named Murad and nicknamed Pahadi being
Ram Ramehand to AU'i.ir along with a huge born on the Fatehpur Sikn hillock,
ransom The Raja was given a jagirnear Allahabad
September 137Q \kbai it said to have
and msi! isial.
arranged for the enlargement of the fort and
the
erection of many handsome buildings in Aimer. The

August 30, 1569 Salim (the future emperor
said to have been completed in three years.
Jahangirj was bom of the daughter of Raja Bhar- work is
Ajai-Meru very ancient Hindu town and all

is a
f Amber, whom Akbar had kidnapped from
exist from be-
lu historic extant buildings there
SaraW
fore the I2lh century Hindu
emperor Prilhviraj's
lime mayremembered that this* •* the
be
A daughter Khan am Sultan 1 1
precise period when Akbar is said to have launch-

Sikri while
ed even the building of Fatehpur
suppressing many-
,Akl engaged in incessant wars and
l
I
on Daniyal was born of a
re volts.
n September 10. 1572. at Aimer, in
Sheikh August IS71
and stayed in
Akbar came
Daniyal believed to be ,,
on page
were at least two other daughters Fatehpur Sikri says Vincenl Smith
and magnifi-
was allowed to mar his book. This proves thai majestic
*ano Begun, cent monuments which
we see m our own das
who d.ed unmarried dur-
Fatehpur Sikri existed even in
Akbar s time and
!" The daughters are rarely townshio is i
the assertionthat he founded that
me» were canard.

illiterate non-cniitie*
n .
J2
33
'-*"- Raaft Prattpihc iramortti
Mnmn v '
Akbar 's might Ihc service that Bhayvvandas rendered to the alien
iucccssfillly defied
son of India wfc mi march an empty honour conferred on him was
attrition was enthroned at
In t 1oi«diaw« war of ihc grant of a banner and kettle drums never be-
16 miles north-west ol
Udaipur The
Gl i fore bestowed on a Hindu.
took place a little later at
forma! coronation Smut rebels capitulated.
February 26. 1 573
kumbhalmir fort.
The commandant Ham/.aban was punished by the
Juh A. 1? Akbar out from Fatehpur
set tongue. He was a general in Akbar's
excision of his
on one of his life-long wars of aggression It
Sikri father's service.
Sikri was ihc
may be noted here that Fatehpur [jfrtl IS, 1 573: -\kbar leaves Ajmer and
place from which he starts though fraudulent
arrives in Fatehpur Sikri on June 3.
Muslim chronicles would have the reader believe
Fatehpur Sikri was a township built by Akbar August 23 % 1573: Akbar had to leave for
that
to quell a rebellion led by Mohammad
and that it was completed only in 1583 A.D. Gujcrat
Hussain, an irrepressible Mirza,
Sirohi the headquarters of the Deora sect of
One Sep!. 2, /57JT The battle of Ahmcdabad was
the Chauhan clan was stormed and taken.
fought- A pyramid of more than 2,000 slain heads
hundred and fifty Rajputs deliberately sacrificed
their live* in a futile attempt at resistance Sirohi was raised.
was famous for the excellence of its sword blades. Monday, Oct, 5, 1573 : Akbar returned to
\"2 Fatehpur Sikri.

.Sovember Muzaffar Shah 111 the alien
:
Muslim sultan of Gujarat was captured and his 1571-1574 Akbar in concert with Todarmal
:
the compulsory branding

kingdom annexed. His followers were ordered issued a proclamation for
and every person owning
to be trampled to death by elephants. of all horses so thai any
became a royal slave
such a horse automatically
At Cambay Akbar saw the sea for the ordered.
bound to be on duty whenever
first
time.
1573 The three rnnces were
October 2. :
Khan-i-Azam. fMirza Aziz Koka) foster brother Fatehpur Sikri.

circumcised at
wa a ppoi e d g i e r no r of G ujera t
:» I i
chronicler
1574 A D. •
Abul Fazal the fawning
The Mirzas led
Ibrahim Husain were in by the first
; presented himself for
of Akbar s court
did not create much
revolt. Sural was one of their centres. Raja of an
Bhagwandas and his adopted son Raja Mansingh lim e before Akbar but
impression-
Akbar in this campaign. Bhu "wandfls'S
Akbar embarked on a
river
iot June \5, 1574:
killed. It, recognition of
1
conquer Bihar
prince During At 35
vovft ce to
foundered off Etawa.
SvKtion wwwl vessels
anyone could go on pilgrimage at State expense
After 26 days' travel Akbar
LÛ off Allahabad (p.% Vincent Smith's book "Akbar the Great
B.nnris where he halted
for 1
!L, lC d iyt .
Mogul"),
arrived nf the capture of Bhukkar
At this time news nrza Aziz Koka, Akbar\ foster brother
tfcsv 111 Sind
revolted and was subjected to house-confinement
March ,\ Tukaroi battle was fought with
I57S in Agra. He is said to have resented the compul-
iter of parts of Bengal,
Orissa and Bihar. Bui there
Oi, sory branding-of-horses regulation.
prisoners laken were
massacred and their could be many other reasons besides, such as
The
ids were piled up to constitute eight sley-hj Akbar* s licentiousness In helping himself with
minarets, others' women Though we have already lost
count, since almost of Akbar's relations and

all
April 12, 1575 Muniin Khan the general
.
generals revolted against him, we may tentatively

accepted the formal submission of Daud and left
class Aziz Koka as the 1th eminent person of
1
him m possession of Orissa,

Akbar's court who turned a rebel.
74-1575: Gujerat suffered from severe pesti-
1576: Daud Afghan ruler
the
July 12,
lence and famine, of Bengal was killed in a battle and his kingdom
October 1575Akbar's wife Saliina Sultan came to an end. The battle was fought near
Begum (widow of fie h ram Khan), his father's sister Rajmahal an ancient capital of Hindu Bengal.
Those ruins are wrongly attributed 10 subse-
Gulbadan Begum and Akbar's mother (some say
quent Muslim rulers, In fact the ancient Hindu
Hamida Bano Begum left on a pilgri-
mother'J
buildings are in ruins precisely because of repeat
I-
mage of Mecca They were detained in Surat by

cd Muslim assaults.
Portuguese for about a year The group retur
cd in I5&2 Guibadan Begum who is supposed to 1572-1597 : The between Rana
titanic struggle
have written her memoirs has left no record of her Praiap the immortal hero of Hindudom and the
experience as a pilgrim. It could be, therefore, that aggressive Akbar lasted for a quarter of a century.
the mem that go in her name Ultimately it was Akbar who withdrew from the
are a concoc- and
tion. struggle white Pratap emerged triumphant
invincible though with a reduced realm.
A lar^c party of male
pilgrims under the
June 1570 The famous battle of Haldighat
:
charge of a leader was also sent

The novel and was fought, It was in this battle that Rana Pratap's
ui continued for five or the temple
charger rested his raised front legs on
i
m The l ;roi issued a general order that

of Jahangir's elephant and as the
redoubtable
36
Jchangir with a blow 37
fSfgt S
, . . forward lo kill
haneir hid bchind thc P0Qr
* tent be furnished as a travelling mosque
to
in
killed. which he ostentatiously prayed five times
gol a day
oaboui who as a pious Muslim should
A comet with a long tail
jfemfer tf«
** !
and remained visible for a September 1579 Akbar issued the infallibility
1,
d in the sky
decree declaring himself the absolute temporal
long time
and spiritual head in his realm. Within a week he
Raja Todar Mai from arrived
1*77 A. 0, left for what turned oui to be his last
visit to
Gujerat with a party of rebel prisoners. They were Ajmer. ostensibly to Khwaja Moinuddjn Chisti's
executed. tomb. The promulgation of this decree has given
1578 AD. Akbar :
from an epileptic fit
suffered rise to the belief in Akbar having founded a new
religion called Din-e-Ilahi.
tough some fawning chroniclers prefer to term it
us j si range spiritual trance. His temper became
January 1580 Influential chiefs in Bengal
:
profoundly melancholic. revolted against Akbar. The revolt was brought

1579 A, D. : A Zoroastrian theologian, Dastur under control only in 1584.
vjchcrjeeRana who had become acquainted with
Mirza Mohammad Hakim, younger half
Akbar during the siege of Sural in 1573, and took
brother ruling in Kabul threatened invasion.
part in some debates at Fatehpur Sikri in 1578
went home early in 1579. February 1581 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri for
8, :
India's north-west frontier. Shah Mansur, Akbar's

End of June !579 Akbar displaced the regular
:
finance minister was in league with the potential
preacher at thc chief mosque in Fatehpur Sikri to
invader. He thus became the 12th important
emphasize his position as both the spiritual and
courtier to revolt. He was hanged by a tree at
temporal head of his realm.
Shahbad, midway between Thanc<ihwar and
November 1579 A Ambala. Abul Fazal himself acted as the hangman.
of Portuguese
; mission
minionaries left Goa and reached
Fatehpur Sikri August 0, Akbar entered Kabul while
1581 :
on February 28. 1580. They
presented Akbar with his half-brother Mohammad Hakim the ruler tied.
a Bible which he returned
at a much later date. Akbar started on his return journey after only a
About this time Akbar becoming alarmed six-day stay.
''despread resentment
bv
aroused January 17, 1582 : Ak bar's step mother died.
'novations adopted a policy
of calculated Since her return from Mecca she is said to have
^ncent Smith's book, page 130).
On spent most of her time first in the construction and
his way back from Ajmer
he caused a lofty
,
n
husband Hurnayun's
^-nflcenicnt of her
, . Augtist 1582 : Akbar veiled
house wheic a
*'" '", "llT™r*aie««rnt on page 391-92. Vol.
about 20 newly born children, purchased from
SrKS&i
^..j,,
Nhrivastava's book "Akbarthe
variance with other
reports that cons-
their mothers, had been brought up in absolute
isolation since 1578 under the care of dumb nurse*
SJ had started before she
A
.eft,
large number of Sheikhs

This was a sadist and whimsical experiment wh"
completely ruined the lives of all those innoc
I
f58l-$2 4 children.
Kandahar and exchanged for October 15. 1582 The six-mile long and
eêd"mostly to :
two-mile broad lake at Fatehpur Sikri burst.

horses, to be enslaved.
Akbar who was at the time engrossed in a birth-
March 1582 : Masum
Khan Farhankhudi, an-
day party with some courtiers, had a narrow
iirticr to revolt against Akbar,
other important co escape from drowning. This hurst made the lake
murdered one night while on his
way from
was go dry. The township having been deprived of
Fatehpur Sikn despite his having
ihe palace in its source of water Akbar had to leave it for good
or Akbar's mother,
sought and got the protection in 1585. having found it impossible to live there
monk stayed any more.

1582 AM. : Hirvijaya Sun, a Jain
at Akbar's court for some days. Aitimad Khan, important courtier
another
to revolt, conspired against Akbar with the rebels
/5lh April 1582. Daman, a Portuguese posses-
in Gujerat. He was imprisoned. On expressing
sion was invaded by Akbar's forces. A similar
repentance he was appointed governor of Gujerat.
treacherous attack on Diu was foiled.
Early
158J Jesuit
: priest Aquaviva left
The debates on religion which had com-
Fatehpur Sikri having obtained Akbar*:; permis-
menced in 1575 came lo an end in 1582 A.D. He
sion to leave, with great difficulty .it
About this time Sayyad Muzaffar accompani- the court for over three years.
ed by Father Monserrate was asked to proceed on Mu?affar Shah, ex-king
September 1583 :
an embassy to Europe. This was Akbar's way of Gujerat captured Ahmedabad and proclaimed
getting rid of Sayyad Muzaffar. He deserted and himself king, from J irj 1584 onwards he
concealed himself in the Deccan. was successively defeated at Surkhei and Nandcd
and later forced lo retreat into the sandy wastes
August f 1582 Two Christian youths were
of Ktltch. He continued to he rebellious ur
murdered in Sural
because they refused to accept
1591-92 when he was captured, He is then report-
lilanL A ransom of 1.000 gold coins offered
for the relca&c of the
Christian youths was refused.
40
41
eommftted
-cidc * **«•« hi,
td I0 have nine and he was forced to submit by paying

personal humiliating homage. Earlier, in 1563 he
had to pay a big ransom and surrender the musician
hard!y h. d
,
J^bl> on a, than But
he couri
errand.
is said to
Tunsen. The
dragged away
latter bitterly
to the Muslim court

we pi when
in
virtually
Delhi
SrSi!*f **-* of death his his

A great famine raged in Akbar's termor
^ffi
J? Akbar Wd?o
to have reached the
(he spot in 1583.
1584 A.O. A new era known

beginning
as the Divine
ostensibly to save the Era was started with retrospective effect

March It. 1556. the first Muslim New
all her relatives Years day
ccratcd
herself on her husband s
5£um from tannine
afier Akbar's accession. This
was a part of Akbar
obviously a hoax. This is yet an-
pyrCi This is
Ins unfettered sovereignty and
Hindu prince attempt to assert
,..
r episode of Akbar murdering a claim to divinity
i
r
|g
,. ik- to his harem.
young handsome Hindu painter
j
Daswant a
OmherS, 1583: Aicbai celebrated Id-ul-Fitr. and treachery at the Mogul
lircdoflhe lechery
on the day Raja Birbar was
po atch stabbing himself with a
B
court ended his life by
thrown n bis hoi Akbar is said to have
dagger.
gractousi) breathed on him and revived him. This a
July I ^ Ghtti Khan Bads
1584*.
foi.
of the many make-believe acts of Akbar
court, died at Ayodhya.
pail;
,cai favourite at Akbar's
nting to show off some of his vaunted miracu- \yodhya inctudi
lou spiritual powers. Some of the ancient temples in to
buried were converted
the one where he lies
iter / \kbar is said to have built mosque-, and tombs by him,
the Mlaliahad fori ind founded a city around it. (the future
February ft (SSS Prince Salim, !
\nd li urtiersare also said to have buiU man- to Manbau the

The emperor Jahan.m was married
M.msmgh. From her he had WQ
ns in the city, fort and Prayag city are
sister of Raia
of immemorial Begum died
antiquity Crediting them to
3S hen A daughter ftdW
Mtbai i| of the juvenile naivete with which
bland a* m fraudulent Muslim chronicles January 29 l«22 W
August 6. 1587, died on
been allowed
booki of Indian history whli
to disfigure
u
and disgrace
questioning-
text 2 ,r.cc imprisoned along
with his mother
H.s'o-called tomb m KhUSfU
B*.
,n
™ Ml 'Lb d
iuk-uI w.r
Wa4ra ^ dl
:
M
RajaRaroChandfaorBhatha
Muslim armK...,, i he third
s.n-'LruinedHnuliM
to? S3 « KhU^S prison and UUer as hi,
42
43
.nnarenilv murdered in 1604 in
^S^-^,K.
,
a scries of forts in this area. This tribal re 1
Pnnoc Sa ,, m .
continued even beyond 1600 A.D.

m tSSS: Akbar sent an army to
D February 22\ 1586 Raja Bhagwan Das signed
uler Yusuf Khan, and his son :
a treaty with the Kashmir ruler Yusuf

Khan. Akhar
panic. Two o her upbraiding Bhagwandas refused tc honour the
Bed in
iTkJ* court, had
two mountain treaty. Bhagwandas deeply hurt, apparently be-
sen to conquer the
In cause of Akbar's faithlessness, stabbed
general belief,
himself.
gtnesofS^nondBaJaut. This shows how, contrary to the

court came
by Bayazid fought
led every Hindu connected with Akbar's
ThcRa ashliniya Afghans
forces,
,00th and nu.l against Akbar's invading to grief*
Birbar was ordered to join October 6, 1586 Akbar's forces led by Qasim
:
January 22. I5S6 .

and
the Yusufzai Afghans. Zain Khan entered Srinagar, capital of Kashmir,
ihc expedition against Yaqub
bar's forces apparent]} indulged in plunder, repression and torture.
Kh a commander of Ak to har
chronicles to have and his father Yusuf Khan continued
claims .false credit in Muslim
the enemy by guerrilla warfare.
he hilly north-west
built the Lhakdara
fort in I
frontier. Birbai was slain in this campaign. His

July !589 surrendered. Yusuf Khan
: Yaqub
He was born annexed. The
original name was Muhcsh Das. was released after Kashmir was
Akbar and
about 1528 A.D. m a poor Brahmin family of the latterwas made a minor courtier by
Bhaua chin, in Kalpi town. sent to fight in Orissa.
prolonged stay in Lahore Akbar's

A second expedition to subdue the irrepressi- During his
sortves
forces indulging in desecrating
and ravaging
ble Yusufzats was sent soon after tinder Raia
against defenceless Hindus
coerced a number of
Todarmar* command.
to sue fOl
Hindu rulers of the neighbourhood
But only incited the other Afghan included:
Those surrendering to blackmail
this all
peace.
tribes in the region to relenM Akbar's Parashurani
RajaBidhi Chand of Nagarkot.
ly resist '
predator) Kabul, was of Ja.swal. lUia

Maniingh, then a
Jammu. Basu of Mau. Anuradha
forces. I
ordered to join the campaign with his forces. He Kahlur. Pratap of Mankot
and a number
Tila of
fell ill for a month and was sured for not being of other principalities*
able to cniili the Afghan tribes. Many tribesmen
were slaughtered is said, at this time Yaqub of Kashmir
those taken prisoner were It
to him a
«i. The was done to death by Akbar by sending
chronicle, Akba.rnaijta
liaudulc credits Zain Khun with having built
44
43
„ *l rrthtt the wearing of which
because of "lodarmal's usurious regulations at
proved fetil
Akbar's henchman,
/592:
and Great Tibet
Litlk
r A
suzennrm. All \ugust 6, 158?Akbar' a first grandson prince
Tr accept Aktar-i
:
Khusru was born to Manbai, the Jaipur princess

harem Tl„ and jehangir. He led a life of dissipation and
daughter for iahangrr
s
mteUi m
SV «*«*'
Eft ««* *
to Lahore and dumped ,„
,hc MusI,m r
u volt and was done
Manbai was
Begum.
given the
to death captivii
Muslim name of Shah

iter.
das. Akbar's third son Daniyal

reduced to
May 30, 1588 :
People were
/W-/55J? A.D. was married to the daughter of Sultan Khwaja.
a vast region.
penury and destitution in the father
August 1588: Prince Murad became
June tf J5# The daughter of Rai Singh, of a son named Sultan Rustam,
ruler
was brought to Lahore to be
of Bikaner. court musician
Jehangir) s harem April 26, 1589 : The famous
added to Satim (future emperor Lahore after being Forced to entert-
many times earlier. Tansen died at
though he had been married His body first buried in
ain the court for 27 years.
November 16. 1586 Raja Basu of .
Man alias Lahore is said to have been carried
to Ovsaliorlater.
irpur was subdued a second

time. Ak bar's Akbar set out on his first
April 28 />
behaviour had so Burhanuddin was despatched
repressive and treacherous visit' to Kashmir
alienated his He decided hereafter to
officials that Dcccan kingdom of Ahmednaear
againsi the
appoini two governors to each of his twelve Burhanuddin returned unsuccessful.
provinces so that out of sheer rivalry they may
June 5. 1589 - Akbar reached Srinagar and
keepfindin fault with one another and carry tale* of Kashmir's erst-
Itved for 36 days in the palace
Akbar so that he may keep both in check by Akbar
while rulers. During (he trek to Kashmir
iiirj one against the other. Salim. The latter
refused to see his son prince
i
.vmained
Early 158? Akbar promulgated a usurious mprehend.ng vengeance from Akbar
ordinance undo every visitor io court was
ftich confined to his own tent. Rulers of Little and
their wits because
to present to the sovereign according to his status Great Tibet frightened out of
apprehension ol fear-
or cold fins equal in number to the years Of Akbar'* proximity and an
ful raids sent him a large
ransom.
ins Bjj
Juh 1 ioiUrmal vt tabbed al Orlober S> P&9 ! Akbar reached Kabul and
night Btsailant who bore him a grudge
XhT.-IOM
4h
4T
i ilicre for 48 days. While there he received
I darma|\ Icticr of resignation. Todarmal went his wealth by Muslim priests of ihe Kaba. Finding
life intolerable even there, he reluctantly returned.
uid lived m retirement In Hirdwrar but was later
retail" August IS 1/ J
5, Sheikh Mubarak, tether of
Todarmal died in Lahore. \hul Faizi the poet and Abut Fazal, the chronicler,
Novembei 9, 1589 :
died at the age of 88.

Raja Bhagwandas who
\.*M-mlur 14, /
October 5, 1393 The poet Faizi died at
while pariKipaimg in TodarmaPt
\
Caught '
Lahore suffering from dropsy, vomiting blood,

ncrul suffered from vomiting and
strangury and
breathing difficulty and swollen hands and feet.
Hi sistCl was Akbar's wife Jodh Bai>
d
October JO. 1595 Hakim Humara, superin-
Akbar launched an invasion against Sindh v
tendent of Akbar's kitchen, reckoned among
the
Kandab and Sibi (north-east of Quetta ln nine eminent people of Akbar's. court,
died,
large chunk of terri-
Baluchistan) und captured a Akbar on his third
set out
April L 1597 :
tory.
visit Kashmir.
to Relations between Akbar and
even
end of 1588 A.D. : A campaign was launched prince Salim (Jahangir)
were so strained
prince dare not call
against the Afghan ruler of Grissa. Its conquest during this trip that the
was completed in 1592. on his father. A severe famine raged in the vale
November 1597
of Kashmir from May
'
Orivsa public rose in revolt against Akbar's their homes The

1 lie
compelling people to ftce
were soon suppressed ruled by LaWuni
upjnestfi tit
Hindu state of Cooch Behar
principality of Cooch Behar ruled by a Narayan was ravaged and subdued.
ic
Hindu king. Ukshmi Narayan. was ravaged and A nearby ruler, Raghava De\
May 3, 159?
was similarly harass-
he was forced to submit. (cousin of Lakshmi Narayan)
Akbar out on his second ed and subdued.

July 22. 15 set
vit.it
rebel
to Kashmir
Yadgar's head
he reached
to
the
quell
was
Kashmir
a local
presented to
revolt.
capital.
Akhn
The
be
Akbar
in ihe
November
attention to
o,
Punjab Akbar
the
15% ;
left
After over 13 years'
for
subjugation oftheDcecau
Agra to pay more
stay
king-
I
reached Snnagar on Oct. 7, 1592 and stayed for doms.
25 days. Prince Murad died while in a
2' 1599
May :
of excessive drinking
and
state of coma because
Akbar's foster brother Vln Daulata-
about 20 kos from
\nf Koka Med from the court ostensibly to visit drugging, at Dihbadi,
There he was robbed of a large part of
1
49
vcr Akbar scnt
„ks of he Poonia
ri '
I
1595 wan notorious for making broads he

JlOnOUl of ihc fi 1 1 m '
i
18 of his officers. In the siege
Of ^hmednagat by A k bar's forces, which began
on December 18. 1595 under Shah baz Khan, the
!f ie Decean. commander of Akbar \ forces, the people or
Jesuit prieart Francis Jerome
t h f
- The Mim in m were molested and iheir property was
the emperor at Agra that since
Xtvfcr requested
i
enough Persian ^ ^pentjittcdto
htm by
looted,
he Mugals plundered neighbouring town

\ k bar snubbed
1
Mdrct: discourses
speak a bom Mungi Pat tan. was A
negotiated on treaty
permission given to htm to
B yme thai February 23, 15%. Berai had to be ceded lo the
>wn re ijgi ti was freedom enough. Mugals in return for recognition to Bahadur as
September 16. 1599 : Akbar left
Agra osten- the feudatory ruler of Ahmednagar. The exasperated
an hunting expedition but in

reality to people of Ahmednagar plundered Mogul baggage
pressurize prince Damyal to find time from his when they began withdrawal on March 20, 1596.
lewd life to conduct ihc Decern campaign more August I, 1601 Akbar arrived on a flying
vigorous visit at Fatchpur Sikri and stayed for 11 days.
Singh of the Jaipur royal family who was

Jag.il Jehangir, now over 31 years and S months old
to lead .in expedition against Bengal died about was open revolt, From the age of -0 onwards
in
this time due to excesshe drinking and melancholia he developed an over-increasing hatred lot Ins
beCBi >ftlic life of abject slavery and dissolution father Akbar. On July 8. 158'? when Akbar suffer-
he had to lead in the Mogul court. ed from a severe colic he moaned in a state of
delirium thai he suspected his son Jchapgil to have
February 1600 A large army was sent to He also sus-
administered souk poison tfl him.
besiege fort Ashirgarh. The fort was taken through
pected Hakim Hu mam (reputed lo be one of the
treachery. letted the
nine jewels of Akbar's court) lo have
My 1600 Chand Bibi the Muslim queen poisoning. On May 16, 1597 while staying, in
Ahmednagar was done to death through Rajouri (a pari of Kashmir) Jehangifs body-guard
intrigue. had fought a skirmish with M>me of Afcbai
(roups commanded by Khwajaei Faleultah To
August 19. 1600 Ahmednager and assuage Jehungir lest he become more dangerous
fort cii\
we aptured. Two earlier attempts, in 1586 and Fateultal
and uncontrollable ttbar ordered
flopped. Burhanul Mulk of Ahmed- when Akbar
tongue to be cm Early In 1598
nagar of Chand furun
\ Bibi) who died in April udered him to lead an expedition lo
50
refused point-blank, to. 51

rrmnsoxanla) Mangif
ho end of 1599 laking
advantage of Akba r Akbar out For Allahabad
*t iugust 21, 1604 : set
Deccan Salim Jehangir) marches subdue but was forced to son
absence in Hie < to his rebellious
rcpidlv from Aimer Agra and then to Allahabad
to inrn back midway having received news of his
tvherthescl liimsclf upas an
independent ruler. mother's illness.
August v. 1602 Abu! Fazal was ambushed

: August 29, 1604 Akbar's mother Ma nam
and murdered at Jehamnrs instigation, about 35 Makani died at the age or 77,
miles from G waiter between he villages of Sara I
j
nemher 9, 1604 : Jehangir (Salim) arrived
Burki and Anlri,
m Agra on the pretext of paying a condolence
February ? 1603 : Akbar 's fathers sister visit. His companion Raja Basil of Mau and
Gulbadan Begum died in her 82nd year. Pathankot was made a scapegoat and was pUl
under arrest But the Raja escaped to his princi-
She has written her memoirs of her brother
pality. Later Jchangir too was put under house
emperor Humayun's reign.
arrest and spanked,
October 1603 Salim asked to march
: Prince
March Prince Daniyal who refused
1605
agamst Rana A mar Singh (son of the late Rana II, :
repeated
Pratap) proceeded some distance and returned to return to Agra from the Deccan despite
summons from emperor Akbar died, of excessive
under pretence of inadequate troops and equip-
ment. drinking and drugging.
22. 1605 Akbar fell ill in the
Septerilbei :
<>4 A.D> : An expedition was sent out againsi

palace at Sikaiulru,
Bit Singh Dto. the chief of Orchha who had
organized the ambush againsi Ahul Fazal. AkbaA October 15, 1605 Akbar died at m In it the
4S years, months
army was, howevet. effectively repulsed. age of 63 after having n tgfl I
son and three

and 3 days. He bad rtw
Jehangir** wife Manbai was murdered though died. Two
daughters. Two of hifi sons had
vhe is stated u have commuted suicide.
daughters: Shah/ad (Khanam Sultan) md Shukrun-
third, Aram
Hiding his bed chamber attendant doz- mssu Begum had been married, The
ing when he
stepped in for a siesta, was so Begum died a spinster during Jehangir** rule.
exasperated that he ordered the
man to be thrown
the par,,,- ,-i Agra fori and dashed to
pieces.
Wjj such a sadist that he had a news

i|
toyed nKvc, a page castrared

and a domestic
servant beaten death
svhicli crumb* n the nHgtitew
prodding win. igfc i
and the law or evident Thi tottered I 11
myth of Akbar's greatness and nobility is one such.

VICIOUS ENVIRONMENT Obviously a Muslim Akbat has been artificially
AKBAR S
boosted as jjreal and
.-
noble ruler to provide a
ancestors were barbarous and
communal counterbalance to the name of the
Ail of Attn* Hindu emperoi Ashok whu
And so were his descendants
even down [s often hailed m world
vicion literature for his piety.
grandson Aurangzeb and others
to his Steal
downrh; Akbar himself and h.sconiemp,n,. Akbar was descended on the paternal side
m that chain. As we shall see m from Tamerlain. and on the maternal side from
n^ were links
the chapters the tyranny and torture

succeeding
Chengiz Khan two of the world's greatest marau-
that Akbar and his ders who made the earrfr quail under their feet.
and treachery and horror
Justice J. M. Shelat observes Akbar'* "grandfather
1
generals practised knew no

limits.
Babur was the eldest son of Umar Sheikh, the king
Bom and brought up in an illiterate and of Fargana, a small principality on the eastern
h.irbarou?, atmosphere which
was further fouled border of Persi Umar Sheikh's fathei was
i
drink
by inordinate womanizing and by extreme Abu Said, a great grandson of Timur. The first
and drug addiction. Akbar could not have been wife of Umar Sheikh and the mother of Babur.
the paragon of virtue that he is made of. And ir Qutlug Nigar JChanum was the second daughter or
heat all were to be a freak virtuoso his sons, Yunas Khan, a direct descendant of Chagtai Knm.
grandsons and great grandsons would not have the second son or the great Mongol Chengiz Khun.
been the degenerate sadists that they turned out to
Akbar's grandfather Babur was dreaded like
be. This ib sheer logic. And the conclusions we
a man-eater and people used to llee in terror in his
ch through logic find full corroboration in
wake. It will be shown in a bsequern chapter of
account*, if Ak bar's reign.
this book that Akbar himself was rated by his
fortunately India having been under alien contemporaries as no better than panther on
a the
le Tor over a thousand years, write prowl, and people lied at his approach.
a i
iditti n to
1
lit communal or political expediency, About Babur Mr. Shelat says- "Babur took
under Govtrnraenl patronage has become so entire
the city iDipalpur) putting the garrison to
ongly entrenched that writing an unvarnished
straightforward account of India's past is t. Page t, Alto, by J. M. Shelat, l%4, Rtinratiyi
considered a sacrilege, It j&, therefore, that Indian Vidyu Bliiovan, Chowpaty. Bomb.n.
•ounda in
haphazard dogmatic, slipshod, 2 Pags 6, ibid
*urd and anomalous

conclusions and concepts
i i
54
the sword
'Bahur's *ani!unrd.„bcst rhe cnemv
terror m Ibrahim (Lodt)'s forces I '" |C1 l,f ê
Mogul dynasty R „d gran,
jnd , t1 lather
I Akbar was no better than hoodlum
i
ihc former's e towards Delhi)

.
,di,nni: |Hi t
them III «0 rhe sword" ..« Then he quotes Babur: I Ba b " r
'V "
m
Nkmo rs ^ntain many confe*
,s
when we came io Agra. All
ihe hot season Kions ofr j he
he barbarism that
practised. re are
the inhabitants had run
away iti terror. Neither ,KwextT,ci,:"^Vctook a number of pHsonei
for our horses was t falter The battle against the
grain for ourselves nor corn Tambol) whose heads I
ordered to be struck off Thiv was

be had, The villagers, out of hostility and hatred for mv first battle •
Orders were given for beheading such
us had taken to thieving and highway robbery of them
\fghans who surrendered in the
B\ the labours of several years. ..by deadly slang]), battle between
.
Kobai Hangti)as had been brought in alive,

find
fcr. we beat these masses of enemies
andam'naret was erected of their heads "> (At
Describing the demonaic pleasure which Babur Hangu too my troops) cut off a hundred or 200
u*ed 10 deri\ c by raising towers of heads of the heads ol refractory Afghans. Here was erected il
people he used to slaughter C I

Tod writes 11
that a minaret of heads." The Sanger (fortification or
after defeating Rana Sanga at Fathchpur Sikrl the Kivi was taken. A general massacre
tribe),
•triumphal pyramids were raised of the heads of ensued. A pile of heads was formed m the Bannu
the slain, and on a hillock which overlooked the
'
coimiiv. Such persons (of my urray}as had not

1
Id of battle, a tower of skulls was erected; and repaired to their posts had their noses slit." The
the conqueror Babur assumed the title of Ghazi." nemy troops provoked us to tight... A minaret of
skulls was erected of these Afghan " The expedi-
r
account of Asaf Khan's banquet quot-
'
tion of Bajour being thus terminated to my

ed by Vincent Smith says" "Intemperance was the
entire satisfaction...! gave orders for the erect
besetting sin of the Timuroid royal family, as it
ofa pillar f >kull» mi a rising ground, * sent 1
s of many other Muslim ruling families. Babur *
I
' Ihe army under the command of Hindu Beg to

was an elegant toper
plunder Panjkora. Before they reached Panjkora
On own confession Babur was also a sodo-
his ihe inhabitants had fled. "
1
the inhabitants of
From all accounts, therefore, Babur, the
Memoir ol /ct mud din Milium mud Babur. I r;i related by
P»B5 k, Shclut't tank. ibid. John Lcyden and William Erskloe and annotated and revised
*£ H\ Shelur quotes Babur'* Memoirs, Routlcdge Sir Lucas King, two vols.. Humphrey Milford. Oxford
A KCftfl Paul Ltd . London. University Presi 1921
F*gt 10. ibid B P I IK. Vol. 1 9 P. a 10, p
* P*^ 24. " P - \2. P 239 12. Vol II. p. 38.

t. AnoaU „ nd ,„
**
'•>• 1*. »3. 15. p. 85. 16. P. 149.
'
'
-J. m two voli
*** 294, vinccm Smith''. Akbar the Great Mogu
p i
56
^w
57
were put to the sword, th cir
resisted
. who mto cap llV|lJ
'
Children were earned slave to theopium h Humayun Will

il
Plundered" Ibrahim Ud? highwayman and extortion! Vinoenl Smith

pUi>
;
;;i; e
quotes Humayun'a faithful servant Jauhar to my
r 1
I,A,-re repulsed and Lahore baz* r '
aS! 33 A burned" When,

:;^;;;^ratherewasa.tron, mutual
fir*
dislike
thai when Akbar was born "The discrowned
king
being in extreme poverty, was puzzled how to
celebrate (the occasion), The king hen ordered i
my people and the men of

wd hostility between
peasantryand soldiers of the conn-
(Jauhar io bring the articles given in trust to hifC
th The on winch I (Jauhar) went and brought 20Q
men. Afterwards
abided and (led from my Shahrtikhts (silver coins), a silver bracelet,
and a
Z only in Delhi and Agra the m
e?cmvhere except pod of musk. The two former he ordered me to
refused to submit or
obey," When I give back 10 the owners from whom they had been
II
habftants
to was the hot season
Agra, it
All «hc taken..." Tins proves that sometime before the
came
from terror The villagers, out birth Akbar his father Humayun had
of pnnce
Inhabitants had fled
commuted a dacoity and robbed somebody of
at
to us, had taken to rebellion.
of hostility and hatred silver bracelet Happy
The roads became impass- least 2 50 silver coins and ;»
thieving and robbery. that his robbc

that he had got a son and fearing
able.
30 Kasimi who had proceeded at this time Humayun
Bavaria had cut off and may entail a curse on the infant.
with a Hgbt force towards restored to their
21
Mulla Turk Ah ordered the robbed ai tides to be
brought away several heads
possible was owners.
was instructed to see that everything
rulers in India
done to plunder and ruin Mewat. Similar
orders As was common among Muslim
with his
were given to Maghfur Diwan to
proceed to Humavun was engaged m deadly combat
father s throne.
ravage and desolate some of the bordering
and own brothers to grab bis deceased
Humayun captured his
remoter districts, ruining the country and carrying After repeated battles when
he subjected the alter
off the inhabitants into captivity." elder brother Kamran
Vincent Smith says* -Kamran..,
Coming down the line we find that Akbar's to brutal torture.
to di.gu.se
pressed >o hanl .hud been obliged
father perhaps even more cruel and
Humayun was captured and) ws
degenerate than Babur because while Rabur had to
himsetfasawoman (but was
sweat and toil and shed his own blood for plunder
and ravage, his son Humayun was
kingdom, and unearned richer
heir to a vast S
rendered to Humayun.
detailed account
ges
Humayun
Buffiec
the
to blind
is left
im pression
hint
by Jauhar.
dm
The
decided that it
Humayun
beat
His
and mos
narrative
felt little
Vincent Smith observes-*: "Humayun was a
P It of Vlnceol
SmiUVs book, ibid.
3 P. 151. P 246. 19. P. 247, 23.
20, P
22. P. 9.
m Akbar
IK.
ibe Great
P 279.
Mogul, ibid.
24, P. 19, ffeW
58
hfi brother** rtifferings...One ,»r, he

fa
tling on (Kami**) knees, (He) wa8 contents. [ certainly never expected such conduct
was thrust mto
and lancet from hjm, and being extremely huri,
.1.1 of the leni
fl
culled I wrote .ind
.Some (lemon) mice and sail was piu sent him ome letters containin the several
lt After some time he was put o n reprehension/
horsebnc* His family was not molested by Humayun was io tyrannical and overbearing
Humayun thiiihe imposed a humiliating rite to be observed
may well imagine the
ne
cruelty and torture by all (hose over whom he ruled The chronicler
Humayun was capable of inflicting on others Badayuni notes:- 'When he ( Humayun > arrived
Thai
his own brother to such torture. ai Agra he imposed upon the populace a new self-
when he subjected
mercy that he did
to the small invented form of salutation, and wished ihem to
id the reference
kiss the ground {before him),"
no molest his brother's wives shows that Humayun
used in molest all women he could lay his hands Vincent Smith asserts-' thai "Humayun was a
30
on throughout his life. stave of the opium habit." Mr. Shelat observes
that in Agra "Kamran suddenly took til and
And who knows whether he actually desisted
suspected that he had been poisoned b> Babur's
from molesting his brother's wives when he did m After spending
wives at Humayun's instanci
not spare his brother. The assertion may be mere
about a year in Badakshan Humayun showed
flatter
characteristic laxity towards duty and suddenly
Emperor Babur himself appraising his eldest returned to India without the permission of his
wn Humayun (the father of Akbar, as a potential father, deserting his post. Displeased at Lhe con-
murderer of his brothers) beseeched- htm on June duct Babur sent him to his jagir in Sumbhal *
27, 1529, not to murder his brothers if he became After l lie capture of Champa ner in Gujerat
king. Young Humayun "s going berserk helped by

Miiiititkli.ibul Tawuriklt by Abdul
28 F 573. Vol. 1,
immense wealth and a phalanx of hoodlums is testi- Muluk Shall alias AI Badayool, trnmlaied
ii»
QwHi ibu I
fied to by Babur himself in his Memoirs, Babur IgmAlFertl nd edited by George SLA (tonkins primed
Humayun had repaired to Delhi and there i ,
ihc Aiintic Sociclv Of Bengal. Cilcuu.t. Bupnsl Minion
opened several of the houses which contained Press, m Akbu Greut Mogul, by Vinccnl A. Smith.
P 9. il.c
treasure md taken possession by force of the i
revised Indian repnni 1958, S. Chnnd &. Co.,

2nd edition,
Bh«T»tiyi Vfdyi
H P. 20 ibid. 30 «' 32, Akbui. by J.M. Shelat.
26 f». 231, Crescent in India, b> S.R. Sharuui, Hind Bhuwftfl, 1964, Bombay.
Ltd., Bombay- 1. 31 20, ibid
1966, i
b
32 P. 24, ibid.
17. P J15, Vol. II, Babur't Meinour ibm
61
!
.
nng.uHl indolence as he did
H iacoity in the sandy waste* of Sind In the«
on i
umeniv! occasions circuin Humayun came to >cc hi-> brother
itai
\khai brother Humayun

was a kchcrou s (I lindali. In Hindal\ harem Humayun saw Mamida
profligate sadtsl and an incorrigible Banu. daughter of VI ir Baba Dost who was
jrug iddici and a
torturer is apparent HmdaPs religion!* guide. Humayun was ihen 33
following extracts
Mr. Shctofs
from while llamida Banu was hardly 14. Humayun
\i u
Agra Humayun took t Sou gilt her hand. The girl herself was opposed to
On Ins return 10
Public business was marrying Humayun. Hindal also opposed the
drive B« of opium- Humayun
match. At last in September 1541,
when the Moguls entered the fort
married her giving two lacs of rupees in dowry-'
,
huimrlRumy Khan inflicted barbarous

penalty o n
Obviously Humayun purchased Baba Do&t\
ihc garrison in which
Humayun acquiesced. The
daughter by threats and bribing him with some-
hands of no less 300 Afghan artillery men
than
body's stolen money.
Rumy Khan was appointed commander
of Akbar's ancestors
was poisoned by jealous chiefs.** Jn Gaur Having noted thai all
but
from his rather Humayun upward to Chengiz
Khan
Humayun unaccountably shut himself up for a barbarians.
considerable time in his harem and abandoned and Tamerlaia were the mosl cruel
WK AaKlJlQ*
3" sadists and drink and drug-addict-.
himself to every kind of indulgence and luxury.
too were equally
all descendants
his
The reasons for the dissatisfaction amongst the 5C that
let .'US, cruel and misbehaved.
igainst Humayun were obvious. By 1538 the
i «
. i
was
character of Humayun. his indolence, his excessive li may argued thai Akbar himself
be
barbarous
addiction to opium and his slothful ways had he- noble 'me freak though born in a
me notorious ..Finding two of his brothers lineage,
b<
. nd that he could not help
his *&
expectedto
iHindal and Kamrani ready to stab him in the being first-rate sadism no, could he be
Humayun decided to cut his wa> back (from «en anv moderating influence
on hj™*^
Akbar
argument s sake
Bengal) to Agra
."'
Even accepting this for
11 son . cruelt> Lang* rt**™^
Thirty-three year-old
nida Banu
was a virtual rape of a
as a wife
Humayun taking 14-year-
phenomenal. Mr. Shelat says?
khansir) gave himself to
excessive
^'f™^ use of opium
mi irl. Humayun then was a desperate outlaw
and fugitive, expelled from India and living
Sta
llictctl
tomt and under their
barbarous punishmeiU.
He had
and he ordered the
to^
"^J££
flayed alivehis presencem
33 p. U, AJtbw, ibid.
1 'bid
34 P, 27. Ihid 37. I "p. 30, • 7.
35 l> 1H, Ibid 3S. P, 359 ibid.
3fc P. 29, ibid

*3
oma* lervanl with whom (

hi,
ration
CTl 'II love.
md noble
»nu uîc hjs SOn
been greai
H.J Urttti
been keen on murdering
tan* would not have attempts 10 murder
Bm Jehangil made several
to one
.
cuheT Akbar. Referring
vn such
"A early as 1591.
Smiih -i * when
s suffering Tor a time from stomach-ache
expressed suspicion that his eldest
he
This episode
had poisoned him."
K-»n (Jebnngir)
is much of
Jehangir's villainy as of Akbar's
iT
his times
ns the most hated person of
Not having succeeded in poisoning his father
\fcbar Jehangir wanted to capture and kill Akbar.

Mr. Smith records-*": (In view of Jehangir's
Vkb-ir relumed to Agra probably early
>' rSalim while in rebellion sought
:he support of the Portuguese and their animuni-
don against his Abul
father)..
,J
Fazal was
»hli a lance and promptly decapitated,
His head was sent to Allahabad, where Salim
re. Lh unholy joy and treated it with shame-
.It... The elder prince, when safely estab-
*'
hed with his court at Allahabad, far removed

parental supervision, abandoned himself
out restraint to his favourite vices, consuming
or ind Ntrong drink to nidi an extent that his
39 m Smith VAktowr die Great Mogul".

64
» asked to army n
ukc charge of the royal j
f>5
tne
himself -<« the rime ofd C ar .
I
punishment for ordinary offences. One day

p capital
* Durine- May 1580 to May 1598 Akbar drunkenness he had a news-vwiter, who
tore Kd ] ,
,n a fit of
become alienated from Salmi, and ihc seed seemed to have reported the prince's indulgence
of rebellion was n in the prince's mind., The ,n excessive drink, to Akbar, horribly flayed alive
older he grew the more fond he

became of sexual in his presence, He castrated a page, and had a
"
indulgence, of drill* ^
d olher youthful follies, domestic servant beaten to death
\1 though he had a large harem he
had in June 1596
Not only Akbar's son Jehangir even Akbar's
fallen violent 1\ in love with Zainkhan Koka's grandson Shahjahan who happened to be emperor
daughter, li nun be that the story of the prince's after Jehangir, was a degenerate barbarian like all
early love Mihirunnisa (future Nurjahan) and
for his ancestors upto Chengiz Khan and Tamerlain
foiarkali wen- not without substance.
60
When he was and beyond.
lent with the expedition against
the Rana of Mewar
Maulvi Moinudd in Ahmad writes
11
'European
from self-indulgence, wine-drinking and bad com- historians have sometimes charged Shahjahan with
pany (Salim) spent much time in Ajmer, Taking bigotry traced to the fountainhead of narrow-
advantage of Akbar's absence Salim decided on mindedness in (his wife) Mumtaz."
n rebellion, He marched rapidly from Ajmer 52 were bitterly
E,B. Havell notes "The Jesuits
ards Agra, confiscating more than a crore before
51 persecuted by Shahjahan, Only a short lime
nh of cash :md effects of Shahbazkhan Kambu. who was a relentless
her death Mumtaz Mahal,
On return to Allahabad Salim had relapsed into Shahjahan
enemy of the Christians, had instigated
.*!d of drink and self-indulgence.
habit settlement in Hoogly."
to attack the Portuguese
Surrounded by unworthy companions he imbibed Many
excessive love of flattery, He had Tor years been Another historical work records"
the monks and seen
familiar with these vice?, but he carried them times did Shahjahan invite
hours priests to become
Mobommadans (but when they
to excess He became addicted to wine at all
overtures) Shahjahan was
greatly
that ceased to intoxicate him. repudiated his
to such extent it
So he began taking opium m addition to wine.

Environments, bv Mm
51 px The Taj and Its
He started drinkti a the age of H and at this 1
2nd edition, printed by R.
G. B.nsal &
of Mainudditi Ahmad.
period he look sometimes as many as 21) cups Agra.
Co., 339 Kasmrat Bftiar,
Undei the double intoxi- & After. d Mom
double ilcd spin! « p ,041 The 19th Century
i l>™by «*>
" llCd
cation o! id upturn he sometimes inflicted
i
Revlef JTid r V,U - *
E. HavelL B.
be T,j & lu Designer*,
49 the Archaeological
VHMX, The Traction*
i< of
53. Pp.
mill 1878.
Society of Argn, Jun. lo June
51 Y I
,„,
157
in dand then and then ordered ihc priests

B nd Kambubrought 400 Christian
prisoner* mate
be ncd the next iU\\ by the tori u re then
u / Bad female, young and old. with the idoh
u'nst the worst out Jaws, that of being trampu of tht
warship to the presence of the
fahh-dcfending
emperor. He ordered that the principle*
of the
Muhammadan religion be explained to them
kecne slates* "'Shahjahan surpassed all th.
4
md
they be called upon to adopt A few embraced
Mogul emperors in autocratic pride and was Mi it
the faith but the majority in perversity and

lirvt of hem l« safeguard
I he h rone by murdering I I
well-
ness rejected the proposal. These were distributed
all possible rivals, " According to Roe
who among the amirs who were directed to keep these
knew Shahjahan personally, his nature was u . despicable wretches in
n rigorous confinement. So
bending and mingled with extreme pride, and
con- ii came to pass that many of them passed from
tempt of all." prison to hell. Such of their idols as were the
likeness of the Prophets were thrown into the
Shahja ban's own official court chronicle
Jumna, the restwere broken to pieces." Like
ertfi* had been hrought to the notice of
'It
Jehangir's Shahjahan's whole reign is full of the
His M q\ HKit during the late reign many
(
;.
idol most cruel dealings. Shahja ban's son Aurangzeb

temples had been begun, but remained
unfinished who succeeded htm as emperor is a byword for ext-
m Bauaras, the great stronghold of infidelity, The reme fanaticism, cruelty and treachery. Aurangzeb
infidels were now desirous of completing
them. His died a bare 261 years ago (in 1707 A.D.). If he could
Majesty, the defender of faith, gave orders that
at be extremely cruel and barbarous how much more
Einaras and throughout all his dominions in ever>
cruel and barbarous would his great grand father
ce. all temples hat had been begun
should be
I
Akbar have been So, no matter how many
!
cast down. It was now reported

from the province generations above or below Akbar we probe we
of Allahabad thai 76 temples had been destroyed find them a long line of barbarians, Akbar was
in ihe district of Banaras." but a link in that chain He was not the least
different from others of his lineage. Had he been
In connection with the conquest of Daulaiabad
noble his descendants at least should have been
slated in the same chronicle"
"Kasim Khan good, noble, well-behaved and universally loved
and respected individuals. This is ^heer logic. One
Handbook for Visitors to Agra Si
ECeene'l
Neighbour!.,
ll
who has not read accounts of the reign of Akbar
tr Handbgok of Hindustan rewritten
i
| ,
and brought up-to-date by but has heard of the cruelty of hts ancestors and
E A Duncan)
descendants would at once see through the bluff of
55 P. 155. ibid.
Akbar's nobility.
?y. Ihc Badihuhnamn, by Mulla Abdul Hnmid
Laden Before referring to Akbar's own cruelties and
57, P 46 ibid
:-m
we shall see what the ,

dar(J
torbnrii i
*"« * JS »** Akb* inurden massacres, rape and plqnd

^
:
;
r wielding
wpnaw power, been
w would not have
half-3-«ni did not make even die
nle Ins contemporaries bee* diflercncc to the pattern or standard*
I
|l(l
mmir hemrus crimes In fact ijw :diae\al behaviour. Had Akbar been grevi knd
been ier\ cukured and well behaved ik posterity would noticed a et
would luivc
k„i jn realit) the? *«« "

cruel ^ wo], es
and change m life before Akb_
d that durinz or 1
after bis reign. Srnce even hu great grandson

liven,
rangzeb was the very embodiment of exuehy
w-Thc mother of Chungiz Khan, the a i« i
sheer logic should tell u\ that Akbar far from
rCT un f Gujerai, at this time (1573) preferred a
.
being virtuou* must ha%e been a deeply bated
10 Akbar that Joojhar Khan Hub? person worthy to be the great grandfather
had put her son to death igzeb and cert more barbarous than the
latter because Akbar was Auraugzeb* senior by
Abul Mali, a senior courtier** vho fled to-
100 years in an age woes cruelty and brutality lost
wards Kabul wrote to Mah Ghck (a lady fr- tber nd edge ste-4 . er a ong .
Akbar's o%n foster brother's royal family; reca period.

ing earlier friendly tigs with Huraayun (father of
In the next cbaptc bafl narrate Akbar
Akbar), She welcomed him and gave her daughter x p rod his genera i other oft, cruelties,
Fakhrunnisa in marriage to him. Later finding his and thereby prove -t the conclusions we
mother-in-law an obstacle in his way he himself reach by logic and world:. iotn are fully borne
Absurd and dlogkal dogmas like
'
killed her with n dagger out by hi
•"Akbar's own uncle Kamran "disgraced him- Akbar's fancied nobility base been embedded in
Indian hi writers and teachers
self by inflicting on his opponents the most fiendish
iuousry -i to avoid making use
'
have beer
tortures, not sparing even v. omen and children."
of logic a e law of evidence from consMera
The above should suffice to
instances quoted of political expediency m a mulenrum of ahen
convince the reader that the whole environment role. Through long babit the legal and logical
before, after or during Akbar's reign reeked * faculties of scholars of Indian history, of the
traditional school, b ±Hen into such duuse that
58. P. 147. Hi*tor> of the Ri* of tommadaji ?ov&
they express surprise if told that logic and the law
in India till it D 1612. iraniLited rh* orifiail
touchstones
Pcismr I .hamnud %mkm Fed Brttfs. «* of evidence murf be used as supreme
published b> S. .-si the >f dogmas o iocuments
1!, Dc >
bitlr Street. Cak
rcpf [filed 190- records, chronicles, inscriptions and aidueoJogt-
59. P U. M 3 S cut's book. ibid. cal finds.
60. P. 18 Vmm book, ibid
frflT.COM
Chapirr IV
71
observes
3"Akbar would have laughed
at the
remorse fell by Ashok r the miseries
caused by
I
the conquest of Killing* and would have utterly

AKBAR'S BARBARITIES condemned his great predecessor's decision to
abstain from all further wars of aggression/*
In no a\ wasAkbflf less cruel than How the whole of Akbar's life was one
his ancestors, descendants or contemporaries. sickening tale of cruelty, torture
|j inflicted on
anything his crafty, scheming and treacherous those whom he disliked, and treachery, may be
jure and the unlimited power that he wielded noted from the following extracts from accounts
over a vast region qualifies him to be considered written by a number of scholars.
one of the foremost tyrants and sadists in world
Vincent Smith says* "Kamran's only son
history, leave aside India's alone.
(who was Akbar's cousin) was privately executed at
Col Tod "Generations of martial
asserts 1
Gwalior in 1565— bv the order of Akbar. who thus

races (The Rajputs or Kshatriyas) were cut off by set an evil example, imitated on a large scale by
his sword, and lustres rolled away ere his conquests his descendants Shahjahan and Aurangzeb/*
were sufficiently confirmed. He was long ranked The above observation makes it clear that the
J] Siiahbuddin, (Allauddm) and other
Alia consummate villainy of emperor Shahjahan (Akbar's
instrument* of destruction, and with every just grandson) and of emperor Aurangzeb (Akbar's
claim: and like these he constructed a Mumbar great grandson) were not their original traits but
j Ipit or platform of Islamite preachers) for the a precious heritage handed down by Akbar.
Komi from th« altarl Of tklirwju tthe deity of
Sadism was a prominent, permanent and
the Rajput warriors i."
consistent trait of Akbar's mental makeup. It
Communa lists or those seeking academic or manifested itself throughout his life from early
other patronage under alien regimes in childhood to his very last moments.
India have
tended to mention Akbar, in and out
of contexi. On November 5, 1556 when Akbar was a
atcompaiablc in nobility of character and greal- mere stripling of less than 14 years of age he
of heart with the ancient Indian king
i
Hindu adversary, Hemu,
Ashok. slashed the neck of his
Debunking this view Vincent Smith justifiabi brought before him unconscious and bleeding.
Vincent Smith describing this incident after the
Vol 1, \nnal»and Antiquities of Rajiutthait.
2. Pp. 50-51 Akbar The Great Mogul, by Vincent
bv Tod, in two volumes, reprinted 1957.
,
Smith. Jbid.
tW*c £ kccw fail Lid,. BriKidws) House, 68-74 Carta 3. P. 20, ibid.
L*ne, Lopdua S
-'
72
n
****** f^z° H:m r::« 7.1
After defeating Baz, Bahadur the sultan
EKX" «M0W which P,erccd
Heniu
hisbn,,
s c le
Malwa at Sangrur near Dcvvas in Central India.
I Ku s generals Adham Khan and
Mohammad disgraced themselves and their
Peer
^d Mdc- M fttfthw rcsisiance.

jungle W" brou - hl
p ha
b ** and
sovereign (Akbar) by disgusting cruelties, of which
^thfcd
A Wo tta Badayuni was a horrified witness. They had the
capn brought before them and troop after troop
on the neck with his
aar. Akbar smote Herau of them put to death, so that their blood flowed
plunged their swords upon river. Peer Mohammad cracked brutal
The bystanders also river
head was sent to
m i-caing corpse. Hemu's
bleeding jests, and when remonstrance was offered replied *in
ad to beexposed and his trunk was gibbeted one single night all ihese captives have been taken,
of Delhi. The official story, that what can be done with them/ Even Sayyids and
one of the gate?
learned Sheikhs who came out to meet him with
2t
sentiment of unwillingness to strike
a magnanimous Korans in their hands were slain and burnt/
helpless prisoner
already half-dead compelled
his guardian (Ben ram Adham Khan who was for a
\kbar to refuse to obey After the battle
lime appointed governor of Malwa
to strike a semi-conscious was recalled
n s instructions
of courth
invention and Peer Mohammad was appointed in his place/
enemy), seems to be the late
Ins last observation of Smith under "In conferring such an important trust on a man
Elaucfers.' I
so unworthyAkbar committed a grievous error,

flatterers have from time to time
peer Mohammad attacked Burhanpur and Bijagadh,
history by varnishing their patrons' beastly
falsified
perpetrating a massacre at the latter
general,
deed*, needs to be carefully no Led by alt students he practised to the
fortress. As Badayuni observes,
of mediaeval Muslim chronicles.
utmost the code of Chengiz Khan, massacring or
Akbar's victorious forces pushing south from enslavinc allthe inhabitants of Burhanpur and
Panipat after thai great victory J "marched straight Asirgadh, and destroying many towns and villages
to Delhi, which opened its gates to Akbar, who to the south of the Narmada (river)."
made his entry m

Agra also passed into his
state.
Adham Khan W*8 laier ordered to be thrown
possession, In accordance with the ghastly custom over the parapet of Agra and dashed to pieces
fort
mc$, a tower was built with the heads of called Alga Khan. Refer r
for murdering a courtier
Immense treasures were taken with the ing lothis Smith says* "Adham
Khan was thrown
famil lemu whose aged father was executed/'
6,
mem Smith's book, ibid.

5. p, 29. .bid.
u
IS
Bc ne ly ha,f
to
w*lk>M fct'in
'•' H'lH^r.g him up
!
*?.
^
killed •icuimiMs adds that(Akb«r)wai highly delighted
with this sport.
Hi.
The other historians cell utihat
numbers onriuially engaged were two or three
hi* toam»
dashed out. The horrid
hundred oft one tide and SOU on the other,
Uhani khan hi "" being dashed oui fc that with the reinforcements the total came to
produced in one of the Akbarnama about a UQOQ The author of the Tabaqnt agrees
South Kensington/'
^ I
with Ahul Fa/at that 'the emperor greatly enjoyed
ihc sight'. It is disappointing to find that a man
hkbu |cd ttn attack a S»«nst tJu
VVae* l' '
like Akbar could encourage such sanguinary

eight villages in Etah district (Sakit
sport.'"
in Paronkh village 8 house was set on
thousand rebels consumed.'* This incident throws a lurid light on Akbai
tastes and motives. A- I fanatic Muslim it gave
v extraordinary incident winch occurred
him great pleasure to see that two faction* of the
"i while the royal camp was at
hated Hindus slaughtered one another That he
famous Hindu place of pilgrimage, derived immense pleasure from two groups of men
tb of Delhi, throws a rather unpleasant stabbing and stoning one another only speaks tot
Akbar - character. The sanyasis who Akbar's very sadist mind
L the holy lank were divided into two
(hat people of his time used to regard Akbar's
\boJ Faial calls Kurs and Purii,
approach with the same terror is thai of a man-eater
ader of the latter complained to the kin|
from the two crowded Hindu
aeKurshad unjustly occupied the accustom-
on the prowl, is clear
pilgrim centres, Banaras and Prayag [Allahabad \
I
place of the Puris, who were tim-
getting deserted on Akbar's visit there. Vincent
ed from collecting pilgrims* alms. (They
Smith says 11 "Akbar then marched to Prayttg and
tlie
ranted permission to decide the issue by people

Banaras, which were plundered because the
riiL- fight began with swords, were rash enough to close their gates/' Obviously
were discarded for bows and people who are generally eager to see royalt> and
hese again for stones. Akbar seeing pay homage would run have barricaded doors or
re outnumbered gave the signal to run away after locking homes unless they
their
>re savage followers to help the panicked from the rape and rapine that Akba
The reinforcements enabled the phalanx of hoodlums spread in its wake wherever
he Kur-, mio headlong llight The they went for hall a century, in India
ued and a number of 'th<

^n* to annihilation!. The chronicler
It. P. SH.ibid.
I » *«L 10 Pp. 56.57. .bid.

76
Otic mstii M mafjimad

Mu-ak of \u 77
ispeotoJ confidant of Khan

Zaman (who "JJ5
,.i. d a general mussacrc. whicft n ;uli d in '*»
revolted against Akbirj waa tortured for r v i
ground, e-,^ death ol <ii/"'i" M ihv were made prisonci

5$sivc Jays on Hie execution
day tie was trussed up in a wooden frame llnt In November 1572 whea Akbar approached
i
placed before one of the elephants The etephaw. Ahfjicdubad the fugitive king* Muzjiflat Shan v.
caught lijm in his irunk and squeezed him and found hiding in a cornfield brought in. Certain i
imp followers having Insolently plundered his

flung him from one side \o he other. As a clear
I i
was not given the elephant effects, Akbar sel an example of stern justice b>
;n for his execution
IbulFszat idates this horrid ordering tht offenderaiabe ir.tmpled to death bv
played with him.
elephants."
barbarity without a word of censure."
An working of Akbar's illite-
insight into the
mass immolation by fire preferred rate mind is offered by the punishment he
met
The terrible
courtier called Ham-2aban. This
N Rajput women and infants to escape rape, ,.iii too senior
Cujerat
had been revolt at Sural in
humiliation and molestation by Akbar's army men courtier in
province. He" pturcd on February 26, 1573.

after of Chitior fori, testifies to the
the capture
Since the word Hanwaban signifies 'one true to
brutality that was practised during Akbar's reign,
his tongue (word) h barbarously punished
\ incent Smith observes" "The Jauhar sacrifice
Pv m,, excision of his tongue."
completed before the final capture was on a large
In '""Husain Kuli Khan (Khan
1573 A.D
scale The fires were kindled in three distinct
Julian) waited on Akbar
with his prisoners, The
places. Nine queens, five princesses, their daughters
eves of Masud Husam Mirza
had been sewn up
as well as two infant sons, and alt the chieftains'
drawn up before
families who happened be away on their
not to The other 300 prisoners were
hogs and doc,
estates perished either in the flames or in the
Akbar with the skins of asses,
drawn over their face* Some of them were
assault. During the course of the following morn- is
executed with various ingenous tortures.. ....It
ing when Akbar made lus entry 8,000 Rajputs Akbar sanctioning
disgusting to find a man
like
vowed to death sold their lives as dearly as possible from his he inherited
such barbarities which
and perished to a man. Akbar exasperated by the practised did not
Tatar ancestors. The severities
obstinate resistance offered to his arms treated the the Mirza trouble,
which soon
finally extirpate
garrison and town with merciless severity. The 8,000 Gujeiat"
broke out again In
strong Rajput garrison having been zealously helped was fought on
•'-The battle of Ahmedabad
during the siege by 4u.in.ni peasants, the emperor
13. i' si, IbEd
P. 79, Ibid
12. P. 5b. ibid I" p, B6, th d
16. I* H2 ibid
1 3, P.HibM.
78
September I.
accordance with the
Jmc custom of [hc rimcs amore

157*. In
Pyramid was byf,, '
^ royal couch
79
Enraged at the sighl he ordered hinv

to be thrown from the tnwt-r, and he was dashed
rebels, than :, O 0Q
with the head* of the ln
into a thousand pieces"
number"
""Sheikh Abdun Nabi the laic Sadar and his
»**Thc heads of Ihc
Afghan leaders ki|| c<1 opponent Makhdumul Mulk were sent into exile
and forwarded to Daud
were thrown into a boat under the pretext of pilgrimage to Mecca. Both
lihe Afchan ruler of
Bengal, Bihar and Orissa) 1*
were allowed to return. Makhdumul Mulk died
awaited him
to warn him of the fate which »«o n at Ahmedabad in 1582 leaving great riches and
March 3. 1^75 the battle
decisive was fought with valuable books, which were all confiscated His
Daud's forces at Tukaroi....Munim Khan follow sons several times suffered torture and were
ing the barbarous
fashion of the times massacred reduced to abject poverty Two years later Abdun
his prisoners, whose heads
were sufficiently num. Nabi was murdered presumably in pursuance
of secret orders from the emperor".
erous to furnish eight sky-high minarets/'
'"Another battle against Daud was fought on ""Special cases of severity to individuals
Thursday. July 12 near RajmahaL Daud t a fin Bihar and Bengal) increased the ill-feeling, and
* overcome with thirst asked for water. it is said that the officials added fuel to the fire
prisoner
They filled his and brought it to
slipper with water by their greed for money'
him- To behead him they look two chops at his ****Akbar never any scruple about ordering
felt
without success .They stuffed his head with

:k the private, informal execution or assassination of
straw and anointed it with perfumes, and gave II opponents who could not be executed publicly"
in charge to Sayid Khan, met Akbar at The latter
the phrases about
•'"Notwithstanding fine
village Birar and cast down Daud's head in the
general tolerance which occupy so large a space in
courtyard. Daud's headless trunk was gibbeted at
the writings of Abu Fazl and the sayings of Akbar,
I
Tanda/'
many acts of fierce intolerance were committed..
81
In or about 1603 A. D. Akbar, who was In the years 1581-82 a large number of Sheikhs
used to retire to his room in the afternoon for and apparently those who resisted innova-
fakirs,
tion, were exiled, mostly to Kandahar,
and ex*
rest happened to emerge earlier than was 1
expected and at first could not find any of his changed lor horses, presumably being enslaved*
servants,,. When
came near the throne and
he young handsome Hindu painter named
A
couch he saw a hapless lamplighter coiled up like Yashwant (mis spelled by Muslim chroniclers as
a snake, in a careless death-like sleep close to the 22. P. I JO, ibid 23. t», 132. ibid.
P. «. IN* 24. P. 135, ibid 23 P. 159. ibid.

19. |> 92, Ibid
f K»» ibi* 21. p. H7, ibid.
80
at
DHiv iboed himscli u> death,

from
melancholia becat^ I the foul almospheu 2 Vincent Smith mentions but two epi ,,,,1, i in ,v hj ch
Akbar's conn recking with sodomy, doping, drug*, Akbar acted with groat tyranny and cruelty yet every
drinking and prostitution. campaign of Akbar whether agafotl a political rival
or a rebel
was attended by brutal severitj and
Raja one of Akbar's most senior
there is no reason why any
Bi nc shoul ,>
bt I
sj -led
cout her-in-law, and general also stabbed ,,,.,,. Smith add "li improbable thai his(Ak
himself in dfogus* because he found life in Akbar's clemency, when shown, often was die | by
court intolerable, humiliating, degrading and policy rat Iter then by sentiment
"'
vicious The official explanation is that he and Smith says28 : "He (Akbar) was truly as the
DaswandJi stabbed themselves in fits of insanity Jesuit author calls him 'the terror ofthe East, and
1
All such acts in protest against the regime in

1 he had been spoiled to certain extent bj more
i
power are always dubbed 'insane. Historians must

than four decades of autocraey It is possible he
not. therefore, take such official versions at their was feared rather than loved. The dread of him
face value. even at an earlier time was so potent that he fell
himself free to flout and insult the most Miered

VincentSmith says 20 "Wheeler asserts that
feelings of his subjects. At the end of SSI his l
Akbar kept a poisoner in pay" whose duty it was

personal ascendancy was established so firmly thai
to poison people at Akbar's orders. ..The sentences
he could venture to do what he pleased. He used
on convicts were of the appalling kind. The modes the liberty to do some outrageous things-*
of execution included.. .impalement, trampling I
elephants, crucifixion, beheading, hanging and •"Tfie horrid punishment of mutilation which
js prescribed by the Koran, was used freely. Neither
Otto Babur had ordered (flaying) without
As minor penalties mutilation and whipp* Akbar nor Abul Fazal had any regard for the
scruple
judicial formalities of oaths and witnesses. The
ing of great severity were common);, ordered
Faujdar was expected to reduce rebels, always
records of proceedings civil or criminal were
numerous and whenever necessary to use his troops
kept. Persons acting as judges thought fit to follow order to enforce
against recalcitrant villagers in
Koranic rules. Akbar encouraged trial by ordeal.
payment of government dues,"
The horrors of an execution ground are realistically
Col. Tod me a pecutiai instance of
depicted in one of the contemporary illustrations to i
Akbar's despotism and illiterate coercion He

the Akbarnama at South Kensington".
"(Akbar) showed severity in his treatment 2 P. 251. ibid
of the garrison of Chittor and in the tortures 28, P. 256, II
29. P
inflicted on the fol ire ofthe Mintas." Though 27... Ibid
lb. P. 250, 27, P. 251. ibid.

S3
Ki ,
„t, \khar command
On J
hjs beard
h ead ,nd Rajpat. Akbai'sorder w» therefor,
ofi n , brflve partteti-
.^ compliance, the royal bj.rbe w
jorty
galling to the proud Rajput The luj
»**" '_„ mc mandate Bui when th ej .,, j Vkbar himself not wanting to lost n one
of |M L ,
.the Mad- in «*, opportunity of humiliating the pride of the R
t0 ^
flnd contumely.
W
Tta ten*.
.
of manhood, they were rep,

<
yjed this
occasion to
sen ienl to
him. to shed
\m those who we
their
their heads
beards and mou
-vu
The Rajputs who as

I
SraSof^howasoneofAkbarsgcncah and, and shave off

,
pTnrjan the ex-chiaf of Ramhambhoi orthodox Hindus would otherwise have willingly
,on aggravated his crime of resistance and
i shaven off couriered it particularly humiliating
shed their hair in homage to one who had
i
outrage upon
the royal eai thai the to
l
wi expression proud tradition down.

barbers Was accompanied
their
the
the memory of the
departed princess, and massacring others was regarded
to Killing
forgetting his vassal's gallant services Lime and diversion by a bereaved Akbar.
har i
Rao Bhoj sh< aid be pinioned and

mmanded ihut Could there exist a more sinister kind of sadism \
deprived of his Mooch (moustache). The u

fo The chronicler Fenshta notes Prince Murad
to their arms. The camp was thro Mir/a Falling dangerously ill (May 1599) was buried
into tumult, and would soon have presented a at Shapoor. The corpse was afterwards removed
wild wcenc of hi odshed had not the emperor, to Agra, and laid by the side of Humayuu, the
repenting of liis folly, repaired to the prince's grandfather. The king's grief ibr the death
"
fioondi quarters in person of his son increased his desire for conquering the
The Rajputs a* a community did not have Deccan, as a means of diverting his mind.'
•»n> fl for such of their women who had An account of the horrid cruelties thai \kbar
mend their lives a* deienues in Muslim haremi perpetrated on the defenders of Chit tor fort is
^' u '
re. deeply resented having to
31. P 171, Vol. 11. Hi« ' Malionwdsin Power bl
sha tl,cir beards and moustache, which were
India, till the year A.D 1612 Misted Bromine
I
anginal
their cherished symbols of manly valour, foi lafoni
Italian of Mahomed Kîm Feriihto bl John Bri
io had fallenfrom grace and accepted volumes. Published bs S 11 J9-A ffluunbasu Stn
the statu i Muslim whore instead of being Calcutta «i.
*
nwried in the traditional ok InddentaSlythU point*
,jn s
I,
style and custom to-a ti ihi ;
'
Snm u Delhi being u Like W h '

,roved
l
boo* Sonic Blunder Indian

Vlnm\ titled ol 1
"• Annuls and Anuqmiic*

'' ol Rjjiislnafl> mausoleum of Hu ,Q
bv
d> u.
,
Col. f vxt, ibid.
'
Uuii wlmi j* pointed oul m the >i
Delhi is an aneleai Hhdu polo*

j
84
85
of Ml SheLn\honk
* mi 1»*M 105-109
aiiitoronJ :4.
K "In the campaign against (he rebels in Gutaat
5r> &
-lhe heads or Mohammad Hus un and Ikhtiyai
1
yjedw order of g^ml

*«*« ™rou 8 ,, were sent to be hung and displayed on -the gates
H V invaders roamed m the strcct
the of Agra and Rilehpur. Following the custom of the
The numb, w
Ji£*N threads
killed
alone weighed
fi fc Timurids, Akbar had a pyramid made of the heads
mcir tiered 7<t of the rebels who had perished that day."
see rs each' A wounded [\ iUll
of rt
"•It would not be unreasonable to think that
S^TtJicGDvindshyam alias Kumbha*!^
he two Rajput generals (Bhagwanoas and Man-
trampled to death b) ikbar s 0Wn
I
Zlk wm Singh deputed hy Akbar to assist Shahbaz Khan

3a '
A ^ irl from Sf0DO fig,nm£ RttJ» >u «v
inside
about 40.0(H) peasant,
th« fori
againstRana Pratap) were abruptly dismissed by
re him because they showed their opposition to the
SCI lllg The order for genera]
.
i
methods of barbarity and brutality Shahbaz pro-

master* *a* rM withdrawn umtl about 30,000 cif posed to use to achieve his object of capturing the
though the struggle was
ihcio were put to till,
Sisodia hero."
Neither the tem si] hoj the towers escaped
invaders. When everything The weird fear that Akbar inspired in all those
1Jlt
,i, | of the
subservient to him is well illustrated by the inci-
U ar started on February 2s, 1568 on a
lie says? - 'When at
This like the proverbial dent narrated by Badayuni.
pilgrimage a Ajmer." is
the very Lime of the accession. Abul Mali from fled
bberTeJIi g Lhe rosary aftei the robber
Lahore, Pchlwan Gul Guz. Ins keeper, committed
*Husain Quli Khan came with 300 prisoners
suicide through fear of the emperor's anger"
cap 1 '
i
luring Ins battle with Ibrahim Mirza
^"Whcii the second day after the victory, the
! Punjab, Among them was Masud Kusain
emperor came to Pampat, he had a minaret built
eyes were sewed up while the rcsl
of the heads of Lhe slain.'"
were hr ought in cow skins from which (even) the
bona had not been taken away. A few of these

34, P. 141. ibid.
pf' ordered to be released but the rest
35 P 1 77, ibid.
death by various ingenious tortures,
Qadir
36. IK Muntbkhtbul raaaiik*, bj Abui
P. 4. Vol
Khan arrived from Multan
da; J oriiina!
Ibn Muluk Shall alias A Dadayum tmailflM from the
I
presented Ibrahim** head. The punishment! printed for «"

Persian and ulucd b\ George S.A. Ranking,
o he rebels were barbaric and cruel.
i
Asiatic Baptist Mission I'r itetjun,

Society or Bengal,
1838.
J-M SlicJi i
| ubli lied b) Bhnraiip

37. v. io, ibid-
Bi n bay, 1964.
I'p I2H36, mi
gi
KhandeNh was not content unless

Bifid
yham Khan .md Peer Mohammad he pi ictisud
,cnc>ai>). Badayuni sty* »* ^mos' the code of Chengfc
Rhan
jng and mwkmg prisoners ufali u.c mhahu.-mts
of
Bnrhanpni and Asheergadh and then
On the day of the victory crosstnu the
rfver Narmada he raised the conflict lo the
soiier.
verv
heavens and utterly destroyed many
towns and
vill il'c Mid sue pi everything
clean and cleat
troop after troop of
bdbre lhcmi and
blood flowed r.ver Aktar'a uncle maternal
Khwaja Muazzara
thcnTpiit 10 dent)., so that ihcir
Mohammad with a smile on having murdered his own wife Akbar ""first had
Peer
ur,onri>crand
him mauled with kicks and sticks, and then gave
his fcce said in Nand 'Wbal a planue or a strong neck
a river of blood has flowed him several duckings, and packed him off to
fm has
my abhorrance) Gsvalior (where he died),"'
ri .1 (When I conveyed to liim
4
Peer Mohammad replied ln one single night all *» In the year 971 A. H "the emperor had
these captives Jiavc oeen taken, what is to be done Miiv; i
Muqim of Isfahan together with Mcer
n? And the same night these plundering Yaqub of Kashmir put to death on the charge
marauder ing slowed away their Mohammadan being Shias. The two (had) brought to court the
capme*;. cons js ting of the wives of Shaikhs and daughter of Husaiit Khan a<* a sort of present
Savvids. and learned men, and nobles, in their This is an instance o[ Akhar's lechery, with which
bov J saddte-bags brought them to Ujjain. shall deal later in an independent chapter
And the Sayyids and Sheikhs of that place came
him with their Qtirans in their hands,
' Husam Quit Khan came from the Punjab
arnmad put them all to death and and brought with him Masud Husain Mirza with
Brat llicm Adham Khan sent the whole account
eyes blindfolded and a number of other prisoners
of tin victory to die court/* of the followers of the Mirza to Path pur. They
numbered nearly 300 and he brought them priso-
*•*« those Peer Mohammad, who, after ner* before the emperor with the skins of asses
Khan went to court, possessed hog* and dogs drawn over their faces. Some of them
absolute
collected a great force
and led ii were put to death In various ingenious tortures
>T V*
Ski ^ nc.Kiaughtcr ****** ***-»
and Said Khan came from Mult an to pa) homage 'o
Then he turned towards the emperor and bronchi with him the head of
Ji l
J
125, IW «. I' 163 Arid
9*
Riisaio wliich lie had disseve^ !H ihers. need rtoi hc

«c
I
"M,Ji.m xir eN v,>,« „
tfm
,
death nns became only Hindus, One ma

ir
(|)e gft
I ,
, j vkh.u mcvl to he whence, .,
^^ ftuni
hose
state,
unfortunate moihere.
-AtthMim, fabo*^
rhe chrnSS '
they brought a man to court whn

In V town and lemp1 c
H, 980 when
or
Ihe £A . H-
[)0r
J
my t race of the orifices of the

h J,
V( „ «re savagely attacked and captured fe

p .
ear. t..
l:
he heard everything that wai said
of lh s
Uibar'samn hi- ^° through their zeal a
j
I,,
filled their shoes

nd
Iirr
order
to verify
>l- " r the
"" w
circumstances
•••«««» of mis
this
,
case an
case ~—— m
excessiw hatred of Jtfotatr) wm, issued that several suckling
was infants
,.u wo j i,i slaughtered cows and men) and sp i a ofdcr
.
should be
kept in a seclud I
place fur from habil

j H on ile doors and walls of the temple
(|i
.
in , W hcrc they should not hear WO rd spoke

i
r'i iubiTc waj of murdering cold blood

in
Mil-disciplined nurses were to be placed over them
unwanted people is illustrated by the end of \\ n refrain from giving Litem an) instruc-
,
|,u were to
v
Mtii/yiii Mulk .ind Mulla Mohammad Yazdi.
tion in speaking- To carry out this order about
These two arrived at Finvabad," The emperor were taken from their mother
twenty sucklings
sent word that ihey be separated from their guards,
or a consideration in money, and were
r placed in
put into a boat and Liken by way of the Jamna to 8J3 empty house
which got the name of Dumb
GwalioT, A It erw a rd>
another order thai fie sent House"' After three or four years rh'_-\ all turned
they be done away with. So they put them in a since they were brought up
dumb In a world
oul
ho 1 and when they were in deep water, ordered
1
of silence where no human voice w; [lowed to
the iMors to swamp the boat... After some days Qazi Tall on Their ears"'. Many of them soon died, ddd^
Vakubcame from Bengal and emperor sent
the Badayuni Akbar should take the cake foi invent*
him to follow the other two.„Attd one by one ingihis rare of cruelty which perhaps no piece
he sent the whom ever thought
oilier monarch in the world may have
all WulJas against he had
'JMCfoa [
»nihilatfbn,„Haji Ibrahim was or or could have executed with such immaculate
| Ranthamhhnr. There in diet] The} found and ruthless efficiency,
Wi Strangled) with long Strip! cloth.'* sent into
Sheikh Outubuddin ofMcsot was
I
1,1
satiate his idle

icd the live* ol
illiterate curio h \kbar <* 10 Bhakkar (in Smd) together with oih
.,
ml infants purchased fuqn.
pherc bodied." obviously from
'I" 1
'
aniiwrcBtedawaj il.cehu.tel
trom their indigent and ^nger. being left high and dr> In a sandy
dewrt.
i
fi
4* [ '
MS, «bid *$ I* 29(). ibiJ 40 r
•mmhwofSheiicIi* and faqta Wcre 91
'" h
*&\5*# *** "' f ^ mLllu,r - whir* „bvinusly a euphemism for starvina
I
^^ L„gcd c
for horses.' Obvlou^ thev
These examples eliou thai Akbar ca„ih
AkK,t nioMmiJmsm bartering away

Jru the
,|,an mC evclu"! for beasts of burden.
? i'l i
1 in
,M
men llC ulSllK*-*-
The Harrtu: f^who rated nil religion*

Akbar
had no scruple* m
toning ever a
man to a mob of hooligans to he killed
„Xn^ as a mail u d
rally nounic
by another similar e*
|fhisTr: ,
,
0r
ased rim.method to b„ .-, about
He
the death
lccls ,hc cnl P emr cami "^ of
tf-About thi* timc Sheikh Abclun ^buBadayuni the chronicler r
Sheikhs known as llahii. They had fa» -The Sheikh came to Faihpur
of th, laws „*
(in the year 9^
"2S'
similar lo those A. H.) and made use of some rude language

The
^r^mtnland the Past of Islam. Hi s emperor unable to
: v
SZ whether they repented of*.
A. his command
they were set to Bhakkar
in the face.
returned the
restrain his p
Then (on the plea thai he had
sum orRs. 7,000 loaned to lum for
not
in struck him
the
4iul wee given to
merchants to pilgrimage toMecca) he was handed over
0imli| , lljr as a
coto" These .nsiances sh, prisoner to Raja Todarmal and for
Zwg* for Turkishtowns and markets ol Bhakkar
some lime like
a defaulting tax-gatherer, they imprisoned
thai Akbai used the him In
'clearing houses' for unwanted the counting house of the orifice,
and one night
MdQandahara,
them as slaves. mnh strangled him/*
people by filing
grandson of Khwuja Mui-

Bmta
il
A
courtier Haji Ibrahim ofSirhind was simi-
""Sheikh larly stripped of all power and wealth
because when he and sent io
nuddin he banished to Bhakkar Ranthambhor
do obeisance to the fort, obviously to be tortured to
returned from Mecca he didn't death.
emperor prescribed manner.-. .The grands
in the
grea
of Sheikh Adhan who were some or the Akbar banished Quzi la la I Multam to the
Sheikhs o! lannpur, with their wives and
fomiliei Dcccan w thinking "it likely ilu.i the rulers of that
pr*
he icnl Ajmci and gave them a
to
fixed part would put the Qa/i to death with varsbiu tor-
hvinj
nc) ol them died and some were
tures" but his wishful was
,i
,-,.
thinkimj noi fulfilled
W
ii
m The w*rds "fixed provision' êeause lie Dcccani Muslim niters are stated to
poverty/' t
have rewarded liim, Perhaps they were happy

shelter Muslims hostile CO Akbar whom they hated.
I
Ml]
'. ibid 3t) p 321. bid i 51 p W Ibid 52 P SS. ihfd

n
92
hi the outside world inclu,i lna
lh( .
lcw ;
We shall see in fl Imw (chapter thai AkharY .„,d neai relation*. Parental home
to have been
inch vaunted 'marriage* said 1 1
,
lou
Akbar. a fanatic Muslim
j cornmunaJ Integration and harmony wq^ and a
foj
mji outrageous kidnappings brought about
psedto usurp Hindu hou.
them over to
^ lUH,
^-hat Cr .
wi: niis Tin- most publicized .imong m .,ke Cliristiai t T-r"* and 10111
these pseudo-marriages was

the one in which Akbar Dl Shrivastava says **"
a notable h-
claimed a few houses thai had mdu
tothl8
fan
5 %
lifted BharmaTs daughter with the force of u\. b,„.
«fatberSto P
proceeding
Thai on this occasion he was noi
as a happy, loving,smiling bride- led Christian converts,
^^mZ£ZV^
Xavier succeeded rr '
groom should bin like a lecherous, frowning

Akbar's orders from Agra and
the possession of
i„e I o"u
1
4
' "^
mamed
man-lifter Is proved b) a footnoti j T1
in
^^
die I ahore
^ndu f^ly mf^r^
^ ^ZJt !,
D' AshirbadilaJ Shrivastava's book saying "The

marriage did not take place at Deosa as Vincenl
Smith asserts, p op fe of Deosa and othei
on Ak bar's route fled away on his approach."
places
Hindu women kid-

Akbar's cruelty towards the
the preai satisfaction
y 406 of Dr. ShrivastavH's

hnhe.ro and Jus colleagues in
accused of eatmg human
of kidnappmg
chl £
of PinheJro.'
fl, s „.
1
S? a
btok
.he church
^ were
Io
dren, and oi killing young men. An attempt was

napped and shut up in his harem may be judged also made to poison the fathers
through the coitus-
the fact that the daughter of Raja Bhurmal of sion of a domestic servant On the X'mas day of
Amber Jaipur was allowed by him only once, as
i
i K.iH) PiJtheico was able to
report the baptism of 39
small mercy, to visit her lather's hou Dr. people, One of the men converted wu» Polada
Shrivastava observes: '
The emperor's Hindu (may be Prahladj, a physician belonging
to a res-
queen, the Amber princess, was permitted to pay [Actable Brahmin famijj
"
a visit to her parents at Amber so as to be present

01 mourning ceremony for her brother Bhup.ii
the Aperson's nature can often b< feed up try his
was unusual courtes That means that the tastes, Akbar derived immense pleasure and
women in Akbar's harem were treated as though relaxation in gory fights between men and lu i
life-convicts kept in close confinement. Monserratc J,i

narrates how when Akbar invited the
forever forbidden from anybodj Jesuit fathers to see a contest, they
biting gladiatorial
" Plied i.i.ii M,.-, ,
,
- 1 1
1
.. i in .i ( L.mph r, ii wasabsotti-
bar ttie Great, b) f'r Ashlrbadl
>v«u»*u, Strive Ul A@;irwa1 & Co (PJ
Li*l ''
107, ibid.
publhbctn. 56 P 61, Fnthcr
Moasei • "Common i«J
W.P 14). ,1,

94
95
v to the Christian
wu ^
discipline and
or even lo look on at
on some occasions n
lerfetcncc
î
m
place to which he had told
p
ehed
,, ,n ne on an
upon the
inflated ba
river.
him
R of
to
ox hil
Al^^ê ?"?
no ,
^ ,
UndJ
UB "
lhfi
ntmg Hindu widows from burni*.
dcad hwbands
.locked to the riverside to see
J th an
' y
dnrti flu W«
of
JJ* is
middle of t he „ver at the mercy
produced a> evidence ol
Akbar s so-called pro grc s. ,
ol'the curr
s in wanting u>
abolish that custom.
... ^Pn^ niiplonng pardon wi
th JS£
,
jj x This and trying to move the king

cries,
a nriSfcpieseniatioii
Akbar interfered only when to mercv \
he was earned past the royal
u anted to drag the unhappy women to his own pavilion, the king
gave order, tor htm to be rescued
Far Groin wanting to abolish the Sat cu s from the river
harem. i
entered in the inventor.es as royal

property, expos!
torn Akbar treated it a> a gala spectacle at which ed lor sale in all the bazars and finally
mviied foreigners for -and ringside view from auctioned
as a slave. He was bought
by one of his friends
ih cony, 'lo a;e records that ""The
for 80 pieces of gold, which were paid
summoned into thc
kin c ordered the pries ts to be to see an
royal treasury". So besides punishing an erring
instance ofcustom of Sari). They went in
this <
Officer mercilessly the usurious Akbar
^nce of what was to take place but when they
alsomade
money in the bargain by trading him as
a
and out, die) plainly indicated by their saddened stave, and earning some money for
his treasury
feces how cruel and savage they felt that crime to
Finally Rudolf publicly reprimanded the Ki Monserrate narrates how 3 » *«pn emerging
-showing openly by hi*; presence there that he from the Gaybar {Khybar) pass and reaching the
approved of such a revolting crime, and for plain the king had several villages near the coas
sur it by his weighty judgment and explicit burnt, because their inhabitants had refused him
This is emphatic evidence that far grain and supplies on the way up." Shrewd as he
acting to itop Sati Akbar treated it as consi- was he did not retaliate on his way out lest his army
derable Fun. be pounced upon in ihe narrow confines of the
Once an officer commanded by Akbar to find mountain pass or its retreat be cut off when it
out a iuitabic place where the
Indus could be ford- wanted to return to India.
turned saying there was no suitable spot
"he king a<kcd him il he lad
Monserrate found that w "princes sentenced
gone to the place to imprisonment are sent to the jail at Goateris
rated. When
he Icarm he had not gone that far,
thc kln orated him to be
£ seized, dragged to the l
i
156, ibid
- ib.u 58. P. 83, ibid. 111
I* 21 1, ibid.
90
Chapter V
vhcre thej r ot a\va v
%btc offender* b handed '*Z
,;
pu.w^mcnt. hut ,hc ba.e-bom
*?*££* 'foi
IMMORALITY
...Tim latier official
isequi.
<f"< and bd the king whh
^Tvcn in the palace
i
Contemporary Muslim and European records

of pumslunent such as lcathei
fitted with sharp spikes prove that Akbar had an inordinate lust for
Lhjtf bow-strings
.lock of wood used or pound. I
women. In fact one of the chief motives of h
SSSti to wars of aggression against various rulers was to
Lthcmoifiials'sWesor erasnmg pieces his
which arc tied a number of appropriate their harems. If the defeated adver*
dull snd scourges in
saries were Muslims Akbar appropriated their
with sharp bronze nails, (This
'mall balls studded
one called by teeming harems. If they were Hindus he compelled
Jau
.
apon must. I think, be the
scorpion). Various kinds of them under pain of cruel reprisals to surrender
tbt ancient! tlu
their sisters and daughters or other females.
chains, manacles, handcuffs and other irons are
huns up, n one or the great palace gateways, Besides that Akbar had various other modes
"
which is guarded In the chief executioner of acquiring comely women for his harem namely
times in realizing the through obliging visitors or generals by way of
Quite ahead of their
gratification for the emperors pleasure or as a sop
value of mobile exhibits mediaeval Muslim ruler*
oui display* of weird skeletons to his anger, by direct interference with or trespass
in India used to rig
into the marital privacy of his subjects at his will
and mangled, stuffed bodies to terrorize their sub-
and by swooping on Hindu women
pleasure;
's into" submission. Akbar was no exception.
It Beg was looked upon by Akbar as the chief about to go Sati (i.e. burn themselves on the pyre
igato liv'hrain Khan's rebellion. Wall Beg of then deceased husbands) and carrying them off
to his harem, and also by capturing en masse the
died of wounds received in battle (Akbar) ordered
head be cut off, which was (then) sent all
women of vanquished troops.
over Hmdusthan (for display) When it was bro* One may well imagine the of these helpless
lot
to Elawa Bahadur Khan killed the loot soldiers women retained in hordes to be at the beck and
thai carried ji call of the emperor's lecherous pleasure when even
the 1
'imperial consorts selected to accompany
h Am-i-Akburi, Abul Fw/n\ Allan".
b)
their lord were carried by she-elephants and shut
cd Uom he out? id J Periian by M. BUwhmann.
i
ood edition, BaUiotbeca InUica up in decorated To them life meant only

'
icrles published by
H">ji Sialic Souei. ,,r uengul.
~T P. 267. Vincent Snurh'- Akbar the Great Mogul
ibid.
98
99
a dumb. N&MMfaexistence covered inside

the olil his life allowed himself ample
latitude in the
hy the emperor. wn Utd concubines/'
birnp until dfecovttfcd matter of
Referring *0 contemporary Jesuit testimony Akbar's inordinate obsession for more and
more
Smith say* "The... experience of the first Jesuit and always different women is best illustrated by his
mission under Aquavit in 1582 proves, beyond conduct after his general Ad ham Khan had defeated
possibility of doubt
that at that time.. Akbar Uaz Bahadur, the debaucherous Muslim ruler of
drank hard. The good father had Sangrur near Dewas in Central India.
jVfalwa. at
habitually
boldly dared to reprove the emperor sharply for Akbar was informed in his capital Agra that
his licentious relations, with
women. Akbar instead Adham Khan was retaining with him all the
of resenting the priest's audacity, blu shingly excus-
women of Baz Bahadur's harem. Nineteen -year-
Since Akbar inherited his drink old Akbar incensed at the thought that the
ed himself."
addiction from all his forefathers the reproof by a .women who should have been in his harem were
after all usurped by his general
1
make no dent Akbar's obses- '•left Agra on
Jesuit father could in
April 27. 1561 Maham Anaga (the high priestess
sion.
of Akbar's harem and the mother of Adham
Smith narrates a murderous attack on Akbar Khan, apprehensive of Akbar's cruel revenge on
provoked by his wanting to abduct other people's her miscreant son) sent swift courtiers to warn
wives "Early in January
.
1564," says Smith her son (about Akbar*s departure), His submission
-Akbar moved to Delhi. On the llth he was was accepted only when his nmthcr (Maham Anaga
returning from a visit to the Nizamuddin shrine who quickly followed the emperor) came. (But.
when a man standing on the balcony (of a inadrasa) the villain that he was) he secretly stole two special
discharged which injured Akbar in the
an arrow beauties. (Akbar delayed his return to Agra until
shoulder. The assailant was a slave (i.e. a Hindu) those two damsels were also surrendered). Maham
named Fulad. Akbar seems to have discouraged perceived that if these two women were introduced
to His Majesty her son's treachery would be
attempts io ascertain Fulad "s accomplices. He was
then engaged in a scheme for marrying certain revealed. She, therefore, caused the two innocent
ones to be put to death (saying that the "dead tell
ladies belonging to Delhi families, and had
compelled one sheikh to divorce his wife in his no tales) The Khedive (Akbar) overlooked it and
favour. The attempted assassination put an end regarded the done as not done. Abul Fazal who
to these discreditable proceedings, and probably

records atrocious deed was not ashamed to
that
praise the wisdom and perspicocity rf the guilty
was prompted by the resentment at the royal
woman." This and other lavish praise that Abul
invasion of the honour of families. Akbar through-
4. Pp. 37,38, ibid.

2. P. hi, ibid 3 P. 47, ibid.
i
100
101
woman
1*2,1 often
2Swe by Mi
l«s«W
being
on
made
Ibis
the fccherou
can only
be
in-,,,,,.
m according
rcivc power.
We
to their ranks,
have already recounted
i„ fluence 0I
how
mans lurcm women thai M ah , m nc did not
scruple in murdering two Hindu
aary of the « women
to save her son from Akbar's wrath.
Amiga controlled. j
US r
uir to nn em P |f e at th« with \khar's

a young Akbar, Dealing craving for women
14, having a targe
'
arm) ol ruffians Badayuni says It was at that place (Mathura)
icndei
barbarians at his command, a possessor o| that His
Majesty's intention of connecting himself
md
hnmens plundered wealth and a harem increasing by marriage
(sic) with the nobles of Delhi
was
everyday, was bound to be a broached and qawwats and
bv leaps and bounds first eunuchs were
person And SO he was. Smith says sent into the harems for the purpose of selecting
kj
or repeating thai Akbar daughters of the nobles and investigating
•Abut Fazal never tires their
early years remained

behind a veil " if conditions. And a great terror fell upon the ci1
daring his
Akbar remained almost Abdul Wasj's was a wonderfully beautiful and
during his youthful years
of the harem women. charming wife without a peer: One day the eyes
wholly in the arms end taps
with women In the rest or of the emperor felt upon her. It Is a law of the
the time that he spent
was only stightly less. Mogul emperors thai iT the emperor cast Ins eyes
his lift
«aiiJi desire on any woman, the husband is bound
After stripping his guardian and minister
to divorce her and the virtuous (sic) lady entered
Behram Khan f 11 power, and ultimately murder- the imperial harem/ This passage makes it clear
ing hun Akbai was governed
entirety by strumpets.
that Akbar subjected all women in his realm to
Smith notes Akbai shook off the tutelage oi hisclose scrutiny either personally or through his
Behram khan only to bi Eng himself under the influ- henchmen, who were under otders to subject these
ence of the monstrous regiment or unscrupulous omen to a close personal physical check as
petticoat govern-
women. He was subject to the potent whetstone* f. r -Xklw'slittt. One can
u.l
ment of the worsi kind apparently taking no well ima'gine the horror of a situation when tnightj
interest in the business of government which he officials of a despot, bacfc d up with fierce-looking,
towed Mnham Amiga to control. She V

srmed-to-the teeth barbarians enter the dark,
house
onworth) of the trust reposed in hei innermost curtained-oft recesses of even
with the specific objed of carrying off the beai
Hie wli of this woman, Mftham Anaga li
emperor
nui been properly appraised. She was a pimp atw toofanj age and an; ttutus for tlie
diS- sexual gratification.
a pander for Akbai and Influential courtiers
bursi i
I
i tiicm the largesse of harem beauties oi
r|. v. ,,, v.,,i II .., mukhtta '•*• '
k:i b "
m^
Qiitlu BiidtiN.im. Ibftl
5. 1'. 31. ibid 6 Pp 25, zi>. ibid.
10
in.
or their ciders were bound u

Manv WOm*n -Had
we burnt themselves
with fir. or acid to ^^ A kbar'» saying : I
would
been w, Sc earlier I
and unattract.ve to the ro taken no woman from my wwn

heir face* ugly
n«^ bribed the
may have ^.^
•- -?a»
royal agcntu
have .--
llUVC
my
-«« **,j own kingdom
g(l0
wrael-o. fornv .object, :irc „, mc
T me £
mn
*» «
abductors, many
abductors* agenfc <"' «• c 1
Such sanciimnniAH. k
,n me place
ion
gratification to escape
esc; in
I'
ren.
children. <
sanctimonious «_.j
gratificat pe rma .
perma% of and i
h ad hoc sexual
iifh
detention in the
;;,t
rmnemr's gilded
*;„« ;« tfc# emperor's Gilded capfrt
cages and
many may- have been stripped
mm."-. ..—-.
harem; ir v U
*> humb "&
£il 111*----
rtto
reign written by T ---- b
8 m,yvv v u 1| 3 of
aCCOlims
genunexmg chroniclers l^"'"
should not
1
Ws
hypocr..,-
reemmc
teeming
it-*. limit.
__ ... -„ r — .« and
r»«.i _i.. L.* n /4tvink the reader in n f* n ~« n ~. .
whether their form physical hoodwink lilt: in a correct appraisal .
nude to ascertain role in history.

r
of an emperor who could drag A k bar's

allure was worth)
harem with the force of h» women
any WOimMJ to his The free traffic in in vogue in that was
11S m a vast empiic This was yet another Akbar's reign for offer as gratification to Akbai
a terror and people used
reason vUiy Akbar was Officers, courtiers, or himself is illustrated by
People dreaded him not only He
to flee in his wake. Badayuni. says;"
"In this yea r (A.H. 971) the
for his plunder of their
wealth, not only his T orturc emperor had Mirza Muqim of Isfahan together
but the lifting or then Hr Yaqub of Kashmir put to death on a
and maiming their persons with
women-folk whether wives, mothers,
sisters or charge of being Shiaha. The two (had) brought
daughters. to court the daughter of Hu&ain Khan as a sort of
a present,' This indicates that anybody could
Contemporary records also indicate that
liftanybody's daughter, sister or wife in Akbar's
Akbar used his "large stock of female beauties reign and gift her away or detain her in his own
whether confined to his harem, prisons or
serais,
house.
for his own gratification but also to
not only
exchange them with others or bestow
them Women
wrested from their men folk by mass
gratification on visitors or courtiers.

Smith says* raids on localities or towns or after vanquishing a
hostile force in battle were mercilessly handled as
"Grimson's statement that Akbar had confined
his other sexual cargo and then dumped in town to eke out
himself to one wife, and distributed
not directly con- a living as prostitutes. It was. therefore, that the
consorts among the courtiers is
from other sources, (Akbar) may have number of these helpless women increased every-
firmed
had day in geometrical progression. Badayuni says™
promised to do so or even asserted thai he
he "Prostitutes of th«" imperial dominions had
made the sacrifice, but it does not follow that swarms
the exact gathered together in gitalin such
actually kept such a promise or told
Ain-i-Akbari Vol, III. p. 398 quotes
as to defy counting oc numbering- (Akbar) ap-
nth/'
Akbai the Grcul Mosul/' 0. P. 128, Vol. n BsdtyimiYchniifclft

P U$, Vincent Smftll
10, P 3U.il
105
B deputy and a secretary f0r
pointed a keeper, and
who wished to
Zir quarter SO that anyonetake them to his
m with the* connivance of
people or hou^
^ numbers of women wreMcd from defeated foes
were subjected to rap, and prostitution is men.
the imperial office* tionedbyBaduyunlwho -ZamKhanKoka
Z|M With the
and Asaf Khan who had been appointed to punish
any of them tha he pleased.
Tate connection with the Afghans of Swat and Bajur, and to extirpate
permit any man
to lake dancing
But he did not JaUal h the Roth oat, killed many of them and
at night without conforming
mrls to his house tptured the wlvc? and family Jaltalah and his
conditions. But if
anyone wished to ,
il
ho certain)
was a well brother Waliftdat Ali with their relatives and
if the petitioner known
have a virgin, breiheren to the numbers of near 14,0 and sent
petition [through) the deputy
courtier, he sen! a litem roc mi And of the rest oj these prison ci a
permission from court. Nevertheless take account!" Itwa
nd obtained carried or,
who can tht i
j drafts
rules all the libertines
in spite Of the of women were despatched to Akbafs court
under assumed names, and so.
hounded, who
hese affair* herded and tvere used for free
drunkenness and
debauchery led to many acts of distribution among the vicious men who thronged
bloodshed.And however many were brought o Aktuir's court, and lo occasional visitors The
of delinquents would wretched condition ol these women used as prey
punishment another troop
depart-
strut arrogantly
past the inspector of thai by sex-wolves would beggar description. They
And a number of well known
prostitutes
ment were subjected to uninhibited molestation, starva-
called privately before
him, and inquired tion or undei -nourishment, filthy
apartments* in-
Jcbar)
slavery and imprisonment in
(from them) who had seduced them.". suits, menial duties
solitary celts of the burqa coming as close as the very

Muslim rule reduced Hindustan
to a great
king or Muslim kings tip of their noses

brothel and Akbar the
gloried in being the king and chief patron of this i
-< Akbar) was unable to give up his polygam-
vast brothel ous habits, and no importance need be attached

that he once intend-
lo the baz ir gossip of the time
forced
One of main stipulations in treaties
the ed to distribute his wives among the grand,,*,
such of UN* work. He is not
en vanquished foes was to surrender says the editor of an historical
«"
men as Akbar or his officials wanted. By quite right. The bazar gossip
in substantially true.
host
method' Akbar had introduced a whole
1
Muuiuklnibui r*«nrikl>i ibid

into n» P. 401. UiUlayum'*
the daughters of eminent Hinu Rajahs
12.
... il,,. r<immentarv. of Fill
harem"
instance of how day-in-and-day-out
Mil turd
1) f :n, ibid.
107
106
Monscrrate Males- -In addition to this
quarrel
\nd vet there is no apparent contradiction
bet- there was another regarding a ship captured by
It must he clearly understood
ween Die I
t„ al the PorlugiK Tile Mongols basely sent epic's
\\ ad no specific number of wives He regard, into the Damanas (Daman) under a
district of
fattm. All conquered pretence Of friendship and when a Portuguese fleet
cd the whole realm as In
found sufficiently attractive
OT wrttted women W under Jacobus Lopczius Coutigi, > lying at the
were transferred for being pan of

mpereir mouth of the Taphtus fcpti) river ihej suddenly
1
constantly swelling stock attacked out of an ambush laid at night

i
i
iKia-m. This f Nine
he used for his own sailors were captured, dragged in triumph to Surat,
sexual gratification
women
well as of those whom
he wanted to favour. cruelly treated and on the next day executed for
two statements that Akbar they had refused to become Mu^lmans even
This recoi lit- i
used to distribute
well as he though promised riches, honours and beautiful
polygamous as
women that were at his and noble wives. The Mongols regarded this as a
his wives (namely the
very generous offer. Their heads were brought 10
mctcv in the harem with whom he may or may not
his courtiers. Such the King at r-aiiepuraio (Fatehpur Sikri). Akbar
have' actually cohabited) to
pretended he had never heard of what had
distribution did not make even a whit of a
happened,"
difference to Akbar's over-married status because
of harem women was being constantly
slock The promised to neo-converts wen
'wives*
Ij, s
replenished to over-flowing and bursting by invariably Hindu women enslaved and kept
in reserve for prostitution and rape. The
overcrowding.
were rounded up after every battle or raid on
Alluding to their frequent discussions about peaceful Hindu localities. The word 'noble* is used
the relative merits of Christianity and Islam,
with
in this case to describe those women only because
Akbar's courtiers M
on serrate states how one of his they were lo be used as bait for neo^converts.
"Rudoir teeth the fact
colleagt '
cast in their Usually Hindu women are invariably described in
that their precious prophet in one passage (which Muslim chronicles as whores, strumpets, slaves
quoted) permitted the practice of unnatural and and dancing girls.
oS mi liable vice (namely sodomy). When this fact
Non-molestation of the women of captured or
was discovered, the Musalmans reddened with
vanquished foes was an act of special grace, big
ahum*
mercy and a rare exception. This is illustrated in
Despite Akbar's overtly professed friendliness the campaign undertaken to suppress the revolt of
10 wards the Portuguese his generals often swooped Masum Farankhudi. He was forced to leave his
upon the latter. Referring to one such incident 15. P. 167, ibid.
14. P. 60. tbid.

4
if.' .*
in
Ayodhya. Akbafi
the Tort of instance
rrensow and family Another which Akhar intervened
in
SSVwibo Khan occupied th. for. and lhe suspiciously similai to the one mentioned
jl c
mercifully ordered him
not to moles,
Ucbar it-Raia Bhagwandas's cousin Jamratl sent on dui
rebel And
the "fam.lv and dependent, of the lh the
eastern provinces, rode hard -j,
pararoly this was no small mercy. urgent and died near Chausa from the
orders,
earlier chapter effects of the heat and over-exertion. His v.
h-ve alreadv noted in an
-,
Wc
to stop the custom of daughtei of Udai Singh imade preparations 10 »o
that Akbar fur from wanting
Hindu widows burning themselves Satil- Akbar rode to the Spot... and stopped
Sau {sorrowim*
pyre, treated those mourn- The relatives were granted tlieir lives and mcr
on their husbands'
and imprisoned. The exact location and date oft
occasions as gala performances grand 1 1>.
ful
his Muslim courtiers incident are not stated. Abul Fazal's narrative as
spectacles to regale himself,
in which he is usual is lacking in clearness and precision/"
and foreigner!;. The few instances
said to have interfered ware to take away the Discerning students of history must not take
widow ! us own harem, We quote two instances: such garbled versons at their face value specially
when Abul FazaJ is universally dubbed to be a
»""The daughter of Rai Raisingh was wedded They must examine and
shameless flatterer"
to Bir Bhadra* the son of Raja Ramchandra of analyse them as detectives do. This is a precious
Pinna. When Ramchandra died Akbar sent his of historical methodology. Reconstructing
rule
son to Panna to ascend the throne. When ncaring
the above garbled and truncated version one finds
the capi.al Bhadru fell from the palanquin
Bir
thai J aim nil was in excellent health smoB I;
and died. His widou declared her intention to be deputed on a mission. He must have died soon
a Sati. Akbar intervened," This, therefore, is not
after he parted from his near unddejt i-
a mere abduction of a Salt but seems to be accom- nid colleagues at court That that be
panied by a pre-med Rated murder. Bir Bhadra hav- must have been given a fake order prcceed
ing been ut Akbar's court Akbar must have seen his on a mission and was pounced upon and killed
wife and have had an eye on her The incident has ss scon as he was defenceless and unaware,
many suspicious details. How should Bir Bhadra Akbar was obviously kept fully inform-.. I
<f
fall from Janquin before he reached his cap)
r the developmenl Thai Akbar rode out imme-
d lUt all he fell from the palanquin through
diately in person to the exact spot shows that
accident how did that L\\ from a few feel prove so
JaimulJ died very close to Akbar's palace. It
fatal kill him then and there? indicates that AJcbai knew the exact spot because
M.Vol. J, Akbar The Great, bv Dr the murder was pre-m dilated and hirelings had
Aihirbadi
U1 Shliv:.vl,»\.i ibid.
I? P- 347, Shctat'i
"Akbar," '* P 163, "Akbnr the Grctl Mogul", iW*
ibid.
>
110 tit
soldiers) followed a*
Akbar rode A kbar"s usual." "The two
SatUt is said. alive. Kaniuluvaii lister of
fcprtpan ,
U ||
w omcn left Rani Dunn
£«**** He is .;..* to Have reached
of t.mc riding
like a hero
there
m ti) and the daughter of the Raja ©i Purangad
j tjH nicfc rrori, (daughter-in-law of The deceased warrior
queen
Line l.Tc.rv romance, as though from behind q were sent lo Agra to enter Akbar's harem." Fanatic
He did not (nisi any detachment of Muslim authors add that though Ditrgawati'i son
cc curtain.
myorpolkc nor could he entrust the task to nir Narayan had been married to the daughter of
officer under
him. And since the widow's the Raja of Purangadh yet the marriage wa* not
any
relatives obviously resented this blatant abduction consummated. This is obviously a bluff meant
said to have arrested
them and thrown lo insinuate thai Akbar admitted
lo his harem ont>
Akbar i<,
them into dungeons The episode ends abruptly virgins. If it was not so represented it was suppos-
happened to the
mentioning what ed to detract from a 'proud' Muslim monarch's
there vnihoul
-how namely Akbar 01 reputation. The fanatic qazis, courtiers and Akbar
hero of the stage-managed
ihe bereaved widow
After all her relations who himself would, therefore, tell the obliging scribes
had accompanied her to the cremation ground had to record that the apparently married woman was
been safely tucked out ofthewayby being im- to all intents and purposes a virtual virgin.
prisoned whom could Akbar send the poor.

Naturally very' reluctantly Akbar's court chronicler Abul Fazul known for
unattended widow to
his extreme nailery of his royal patron, tries lo
poor Akbar had to give her shelter and protection
Akbar's so-called preven- glorify even Akbar's womanizing as a burdensome
ic) in his own harem.
of murder of duty graciously and condescending!} undertaken
tion of Sati ultimately reveals cases
20
lo sci an example to the world. Abut Fazal says
the husband and abduction of the wire.
"His Majesty is a great friend of good order and
above two instances we can deduce
From Ihe propriety m business. Through order the world
Akbar's devious modus operandi of obtaining for becomes a meadow of truth and reality; and that
himself the wives of those of his courtiers, whom which is but external receives through it u spiritual
he coveted. With this new insight students of meaning. the large number of
For this reason,
tory may scan other simitar suspicious happen- women— a vexatious question even for great
ings. statesmen— furnished His Majesty with an oppor-
tunity to display his wisdom, and to rise from the
Durgawaii was killed white battling
After
with Akbar's invading forces a terrible jauhffl low t, of worldly dependence to the eminence
i
iituary mass suicide by tire by Hindu women

I
who considered this mode of death preferable to 15. P 90, 91 S Mat's "Akbar," ibid-
,
20. Ai» 15, Ain-k-Akbur', hy Abul F<waJ. ibid.

cruel molestation and humiliation at the hands of
112
The Imperial palace £md ruins or Akb Mr \

»f Berfeci Iteedom dd w e hnd
of rooms.
times com „ m „„ s m \
lU ites
,
MS „ n typical example of sycophant humbug Akbv
a
i lust for women m prodtoioui
equally preposterous L v, n courtiers wives were not
followed in an thu i
safe Badayum
winch is ^yjM -Whenever Begamv
m Mr W1 ve» or ,„ ,
women
^ mth
treountnes;amlsecurcUn
«he princes ,, ll.mh.Mhan and of
these lies or ha*
other
their wish and
desire
wait
to
for
be presented ifaj Rrsi nutlfj
a reply. Those eligible
are
raid, on Akbar permitted lo enter the harem, Some women of rank
Zmv U,c peace of the
*orloV
were meant to abduct the prmce,,
*
obtain permission to remain there for a whole
Hmdu kingdom month. Notwithstanding the great number or
pious Hindu riders or his own
m of devout and drink guards, His Majesty does not
&«»*** and
murder
,
fa
-lmdu rulers rather
und
massacre. ^f
I
d
f™T*
faithful
with his own vigilance.,.."
Scrutinizing the above passage we would like

dispense
nrefcrred to burn their

women than have them
to ask what married woman would yearn to be
Abu! Fazal's remark that :
fall imo Akbar* hands. molested by Akbar? Could there be so many women,
brought about world
Akbars kidnapping raids all wives of courtiers, who would io yearn to enter
amounts to adding insult to
unity and pence, Akbar's harem, as to indefatigably pilot their
not for nothing that
be .s called a
iniurv It is
1 applications for special entry into Akbar's harem.
shameless flatterer.* from pillar lo post? Was the admittance lo Akbar's
21
Abu! Fazaj says
Describing Akbar's harem harem a matter of such rare privilege for the wives
a laigc enclosure with fine
»»His MajestJ has made of courtiers that they should consider it a rare
reposes. Thougli there honour to be away from their own husbands.
buildings mside, where he
axe dim,, iii/n 5.000 women he has given to each homes and children for cohabitation with Akbar
a separate apartment He has also divided them The words "those (found) eligible" only mean :
into sections, and keeps them attentive to the women whom Akbar found sufficiently attractive so
been impelled to drag them to his own harem.
duties Several chaste (Sic) women have as to feel
pointed as darogah- and superintendents

over The phrase "obtain permission to rem im uu for i
duties a whole month" means that Akbar ihed to detain

cai Edion, and one has been selected for
or a writer, his courtiers' wives (and of course daughters and
listers) if he enjoyed their company, at least
\hu! Fteol'i rtion that each one ofta*
i
en-
mom 1
1
But here it need not be added thai the
mi vm vena suite of rooms- in a large have
month's limit Is mennigless. if Akbar could
closure despicable Nowhere in l» Ji: '
month what prevented him
li r lie.
others' wives fbi a
II. ibid. from detaining them longer or even permanently ,
n - Ain is, Atn-j-Akbari, ibid.

114
115
The last sentence ihai thou.ch there were p| cnty
guards Akbar remained vigilant
faithful only
* f
sodomy, prostitution, drunken brawh and mur-
women obviously
derous assaults. That there should be a
r
mean* that these Wteit
regular
meir homo and detained under dire
by force sodomle icrvfce on a very
;
jlourisfafaS large scale

threats. Such seemingly innocuous passages lldc |
nl ust
be considered a rare, unique, unparalleled
,-iJstcr meaning Mid
reveal tin.- most > avagc embellishment' of Akbar's reign.
a Vc
prevailing during Akbar\
and ledterous conditions
Sodomy was a 'precious* heritage of Akbar's
icicn. Akbar's grandfather Babur has, m
ovm family
\kbar also took great interest in maintaining given a lengthy description of his
nis memoirs,
:,• brothels close to his palace, and found timcta sodomte infatuation for a male sweetheart while
.tccounl of how many of the prost itutes were
mother used to coax him out of his reluctance
n,s
v,f_i and also id talk to them. A bul Fazal r*. his own wife with whom Babur was not
to go to
His Majesty (hasj established a wineshop
:im
counts :
on good terms His son Humayun. also had picked
nearthe palace. The prostitutes of he realm who had I
handsome lads always at hand. Akbar himself
collected could scarcely be counted, so large was maintained a whole regiment of catamites near his
number, (Their locality was called Shaiian-
ihcir palace as Abu I Fazal mentions.
puia or De viTs Ville), The dancing girls used to
Ii was not uncommon during Akbar's time for
be taken home by courtiers. If any well known
courtiers to have male sweethearts in their retinue.
courtiers wanted to have a virgin they would first 14
About one such Abul Fazal says "In the 12th
ha\e Hi* Nlnjirstys permission. In the same way
year was reported that Muzaffar loved a boy
it
boys prostituted themselves, and drunkenness and
. >rance soon led to bloodshed. His Majesty - -
named Qutb. Akbar had the boy forcibly removed,
whereupon MuzafTar assumed the garb of a fakir,
hiiroelf called some of the principal prostitutes and
and went into the forest. Akbar
was thus obliged
asked them who had deprived them of their
to recall him. and restored the belovc-i
virginity?**
Another instance reminiscent of Muslim

society
In Muslim chronicles the word " H
prostitutes"
Shah iwhoj was
many a time connotes Hindu women who were of mediaeval times is of* 'Adil
handsome
dragged into
and prostitution after their
slavery murdered in 988 A. H. by a young
for an immoral
husbands and brothers were killed in Muslim raids. eunuch whom he a- tempted to use
known for his mania for
purpose. Thekim
The above passage reveals the most shocking He obtained with some
boys and unnatural crimes.
civic life thai existed in
Akbar's times. It speak
p 276, Am -Akban. ibid.

M I\ 374, ibid.
25. P. 520. ibid.
116 117
mnMMO***"* han^-u
eunuch, ^ This is •» new high in cruelty, lechery
^d lortatt
torid^Bcdiir.waw^ slabbed by the elde, A nd to sav thal iK ca^ntted catamite raised m
of the v. the W
attempi of satisfy^ [li(
Tim nuhca.es that sclec
j)ms|0tl and dug large tanks i* the hemht
N
tameless academic audacity .md fraudulent eon*

of
£Statt d«i, ,
is how ancient Hindu buildings

WW preoons commodity under coction. This h*
handsome boys
rule to ** covctuousty sought, ascribed to various Muslims by cheats and
mc diac*al Muslim been
for the perverse grat.hcatbn forgers posing to be chronicle- writers
cutml or presented
with women, wine and wealth
superior*, along Another form of lechery practised by Akbar
'sodomy prevj*.
v number of such instances of his own grand, royal style of cruelty and
Aide scale may be quoted from
in
Ion a wry repression was to force his subjects to parade
Muslim chronicles. their women for him to fool with exclusively.
mentions yet another instance *

,ia\ Qj1 t
Tod mentions this unique institution
was passionately by Akbar s inventive genius. Tod
•Shah Qui' M.«hram-i-Baharlu conceived
iched to a dancing boy of
the name of Qabul states:
27 "The Noroza or "New Year's Day*' is not
Khan and as the Emperor had
the boy forcibly Mew Year's Day but a festival especially instituted
dressed as jogi went by Akbar. and to
which he gave the epithet
removed. Shah Quli
Khusroz, a day of pleasure, held
on the 9th day
into foreslv Bcbram traced him with mucn
the
festival of each
trouble and brought him back, when the boy was (No-roza). following the chief
restored to him. The emperor from goodwill month The Khusroz was chiefly marked by a
court, attend-
towards htm. admitted him to his fcmal apartments. fairheld within the precincts of the
merchants wives exposed
After the first time he had been allowed to enter ed onlv by females. The
ladies of
the harem, he went home and had his testicles re- ,he manufactures of every clime and ihc
Maiesiv W also
moved, Maharam means owq admitted to the harem. the court were the purchasers. His
He died at Agra in luTO A.H. At Narnaul where he there in disguise by which means
learns the U
of
chiefly lived he erected many splendid buildings value of merchandise, and hears whan
the character of fce
and dug large tanks the state of the empire and
The above passage is a curious blend of chican* officers of the government.'

Fazal thus softens down the
unha lowed pu P
T^TTlr
ery and fraud. No one would voluntarily castrate ennot admit that the
passage only indicates that Akbar
i
of this day; but posterity
used to compulforily castrate those unfortunate
males whom he chose tokeepa watch over his harem.
E.c
26, V W, ibid. Hmu». 68-74 i uur Lane, Icadoa.
H9 \\
118
despoiled of her chastity hm loaded with k*. .
fiffit UNr was to obtain these results amidst i nc

posh* on of the dames of Mamor the
mixed ^Dde. tramping to the tinkling
these ninth day
sound
" r J*
Bhakaofthefairof Rajasthan, laments of goidand gcm 5 on *
Rajput honour Wa| my
.
sol L
tc markets in which Where, brother, is the moustache
fan
bartered and to which the
brave Prithviraj makes
on ,h C y h
p r
Above is just a random sampling
illusion {in the poem that
he composed and s j
of Akbar
gross venery It is enough
to convince
alleged tohave sent to rekindle Rana Pratap's fiagg. an impar-
tial reader thai Akbar s whole career
ing spirit of dogged resistance
to Akbar's aggres. a «w ZL
of uninhibited licentiousness mduteed JE
sive onslaughts) There is not a shadow of in
barbaric abandon backed with the brutal
doubt that many of the noblest of the race (of fore
a huge army of hoodlums rampaging over
Rajputs) were dishonoured on the No-roza t and a vnsi
empire.
the chivalrous Prithviraj was only preserved from
being of the number by the high courage and virtue
of his wife, a princess of Mewar and a daughter of
the founder of the Suktawats. On one of these cele-
brations of the Khusroz the monarch of ttie Moguls
was simck with the beamy of the daughter of
Mewar and lie singled her out from amidst the
united fair of Hind as the object of his passion. It
is notimprobable that an ungenerous feeling

united with that already impure, to despoil the
Stadias of their honour through a princess of
their house under the protection of the sovereign.
On from the fair she found herself
retiring
entangled amidst the labyrinth of apartments by
which egress was purposely ordained, when Akbar
btood before her. But instead of
acquiescence, she
rcw a poinard from her corset and
held it to his
breast, dictating and making him repeal the oath
enunciation of the infamy to Rae
all her race.
ngh. the elder brother of
the princely bard had
so fortunate. Hh wife wanted either
or virtue to withstand
the regal tempter,
returned to their
dwelling in the desert
121
jsnltnn d their elder brother was saved from

the
juime Tate by a strong constitution, not by vh\\n
The biographies of the nobles recorded by Bloch-
DRINK \M> OQ¥B ADDICTION
tnann record surprising number of deaths
due to
intemperance. One of the most conspicuous vic-
incorrigible addict or strong tims of thai vice was Mirza Jani Beg of Sind. who
UKir in
and stuping drugs. Unull,. drank himself to death in the Deccan soon after
spirituous liquors of Asirgarh. Another noble of high rank
of brutal the fall
heavy with the burden crimes
(Shahba? Khan, No. 57) used to drink a terrible
niltif up from da}
today has to find an escape
mixture of wine, hemp and two forms of opium.
in stupefaction.
This addiction was Akbar's
The entire aimos.
hcrimge.
Many other examples might be cited."
cimi>' ancestral
brought up reeked with Smith records- how when Akbar "had drunk
often in aIikIi McbUT was
inu stupefying drugs, murderous plots more than was good for him he performed various
i
,, .
r*plots and womanizing. pad freaks. At Agra he galloped the elephant
'Hawai*, across the bridge of boats, and at Sural
Smiti quotes Terry's account of Asaf Khan's
MHis sovereign (Akbar)* asis tried to ftghi his sword. He specially fancied a very
to saj
'
heady toddy. As an alternative at that period

i, had no scruples on the subject, and
(1510) he used to take a spiced infusion of opium.
less heavily, generally more during
He followed the practice of his family for many
the greater part of his lire.'' Smith
adds "Intem-
generations in consuming both strong drink and
perance mis the besetting sin of the Ttmuroid various preparations of opium sometimes to
ii was of many other Muslim
excess."*
families Babur (Akbar** paternal grand-
fatlu iantJcgani roper. Humayun (Akhar's *Thc Jesuit testimony concern tog the ex-
s,
opium. Akbar perience of the first mission under Aquavtva in

her) made liimtclf stupid with
1582 proves, beyond the possibility of doubt, that
permiiU'd him .elf die practice of both vices. Some
at that time, some nine years after the fall of Sural
d freaks in which he indulged while
u»d mi e influence of liquor have been narrated Akbar habitually drank hard. The good father had
boldly dared to reprove the emperor sharply for Ins
COJil rafy chronicles) The evil example set
licentious relations with women, Akbar instead
followed only too faithfully
resenting the priest's audacity, blushingly excused
inccs and nobles. Akbar's two younger
wns died m jarlj manhood from chronic atchol-
f
2 l
?44, ibid.
3, P. 82. ibid.
neenl Smith'* *Akhnr the Great Moi I
1*3
and even aoq^l t° wMue the flesh

123
If, | v ,
r several d.
The abstinence was dom Mansingh and squeezed him
•
, l0| hard S , ,,j
Be went to such excess MnzalTar had Co twist Akbar\ hand to

extended to Include lienor. 1 rclcas, hi
merit was lost ol fasti ig hold on Mansingh ! throat. Akbar must have
in di g that the «, b
Sometimes Akbar shockingly drunk/' u
demerit of inebriation. seci*.
ed to forge! Padre Rudolfo altogether, allowing '-Although the uncritical pane ymts
without summoning fi of Akbar
long intervals <o elapse in,
make no mcnl ion of his drunken bouts, and his
to say something
Even if he did »m lie the priest published sayings include phrases condemnatory
of
before Akbar
about God. he had hardly begun excess in wine, it is certain that for many
years he
fell asleep, the reason
beini* that he made too kepi up the family tradition and often drank more
much use sometimes of arrack, an extremely heady than he ecu Id carry. Jchangir remarks My father
palm « sometimes of post, a similar pre*
inc. and whether in his cups or sober moments alway called
paration of opium, diluted and modified by me Shekhu Baba'. The phrase clearly implied that
various admixtures of spices. His bad example in the writer's father was not seldom in his cups."
the matter of inebriety was followed only too
With his usual
cunning Akbar's chronicler tries
faithfully b> his three son*who attained manhood.
to gloss over Akbar's failings. Abul Fazal says'
Two of them. M urad and Dan iyal, died from the
that Akbar "does not drink much, but pays much
effects of their intemperance, and Salim
chronic
attention to (the Abdar Khanaj matters. Both at
never freed himself from the vice altogether." home and on travels he drinks Ganges water.**
*A "queer story narrated by Abul Fazal (says) Probably Abul Fazal means that strong liquors
there was (once) a select drinking party. The talk passing down Akbar's throat became transformed
lumed upon the disregard for life shown by the into sacred Ganges water or that to offset the
heroes of Hindusthan. It was said that two Rajputs cflTccts of drinks and dopes Akbar washed them
would run from opposite sides against the point of dow.i with Ganga water. Probably the reference to
a double-headed Ganga water is meant only to hoodwink Akbar's

by third parties 40
spear, held
that the points would transfix both of the rivals Hindu subjects who formed a vast majority.
and come out at their backs. (Hearing this) Akbar 7 *•
Whenever His Majesty wishes to take wine,
had the hilt of his sword fixed in the wall and opium or kuknar (he calls the latter subras" i.e
announced that he would rush against it. P the quintessence of dop and drinks) the
all
J *
Mansiit-li kicked down Ihe sword and doing so cut servants place before him the stands of fruit.
his sovereign's hard Akbar promptly knocked
5, P. H2 ibid. 6. P. 57, AinÂkbari, by Abul Paul
All 11 mi, translated by H. Blochmnnn, ibid.
* t*. Ml.ibia
7, P. 69, ibid.
s
124
125
E.thcrAkbar should have been an

idiot to all^
before him when he asked bow el-complain I; and as His Majesty had adopted
his servants to taj fruits
servant >h"u|d have the habit Of eating opium, as Hoomayun. bis
vine and dope or the had done before him,
father people became appre
been given authority to override Akbafi
ihc
naive on lus account
commands and like slcrn governesses they must be
to accept fruit in place
or wine and Even a common man is considered bad and
compelhnc him
which seems more pro- dangerous company n he drunkard and a drug-
is a
drugs. A third alternative
Abut Fazat'&code ftddicJ If Ilk* Akbai he u backed by a ferocious
table isthftt 'fruit' is the flatterer
word for the dreaded liquors and drugs that his army ^ barbarians who have the potential of
mowing down all opposition one may well in
imperial master habitually consumed.
the menace he is 10 humanity at large. Akbar's
Father Monserraic a Jesuil priest who was at
reign was. therefore, one of the darkest periods of
^kbars court, says' Akbar quenches his thirst Indian history, when a targe pan of India was
with po*f or wafer. When he has drunk immode- Mibjccl 10 his drunken despotism and mischief.
rately of pi si he sinks back stupified and
A Sanskrit adage say
shaking."'
Youth, wealth, power and intemperance
Akbar's preference for drunkards him is like Each singly ma> spell ruin
illustrated by a contemporary chronicler Badayuni Imagine the havoc when they all combine.
who says1 "His Majesty appointed Qa2t Abdus illustrates the truth of that
Akbar's reign well
Sami as Qazi-ul-Quzat who used to play chess for
maxim.
a wafer, and to give great odds. His cup-draining
was notorious!} a congenital habit, and in his sect
briber) and corruption were considered as a duly
for the moment."
Chronicler Ferishi a observes:" 1
"Ai this time
(1582 ADl the king was taken dangerously ill of a
P, 199, Monserraic'* Commentary, ibid.

P 324, Badayuni, ibid
10. P. I5fj. \u] II Hivtory of the Rise of the Mobam*

dan Pr.vktr in Itidtu. till ihc year A D. 1612 " translated from
Fenian of Mahommed Kasim Ferishta. by John
original
i&. puWiihcdhy S, Dcj S9-A SI1an.ba7.ar Street. Calcutta-*'
taeprintcd Calcutta, 19 i6 • A D.|
Chapter Vlf 127
lin
way back from Mankot the royit elephants
the
mpeded into ailing Behram Khan's tern. Tf
w8 Akbar'J way of displaying his royal anger
<.
VRRIAGES WERE lichram Khan who got married to

TUF SO C U FD I M Salirna
VNTIBDACTIONS atJullundur w hen ihc army was on *ay from
m vi
Mankot in Jummu
territory) to Lahore.
its
I
There*
cr Behram Khan was systematically hounded.
\kbar*s much turned marital adventures Many more times Akbar's elephants stampeded
described as lyrical symphon- mto Bcliram Khan's tent Probably Akbar's
often rhapsoditally
icr-communal Harmon) and lofty essays in intention w have Behram Khan trampled to
salesmanship were nothing but

blatant abductions. death. Gradual l> stripped of all power Behram
an earlier chapter
Khan was overthrown in open combat, exiled,
\Ve have already noted in toand Paitan
murdered.
chased Partisan
highhandedly bereft
ho* Sheikh Abdul Wasi was contemporary accounts have often tried to show
History does
of his attractive and alluring wife. ihat Behram Khan was murdered by an Afghan
findtrace of Abdul W aî after he
was robbed
i
who bore him a private grudge Such accounts,
his wife. In ill probability he was murdered by
written by court flatterers, could never be expected
one of Akbar's own hirelings.
to indict Akbar of Behram Khan'* murder when
Even AkburS own guardian the elderly Behram were subservient to a wily and ferocious
v
Khan met with the >ame late because Akbarhad an Akbar who wielded despotic power. That it was
e>con bis wife Sahma Sultan Begum. This lady
was Akbar who caused Behram Khan's murder is
Akbat srUefs daughter. Depriving her
' apparent from the fact that Behram Khan tt
husband Behram Khan of all power and position
at hounded from the very day that he was engaged to
court and later murdering him only to grab his
wife Salirna Sultan, At the time of hi-, murder he was
Akbar's not alone but was accompanied by a large group of
for his <»wn harem was a heinous crime on
wife
ungrateful because it was adherents. Soon after he was murdered his
part. It was also very
Behram Khan * ho had chaperoned minor Akbar Salima whom Akbar had long coveted, was
Sultan,
to his throne stcerii kbars career through a speedily sent to Akbar\ harem along with her four
rose to be
number of formidable challenges. car-old son Abdur Rahim who later
Khan Khun. the highest loyal servant
Stripping
Dr. A.L. ShfivMSU \ys l
thai as early as 1557, ofthc crown of all his power and then ot h.shfc:
when Akbar was only 15 years old. Behram Khan aiyofbis wife because of a 5-year-old
Mbars
1
suspected a conspiracy against him when one day .on for Behram Khan's legally wedded wile
Wa a ghastly crime.
">
l. P. 41. Vol. I, Akbar the Great, ibid.

,
I2fl
139
s have :,lso nccn stained a bas

India* I - *>y
Akbax's harem may be gleaned from Dr
\Uur\
marriage W so-called
c
w A L
falsehood aboul it|, SiKJvasiav's book
1
Bharmal, the ruler
This marriage of Jaipur
Jaipur* Hindu royal brails h a* to humiliating submission
a shining example of w a» reduced by Shar-
hc, M paraded as mcr _ j
fuddn^ a commander or Akbar's forces, through
mnHJii.il integration brought about by Akbii,
repeated terror and horror raids on Bharmal's
statesmanship. principality- In these raids he succeeded
in captur-
emphatic proof of how the ing and holding as hostages three Rajput princes
fhis episode is :
K hangar, Rajsingh and Jagannaih. They were

oommunallsl and politician have falsified Indian
incarcerated at Sambhar and apparently threatened
tory to bolstei their own imaginary theories.
pjth torturous death. It was to redeem those three
Most histories state that while 19-year-old princes that the chastity of Bharmal's daughter was
Akh ts on his way from Agra to Ajmer to pay sacrificed Akbar's harem door. In ordinary
at
homage at the shrine of ihe tomb of Sheikh Mom circumstances even the nail of a Rajput damsel's
and white he was passing through
Chisti, toe or finger, as they say, was never exposed to
Sambhar, an elderly brave and proud Rajput ruler the lecherous gaze of a foreigner, and a marauder
Bharmal of Jaipur hurried thither and offered his at that.
daughter in man This is an atrocious false-
Dr. Shrivastava observes "The Kachwaha
:
hood. Even on the face of it it is absurd. Anyone (Bharmal) faced extinction and hence in a
chief
who knows and tradition of the mediaeval
the spirit
helpless condition sought the intercession of and an
Rajputs but does not know anything of history alliance with Akbar.'" That was the reason why.
old ui this version eu spurious. Thai a
soon after the Rajput damsel was surrendered the
•>
r
leading member of a community who preferred lo
three princes were released. That was why the
burn their women in a mass bonfire rather than sec
transaction took place at a wayside place and
not
their honour and chastity defiled by alien marauders at Bharmal's capital or at Akbar's capital
either.
should hasten to willingly and voluntarily surren- It was too shameful and heart-rending a surrender
der hi* daughter to Akbar, is a base calumm Tor Bharmal lo enact in his own bmneUW tu in the
against the fair name of proud Rajasthan. The heart of the glorious Rajasthan and in the midst ol
real story is very heart-rending. But it has been his own and kin. It
kith was considered most
carci oppressed and its bits have been very for a Rajput
shameful and worse than perdition
swept under Akbar's bed-chamber have to surrender his daughter lo a Muslim.
carpet
An account of what made Bharmal swall

n^7.63 of Dr. A. L. *»^*£SE
Great/ Vol. t contain an «*>«*
ol tTlc
his Rajput pride and surrender his beloved daughter wrongly described a> marriage.
130
Bharmal to talcc bcen a wedding they would

wns therefore, 116 fun tor ft at nil nave been nre^nt
il decision It ww worse than death foi ;|
,a Sambhar.
,! Rajput. But he felt he had no alternative. An other due that
Bharmal negotiated this
i
allow Ins three

Po him the choice was to princes dca of
|
surrendering his- n foi seeming the
red to death and later sec the whole of of the three
,, U | release princes, through n Muslim
Ins realm 1 tfd waste with similar atrocities or i named Chagtai Khan. Had it been a wcddin
for an abject peace \\ losing his daughter, Rajpul ruler would never emptoj a Muslim as The
Hli, 1 n 1 wrhc could not apparently steel his Kear| go-between.
B$ Immortal Rtma Praia p. preferred he meek i
Soon after B harm a Is surrender had been

ol Shameful surrender,
to a brave, fiahl-
alK ,
,
obtained Akbar directed Sharfuddin to similarly
iiil! resistance ravage another Rajpul prinaipaUty— Merta All
Akbar the very nest da\ for Agra with
left accounts which describe this transaction as a wedd-
the sunendcred ?ir) euphemistically called the ing, are therefore, gross concoctions. Tliough
•bride" Thai is to say there were no marriage Akbar didn't much care he couldn't have had any
festivities, those days royal wedding rejoicings In objection to shameful surrender as a
glorify this
and feasts lasted (or months. Why did this one marriage So far as Bharmal was concerned it was
end in a da:- but natural that he would wish this abject surren-
der painted as a voluntary wedding. But it is for
,1 1, euphemistically described as a huge
posterity to scan the circumstances and refuse to be
doik ;y consisting of thousands of horses with gold hoodwinked by political concoctions.
saddles, elephants, jewellery and cash, was nothing
Dr. Shrivastava who believes that the wedding
but .! ransom.
(sic) of Akbar with Bhunnal's daughter was "cele-
mentioned that tin
Dr. Shrivastava has also brated in the most admirable manner" (p, 62 of
ofDcosaand the surrounding region had
1
his book) lakes a somersault and says in a footnote

fkd in A Khar's ival Thai proves that Akbar was on page 1 13 "No mediaeval Hindu, howevei low
dreaded like a tiger on the prowl and was not in social status, liked U marriage with a Muslim.
'.loomed as a smiling royal bridegroom. though of royal blood, as in Hindu eyes the mere
touch of a Muslim was defilement or pollution,"
•Near Ranlhumbhor BharmaTs sons, grandsons
d other relatives were introduced to Akbar, While encamped at Mandavgadh Aklnn simi-
Dr. Shnvastava. Tins means that they were

larly -demanded the hand of the daughter of
nut present DJ the so-called wedding. Il was but
3. Akb;ir the Great, by &* StarivasuM.
P. 11 3. Vol. 1,
natural should not be presentthai they at the
ibid.
humiliating tuficndcr of their princess. Had it
132
133
Shah, ruler of Khandesh.

sfl nvastava significantly adding
Mjrm Mubarak ft* •R aja Bhagwand
\uimad Khan, the principal cu
llUch mi sent to Bikaner lo bring the princes
;vasl
,
to the
harem in September 1564.- camp may
uid entered Akbar's royal It be noted that in
each one
not a marriage because
l
is dcarij these called

weddings Akbar's
Phis again the general
vm brought and dumped in Akbar s harem by mume.pa darogans rounding up straycows.
equipp-
Ktary general who humiliated the Khandesh ed with the lassos or military detachments, used
to
ruler with the force
o( arms. drag the poor helpless princess to Akbar's harem
from the unwilling and sorrowing bosoms of their
'•Akbar married daughter of Kalian,
(sic) the
parents.
brother of Katyanmal Kalyanmal was the ruler
Bikaner His SOB Raisingh was taken into
The brave Bidhichand ruler or Kangra alias
service but K ilyamna] being too Tat to ride a horse Nagarkot when reduced to submission remitted,
besides other valuables, five maund» of gold "but
was allowed 10 return to Bikaner.*'
he did not fulfil the other terms such as sending of
This too was no wedding but an abject surrcn« a dola to Akbar's harem and acknowledging Mugal
der. In none of these so-called marriages'* is the dau- suzerainty.* A footnote quotes chronicler Badayuni
1
ghter's name ever mentioned because her chastity that 'the Mugals riddled with arrows the golden
a mere chattel to be bartered away on surrender umbrella over the image of Goddess Jwalamukhi,
lo save despoliation or the entire realm at the hands stew 200 black cows maintained by the temple for
of ravaging Muslim armies, Had the ruler of worship, and filling their shoes with the slaughtered
Bikaner. kalyanmal been really taken into service cows' blood splashed of the
the floor and walls
by Akbar as a mark of special favour, allowing him temple with it," That despite such atrocities and
10 return to Bikaner wouldn't have arisen The fact having been made to pay a heavv ransom Bidhi-
that he was "allowed** to return shows that he was chand refused to surrender the women of his family
forced lo buy his freedom by surrendering lit* shows how high the Rajputs held the ho uir of their
brother's daughter and also throwing in a large women and how tow mean Akbar's behaviour was
I T-om into the bargain. In this case it is clear that in collecting in harem women wrested with
his
he muht not have had a daughter of his own, at military force from his subdued adversaries,
least one marriageable. Had he one he would Rawal Pratap the ruler o\' Banswara and
e been forced to surrender his own daughter to Ravvul Askaian of Dungarpur were persuaded to
Akbar m addition to his brother's, wait on Akbar. " says 7 Dr. Shrivastuva. 'They
"Jaisalmfr't (ruler) '4
Rawal Mar Raj gave I
his daughter in marriage to Akbar" says Dr. AJ* k Pp 143 144, ibid
7- Pp. 21 J- 15, Vol. I, Akbar (he Giwtfi 'bid.
*. * 5. Pp. 120-127, Akbar the Great, ibid.
155
became Akbar 'married" the dau
his vushls.
g lle j
not only forced his subdued
Hu- ivniMrpur ruler The negotiations A kbar focs lft
We ^ then women to his own harem
iducted bj Lon Karftn and Birbnr, who brounhr Bjtder
vtirretide bur ah,
s° ns and other relations
the l«d> to ftfcbar** camp. when the latter was for
his* AJi
of
oi
return jourrus Fatehpm Sikrj I
i
LlJIie nw— ;
- -- -"« »wuruy propo*.
marriage of his daughter with Prince
e d the Salim
f lie ,ih,nc pass ige is a typical example of how was brought to Lahore and the tnarnan e
The lady
va ncl ly Indian histories have been written
i
,, lS performed
on January I, ]592."
Hie words persuaded to wait on Akbar" cleari*
means thai hey w e re to iced a nd h umil jated th ro Ug
t
The above passage again shows that Little
j.
si How
complete their htimfliiition w Tibet was threatened with total destruction by
the ruler agreed to send his daughter
,
is proved by the surrender of the Dungarpur ravage unless

prince SaJim's harem. Likewise on 10 -June 2fi
jgluer. That U was no marriage is clear from the l0
thai Lin: Karati and Bsrbar dragged the help,

i
j586 in Lahore Prince Salim's second marriage ,
performed with the daughter of Rai Singh of

less girl firm the protective custody of her help],
father and dumped her in Akkir's harem while he Bikaner ' To call this a 'marriage 1 is hypocrisy.
Falehpur Sikri. Itwas 'held' in distant Lahore and not at Bikaner

1
Dishonouring
Rajput princesses and molesting them had become because the ruler of Bikaner was obviously ashamed
a prtn< icnet of Akbar's of having to surrender his daughter to an alien

rule and life. By a
eniclfam) and humiliation has been
»hi\ insult
maraudar. He dare not* celebrate any marriage
dfied a* a magnanimous gesture of Akbar. Such isic) daughter with a Muslim potentate
of his in
partiality and blatant falsehoods are his capital Tor fear of public obloquy.
perhaps un-
paralleled elsewhere in world literature The chronicler Ferishta describes how the daugh-
and acade-
mic text books ter of the Bijapur ruler was kidnapped for Akbar's
son Daniyal. In 1600 A. D. n "Ibrahim Adil

Sheikh Abdun Nahi who objected to Akbar'* Shall of Bijapur sent an ambassador to conciliate
numerous marriages1 was exiled Mecca against
to Akbar and consented (sic) to give his daughter in
Mil. On
return to India in 1583 he died in marriage to his son Prince Daniyal Mirea A
ncious circumsmm
obviousl) murdered bj Mogul noble named Weer Jam dtiddin Husain
a- Muslim Abdun Nabi
fanatic did nol Anjoe, was accordingly despatched to escort the
Mcbar'i taking Hindu His protest
girls. wide from Bijapur In June 1604 Meer Jarnaluddin
Akbar invadim
r»>t
„ the privacy . of
Milium femiUe He. har of 9
Abdul Wasi! I
P. 354, (bid.
111
Pp 354-357. Akbar he Great,I ibid
r'<' 231 132 [bill.
u -
Pp 173-174, Vol it, Brifigi" tmiwbUlofl
ol Ffemwi
chronicle,, ibid.
iv; 137
the royal bride ind

returned villi h , In the latter case Rai Sfngh'f daughter
„ u%ai „
Mu>ain delivered the you
subjugation.
down ifc) He brought to Hhaawandas's house in Lahore
w as
i
unwilling parents in distant Rajasthan

were cc duarcu from her
lha uurtuib
S^ftfttam whett then handed over to Jehangir. Bhagwaada**s
S«S nuluddm H«fefl
magnificence
Pro- **»*
(sic n which
Kim the k,ng«
r
M* aTl d
family had since the days or his father Bhar-

rolled up and drowned its Rajput
ma l pride
Ifi05 Dttnipl died in Burhanpur be many women
\ L , ,
On April 8,
ynd allowed to lifted as as
drinking."
owing to excess of Akbar and his successors liked. For thcm t
the a hove description that therefore, it was some consolation to sec other
H is mpurenl from
kidnapped under Rajput rulers similarly humbled and
g ipur ruin daughter was .
brother
With that
,
view Bhagwandas and his

,
The celebrations were not of

the marriage humiliated.
duress
abduction gin. or another's adopted son Mansingh were frequent agents for
but of the successful
and therfore is not men* Akbar and his sons to abduct Rajput princesses.
Her name did not matter
Danival died within a few months of the It was on one such occasion that Rai Raisingh's
honed
girl *s abduction. Left to himself the daughter was made over for Jehangir *s harem from
poor hapless
given his daughter Bhagwandas's Lahore home.
Bijapur ruler would not have
to
of
depraved drunkard sprawled on the brink his
Badayuni says 1 * **Salim in his 16th year
grave, married the daughter of Raja Bhagwandas. The
mentions two weddings (sic) of Raja gave as his daughter's dowry several strings
Mr. Shclat
Hindu princesses. He says 11 of horses and boys and girls of Abyssinia, India
prince Salim With
and Circassia, and all sorts of golden vessels iet
On February 2, 1584 the marriage of Prince
with jewels, and jewels and utensils of gold, and
Salim lithe daughter of Raja Bhagwandas was
ii
vessels of silver and all sorts of stuffs, the quantity

Unrated at Lahore with crear pomp. In June
of which is beyond computation. And to each one
1586 the wedding of Rai Singh's daughter with
of the Amirs, who were present, according to their
S ilim was celebrated at the house of Bhagwandas."
station and rank, he gave Persian. Turkish and
The has been mistaken to
learned author Arabian horses with golden saddles '
thinking that the celebrations were for the marriage

This description should serve as a sample of
Tii.it they were no marriages but abductions 5 1
the lavish ransom that subdued Rajput rulers were

apparent from the fact that the girl's name ifl not
required to surrender along with their beloved
mentioned, and that ihc was brought to distattl To describe
daughters and sisters to alien invaders.
Lahore. The celebrations were to gloat over the
Txiwjrikh, by Al
13- P, 352, Vol, U Muntnkhabui
12. P. 19&, WdMf.bj I, m Shfllat ibid, Itadayum. ibid.
138
ChdP!2J"-
as dowry is a iravesty of truth. Who would
it want
to five wall brought up, beautiful daughters t
-
ho were drunkards, drug-addicts, masscrers
t |i
rod to
L
of Hiiidusand llindustrun
i
Even the ' ( OMH EST*
very Rajputs who allowed themselves 10 be ulti-
mately subdued and humiliated did so after stiff has been mistakenl) asserted or insmuat
tt
resistance and burning of their women en masse fti
Indian historical text books that Akbar" s
n average
was only when their flagging spirits
It
j
ho;[
conquests were intended to wipe oat smaller
seemed to wither awaj and wraps under unending principalities intowhich India was divided only to
and colossal Muslim atrocities that they decided to weld them into one strong, united, homogenou
submit and purchase a semblance of peace at any nation. Such an assertion prc-Supposes that Akbar
cost. was an Indian and that he was bubbling over with
patriotic fervour and innate love fur the future of
Indian histories have no right to twist Tacts,
India and the overwhelming majority of her
warp the truth and give a wedding-wash to blatant
citizens, the Hindus. Both these assumptions being
abductions, and thereby rub galling insult into the
brave Rajputs by alien wron<» the conclusion derived from them is also
tries inflicted on the
unwarranted.
invaders in wars of attrition.
Akbar was not an Indian either in thought,
Histories must be impartial The historian
mind, body or deed. He was an absolute alien, .in
must not assume the role of a politician or of
the
aggressor and an aggrandlzcr whose conquests were
handmaid to twist truth or varnish
politician's meant to ruthlessly mow down the Indian people
to
dastardly acts. The reader expects the historian and their culture for self-glorification at the cost
i
with-
properly investigate the truth and present
it
the people's lives, property and honour.
own Current Indian
out adding any gloss of his 1 "Akbar
do not fulfil Vincent Smith rightly observes that
historical texts, generally speaking, dr»p*'f
was a foreigner in India. He had not a
this roie, a direct descen-
He was
Indian blood in his veins.
dant in the seventh generation from Tamerlain
{on
Administrators or politicians, may add
their
through
m homilies or footnotes when presenting
hisio "-' his father's side). He was
Baburs mother, the daughter of Yunus Khan,
descended
fact* to their audiences but the histories as

state only the truth, the whole
truth a"*1 Grand Khan of the Moguls, from Chagatui.
ust
m*
lied second son of Cbingii Khan, the Mongol icourga
nhmg bbut the truth. In the case of the so-ca
nothing
plain
marn of Akbar and his sons the vin«nl Snriih. ibid
J
marria] . 7TAkiw the Gtc* Mo B i»J bj
that they were all blatant .inductions.

MO Ui
of Asia m rhc 13th century, .His mother was
Afefciwislhan
and Abyssinia heir father-lands
Persian"
SJccaand Medina as their shrines
and the ma jo'
B> descent, therefore, Afcbui was an absolute n f the Indians as their dire enema-
,
They
ril>
massacring of the Hindus and the ravag-
alien U then .ireued thai though not in Indian
is considered I«
D r their homes as their

Could pious duly
by descent Akbar was an Indian by Choice because irlg
sported such ideal, md ideologies be
and two of his ancestors and his descendants those who
home. Many readers arc taken regarded as Indians even though they had
made India iheir BveT
nliH l e
India their home? Making India their horns
in and misled for the whole of then lives by such
operating base made mailers worse, They could
cant. Had Akhar really merged his identity, or
and religion with that of hereby perpetuate their depredations with greater
language, culture t
cas ,e from
closer quarters and as an incessant
the majority of the Indians namely Hindus, he
routine. It is not, therefore, physical presence or ,
could certainly have been entitled to be deemed a
length of residence in a country which is the soul
naturalized Indian. If retaining his own separate
of citizenship but love for the soil, affection for
religion and culture he would have devoted his life
thepeople and dedication to the service of both.
to the welfare of the Hindus he could still have
Far from having any of these qualities Akbar was
been deemed deserving of gratitude. But Akbar's
a menace to India and Indians from every aspect
whole life was spent in humiliating, insulting,
and his death was regarded as a good riddance not
massacring and fleecing his subjects. As such he
only by the people at large but by Akbar's own
cannot be deemed to be even a naturalized or
ion Jchangtr and by all his courtiers.
domiciled citizen. His mere physical residence in
Since Akbar was not an Indian it is no wonder
India is no criterion for identifying him as an
that he subjugated Indian rulers with ruthless
Indian If a gang of dacoits successfully defies the
cruelty and systematic relenllcssncss, Vinceni
residents of a village aud continues to plunder Ihem
Smith says 2 "In reality a more aggressive king never
by using some village dwellings as their base of
existed. The ruling passion of Akbar was ambition.
Hon can they be deemed to be residents of
His whok- reign was dedicated to conquest... His
that village? If an intruder occupies two rooms
of a house and kidnaps the housc*owncr*s daughters
attack* were aimed at destroying the independence
of every slate,., The people of Gondwana were
can he be deemed to be the son-in-law in residence
happier under Rani Durgawati than under Asif
of his victim-host ? Likewise India was an unwill-
Conirar. opinions ex-
1
Khan Akbar's general)
<
"
|mg victim-host to Akbar and his descendants.

pressed by Mallcson and Von Noer. Smith dismiss-
Till the very end none of them ever considered
es as "untrue" and "nonsense."
India as their home or Hindus as their hrethcren
They always regarded Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, 2. P. 251, ibid.
142
143
"Akbar V luM Tor dominion was never sat

fu! Raja Mnthnttsd to rule the
kmsdom The
He longed with intense fervour 10 extend bis ru j «ii princess of the famous
Riinl Chandcl dvna*t,
overall the nations and kingdoms lying within Mahoba, which had been one of the great"
the f pow*
India 500 yean ago.
er5 of Her impoverished
not necessary to adduce any father had been obliged to lower hi* pride
'
Ml is particular and rive
daughter to the wealth) Gond
incident as supplying a motive Tor the attack his Raja, far inferior
on position. She
Rana <Prat3pf. who is represented by Abul Fazai in .
I
proved worthy of her
no ble ancestry and erned her adopted country
(Akbar's self-appointed court chronicler) as deserv-
lV ,ih courage and capacity dome great things' as
ing of chastisement by reason of hi* alleged arro-
Abul Fazal remark dint of far-seeing abilities.
gance, presumption, disobedience, deceit, and
His patriotism was his offence, (She fought battles) with Baz Bahadur and Mianas,
dissimulai
campaign of 1576 was intended to destroy the and was always victorious. She had 20.000 good
e
cavalry with her in battles and LOGO famous eleph-
Rana. and crush finally his pretensions to stand
ants. Thetreasures of the Rajas of those countries
outside of the empire. The emperor desired the
fell into her hands. She was a good shot with gun
death of the Rana and the absorption of his
and arrow, and continually went a-hunting and
territory. The Rana while fully prepared to
shot animals of the chase with her gun. It
sacrifice Jus life if necessary* was resolved that his
her custom that when she heard that u tiger had
blood should never be contaminated b> admixture
made appearance, she did not drink water till
his
tth that of the foreigner, and that his country
she had shot him. She earned out many useful
should remain a land of free men. After much
public works in different parts of the kingdom and
tribulation lie succeeded and Akbar failed.'
deserved van the hearts of her people. Her name
I
A af Rbun
governor of Kara and the
|l), is still remembered and revered. Akbar's attack
eastern provinces, having subdued the Raja of on a princess ol' a character so noble was mere
Raima in Bundclkhami was directed by Akbar to aggression, wholly unprovoked and devoid of all
turn his arrnie.1 against Gondwana The count rj justification other than the lust of conquest and
was then nn 564) governed by a gallant lady Ram

1
plunder. M rs,. Bevcridge is quite right when she
Durgawati. who 15 years previously had become declares that Akbar was a strong and >tout annexa-
regent Tor her minor &on Although he had now tionist before whose sun the modest star of Lord
attained manhood, and was recognized as the lavv- Dalhnusie pales. Having men and money he went
to work and took trad after tract' (A. S. Beverid§
3.
"» von Noer, vol 1, p. vu").
* Pp 1Q64J, .hid
"Akbar would have laughed at the remorse
59.51, ibid
144 14?
Ksdka Tor ihc miseries caused by Ihe con- intolertwcc of any limitations
Ak bar's
fettty on hn
despotism may be Scen fo his lfcachcrmji
of Kalinga, and would have
utterly conde-
quest om
mned his great predecessors decision to abstain overthrow of his own loyal guardian Behram
from all further wars of aggression.*'
He even went to the extent of having
K han.
jKiirani Khan
murdered. To add insult to
Smith dismisses as "sentimental rubbish" brim
usurped Behram Khan's wife and made
Behram
Count %on Noefi belief that Akbar's conquests 1C
,
young child subservient to himself,

|tlian*s
were intended to achieve the greal goal of welding
the lesser suites into a great empire
Smith adds 6 Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa, was subdued
to serve as an ordinary subaltern
-Akbar's annexations were the result of ordinary and forced m
kingly ambition supported by adequate power. Akbar's armies.
The attack, devoid of moral justification, on the Rani Durgawati's kingdom was overrun. She
excellent government of Rani Durgawati was made committed suicide on the battlefield, while her
on the principle which determined the subsequent jister and daughter-in-law were dragged to Akbar's
annexations of Kashmir, Ahmednagar and other harem.
kingdoms. Akbar felt no scruples about initiating
a war, and once he had begun a quarrel he hit hard
Rana Pratap, the immortal hero who made
mother's milk resplendent by dogged
and without mercy, His proceedings were much his his resis-
Akbar's repeated attacks and who kept the
the same as those of other able, ambitious and
tance to
" flag of Hindudom flying in the face of relentless
ruthless kings
Muslim onslaughts was many-a-time reduced to
Akbar's entire reign is a horror drama of his desperation and destitution just because Akbar's
barbaric hordes haunting, chasing and hacking lust for reducing everybody to abject submission
down one principality after another to ^lake his was unquenchable.
iMrst for despotic power over as large a portion
The which were hacked by
principalities
of the earth a* possible
Akbar's imperial sword in an incessant orgy of
Immediately after his general, Sharfuddin had mass massacres, plunder, rape, arson, ravage,
completed his assignment of compelling Bharmal woman-lifting, carrying away of men into slavery,
the ruler of the Jaipur (Amber) kingdom swallow
to a "d
desecration of temples to be turned into
his Rajput pride and surrender his daughter to the mosques, included Chittor. Ranthambhor. Kaiinjar,
harem of the alien Muslim. Akbar put him on the
Kashmir Khandesh,
Gujcrat, Bengal, Bihar. Orissa,
ob to reduce Mcrta (in the former Jodhpur Stale)
Ahmednagar, Ashcergadh, Banswada, Dongarpur,
noihcr stronghold of Hindu freedom.
leaner, Jodhpur. Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Kabul. Nagar-
t F.Slibi
'
and Boondi.
146
147
An indication of the and monetary

sexual
vanquished leaders to send their
n hii Uctmrused to extract from subdued c0 efl* women to
harem. If the vanquished leaders
in 1} be had from the terms of the were
h)S
chief; i
treaty
chief of
Mohammedans all their harem women had auto-
.-<ncludcd with Rai Snrjtui Hftdft, Boondj.
ntaticalJy to join
the victor's harem. If the
This ruler was made to surrender fort Runthambhor vanqui-
was a Hindu, Akbar and his pedecessoi
foe
coaxing and cajoling him into submission. He s lC(I
j
,nd successors
made him surrender choice women
could therefore ask for some special exemptions, E
of his
family to the imperial Muslim harem. This
These terms were" I. The chiefs of Boondi
-.ild be exempted from that custom degrading t
i
was greatly resented by the Hindu chiefs because
there was
a world of difference between the kind
1 Rajput, of sending a dola to the royal harem.
led and the Muslims led. While Muslim
Exemption from the Jiziya or poll tax. 3. The of life they
2
life used to be steeped in murder, massacre,
chiefs of Boondi should not be compelled to cross
treachery, plotsand counterplots, opium and drug-
the Attock, 4. The vassals of Boondi should be
addiction, drunken revelries and illiterate barbar*
exempted from sending their wives or female
ism the Hindu chiefs used to lead a holy, clean,
relatives to hold a stall in the Meena Bazar at
god-fearing life.
the palace on the festival of Noroza. 5. They
should have the privilege of entering the Diwan-t- Indian historians have been tutored to believe
Am completely armed. 6. Their sacred edifices thai the Dola system was a marriage. It was far from
should be respected 7. They should never be that, It was a blatant usurpation and kidnapping
placed under the command of a Hindu leader. under duress. That is why it was all completed
Their horses should not be branded, with within a day. The term Dola' though singular must
the imperial dagh. 9. They should be allowed to not be interpreted to signify only one palanquin
beat the naqqaras or kettle drums in the streets with only one woman seated in it. It was used as a
of the capital as far as the Lai Darwaja and that collective noun indicating that the Muslim victor
they should not be commanded to make the pros- could dictate to the vanquished as to which women
tration on entering the presence, 10. Boondi he would have for himself, his sons and courtiers.
should be to the Had as what Delhi was to the king It would be
a travesty of truth to call
this heart-
who should guarantee them from any change of rending abduction anything akin to a holy marriage
capital. where a woman is graciously given and respectfully
honour.
Analysing the above conditions is very reveal- received. She is given all protection and
allowances
fhc fizsl condition shows that Akbar used to She allowed freedom and sumptuous
is
RH
Hindu women taken to Muslim harems were,
J82-3K3, Vol ft, Annuls and Antiqaitic* of ever silenced in the curtained off recesses,
JUjuihnn hd, were not even
was for ever stilled. They
Col, [bid v °icc
148 149
ihe sanctum of such exemption

permitted generally ever to visit their h c r™.
parental the visitor and send JU " W
homes or to retain any connections with i| please
P him LnLlnJ
yC ° n,enl *
lc
c d outside
the court.
"S3
erstwhile Hindu relatives. In a harem teeming i#ui
conqured women they could hardly expect i
receive even a square meal much less toilet
U
citizen, and
bothered.
the
„
chieftain
W|,c™ h
It
^m^^^l
h^S Buondl
ndi
remained exempt
for long from the Jiziya,
facilities. Recently even in our own times
the
ened that conditions agreed
Becamee it oftei
acrced to by »h. n—«
h« the
TontT*'
pitiable conditionof the late Nizam's harem women Muslin
usuallj only to effect a subjugation.
came to fight Their plight was so desperate thai Once th
subjugation was accomplished the
they would not get even a thimbtcfull of oil for cond.t.ons wcr^
all thrown overboard and the vanquished
their hairdo which used to be infested with lice. soon*
n |
found themselves reduced to utter servitude.
most cases they continued to be hated and looked
upon with contempt by the other harem colleagues, The exemption asked from compulsion
to
by the Muslim sovereign and by his retinue Some* cross the Indus Cat Altock) is often inerpreted as
times they were also murdered and poisoned as Hindu reluctance or orthodox objection to leave
happened in the case of Jehangir's wife Manbai the the boundaries of Hindusthan. This is a misinter-
Jaipur princess. Even her own brothers' high pretation. Hindu religion not only
puts no res-
position at Ak bar's court could be or no avail to triction on crossing the boundaries or the country,
save her life, \1any-a time women in the severe* it positively encourages and demands
conquests of
ign's harem used to be gifted away to other Muslim its brave sons -the Kshatriyas. The Boondi
chief's
couniers as vehicles for their amour as is evidenced demand or exemption from being made to go
by European accounts of Akbar's time. All talk, beyond India's borders was to ensure that he
there h re, of Ak bar having forged marital relations did not become a pawn and a slave for Muslim
with Hindu chieftains for a lofty and laudable '-•"iiqu, -,i'.
in distant regions only to frengthei]
purpose is baseless. their domain and stranglehold on Hndusthan.
Moreover, a Hindu chieftain did not want to lose
The second condition of theRanthambhor his life io enhance Muslim prowess, in a distant
treaty reveals that the notion that Akbar had abo- land. Even if he expected to come back alive hc
lished the hateful Jiziya tax is false. We shall see
was not sure that on return his women, children
later that ever)important Hindu personage coming and other relatives would be safe. Ma ha bat Khan
to Akbar" court had to beg for remission of the
1
.
an erstwhile though a Muslim convert
Rajput
Jiriya tax In each case Akbar is stated to have
*
found that while he was fighting in Kabul for
ostensibly ordered a magnanimous exemption. But tehangir his wives and children were summarily
his orders were not meant to be carried out. They lumed out of their residence because aceommodn-
were meant, even if the few recorded Instances of
3M
156
151
(ion had to be found for Prince Parwez, Afnjjj temples which

*
*tid Muslim tronn* ,
of such highhandedness and abduction and pili a „ e
a Hindu chieftain was averse to leaving his family
q ues
in the first flush of vj c
oryte re Tat "2
differentMuslim use. As a practka
and serving in a distant place for a Muslim. [„
J, anf P"
going to distant Muslim countries with Muslim
armies he also ran the risk of being himself
; ous
monarch Akbar could iiot^S
Hindu buildings being turned into mosques
H,
J^S
^„icd them for-other use. Historians have
converted to Islam under duress and threats of nS-
understood and misinterpreted this
particular
toriure. For all such reasons Hindus disliked remark of Badayuni. As a fanatic Muslim he
crossing the Indus as henchmen of Muslims. fcsired most
that captured buildings, especially
Hindu temples and shrines should automatically
The condition that Boondi chieftains be exempt- be
ed from sending their women to the Meena Bazar used as mosques. Akbar could not allow lofty
proves that all courtiers and chieftains subservient Hindu temples and mansions to be all converted
into mosques when he needed them for other tem-
to Akbar were compelled to send their most beaun-
wives, daughters and sisters to that annual poral use. Akbar was as fanatic a Muslim as
ful
festivalwhere Akbar was free to play with their
Badayuni. He would never dream of converting
any erstwhile genuine mosque into a
chastity and womanly virtue. serai or
brothel.
The condition Boondi chiefs be allowed
that
The Boondi demand that their horses should
to enter the royal palace fully armed indicates that
not be branded with the royal mark shows that
Hindus were disarmed while en ten rig Muslim
every citizen who owned a horse was made to have
palace precincts. This entailed the risk of the
his horse branded with the imperial mark. This
Hindus being treacherously pounced upon and
was a very hateful practice. It at once reduced
murdered or held prisoner or hostage and made to
each single individual to royal serfdom. In times
agree to degrading conditions. In Muslim history
of war, and wars were endemic during Muslim rule
such cases were very frequent.
in India, every individual who owned a branded
The stipulation that the sacred edifices of the horse could be coerced and forced to die fighting
Boondi kingdom may not be desecrated clearly for the alien Muslim monarch This ancient Muslim
shows that during Akbar's limes Hindu religious practice was continued by Akbar with his own
shrines and temples used to be freely turned into cial vigour and rigour. Thus branding a horse
mosques or Muslim serais or stables or brothel* amounted vistually to branding every man as a
V\hen Badayuni complains that Akbar turned ''c of the court.
mosques into stables or appointed Hindu door- allowed to
The demand that Boondi chiefs be
keepers he only means that the Hindu mansions bca t their to the
drums to announce their approach
152
palace was lo ensure that their royal privjw

were not snatched away.
The stipulation that Boondi ought to

continue
to be their capital was to ensure that they won't b c
uprooted from their ancient moorings where ih ev
THE PLUNDR ECONOMY
niainkd reSpCCl and allegiance from their own
Books on mediaeval Indian history
often
subjects, into totally strange surroundings where
contain elaborate descriptions of what they call the
they would soon be reduced to total serfdom of administration of
avenue rulers like Raziya
and dependence on the Muslim sovereign*
Allauddin Khilji. Ferozshah Tughlak. Sher Shah
If the Ramhambhor treaty is thus intelligently or Akbar
All such descriptions are fictitious.
They
analyzed it reveals the various ingenious ways in are either based on genuine misunderstanding or
which even during Akbar's times all vanquished are motivated
communal propaganda. They are all
chiefs were in no time reduced to non-entities so attempts to bypass the truth, and reveal a menta-
that the Muslim monarch could make free use of lity which does not have the courage to face and
Hindu women, wealth and territory. Akbar's express the stark truth.
conquests were, therefore, not meant to weld

Without exception the reign of every Muslim
India into one kingdom or nation but to subjugate ruler in India from Mohammad bin Kasim onwards
everybody to his despotic rule, Vincent Smith's until the end of Mogul rule in 1858 AD. had no
remark that* ''Akbar's annexations were the result revenue administration as such. Theirs were all
of kingly ambition supported by adequate power" plunder economies based on multiple usurious and
is apt and displays real historical
acumen, talent Spurious taxes, and kind at every
bribes in cash
and insight. stage, confiscations, acquisitions of all his property
on the death of any noble even if he had heirs, and

frequent military swoops for organized dacuity and
plunder under imperial auspices.
A revenue system to be valid, legal and res-

pectable presupposes that the revenues are used for
Public welfare provide essential services, to
: to
ensure security
for the citizen, and to maintain
peace and order.
It also presupposes that taxes
and
0In cr
levies arebased on some principles such as a
Jttlaln percentage of incomes, fixed periods at
I. P. 51, Akbar the Great Mogul, ibid. Wfl ich
such taxes are to be paid, and provision of
154 155
anyone is unjustly taxed, No „ncrlaiTi

having built serais and roads
judical remedies if
ne Tl n2 all *|
,,, these critet eve*

.1
governed the extortions tj n
dc r 2pmp short distance, are
at
absolutely baseless*
which pass for revenue descriptions plag.arized from
\|» t in H rule administra They are what ind ?,
rulers used to do
o*n Kshatnya for their people
„ thc claims of ruler after Muslim
usurious conditions should |f a ruler havL
Thai such L-Xh|
established serais, charitable homes and
was inevitable resting
under Muslim rule considering true we should have found
places were almost an
human nature. could not have been otherwise.
unbroken series of such buildings on both sides of
Ft
cause he rulers and their were not

retinues But there is not even one such. Even
all highways.
i
vcrablc to the local people and they had no which earlier Hindu rulers had planted to
the trees
deemed themselves
the country's soil They
make highways shady and comfortable for thc
,
. I
.,
i
Koran, They all

answerable only to the
|je
traveller were uprooted for the invaders* need for
looked upon Mecca and Medina as their poles. fuel, boats, staffs, scaffolding, ladders, mangonels
They hated the Indian people. They never called and other uses.
them Hindus They always referred to the local
people with some invective like infidels, scound- and examiners in Indian media*
Paper-setters
rels, slaves, thieves, reptiles and robbers. When cval history, therefore, do great disservice to the
this was their ordinary outlook is it not plausible cause of truth, to the student community and to
that they regarded the Hindus to be fit only to be the lay public in asking the students to write about
mulcted and squeezed? Indian histories have fought the so-called reforms, public welfare schemes,
shy of admitting this truth. revenue administrations or principles of administra-
tion of a Jehangir, Akbar, Sher Shah, Mohammad
Another point worth considering is that in the
Tughlak or JFerozshah. They would do better if
accounts of Muslim reigns we find the sovereign
instead asked students to write about how
they
ajwdvs engaged in incessant warfare against his
Shivaji and Ran a Pratap ruled their kingdoms
n kith and kin, against rebellious generals and
despite the ravage caused by incessant Muslim
against the Hindus. This warfare involved the
onslaughts; how they marshalled their resources and
plunder and ravage of the local population by both w «n the love and respect of their people despite
tenders and at times several contenders as people
'heir having been constrained to ask their
happened in the case of Dara, Shuja, Aurang/ b
more and more in defence of the
10
sacrifice
and Murad fighting against one another. Such m °lherland and
during a millcnium of chaos
regimes could sustain themselves only by plunder. rampage caused teachers
by alien invaders. History
scholars can ask such questions m
aad good
Fauci accounts of Muslim rulers or tavadctf
c
only about indigenous Hindu
or °nseience rulers.
like Akbar, Fcrozshah Tughlak, Shcr Shah
XAT.COM.
116 157
Akbar is supposed to be the best or the vcn lo him for lhc pilBninn
if wc prove thai even his administration
lot So
was based
Men fi'
Heikh
Re to
Abdun
M^
00 nothing but systematic plunder of his subjects
ft!nl yf J
and made use of some rude
Na^nTe^
,thpur
we shall have dealt a death blow to the notion that F ailgU8w |
emperor was unable to restrain

The his oas<i*n du
Muslim regimes in India had even a semblance of
an administration or that they were
£ struck him in the face.
his account
Then with a v^wto
concerned make him settle of about Rs 7 000
about public welfare. which the
emperor had given him when
he set off
Mecca he was handed over as prisoner
Even a Muslim chronicler like Badayuni
fanatic for to Raia
who wa* in the pay of Akbar says' "The emperor

Todarmat and for some time like a defaulting ias.
gatherer, they imprisoned him in the counting
(Akbari made Mulla Mujdi ofSirhind (formerly)
house of the office, and one night a mob strangled
warrant-writer to Islim Shah, the Receiver-General 1'
of revenues And Samsher Khan he made Superra

him.
tcndcnl of the Exchequer. And these through •In990 A.M." "says Badayum "Sayyid Mir
the vilencss of their birth perpetrated all sorts Path Ullah...came to ^ Fathpur. He was honoured
post of Sadar whose only duty was
of oppression and tyranny.. .and so annoyed the with the
soldiery that they compelled Masum Khan to erasure, in order that he might confiscate the lands
revolt " of the poor."
A.H. Akbar 1 "issued a

In 991 general order
In ihe above passage the word "revenues" h
that every person from the highest to the lowest
to be understood to mean the amounts extorted "
should bring him a present
ih terror and torture under all sorts of
pretexts
or by regular military raids on the populace. In the year 982 A, H. Akbar "gave
fl
orders
Badayum also observes- "In this year (AH. 987) that the holders of grant lands should not be let
appointed in
Qazi Ali of Baghdad who had been ofFby the Kroris of each pargana unless they bro-
the ad-
spite of Sheikh Abdun Nabi to look into ught the firmans in which their grants, subsistence
ministration of Madad-i-Maash lands,
and their allowances and
pensions were described, 10 the
grants
encroachment brought these holders of land Sadar for inspection and verification. For this fl
and left
court and cut off most of their lands large number of people from the extreme east of
India to as far west as Bhakkar (on the Indus) came
them precious little,"
to court.
on Jf any of them had a powerful protector
Recounting how Abdun Nabi was arraigned
a false charge of withholding an amount
which m 3 P< 321, ibid.
4 - P- 325 ibid.
*•
R, 274, Vol II, Bad»)uni*4 chronicle. **. 332, ibid,
I
* P> 20?. ibid.
2. Pp 2B2-W. ibid
c '
IS
m one of the Amirs or near friends of His Ma'
them grave* or gnve
|a find doth^n*
be could manage to get his affair settled, but i
had to bnbe Sayyad Abdur Rasul. the Sbeft^.1 '
head man or make presents to his chamberfe?
ut2/' jritO with tne exception cf thoie
^^^diatciy from the crown. *aj held by the
b^
whole
\mn%
^
j,gir. and as ihey were wicked and
.
door keepers and sweepers in order to get „ Urge sums on their stores ar.d
rebdSeus
7J2 ^d spent *orkjfeopi
anket oat of the mire. nless, however,
j|? j amassed wealth, they had no leave to look
hid strong recommendations or had recourse
t after the troops or take interest m the people. In
bribery, the> »ere utterl) mined. Many of the
joine cases cf emergency they came themselves wan
Amahs (land grant holders; without obtaining their
son* of their sh tod |ul attend* he
object died from the heat caused by the crowding of war but of really useful
jcene soldiers there were
of multitudes. Though a report of this came i©
none-"
the ears of His Majesty, no one dared to take these Carefully analysed the above passafe reveals
unfortunate people before the emperor."
mat the much vaunted revenue system invented
All the parganas of the country whether drr the stooge of a Todarmal for his overlord Akbar.
was a most ruthless machinery for extracting
*
or irrigated, whether in towns or hills, in deserts

and jungles, by rivers, reservoirs or wells ware ail last farthing from the people at the peril cf flogg-
to be measured and every such piece of land ings and torturous death, requiring them to fell
ai
would produce one crore their wives and childem. This is what is lauded in
upon cultivation of
Tankas was to be divided off and placed under Indian histories as a wonderful revenue administ-
the
charge of an officer to be called Krori. Security ration of Todarmal. and is sought to be rapturously
«axed upon by history students, scholars and
was taken from each one of these officers A great
portion of the country was laid waste through the
professors. No
knowledge of history is required to
rapacity of the Kroris, the wives and children
debunk the claim that it was a wonderfully public
welfare-oriented scheme. Had it been so it would
of the subjects were sold and scattered abroad
have been adopted by a free India jmmediatery after
and everything was thrown into confusion.
British rule lapsed- This is sheer r t
loreover an
But the Kroris were brought to account by
alien monarch gulping one Hindu kingdom ar
Raja Todarmal. and many good men died from
another by waging ruthless wars was not itching to
the severe beatings whicn were administered, and
usher magnanimous administration. Indian
d. en
from the tortures of the rack and pincers. So many colleges
died from the protracted confinement in the prisons
historv that is being taught in schools and
m India and other parts of the world, thus
makes
of the revenue authorities, that there was no need the thinking
nonsense of all logic It also benumbs
of the executioner or swordsman, and no one cared
Power of readers of I
^nd reduces history to
i 192
«bsurditie«.
160
m
The B»slC hieli handedness of this si n stcr tvP cs
of land was an atrocious assumption, On
j
system
scheme w&a that all land in the domain of Akba r
whether fallow, litigated, mifrrlgated, desert, fertile
I.
4
P
of that
lUj
to
compel
devise
the
a
cultivator
of
to
extortion
part
which
with at least
^ was the very limit of cruelty. To pan
| mountainous, eroded, ravine or occupied by 2 crore
RS
crore per year the cultivator would have
a stream, river or lake was divided into standard | Us. 2
pieces of uniform acre-age, This itself was atrocious realize at least Rs. B crore from his holding.
could earn even a fraction of thai
of such a division was the Whether he
To add to the gall
doubtful-
is
JJfount
assumption that each of those areas must yield h,
one crore rupees for the crown
ihe crown one crore rupees revenue. Whether it In extorting
plot the Krori
had to maintain a band of
actually yielded that much even to the cultivator
mulct two crorcs from the
or owner Akbar didn't brother. Moreover it must odiums vv ho could
be realized that a cultivator could remit one crore citizenry- In the alternative the barbarous soldiery
rupees as annual revenue only if he made at leasi of the
crown was put at the disposal of the lCrori
four crorcs. To expect him to
produce that much lo help him extort that much amount.
whatever the quality of land and through famine or sinister characteristic was that the
The last
drought was another very sinister assumption. screwed out of a tormented
amount once fixed was
severity which broke up homes
The third sinister aspect of the scheme was public with extreme
to death or by being
that middle-men extortionists called Kroris (because and families either by torture
they were supposed to procure for the crown a crore scattered for sale as slaves.
rupees each as revenue) had been appolned to tap system couldn't exist any-
A more demonaic
that much amount from the public tit any cost. world. And yet Akbar is atrociously
where in the
This completely shut off the peasantry from the hoisted as an ideal monarch-a virtual demi-god,
crown. The latter was not concerned with the state permitting
of the land or Us crop, The administration extracted Todarmal was deeply hated for
setting up this
one crore rupees as revenue from every Krori. himself to be an imperial stooge, and
devilish system based on every inch
of ground ana
Naturally the Krori must extract at least Rs. 2 crore
every person in the domain. It is no
wonder there-
to be able to pay one crore to the crown under all
one attempt to assassinate
fore that there at least
eventualities and to save a substantial amount as is
him, on record
hi* ownwages. Thus what was ostensibly one crore
Todarmal was
rupees revenue turned out to be in actual practice When Gujerat was conquered
intr ociu tc
a levy of at least two crore rupees per annum. One Promptly despatched thither to quickly
i
a
can well imagine this burden when it is realized «* same there That such
extortionist system
after that pro-
that even the one crore revenue yield per plot of mtm was introduced immediately
|fi2 163
vincc had beef) ravaged

nnd impoverished by lAt so much praise on the revr.n... ,
, vv
Muslim irfflte contending- to overpov^

tartaric
the extreme cruelty
each other, underlines of t| lc of ihc
imperial administration generally,
thai it
imptîtiurt. rodannal was presented a sword bv
atartling
u» ' ead a «*«* w severe (as Badayuni\,
Akbar u hen Todarmal brought with him a clean
•
Although
Badayuni had hi, personal '
grlc
balance sheeJ of Hie accounts of Gujerat"* Siu> aq;ijlis i
bothAkbar and Todarmal,
and was
Jayimi. The clean balance sheet means that the embittered by the most rancorous bigotry, it i s not
wn was reimbursed to the last pic and perhaps think, to disregard his testimony
devastating campaign
possible I
this m
also given a large profit for its
matter as being merely the malicious invention of
of unabashed conquest and plunder of Gujerai. disappointed cmriier and exasperated fanatic
a He
Such atrocious regimes could obviously be sus- my be fairly described in those terms but
bis
tained only by liberally parcelling out the plundered statements of fact, when they can be checked from
other sources, seem to be usually correct/
1
money to the barbarians extracting it lest they
turn against the sovereign himself. Under Muslim Vincent Smith is slightly mistaken in calling
rule, therefore, it was all a plunder to squander system a failure becasue
the it resulted in so much
economy, leaving the crown always almosi cruelty. The fact on the other hand was was that it
bankrupt. In Akbar's case said that at least on it is success because
b signal very purpose was to
its
one occasion" when he asked his treasurer to extract the utmost from the populace at any cost,
produce Rs. 8 the latter couldn't produce even
J
which it did with ruthless efficiency.
that paltry sum.
Dr. Shrivastava observes K 1 *
'After his momen-
Vincent Smith observes 3 " as usual "Abul Fazaj tous success (against Uzbeks, Junc9, 1567, when Ba-
attributes much
virtue to the reform, Badayuni,
on hadur and Khan Zamart had been captured and put
the other hand, gives on account quite different todeath under elephant's feet) Akbar paid a visit to
and presumably nearer the truth than Abul Fail's Allahabad and thence went to Banaras, which was
courtly phrases I fear n s mic Juu t lc ncw , , , plundered as the people of the city had the audacity
system of revenue »d ministration must be to close
regarded their gates against the emperor. From
as a grievous failure resulting m shocking oppre* Bonaras he went to Jaunpur and thence to Kara
ssion of the helpless peasantry and cruel punishment Wanikpur weeding out principal partisans of the
of the ocal oppressors, The ordinary histories
l Uzbeks."
8. % ibid.
We have seen earlier that the people of Deosa
" ,olt . Vincent Smith** "Akoai the Grcjt Q ad
" other town? in Rajusthan had fled in Akbar's
Mogul
10. Vp, W-I00 ibjd. ll '
t Pp. 108-10, Akbar, the Great, voU. ibid.
:*<
IM
wake. Now we sec that residents of

Banaras ^ Of all
only a
this boot> Asaf
small part and
Khan presented to
Allahabad) also barricading themselves again* lc king of a 1000
elephants
enough to indicate that whe he took he sent only 300
Akbar** advent This is r.
vv|]ich indifferent animals
barbaric hordes spread the king, and none of the
ever Akbar went his terror w jewels."'
raping women, looting homes, desecrating Hindu what way did Akbar's aggressive
sJi. In attacks on
lines, burning buildings and plundering the popula- and Muslim kingdoms
Hindu differ from ordinary
lion, Why else will the people barricade or flee their dacoities except in their gigantic scale backed by
homes. The populace usually goes out of its way t imperial might While gangs of dacoits
!
swoop
pay homage to even common place or slightly tyran- homes Abkar's
on ordinary terror-force swooped
nical sovereigns.People are generally prone to wet-
on rich kingdoms. The treasures he plundered
come royally and consider it a great honour. If then throughout his life from the citizenry in general and
people fled in terror from Akbar it is clear that they
from rich kings, queens and the aristocracy, makes
regarded him worse than a horde of man-eaters. This
the Arabian Nights treasures in tales like 'Alibaba
in itself enough indication that far from being a
is
and the Forty Thieves* pale into insignificance.
noble monarch and a great man Akbar was one of f
the worst tyrants of history. Even if there had been

no other evidence in history about Akbar" s tyranny
except the two sentences noting how people took
to flight or shut themselves up in their homes trem-
bling in terror, that is enough proof of his being
the world's most cruel monarch. It is a wonder
and pity thai literary mushrooms should sprout
wild in India in the name of profound histories or
treatises ironically praising a sadist Akbar sky high
as though he was an archangel
After killing Durgawati in battle 1 * 4 *Asaf Khan

(Akbar's general in the aggression against Rani
Durgawati; proceeded to Chouragadh. and took it
by storm. The Rani's son was trodden to death
Independently of the jewels, the images of gold and
silver and other valuables, no
fewer than a 100 jars
of gold coin s also fell into the hands of the con-
12 Pp 133-144 vol It, Fcrishta't chronicle, ibid

167
Chapter X
must necessarily be a chronicle of
fJ0 d kin«
IpV md
conquestf. rather than or
rational and
ial
evolution.
THE CHAOTIC ADMINISTRATION a- When we try to picture the effect

of (Akbar's)
on the people whom he conquered and
qualities
Tha is no administration as such to

governed, and seek to decide whether or not they
talk of or prosperous under his rule than
during A k bar's reign. It was a free-for-all and were happier
under that cf many other despots. . . it is not ,
Dice a
of wrestling "catch as catch can*' waj
style
cas y to draw
even an outline sketch. The record
the general rule. It was a melee of lawlessness
fc
painfully defective. We
hardly hear anything
whimsicalities, sadistic tortures, cruelties, unending
definite in the histories about the common people
aggressive wars, interminable revolts, plunder cam.
or their mode of life, Information about the
paigns conducted by Akbar himself on his own
actual working of the revenue administration, a
subjects,mass conversions, extortions under duress,
matter all important to the Indian peasant is al-
massacres, corruption and briber)', woman-lifting,
most wholly lacking, and the record of the state
dacoity and robbery on highways, desecration of
of education, agriculture and commerce is extreme-
Hindu shrines and murders galore even in the
ly meagre."
environs of Akbar's court.
view of his remarks mentioned above we
In
Vincent Smith notes 1 'The whole administra-
wonder on what grounds did Vincent Smith title
tion was absolutely persona] despotic, directed to
his book as
tf
Akbar, the Great Mogul'". On what
the stringent collection of a heavy assessment, the
grounds does he use the adjective 'great*?
provision of numerous military forces, and the
maintenance of imperfect public order in a rough As Smith aptly notes there is no record to
and ready fashion under the sanction of ferocious show that Akbar's rule was public-welfare-oriented.
punishments inflicted arbitrarily by local despots, Had his rule been really enlightened as is super-
The penaltiesordinary use included impale-
in ficially claimed there would have been immense
ment, trampling h\ elephants, beheading, amputa- evidence.
tion of the right hand and severe flogging. Bui hood-

On other hand it is our view that
the
ihere was no effective law to hinder the infliction v-»nked by the hullabaloo of Akbar's presumed
of ma Tud forms of punishment accord- 'greatness* raised bv a long line of court
flatterers,
ing loth price of the official ." , -mmunalists and history-writers even oiscernmg
2*kW like merely to a
'"The history of India n the Muhammedart confine themselves
Smith
P 277. Akbar
* P. 280, it
I ilie great Mogul, ibid,
279. .bid
..
169
o-Btffve assert. on thai thm is no evidence

lo impossible to doubt thai
But it is
that the people or the country benefitted n practice \
m! onr.ose imposts and cesses continued
frol .,
*UwN role. We quite agree that there %
ny to be
that effect,
\
and as Oldham drily remarks
But what fleeted,
COT [om of evidence to
,n a note
evidence that Abkar's not all, of these taxes were subsequently

•most, if
about the overwhelming
murderous and plunder- The assessment unquestionably was
reV ivcd.'
. .
was a sadistic, torturous,

.
ases of hardship must have

some regime? This evidence would not have severe
^
. . *
been
.*
escaped the notice of history writers and teachers

numerous. .
.id they not been reduced to a state of hypnotic The fanatic and discriminatory nature of
slumber and insensitivity by the hue and cry about Akbar's rule is at once bared by the above remarks.
Alt bar's so-called greatness, While in Muslim lands the sovereign look as little
as a 10th
of the farm produce in India Akbar
*"The whole framework of the government He was sworn
extorted a third part. to reduce
was military. A local governor was not bound by
Hindus to destitution as a fanatic Muslim.
am rules of either substantive law or procedure
*The horrid punishment of mutilation, which
••
He was the representative of the imperial autocrat
prescribed by the Koran , was used freely.
and as such could do much as he pleased within is
. .
Neither Akbar nor Abul Fazal had any regard for

his jurisdiction. Ordinarily the subjects had to
the judicial formalities of oaths and witnesses. .
make the of the treatment which their local
best
The Faujdarwas expected to reduce rebels, always
rulers thought fit to give them. The officers who
numerous, and whenever necessary to use his
did not much embezzle were few."
troops against recalcitrant villagers in order to
" s Abul Fazal admits that payment of government dues.
'throughout the enforce
whole extent of Hindusthan, where at all times so prone to swear by Abul
Historians are often
many enlightened monarchs have reigned one- Fazal-s Ain-i-Akbari to eulogise Akbar's reign as
sixth of the produce was exacted; in the Turkish very enlightened. Vincent Smith rightly cautions
empire, Iran and Turan-a fifth, a sixth and 10th history that
such gullible writers and teachers of
respectively/ But Akbar asked for one-third i.e. He observes
Uie Ain-i-Akbari is a tissue of lies.
to say, double the Indian and Persian proportion. T
"A reader glancing hastily at the Ain-i-Akbari or
Abu Fazal seems to think that the abolition of a
I
Institutes of Akbar*, and seeing the elaborate
might suppose (that the) work
host of miscellaneous cesses and imposts justified statistical tables
the doubling of the government share of the pro- contains ample material for an economic history
4. Pp. 267-268, tbid

^d escription of the country under his master.
5, Pp. 274-275, ibid 5

P 276, ibid,
7 - Pp. 280-86, ibid.
i
hf
170 171
wW SOOIJ dispel the illusion. time to do what he pleased. A

But closer *tud\ The of his monarch in
of -Regulation regarding Educ* a position lay under no obligation
> subject ch to have a
iim ministers at all.
for instance, *>f Nolhing required
ticn.' (Book ii, Ain 25), is di, m ,,* d council .
maintain
with a fe* perfunctory
words intimating that ^c autocrat to any particular number
of
boys should be taught reading and writing.
is dosed by the
baseless assertion
the
. , ^ ^n.sters or to have a council of am particular
form-
LaUr m lhere.»S« Me) officers numbered
•
section that
about 160*'. Their appointment, retention,
nhese regulationsshed a new light on schools, and -
promotion and dismissal depended solely on the

can a bright lustre over Muslim schools. The will of the sovereign.
arbitrary The emperor
curriculum recommended obviously has no relation
yarded himself as the heir of all his subjects and
to the fact No school in India or elsewhere has
ruthlessly seized the entire property of every
ever attempted to work such a programme The whose family had to make a freih
desired to lay another deceased official
author simply morsel of ."
start contingent on the goodwill of the emperor
flattery at the altar of Akbar's
shrine
The
systematic assessment of the empire
•
Historians would do well to heed those wise
for which Akbar
and Todarmal are given so much
words. The Ain-i-Akbar from beginning to end, primanh intended to increase the
credii was
is an imaginative account. The whole chronicle
imperial revenue Akbar was a hard-headed man of
was manufactured by the flatterer of an Abul business, not a sentimental philanthropist, and his
Fazal at his desk as the wrote it from day to day. whole policy was directed principally to the ac-
He quotes no authorities and his observations are
of power and riches. All the arrange-
quisition
all self-contradictory and confusing. ments about jagirs r branding, etc. were devised
*The onl> remedies available to the orthodox for the one purpose namely, the enhancement of
against the impious or latitudinsrifin king were the power, glory and riches of the crown. We do
(when he disregarded Koranic precepts not know anything substantial about the actual
rebellion
or assassination, both operations being extremely effect of his administrative measures on the welfare
and happiness of the common people. Certainly
dangerous to attempt, A really strong king could
defy Koranic law as far as he thought fit. Akbar they did not prevent the occurrences of one of
the most terrible famines on record which
deso-
did so in greater or lev- degree throughout most
lated northern India late in the reign, from 1595 to
of his reign, and earned his defiance to The utmost
lengths during the last 23 years of his life. Hii 1598. The enormous hoards (of treasure that
Akbar had collected and kept Lhen
action endangered his throne i.» 15** J but when he in six cities)
la
had surmounted that cr he was able for the rest !< 'die in the treasure vaults'"
9- Pp. 253-255, ibid.

Pp : ibid
172
175
»**AI1 office-holders, as • ru!$, did their k..
" cs * p«t upon (a proper) footing ." Badayuni
to cheat the government ^ cfC add*
great economy, unknown before, w l, effected
thfll
w*l! must be dearly undcrsiood that the expenditure.
octg |n
vcuiion of he imperial orders was extreme?*
I
"new* revenue rules are a clear
T hc hoax since
imperfect from first to last, all sorts of evasion^
and frauds being continually practised with can.
^ne of the contemporary writers mention what
were. While Dr. Shrivastva bewails of
Akbar was well aware that thcy the
stderable success lapse1
of
he "unfortunate* contemporary writers it is
must wink at a good deal of attempted deception" that he himself gullibly believes
most unfortunate
Smith's observation above is fully justified, it in such a hoax. If rules are said to have been
however, needs a little amplification. Akbar was framed but court historians arc silent as to what
ruthless enough not to wink where his own interests (n ey
were the conclusion is clear that no rules
were involved His 'winking' at the non-compliance were made. On the other hand the reference to
of some orders was a sheer make-believe. As the economies proves that the new system enforced by
supreme pontiff of a cruel and wicked system the eunuch of an
Aitimad Khan was to tighten the
there was a tacit understanding between Akbar noose of repression, oppression and extortion
and his would pass certain
henchmen thai he orders round thc necks of subjects and at the same time
for mere window-dressing, to throw like a tempt- introduce the greatest thrift where the question
ing dry crumb at the Hindus but that those orders of rewarding or compensating anyone for his
were not meant to be carried out. services arose.
That those fancied regulations were new

Dr. Shrivastava notes that "Akbar appointed
an eunuch named Bahlul Malik. Djwan of reserved methods of imperial robbery leading to the impo-
(crown lands, exalting him to the title of Aitimad verishment of the helpless subjects is borne out
He says w -Akbar
i
Khan. The emperor sanctioned new rules for the by a footnote by Blochmann.
after the death of Shamsuddin Mohammad
Atgah
collection of revenues which were enforced some-
time in September 1562. Unfortun ndy no indica- Khan, his foster father, commenced to look into
matters of finance, and finding the revenue depart-
tion is given by any contemporary writers regard-
ment a den of thieves, he appointed Uimad
Khan
ing these Abul Fazal contents
new regulations. the
were lo remodel the finances. In 1565, he conveyed
himself by saying thai *the revenues which
o» daughter of Miran Mubarak, king of
Khandesh
the foundation of sovereignty and the basis
(1535-1566) Akbar's harem- When tn 1578
the dominion, and the source of military strength, to
10 P. 265, ibid
"ii^MTAin-i.AkbAri by Abul tout
From thc original Persian by H.
^^Sgjg
Blochmann. hid.
I ] P 102. ibid theca Indica series, Calcutta.

174 173
Akbar'v presence WM required in the Punjab

\\ m had been allowed to entef
he the harem
"in him. and had he
In order to cûin^ hi* testes
Khan desired
contingent, he collected bli rents and outstanding
"«,!
*
home removed.
s one admitted to the harem.
m*W
He dto^t
much harshne Jî»I010A.R AtNan.au! where he
as u appears wfeft
conspiracy against his life. In the

This ]
same yea r
Ctl ^ he erected many ehfefll
splendid building
a i. sd anVdul5
was murdered by Maqsud Alt, ]3rg e
tanks.
When we find that each one of Akbar's Akbar's court reeked with such eunuchs
so- and
called were sought to
revenue-administrators sodomites who were given despotic authority over
be
subjects. It js also clear that
murdered (since Todarmal loo was sought to be helpless Shah Qulj
havemishaved in the tempting
murdered) the cruelty and repression of their levies m ust and harem
and the torturous nature of their extortions m^ therefore was compelled by Akbar to have his
In the case of Itimad Khan lesiicles removed. Who would otherwise volunteer
well be imagined.
to have his
testicles removed especially if
what could one expect from a mere eunuch who he is as
roped id royal princesses for Akbar's harem as lecherous as Shah Quli. The reader may also
though the> were cattle for the slaughter house note the building bluff. How
could a mean," cring-
ing, indigent eunuch build splendid buildings and
Todarmal too carried out similar functions. So
dig wells in Narnaul! This graphically illustrates
these so-called revenue ministers turn out to be
When they could Jiow earlier Hindu buildings and wells have been
procurers oi women for Akbar.
unashamedly ascribed to one or other Muslim.
stoop so low as to be imperial panders what kind
of revenue regulation* can one expect from them! An idea of the worthless men through whom
Akbar carried on his disreputable administration
An of what kind of men or rather
instance
may be had from another instance noted by Abul
eunuchs used to be in Akbar's confidance is graphi-
cally described by Abul Fazal himself. He says Faz.il. He tells us " -Ismail Quli Khan brother
J
of Khan Jahan kepi 1200 women and was so

1J
-Shah Quli Mahram-Baliaralu was passionately
jealous that whenever be went to court, he put
attached to a dancing boy of the name Qabul Khan,
his sealover the strings attached to their night
and as the emperor had the boy forcibly removed,
drawers. Resenting this and other annoyances
Shah Quli dressed as a Jogi went into the forests
they made a conspiracy and poisoned him/'
Bchrum traced him with much trouble and brought
him back where the boy was restored to him- •
•
Describing the stabbing of Itimad Khan. AbuJ
The emperor from goodwill towards him, admit- Fazal says ,5
"Maqsud Ali who killed liitnad Khan
ted hmi to his female apartments. After the firs
14, P. 388, ibid.
15. P, 473, ibid.
1J. P- 387, ibid
m 1 71
and to promote the glory of

is slid to nave ocen mi no in one eye. w^ protection hlanij the
;„£,.*.
rettpon, and- to show -
contempt
viiu,m pi to
io fate
vplamcd to litmad his miserable condition" [rue
.
lake fc h.
rcli-
h*
«~- G hl m
S ,r ° rd CrS US
l0dcSpi5clheni '^
master retorted by saying 'someone sho °t ,o r 1
'outt of
urine' in his blind eyes, (Infuriated by this
Put says (Sur.9.29)
« sap
hand while they arc
remark)
"duced ow
d low'. To treat the Hindulicontemptuously
Maqsud stabbed him on the spot. Accord rdinp
in I
religions duly, because they are the greatest

another account he was stabbed by Maqsud \X- £9 enc
enc-
jjes of
Mustafa (Mohammad) because Mustafa,
gelling up from the bed." The filthy lanuuace
the killing and plundering of Hindus,
that Akbar's courtiers used and the despicable regarding
circumstances of their death throw a lurid light an d
making slaves of them, has ordered (that)
0n must either accept Islam or be killed, or be
the tyranny, torture and moral degradation that they
made slaves, and their property must be
formed the foundation of Akbar's rule. It is also "
significant that no one took any notice of even plundered. . ,
courtiers* murders. How else can the different Royal Muslim practice of admitting men to
versions of Itimad Khan's death in his own house ow n harems only after castration or rendering
them impotent
seems lo have been widely
or in the court, be explained. It hardly mattered
practised, since Abul Fazal describing Itimad Khan

to anybody if such mean men were murdered.
Gujerat tells us that "He was originally a
l7
In fact all rejoiced at the good riddance because of
Hindu, servant of Sultan Mahmud. King of Guj-
every courtier was a tyrant for his harem women,
his prolific progem and his subordinates. erat. Being trusted by his master he was allowed
enter the harem. Ills said from gratitude, he
to
Blochmann quotes a footnote from page 290
eat camphor, and thus rendered himself
used to
ofTarikh-i-Firozshahi to illustrate the status of
impotent/*
Hindus under Muslim rule. The note says * 1
the above
There are many contradictions in
"When the collector of the Diwan asks them (the Itimad
sultan trusted Khan and
passage. If the
Hindus) to pay the tax, they must pay it with all
of his
allowed him into the harem, the question
humility and submission. And if the collector have arisen.
rendering himself impotent should not
wishes to spit into their mouths, they should open with
If the intention was that he should consort
their mouths without the slightest fear of contami- of the
some harem beauties as a special favour
nation so that the collector may do so. In this it B
monarch, impotencv was a disqualification,
state (with their mouths wide open) they should some sup-
was u question or appointing him for
stand before the collector. The object of such charge cm m
ervisory duties, who would put a man
to
humiliation and mouths is uoaw
u.mingand tempting \mem when women
spitting into their
prove the obedience subjects under
of infidel
". P. 418, ibid.
16. P. 247, ibid.
XhT.COM
m
only p. XI
he safely jippoimed. This
<r
that
Muslim
sovereigns used to castrate or of henvise cmascu| at
individuals whose misfortune to be chosen
it was
to
superintend the harem. In this respect too
Akbar
was no better than other Muslim sovereigns. | ncj>
AKBAR'S MILITARY
dentally it may also be noted how adverse inferences
emerge from fraudulent, flattering Muslim chroni* Like his civil administration Akbar's military
clcs t which try to twist the truth in favour of to0 was
a loose band of barbaric hooligans who
their
base patrons and to the detrement of the wronged Used to be collected in teeming swarms at the beat
individual. of the drum and later let
loose uncared for, The
In the list Akbar's court A bill
of grandees at soldiery used to be worked up to a feverish fanatic
Fazal lists Jagannath, son of Raja Bihara Mull of pitchby their commanders when an attack was
Jiapur, as the 69th grandee, adding that lSi *he was imminent on an adversary, The generals and their
an hostage in the hands of Sharfuddin (grandee, troopers perpetrated horrid barbarities and sent
No. P).*' We have already seen earlier that Bihara heads of dreaded decapitated opponents as veritable
Mull agreed to surrender the virtue and chastity bouquets for Akbar's delight, or the slaughtered
of his daughter gulping his Rajput pride because heads and bodies used to be piled up in tall towers
three princesnamely Raj Singh, Jagannath for the delight and self-congratulations of the sol-
and Khan ear had been held hostage by A k bar's diery for the rich toll they had taken of the enemy.
General Sharfuddin on paid of torturous death, at Thus in addition to Akbar's revenue officials
Sambhar, unless Bihara Mull agreed to humble loose bands of army stragglers, deserters, part time
himself by surrendering his daughter for the royal employees, rebels, imposters, pseudo-fakirs, cheats,
I harem and in addition pay a huge ransom. This robbers, and hoodlums used to be on
dacoits,
shameful transaction has been unashamedly descri- rampage throughout Akbar's rule tormenting the
bed by all historians as a rare honour that Akbar public, desecrating their shrines, looting their
did by condescending to marry a Hindu princess out wealth, kidnapping their women and converting
of lofty motives of communal integration, friend- tticm to Islam under dire threats,
ship, amity, understanding, etc. etc. It need not be
added, therefore, thatAkbar's other marriages too,
Vincent Smith observes "Akbar's military or-
1
even with Muslim

ganization was intrinsically weak, although it was
were blatant abductions.
girls,
All the above details should convince the
^ better than that
bours
of his happy-go-lucky neigh-
reader that Akbar's was one of the most atrocious

His army would not have stood for
_gnd chaotic rule in world history. Jjjn^m against the better kinds of European troops.
JSjcverjiis officers ventured to attack the Por-
«. P.i21,Ain-i.Akhari ibid.
f
L Pp. 265-66. he Great Mogul, Ibid
Akbar I
COM
181
ISO
_ emperor ordered Maniingh to proceed

tuguese settlements th cy failed disastrously. Al
dcr the Great wouk J have mad. short C orl
Akbar's mightiest host If Akbar had the r
^
mj s 0r
.#
> dW
ruled
°f
"2
by Kana kije.
^
and K "âtmer
r
aim RHna
against the mfidels kindled
P ralap)i
,
{thereui
£"
,
tune 10 encounter lhc Marathu light horse

ft
possible that he might net have fared much better
]
flighting
applied to the emperor through
Nakib Khan
in mybw ^
L, first he
(Nakib Khan) made
than his great grandson did. Akbar's mtlitarv
objections, and 5
,iS"
had the seeds Hindu (i.e. Mansmgh) had not been the
administration in it of decay and :
l(il leader
army. I should myseir have been
Failure," of this the first to
masked permission to join It l'
represented |
Smith quotes Akbar to say thai a monarch -

an audience with
(cm
getting Akbar) that [ had a
shvuld be ever intent on conquest.* That being
1
^ji strong desire to lake part in a holy war (i. e.

Akbar's stofi an it is no wonder that by hook or massacre of Hindus). I have the presurnp-
v , n ton
crook he humbkd everybody on whom he could dye these black mustachios and
desire to
im to
thro* his military net. through loyalty to Your Majesty's
beard in blood
The army's slogan was to kill any Hindu even person... and when I put out my hand towards the
if he was fighting on Akbar's side, because a Hindu touch in order to kiss his foot, he withdrew it; but
killed was considered a gain for Islam. The chro- jus! as I was going
out of the audience chamber lie
nicler Badayuni who was himself a soldier in called me back, and filling both his hands presented
Akbar's arm> which battled with Rana Pratap in me with a sum of 50 Ashrafis and bid me farewell...
the famous field of Haldighat. reveals this when he
'"War was declared because Rana Kika had
says"-. I asked the commander Asaf Khan-ll (he
refused to send his royal elephnat to Akbar as a
is from A safKJi an- 1 who fought against
different
mark cf submission."
Rani Durgawaiij a& to how to distinguish foe from
friend when the Rajputs on our side had got mixed This atrocious demand of Akbar wanting Rana
up with the Rajputs in the enemy's army and was to surrender his elephant just for
assured in reply thai could do no wrong even if
I nothing except the whim of Akbar to humble him,
1 shot anywhere because on whichever side they 'he thin end of the wedge. If that had been
may be killed it will be a gain to Islam." conceded demands of a huge ransom, personal
Prosuatjori and surrendering of the beauties of his
By quoting his own example Badayuni typifies
a every soldier of Akbar's army thirsted for the fanty ^d (jf hjs courIicr v families for Akbar's
AM. ""'Cm would have inevitably followed.
blood of th Hindus. Badavuu* says4 "In 984
-^J^cnbinji how Rana Pratap baitm-d mid
2. P. 251, ibid
3 F 23"?, Vol 11. Biidiiyuni'* chronicle, ibid. 5
' p 235,
-
ibid.
4. Pp 23304, ibid
183
18?
refused to break with R ana

ihittered the Muslim army Badayuni tells 0]er A ,k»rafi PralBp „
u s t h-
even in their cowardly Right Akbar's soldiers vk!lill used to compel prominent and
us*d i n (Wn '
to justify their action with reference to proph* persons to be Ins rcci ultfng * %mt BmJ v ,
,
Mohammad. Badayuni says* -'Kazi Khan (woundt factors to produce army contingents It t B mo .
in his thumbs being no longer able to hold his notice. Dr. Shnvaoavt dewibes
own m ent'* how
recited the saying •flight from overwhelming L, ple were
compelled to maintain a fixed
odds number
is one of the traditions of the prophet* and fbn horses* camels, elephants etc. and bring them
. 'f for
wed his men (in their retreat)... [faction at fixed periods.
"Mansingh exhibited such intrepidity as sur- Akbar was a sadist,
according to the since
passes all imagination. And that day through
the ehtonfclcr Ferishta*
Akbar undertook
the conquest
generalship of Mansingh the meaning of this fine tlf t he
Dcccan as a diversion being grieved on the
line of Mulla Shiri became known :— 'A Hindu
dn of his son Murad Mirza. Petishta says
* ields the sword of Islam ."
1
-Prince Murad Mirza

da ngeroush ill (May
falling
Badayuni describes how when he 7 "returned 1599) was buried at Shapoor. The corpse was
to Fatehpur Sikri with Rana Pratap's elephant the ufterwards removed to Agra, and laid by the side
emperor was exceedingly pleased and putting forth rf Humayun, the prince's grandfather. The King's
his hand to a heap of Ashrafis presented me 96 grief for the death of his son increased his desire
Ashrafis/' for conquering the Deccan, as a means of diverting

!T
his mind.
Badayuni's account gees to indicate that no
training, or drill was needed in Akbar's
discipline The above passage is revealing in two respects.
time to join his army. All and sundry Muslims It gives us an insight into Akbar's cruel nature
who thirsted to attain salvation
by taking part in which sought to drown his grief over the death of
the massacre of Hindus* and such Hindus as were Ins son in the flood of the blood of the ruUrt and
ready to abet that slaughter could merrily pull out itic populace of the Deccan.
their own bows and arrows, spears and swords
exposes the hoax or the so-called
Secondly it
hatchets and staffs and sally out for unbridled ram-
rTutnayun tomb in Delhi If according ta Ferishta
page, as easily as a woodcutter slinging an axe on
Humayun lies buried in Agra and his grandson
his shoulder goes out to the forest to hack wood.
Murad is buried the c alongside, his fancied tomb
Dr. Shrivaviava notes that the 7 "Mugal army "> Delhi
is intended to keep a Hindu
u fake just
the
blundered Dungarpur territory when its Sisodia Nation falling into Hindu hands because of
*. Pp. 243-47, ibid. *• 'V 177-78, ibid.
7, P, 145. Akbar the Git ai, Vol I. ibid.
' Pp. 170-71. Vol. tt 1 irishu'i qhroawB.
QfiWWQf.
T84
T85
Hindis of deiecrating a
pathetic fear
individuals
tomb dnenl respoi .,,.,,
Io
similar faftana oJ a fake grave in
iit.ir Pradesh has been brought to jjg
BhujiaicH ^ rar , contingent! whenever
,
m^L J£
"
Jgndeeimwrn used o as,,^^, Wa ^
]
nt
Ac"' titled fa** tf«f % *sN in which the
v?rft L, pf underlines and thus it was curried 7
Mr Biharilal Shnsiri points out how th c fan <7'
tomb of Salar Masud I he nephew of Mohamm of contractors and sub-contrartoHchiriS
rt svs ,em
Ghuzni in Bhainch, is a usurped ancient providing troops just for thc emperi
Hind a|lh
-skin,
,
temple called Baladitya. Salar Mahraud runni ! d moment's notice. If anyone failed to C!lTry
n P, ou ,
away from the field of battle pursued bv king Suhei- theemperor's order he wastortnrcd to death
hisknh
dc climbed a tree where he was surprised and an( kin
|
were sold as staves or taken hostage
and hi*
Sometime later when that region came under
killed. prope/l) was confiscated. Under duress,
therefore
Muslim occupation the Baladitya Hindu shrine , Lch individual was ultimately coerced into joining
was desecrated by burying some Muslims in it and ihc army
and present himself for military
duty
renaming it as Balay Miya's tomb. equipping himself many a time, at his own cosi.
Father Monserrate, a Jesuit priest who was ai Monserrate says 13 There are 45,000 cavalry.
Akbar's court from March 4, 1580 to April 1582 5/ino elephants and many thousand infantry, paid
contrasts Hindu administration with Muslim directly from the royal treasun. In addition to
administration saying 11 "Brachmanae (Brahmins ihcsc there are troops whose command is inherited
ie Hindus) govern liberally through a senate and by chief officers from father to son, like an
their
council of the common people; but the Musalmans hereditary estate: these troops consisting of cavalry,
have no council or senators, every tiling being Infantry and elephant detachments, are paid by
decided by the arbitrary will of the governor their commanding officers out of the revenues I
appointed by the king," theprovinces which they hold from the king 1
government of such (conquered) territories is vested

The roads were infested on all sides -by 11 H'.ibles on condition that they pay some stated
robbers. Musalmans are easily induced to put tribute to the royal treasury. These nobles distri-
Christians (and Hindus of course) to death/' buted in their turn cities, townships and villas
Monserrate iclts us how Akbar held some pTP- the king grams each noble a district large enough
to enable him it^
maintain due state and dignity to
K daied Apr support
IV 7 <,i the Hindi weekly ari^PP properly his share of the military forces.....
S:uv„<k>hlk Pratimdhi Sabhu. RamliW 8 roU,w
19t>H,
JJtc cities and lands in the empire belong ti the
New leihJ. i
.gjjjUndthc whole army obeys lum as comma

1 1 P 219, Monurritc't *Commcniariut."
IV 1*6. ibsd.
li Pp 80-90, ibid
w
der-in-eh.cf. \et iumi of the troops have their
pes nd Officers to whom they arc attached „***•* v adi ^^reat.Th
I* * ^f C vkne.
This fact suprn
ry allegiance. y used to mulct peopltfer.W.£
t
an hen a ,
w Akbar
4 Miitf
cau*e and
i
for r«n«h
nnnnrlunitv Irir
\mi opportunity M
conspiracy ,
m and making mem sell their W|Vci
mi
^
••
treason *
Al arm:?* sustained themselves by plunder- rt^wawa)

ir l,iC
\fL
prices Akhar
d
T
k
idl lbeit
how to
B**«
terrcrize
ndu
orture them to extract from them

their earn-
ing the r is which they traversed. Such plunder
recovering all joms of
vusht in from da\-to-da> and the loot w bogus
When he advanced beyond the frontier
cheap price to the soldiery. The Comments-
s
levies).
0f his
empire (Le. when \kbar was an ag
us notes
l,
The army
began to advance on Febru>
foresight and carefulness wa teen in
the king's the
an 8, 1581 (in the campaign agatnsi Mirza n Inn |
M-ay in
which he sent heralds to announce to the
pc $1 few days the army seemed remarkably V?
inhabitants of the country (in such a waj thai aewa
small- However, it increased so rapidly that it
announcement may be carried far and '.vie
•be
n seemed to hide the earth. It extended over
po one would be harmed or ieported who did
readtfa of a mile and half covering the fields
i
th.
not take up rms. that, if they would bring supplies
.
id filling the woods with a crowding multitude

he camp they should be made to pay no imposts,
The priest iMonserrate who was with the armyi be free to sell as they liked... But that
but should
tonished (because he was unaware that it
if they disobeyed him the »uld be heawlv
was procured under duress by open plunder to be them as they were
punished. All of terrified
sold to Akbar's hordes at a price by the cheapness i
hi* huge army there were no high prices and no

of the grain amongst so great a multitude, especially bcl of provisions country."
, en in a hostile
nsidenng the number of elephants. This was
achieved by the careful skill and foresight of the Monserrate's testimony proves how Akbar's
chosen
king himself. For he despatched agent> army collected the merchants under dire litre
cities and
for their diligence, to the neighbouring made them pari with their
i al ludicrous
towr ti instructions to bniri m

provisions from res U can well be imagined that -uch i '
all sides and he unced to the merchants (who circumstances goods could even be freely looted.
who brought
tmded up in i Rett fctiuyj lew transactions which did take place at cheap
maize, pulse and all manner of provisions :s were mere and sheer exceptions. Thu& e\
the camp* that if
» te > -\khar
and other mi Jhile the army we. d in a campaign
them
cheap rates
ell at he would exemnl
not as in.u
.ua
^
b
'l paj its own wa People were also forced
conversion or by dire threats to join the air
.m impost* and taxes | litis is >
** mvade nciohbourim' ona. Those forced to

?r 7740. ibid. m™ their turn
I
plundered the regions

through
ISO
188
which I hey passed, from sheer ocoessny u> -

look .iter
^troopiortekelritet-.,
sa|
ihcir needs, now that they were torn L
In cases
of emergency.
from th ,h cv
homes, families, native moorings, their culn ^Jves
.|H!ilS e
"
with some of slaves and' .v Nr ?™
danistotlu --:, fUie war;
religion end friends. They were thus turned SS teIl
but really
usef'
° were none...The
\wust eiimin.jls overnight from the peaceful, êfS there Amirs PU( L,t
abiding and god-fearing citizens they had
aw
bee
|
leir own ^™" ts and m 0Untcd itllCnda|)K
only a day before. L soldiers' clothes....Whcn a new emergency

dr
mustered as many borrowed* soldier* as w
In accounts of Akbar's rekm one often comes m
jequuw— —
'
ire d
Hence
.- •- while the income and
« expenditure
vApL-nauurc
across terms like Do Hazari and Pach Hazari, They Mansabaar remained tn status quo
,| ie dust fe||
never meant that the persons concerned commanded the platter of the helpless soldier so
into much so
it many troops. The terms conferred, on the
indi-
viduals so honoured, a certain status allowing him
m i he was no longer fit for anything.*'
entry to the court and a right to stand

What greater indictment could there be than
in rows
those ranks. The above of the utter misery of the life of the
assigned to status was also
accompanied with land grants suitable to the rank. common man during Akbar's rule, whether he was
a soldier or a civilian.
which made the recipients virtual sovereigns in
ihe areas allotted to them. Blcchmann cautions Shetat rightly observes that17 'Notwith-
Justice
the reader that
15
*"A commander of 5,000 was not standing the several striking conquests that Akbar
necessarily at the head of a contingent of 5,000... achieved, the army under him cannot by any means
Contingents of Mansabdars, which formed the be called efficient."
greater part of the army, were mustered at stated
Akbar's and in fact other Muslims' success m
times and paid from the general or local treasuries
India was duemethod* of total war
to the ruthless
Akbar had much trouble with these musters as
1
that they adopted. Among Hindu* when one king
faudulent practices were quite common." invaded the other's domain tliev did not harm flu
Badayuni referring to chaos and

the utter oupuiace. The two armies mel race to too and
tvrannv at such musters says " "The whole country ided the The Muslim open combat.
1
issue in
was invader had an altogether different and savage
with tie exception of Khalisa (cmwn) lands
wickeu
held by the Amirs as jagir: and as they were ^
tpproach, Muslim armies used to be on the ram-
store
and rebellious, and spent large sums on their aN along the way. Thus before they rci
''
had n llc
the) used tobttratil
and workshops, and amassed wealth, they |
citadel of their victim
them
!^
V|
Pleads, occup) all temples and turn
Pp. 251-352, Am-t-Akb.ui. ibid.
,7,
t0. P. WO. Vo« If, Buddy urn'* chronicle ibid. p 327, Akbnr by
-
(
i. M Sliclul, iWd
191
190
readily
accepting back into their fold
enslave entire townships and Hindu
,nio mosques, force W
hv
is ro
Islam, by'Converting th, invadi
to Hinduism, massacring
ynrilms ihcmse
es
as guides or bringing provi^ whole
^niil duties, acting Lltiiudcsand burning all ilicir belongings their
thousands BBd
Zm »"âcrc multitudes, convert " why they should not have
them 10 fight for h\m s n0 reason succeeded
nco-co.ncr«s force " to iL3slu » invasions.
tting U
sl *
P But ihc
own compatriots
erstwhile Such pU
Liitsl their the B urbons neither learnt anytnii
ruthless methods of recruitment swe- Hindus like
forcible and enemies nor forgot any of their orthodox
Muslim imader* while ai the
the n their
,,
ted flic tank* of Far from converting any of the alien

who would help the Hindu practices.
same nme leaving none
The Hindu garrison wait, invaders the Hindus in their orthodoxy Wouldn't
earrison with supplies. their own forcibly
walls or fortress found that the even admit converted co-rcli-
Sue inside the city Hinduism. This made the neo*
outside, who constituted pioaists back into
people in the entire region more bitter and they
had been converted to Islam, converts swore to wreak
their very kith and kin
vengeance on their erstwhile co-religionists. Alltlu
all their property was looted, their homesteads
children were kidnap- factors led to the subjugation of Hiniusthan by the
were burnt, their women and
converted into mosques. Muslims- And yet ii must be recorded to the glory
ped and their shrines were
upon to Hindus, their fighting spirit, their morale, and
Thus even before the soldier was called
eflhe
nothing left to fight for. their bravery that in spite of such heavy odds and
fight he found that there wa>
him after witnessing this self-imposed handicaps they waged a tight against
Ifany spirit was still left in
al mischief there was practically no one left wove after wave-of invasions for i.ooo long years.
provisions. That starved him

him This feat is unparalleled in win Id histor All other
who would bring
In regions from Africa to Indonesia which came under
into a desperate last ditch stand or surrender.
the rampant and rampaging Muslim sword were
addition the enemy's ranks swelled out of all pro-
reduced to complete submission and conversion
portions through military service forced on multi-
while Hinduism did flourish after its millemum of
tudes of nco-converts. It was these ruthless
Iravatl and in the form o\' the resurgent
iodswhich led to the inroad of Muslim invaders trial,
Readers of Indian history who

Rajput, Maratha and Sikh forces.
into Hmdusthan.
do not ponder on this often wonder what made History has, therefore, a lesson thai in tinu
mighty Hindu rulers and their devoted armies ithe side which resiles from retaliating til for
knueklc under the undisciplined hordes of the alien ^cannot escape enslavement.
Muslims. Given these methods of total war any
adiog force could bring its victims to submi*
m. Had with hke
the Hindus retaliated
for eve
measures tooth for tooth and eye
Chapter MI
m
Fort at Agra (since the notion
that he built
aed «
Unt Hindu lownship of Fatehpur Sikri

(which
was not bu.it by Akbar) he used
to impose
TAXES JJ B levies on the subjects.
|Jl(loru ,l Thus the poor
Subjects
were made to sustain a regime which
h would be wrong to imagine tliat Akbar ha their wome ". sold -*-««*
them as slaves,
.mv fixedsystem oJ taxation namely specific iidWP* d
lilOlwi'l".
•
moves, us-
US-
levies and plundered their property
their shrines
specific times This holds good Tor the |irp ed
(irpe d
em ire and day out. By no stretch of imagination
DO r-lonc Musi tin rule in India, j ay in
Even if such extortions be exactly commensurate
there was a semblance of any such they were lost coU id
with the cost
estimates of the repair work. The
l maze and haze of additional and arbitrary
ad under pretext of carrying out
iounts extorted
hoc extor lions made ai will by officials or importers Lln
usurped Hindu townships and buildings

repairs to
and impersonators under dire threats. Even the
usual levies would more often than not be increas- were usually much in excess of the most liberal
ed considerably at the whim and mood estimates for actual repairs plus generous embezzle-
of the
official concerned. Sometimes while the Muslims ment
coutd themselves exonerated partly or wholly
get
It is against such a background that Akbar's
i'u ini- the partisan officials or by appealing
to must be and
io-called tax-system studied, First
their sense of Islamic fraternity, that loss was made
foremostwas the hated Jiziya. Eversince Muslim
good by higher extortions from Hindus. At limc^
sunders set foot on Indian soil from about
even a wily or cringing Hindu could also avoid
the beginning of the 8th century they imposed ern
payment of the taxes whole or part by humour-
in
lite Hindus living in the territories under then
'or bribing the sax-collector. Hut such instances
control a heavy levy called the Jiziya which v.
re vcrj rare and at times they entailed consider*
extracted with much cruelty, The levy was based
lo of property and honour to the was
on the doctrine that since the sovereign i
Hindu subject inasmuch as lie had even to bribe All

the officials by providing Jhem with some hapless
Muslim his kingdom was a Muslim kingdom.
those who were non-Muslims were suffered to I
men for their ban nrm by the Muslim sovereign only if they agreed to pay
When armies were on the march there was nO 11
heavy tax foi the sustenance of a hosi to mm
hmn to bfl vtT>'
to these extortions* Though the extortions faarjglchold. This lax was considered
may have (escribed as taxation they were
air
îous hecaase u was based on an ironical pan
also on the
Utile short oi lotesalc plunder. It is £»*• TJie Hindu, were supposed to pay
record die l" ro «gh (sic) wnicn
i hat v, hei er Akbar wanted lo repair their nose foi the 'protection'
fifiT.'
I i.
i
«i
a Muslim sovereign 'graciously' (sic) provided

them lest he exercise Ins religious prerogative
f
V
m .
Thc above
ivll
^rds
WO,MO -issued -—
orders —
passage needs closer
confirming
examination
'*""»niung abolition
- clearly mean that he original order,
of
jf anv
—
I
letter and the Ji«ya

1
massacre them en masse. But actually he I a dead continued to be

'proic ;
HOW 1
Was a fiction. The Hindus were all ted.
Had a decree ocen really issued
abolfeh-
alon*
subjected 10 humiliations, extortions. ma the Jiziya Akbar was ruthless enough to
.
|
.
|fl have
torture, kidnapping of their women and children that it was earned out. So the concii
s ;cn j s
burning and breaking up of their homes, a H
ri
Akbar never ordered the abolition of the
Ll
wholesale plunder. To add insult to injury Mentions to the contrary in Muslim

thev jkiya.
were made to pay for being allowed just to live" chronicles must
be dismissed as mere fulsome
to
be mulcted.
Batteryand window-dressing to project the fancied
This obnoxious described by both of
lev) is magnanimity of Akbar towards the Hindus who
Ak bar's chroniclers Badayuni and Abul Fazal as formed a vast majority of his subjects. Had Akbar
having been magnanimously abolished by Akbar really passed that
decree Hirvijay Sun would not
because of his fancied greater tolerance of Hindus. have been given any 'confirmation/' Even after
'
European writers and other evidence indicate that that ''confirmation" was given it couldn't have
Akbar continued to extract the Jiziya with stopped the extraction of the Jiziya when even the
traditional severity and rigour. imaginary original decree did not work. Again
Wehave already noticed earlier that in tin the other Jain monk Shantivijaya who visited
treaty of Ranthambhor Rai Surjan the Hindu ruler Akbar's court in 1587 two years after Hi rvijaya's
(i.e.
of Bundt fell the need to ask for exemption from departure) is again handed a royal order "again
the Jtziya as a special concession and favour. Had confirming the abolition of thc Jiziya and also an
animal-slaughter- ban'' thrown in for good measure.
the Jiziya been abolished he would not have
mentioned it.
The hypocrisy and dishonesty of these so-
Dr. Srivastava describing the Jain monk called abolitions and bans should be immediately
Hirvijaya Sun's stay at Akbar's court (frorn June apparent to the reader from the above pnssage.
7 r 1583 for two years) notes that 1 "Akbar issued ên Akbar passed any such orders they wci
if
orders confirming abolition oftheJi/i
the |nd ^vcr meant to be carried out. They were only a
the pilgrims' lax both for the Hindus and Jain> in intended
J°«rt!y make-believe, an empty formality
Gujtrat and
Kathiawar. When (anoihci Jain *« gullible to swallow and to send the distraught
divine; Shanii (came lo court j in 587, Akfau 1
âpparently happy at the deceptively persuasive
granted him a farman, again confirming the aboli-
J»8ntinim ltV
'
to find to m*
o( Ml ,
Pmpe ror only
tion of the Jiziya and prohibiting animal liaughw Akbar >
""Win on return to his own province
that
I P 2'»5, A -ur the Grem. ibid.
1 97
196
wave of destruction of tcrrrplc*
never seriously bc a as
ncd order was
tnteeti bv any pari was destn yed by Ferozeshah
didn't lh
member ©fhiS adifmifetruti It make Ule
CvCT l " peaC* ful ,imes« a ruler like
least difference
to the collectors of the Jiziya. hl'H-
run
idaf
Lodi in a spurt of frenzied rclig'tositv
Justice J.M. observes* "In theory
Shclat S
desecrate and destory temples and salve h<$
'^,d
doc* not recognr/c anoa«
Islamic jurisprudence
of LlW Slate. The Muslim ftn8
Muslim as citizen the stamp duty to the Hindus
.»Babur confined
u
g*vc such subjects a qualified Hindu Beg converted a
jurists, therefore.
c
One of his chiefs
certain disabilities and fines for
Status bv imposing ' Sambal into a mosque. Sheikh Zain. his
in the state..
In India the rt3e at
beme suffered to exist
a great many temples atChanden
*Hir desecrated
problem was accentuated by the
fuel thai the m
29 Mir Bagi destroyed a famous temple at
\ 5 28
Muslim population formed an overwhelming majo- his orders and built a mosque
Avodhya under
in
rity. Since it was impossible to destroy such a Ram Sharmas Religious Policies of
class place (Sri
number of subjects, the ruling subjected its
vast
inequities and disqualifications, the Mogul Emperors/* P 9).
them to several attack on Maldeo of Jodhpur
There were laws of -Sher Shah's
thus casing their conscience to a desire to
and partly due
blasphemy which subjected the non-Muslims- to was partly political
temples there into mosques, \ temple
ihe whims of the Mvllu
The bigoted manner
in convert the
exunt m
laws of by him into a mosque is still
which ômc of the Mullns applied the converted
mosque. His trea-
blasphemy is illustrated by the case of Bodhan a Jodhpur known as Shcr Shahi
chery towards Puranmal
was explained as under-
Brahmin of Kaithan, who was beheaded during the
His successor
taken to exterminate an
assertion that infidel
reign of Sikandar Lcdi for a mere
The Jiliya Islam Shah brought the state
under the complei
Hinduism and Islam weie both real commander
heavy tax, The next was the pilgrim
tax domination of the Malta..* (Attart)
was B
at Bcnaras
Since even the village fans were taxed, this
impost Bavaml convened an ancient temple
Though the into a mosque."
seems to have been almost universal
the abolition
payment of these taxes w; s intended to ensure
fre
Smith also calls off the bluff of
freedom a footnote in
exercise of religion to non-Muslins the or tlu- .lima, by remarking in
and uu.
of the Ji/«ya
was nonetheless, limited to private worship mention of the abolition
Hindus were not a] d to build new temple*
°
P%im tax at instance of the
the
Sun. mJM
orders issuj"
even to repair old d'seiplc proves rhat the general
"When fresh territory was conquered,

there *i reign for the cessation of tho- W» l > !,ja
Kl -"
tailj obeyed/ 1
jT~5 AM» •
I.M Shelat. Baan* s

,|m5
Bin* an, Biimhufc. 196? 'V 120-21. Akbar the Grout MOB"*'
T98
199
WewouJdliko t- amplify Smith's
ing of Ibc aisc. The sso-i
undcrsia a
formed
by th e *'&*&* Yenisei ves. They a Uo r«H
orders were
"^
I I
make-believe and were never intended to

plied With according to a tacit
be "**
i
(hc id system or assessment the
advantageous to them inasmuch as they

could
Batai
*£
understand
pari ol the actual rather lhan
between Akbar and Ms official! Secondly my a ant,cipaied
Smiil1 P> The local revenue officers
remark thai "they were never Tully carried '* Xr were on the
our' greedy and corrupt and were not % \ ow
not justified. The orders remained un
implemented ^ le
sorts of unauthorized imposts from
al1
in
in their totality. BjtBCtinS the

iier .
Their corruption found its roots the m
About
the other taxes Smith notes 1 that which prevailed throughout
"Abu] pernicious custom, the
Fazal is rather obscure in his description, period of ottering costly presents to
because >gU l the
he seems to say that 'a tenth of the total of
I
ten rulerand the higher officers, who in their turn took

years was fixed as the annual assessment/
and presents from their subordinate staff... Bribery still
then to state that as regards the last five years on a large scale."
of flourished
the period above-named the superior crops were
taken into account in each year, and the year of Dr. Shrivastava says
fi
"At the beginning of 1587
the most abundant harvest accepted'. If the best Akbar promulgated an ordinance according to
year was taken as the standard, the assessment which everyone who was presented at court had to
must have been severe.*' The reader must not, contribute according to his circumstances, as many
therefore, place any credence in Muslim chronicles. duns or rupees or mohurs (gold coins) as he was
Their statements were intended to be mere court old in years." This again was an atrocious levy.
flattery, dnd before they are accepted at their face It effectively discouraged anyone from
approaching
value they should be subjected to the closest scru- the sovereign with complaints of torture, tyranny or
tiny. Usually their assertions themselves contain extortion. Because such a visit entailed paying an-
enough contradictions and vague, tortuous, anoma- other tax for a royal audience. Even after such a call
that the visitor could expect, if Akbar was in

a
lous statements w hich should shatter their claims
r 'II
come back armed with

good mood, at best, was to
Mr. Shelal obscrses 5 "The upper strata of Uic after,
i
order of the exemption sought
deceptive
administration was on the Turko-Persian model."
**fch no official took seriously When, therefore.
(That shows how it was alien "The peasants i
Dr Shrivastava Aklwnai
quotes Abui Fazul's
were generally antipathic to the collector mainly *as
IH, pp. 4*0-94 and 533-34) that the levy
I
because they derived no benefit from the si i
per*
'
on wells, reservoirs, gardens and oil
serais,
Even the functions of the police had to be help
b for the benefit of the public, we cannot
4. Pp. 135.36. rbid.
^rmgai ofwritew WW
the pathetic guHibiluv
5 P 31S-I7, Akbar. by J. M Shelal. ibid-
6" PP J54-57, Akbar ihc Grc.it. iW*L
?f.|
200
rl of corn on every jarib of land in the

dfotffci
-
l,j m
whose writings have substituted factual history even for such works Akbar called for
thus special
by wishful accounts. addition to the usual extortions.
lflxes
in How
Badavuni s»> "In accordance with established a monarch spend anything on public
could such
-
custom Akbar is weighed twice a year, on his solar welfare.

The above statement also exposes how
against cold, silver and otiie after gullible
and lunar birthdays T
historian
historian
has been led to
precious things which are
given to the Brahmins of Akbar constructed Agra Fort. Badayuni
believe thai
Hind and 10 others." This is a typical piece showing clearly
states that the utmost that Akbar did was
how Muslim chroniclers bedecked lie cruel regimes t
to
provide a stone pitching to the wall surround v..
of their patrons with the frills of enlightened Hindu \ U ia fort
and Agra town That stone pitching too,
rule. It was the Hindu monarchs
who had them- was done at public cost. But in our view
if any*
setves weighed against precious
metals and treasure of stone pitching
even the claim is false. What
distribute that to the Brahmins and the indigent. as a pretext
Akbur sought for levying another
How could a Muslim sovereign who extracted the usurious tax was some minor repairs to the fort
Jiziya to allow the Hindus just to exist, ever commit
and town wall.
ihe sacrilege of distributing to them a largesse.
All that is to be understood, from the above custom,
Badayuni specifically states" "At this time
is that this was yet another cruel levy. Far from (983 ATL) Sheikh Abdun Nabi and Makhdum-ul-
giving anything to the Hindus Akbar expected Mulk were ordered to examine and decide the amo-
them to contribute treasure equal to his weight at unt of tax to be levied on Hindus, and firmans
least twice a year. This treasure was obviously were issued in all directions". This gives the lie to
appropriated to the royal treasury. Another ike usual claim that Akbar made no discrimination
conclusion from Badayuni's vague statement, could against the Hindus. also proves that far from
It
be that at least twice a year Akbar had himself passing any orders abolishing any discriminatory
gold, then in silver, then in other specific orders "in
wetgl cd first in taxes Akbar took care to issue
or
directions" to see that there was no
laxity
precious things lie gems). One may well imagine nil
how much he earned at least twice a year by this doubt about the extractions to be obtained from
strata gem, Hindus exclusively with all severity.
" ,0 people
"*ln 971", says Badayuni **thc project of build- son or daughter of tbfi common
No
ing the fortress of Agra was conceived, and its ^ to be married until they had gone to the
off.ee
citadel which had before been of bricks, he had tfU* chief of police, and been seen by his BgCf
been f*
buill of hewn stone and he ordered a tax of lltfce ;md 'li,
corrcc , agpof hoih panics had
P. 85, Btfbyuni't chronicle, ibid. '
k
2ii, Badoyuai'j uhramcle, I
I* 74, ibid. "' f 405, Ibid.

cora-]
202 XIU
vcstigated. In this swq B host of profits
perquisites surpassing
computation, gues-^
all
imagination, found their way ml ^ i nc

of those in office, especially certain ,!|
GREED
officers and effete KJianhngs and other vil
oppressors." of his very large domain, arbitrary
n S pitc
,
and
levies and wholesale plunder, Akbar's
This was marriage ta\. Bui besides
a curious
the
phenomenal greed for money led him to
money pan of it, which itself was a great burden various
ingenious modes of collecting money.
on the populace, the manner of extraction of \\
other
exposed Ak bar's Hindu subjects to illimitable Akbar used to earn money by selling as slaves
indignity, dishonour, humiliation and immorality. prisoners taken after a battle or raid Bidayuni
The reference to the determination of age of the recounts that around 989 A. H -the emperor
l
parties to the marriage could mean a nude medical captured a sect of Sheikhs, who called themselves
examination and appraisal by profane and corrupt 'disciples'. His Majesty asked them whether they
officials. It could also have led to the abduction repented of their vanities. At his command they
of handsome girls and boys for prostitution or were sent to Bhakkar and Q and a liar and vveregi
sodomy. Obtaining permission for a marriage to merchants lo exchange for Turkish colts,* 1
from a corrupt and lecherous administration obvi- Akbar also earned money by confiscation of
ously meant heavily bribing them with perhaps the property o[ his deceased subjects. Badayuni
women for prostitution and wealth and costly by pointing out thai- -Makhdum-uU
illustrates it
presents, Mulk died at Ahmedahad and in the year 99Q Qazi
Ah was scot from Falhpur to ascertain what proper*
A review of Akbar's taxation policy, therefore,
shows thatany excuse was good enough for him lo
1
he had Several boxes full of ingots of gold

left.
mulct his subjects. These included repairs to

1
discovered in his sepulchre where he had

fortifications, marriage tax, Jiziya, pilgrim lax, wd litem to be buried as corpses. And the
''
u|ll » which lay open to the eves of the world was
court-audience tax. weigh ing-the-sovereign UtXi
as none but the
wholesale confiscations of all property of any creator could ascertain. All
ject dying, military campaign-tax, and open ingots of gold were placed in the public
ûmjjv
plunder. This too does not speak of any greatnett h£| s sons l(lcr being some tune on the
m Akbar. On the other hand it only confirm* ** of distress fell at last into the most abject
"
poverty
that he was one of the most tyrannical monarch*
in world history.
,
'* -08, Vol. II, Bwtoyunfi chronicle, ibid.
V 321,
,bid.
AkKu also Issued1 o "general order Hint and laid by the side of her husband
pen Own Uie
lurn R prevail
i
'
Itighwi to ihc lowest slum id
C v crv
bring
nplli?
5^'j
pvhlim -he-hail outlived by 48 year
|,e to the
to
notion that
build
Akbar and
J
m,
X lfri
other
H
99° Sheikh Ibrahim Chisti <bn SJlimi used lofty and palatial
•In \ t(1mbs
of Sheikh Saliffi ChJsti) died at Fathpur.
thi
A sum of
i
U those
died were buried in usurped
who Hindu
money together with elephants Visions and temples) The deceased left ,„
Retort- of ready her
a large treasure and a will directing
and horses and other chattels were appropriated by
house that j|
and the remainder became the ,|dbc divvied among her male descendants.
the imperial treasury ;, ml
ponton of his enemies who were his sons and hfe Mtbarwas too fond or money to withstand the
And since he was noted and notorious for tempting annexation
of her wealth, the whole or
igcnts.
which he
appropriated without regard to The terms
i
and vice was accursed "base of disposi-
tion and vile Sheikh," the will (Footnote, Du Jarric, iii. \\w
i
'•*He was rather penurious and retentive

"Shahbaz Khan Kambu kept in confinement
fi of
money/' says Monscrrate.
for three years had paid a fine (ransom) of seven
lacs of rupees, was set free and appointed to man- Though an emperor possessing fabulous treas-
age the affairs of Mahva and be vakil to Mn/.i ure and the power to ask for anything' " Akbar
Shahrukh.*' himself was a nader and did not disdain to earn
1
overnight become a
com men ial profit/
Thus a prisoner could
governor. And since Akbar knew that such gover- ""He also derives much revenue from the
nors made enough money by usury and extortion hoarded fortunes of the great nobles, which by law
in the regions assigned to them, he took the precau- and custom all come to the king, on their owners'
tion of extracting a huge sum in advance, in death, in addition there are spoils of conquered
addition he naturally expected the usual costly kings and chieftains whose treasure is seized* and
presenis and the annual tribute, tlic great levies exacted, and gifts received from
tlie inhabitants of the newly subdued districts in
Akbar did not spare even his own mother's
every part or his dominions. These gifts and levies
property from confiscation. Smith notes "Akbar S 11
to so large many of his new

mother only 15 years older than him died on or as to ruin outright
Trading on hi lOtfjj
about August 29. 1604. Her body was taken to
Subjects. He also engages in
account and thus increases his wealth to no small
3. ?p 3J2-2-, ibid
4. P. 381 bid. 7 P.
-
252, ibid.
5. Pp 401-2, .hid. *• I' 29S, ibid
6. Pp 229-30. Akbar the Great Mugul, ibid 9- Pp. 207-jmm, \i ( „i>cniUc"»CDmmcniArtu».ibid.
COM
:oh ZO r
,
dt i
' gerly exploits every sourc>
profit. Moreover he illows no bankers or
mo %*****•*". r '- nmng eambl '«8
booth''
empuv nc piwrm,,,,,
The me Dv
by
changers
business
in
I
his
the royal treasuries
enormous k
ifies) nn
brings
*.
u lc
IIlkl
ki
,
J
ration
(>
- „..:nn of
property
oi the
oronerrv rt
ofr -
every deccajj
through compulsory prcsems d
.
™
«
great profit The governmentarc pmcj

ilver or copper accord Jng to their rank.
Th«
officers
J everybody coming to court, by havfoX
êd bullion,
against
*ff
jewellery and
gcm^l™
it comes aboul thai those who are paid in one year, through various usurious levies
tvn rice a extras
orcein need to change some of it into another flogging and torture?, by robbing
l6d by valuable
Such means of increasing wealth may be thouehi the dead and wounded on battlefields,
1[iirTl through
sc (bu! nothing was loo base for Akbar) plunder or vast regions and
There outright crowded loca-
is h law also that no horse may be sold without the through conquests of rich and prosperous
lilies,
Icing'sknowledge 01 that of his agents, Zeladinus through heavy ransoms and
I;in adonis, reparations
c. Jalaluddin Akbar) is sparing and tenacious
of jiid a number or other modes that human Ingenuity
his wealth and has thus become the richest oriental
and cruelty could devise.
king for at least 700 years. He
has sacks of copper
money publicly piled up (into a heap 10 ft wide As a result of such extortions and a parsimon-
ious nature Akbar had collected a large hoard. 10
and 3Gfcft. Each sack holds aboui 4000 copper
high.
\i Akbars death in 1605 the cash in Agra fort
coins (Footnote The Fathers of the third mission
:
exceeded 20,000,000 pounds sterling, It can hardly

record that once they found the king busy counting
a large sum of gold coins of many different values
have been less ihan 15*000,000 in J 600 A. D
which he had ordered to mint. Behind him were
some 150 plates-full of them, and a good number
of bags. (Counting money) is his chief distraction
everyday when he has retired. When the money has
been counted and put in bags he has it put among
treasures which arc very great/*
According to Monserrate, the contemporary

Jesuit, therefore, Akbar far outrival led the fabulous
king Midas, in the avaricious pleasure he used to
derive from playing with and counting and recount-
ing bis treasure in the dark cellars where his
hoards were stored.

Akbar accumulated that vast treasure by sell-
10.
p 2
- ^, Akbar the Great Mogul, i
209
Chapter XW -r uossip of
the time that he once
**$ bis wives among his grandee"-
intend,.,.
*
,
l °
l4lf0 prevent the great nobles from

becoming
kin fiUmm ° n COUrl
PERSONALITY AND NATURE HOW*-*?imperious
? *
commands,
l
'
-«dtf Itt
U many
slaves/ no'-s Monserrate,
as though
ih
*
verc his
In appearance Akbar was ugly and ungainly, (Akbar) has
s.'Zcladinus broad shoulders
By nature he was cruel, treacherous, and an itlite- bandy legs well suited for horsemanship,
jepewhat
rate sadist according to contemporary records. complexion. He carries
a light-brown his
!
nd
The editors introduction to Monscn n, bent towards the right shoulder, His fore-
l4 hea d
Commcniarius states 2n the long line oflndian broad and open, his eyes so bright and
head is
sovereigns the lowering personalities of Ashoka and they seem like a sea shimmering in the
Hashing that
Akbar (because of his dread Maud high above the
|
His eyelashes are very long. His eye-

sunlight.
TJu\ iiu> be compared, and with profit,
ows are not strongly marked. His nose is
re
br
Akbar** greed for conquest and glory and hiv La.
straight and small, though not insignificant. His
of sincerity form a marked contrast to Ashoka's
nostrils are widely open as if in derision. Between
paternal rule, genuine self-control and spiritual
the left nostril and the upper lip there is a mole.
ambition. A k bar's war*, were those of a true des- but wears a moustache
He shaves his beard like
cendant of Tirnur. and had all the gruesome
that Turkish youth who has not
of a
yet attained
associations which this fact implies. (He wears)
manhood. He does not cut his hair
The old notion that Akbar was a near approxi- gathers up his hair. He
a turban into which he
mation to Plato's philosopher king has been elic- limps in his left leg. though indeed he has never
ited by modern researches. His character with received any injury there. His body is Mite too
its mixture o\ ambition and cunning has now been ihin nor too stout. He is somewhat or a moros
laid bare. He has been rightly compared to a pike
in a pond preying upon his weaker neighbour*
disposition. He
love of keeping great crowds of
remarkable
is specially
people around m
He was so close and self-contained with twists of •"* »n his sight ; and thus it comes
about hat lu
words and deeds, so divergent one from the other, of men*
court is with multitude,
always thronged
and at most tiroes so contradictory, thai even by **
much seeking one could not find a clue to Hi* wl»om
type,
he
though
commands
especially
to
r
come from
"l*jtZ
'"ur
oughts period eacn .
1||l!
reside at court for a certain
Akbn unable to give up hJ i

J
I- Pp790-92 Commentariui.
4
ibid
habits, for no importance need be attached it>

l|ic L Pp. 196-200. ibid.
>;at.-:om
m 211
When he goes outside his palace,
u j. .,
|
and
0W*
followed to
b} these nobles
nt*hu< and*
aiJ^
mti
" "n.i,
'
^ ,
.
manner to that
-vetf
different
which k
The, have to goon
them a nod to indicate that
Ite ST?** "Low* countrymen
es with
marked
and subordinate,
courtesy an dfck,«
V*U !
they may JgL* cl "*

into to** **
However he 1
'He wears garments
jngokl
far
m*mmi m
as the knees and his boot,
cloak cn mc ,
cover hi,
1^^
beauiifuHy emh,
y a*
,
BRfcMi viceroy of Arabia Felix, Jj*^ «
*£«, so ungraciously that
cloud of smoke. For the chief
Jjg *^
completely. Ife wears gold ornaments *££*** £ma ambassador
jewellery. He is fond of carrying P and
|^ tt aS
put in irons and banished for a long
,
p.^
fd and dagger.
always surrounded even within
a
He fa never without
his private! »
b0d > g,]ard of aboul 20 men
S^ U horc while
escape
wards the
his attendants made
secretly... Zeladinus
nobles who
g0O d
behaves so sternly
are under his proud
to.
sway
lheif
one of them believes himself to be re-

JS. varkJJ ,hat each
garded not only as a contemptihle creature but as

'•His table very sumptuous generally
is
consist- the very
lowest and meanest of mankind. For
mg of more than 40 courses served in great nobles, they commit
dishes instance these if offences, are
These arc broughl into the royal dining more severely and relentlessly than the
hall punished
covered and wrapped in linen clothes, people, even those of the
which are rest of the meanest
tied up and sealed by the cook, for fear
of poison. degree.'*
They are by youths to the door ofthc
carried
* "He is entirely unable to read or write."
dining hall, other servants marching ahead and
master of the household following. Here they are •"Zeladinus has about 20 Hindu chieftains as
taken over by eunuchs, who hand them to the ministers and counsellors. They are devoted to
serving grls who
wait on the royal table. He is him and are very wise and reliable. They are
accustomed to dine in private, except on the always with him and arc admitted to the inner-
privilege not
occasions of a public banquet. He rarely drinks most parts of the palace, which is a
1
wine but quenches his thrist by 'post' or water. allowed even to the Mongol nobles,*
When has drunk immoderately of 'post* he
he That Akbar allowed only Hindu nobles
to the
He dines alone not he

sinks back stupefied and shaking. 'nnermost apartments of the palace musl
reclining on an ordinary couch, which is covered to connote
înterpreted and misunderstood
fine rom i
tth silken rugs and cushions stuffed with the 1
'N'ty i n Akbar's nature. He did so purely

treasure
down of some foreign plants." laments of his own safet) and that ol his
3
'*Zcladinus receives foreigners and stranger*
P. 201, ibid.
Pp. 204-5.
J
3. ibid. * P. 203, jbid.
212 213
and harem. His faith in Hindus s also i fycn Badayuni, a fanatic Musi
irT1 , nr ,
a left.
handed compliment to thai community
when compelled to submit to any tyrant tl *^
whicl
1
treachery and torture still remained
subjugator out of a sheer BOd*fearinn
?
niHhfifl
™
e° od luck overca W
its
mJP Statesiy** cnemi« ?
a.m.Krsofso.d.e.swercno,"^.^
all
comu us nature and an innate stupidity offov

Ml"'
serving even a cruet and misbehavine «u
*. * .' *» u ^pu i»Akin to his habitual control over a
Akbar did not tak;e Muslims into confident »«* was the artfulness with
natamiw
except
Solent
temper
when Hindu localities were to be raided jJd wt jic h he
wont to conceal h.s thoughts arid real ,'
looted, because he could not trust them \vjthh, n5 p Urp08
says Bartolt, 'gave anybody the
harem, with his palace treasure and with his
,
Hc never/ chance
own understand rightly his innermost scntimenti
person t0 ot
know what fauh or rcl -ions lie held
by,
w but k
Dr, Shrivastav writes "-Akbar was a truant whatever way he could best serve his own interests.
child, and did not sit down to read and write. So to one party or the other with the
feed
he used
he remained illiterate all his life. Akbar himself hope of gaining him
to himself, humouring each
admits that one need not be ashamed of being un- de with fair
words, and protesting that he had no
lettered. He says 'the prophets were all illiterate. other object with his doubts than to seek and And
Believers should, therefore, retain one of their sons out by the guidance of their wise answers the simple
in that condition." This remark of Akbar is truth then hidden from him. And in all business
characteristic of his illiterate stupidity. this was the characteristic of king Akbar a man
ipparentl\ free from rnystcr} and guile, bi
7
"Akbar was a strange compound of reason Iwiuesi
and candid as could be imagined— but in reality

and superstition ... It is too much to affirm that
and self-contained, with twists of woids
Akbar was always above board in the matter of so closed
and
state-craft and in his dealings with his rivals and and deed so divergent one from the other,
much
enemies He was moreover sensitive to a point of most times so contradictory that even by
to his though
honour in his relations with those Indian rulers, seeking one could not find the clue
person comparing
who declined to render him personal homage or ilius it often happened ihul i
could
made
hin
rebuke about A
Dr. Shrivastav 's weak-
delay in doing so.*'
ness of fancying goodness even in sheer evil makes
all evidence and record only a i"»
l
i.
ictcr.
nim today
Jtor
knew
with what he was yesterday,
no resemblance, and even an attentive
lung and familiar

no more of him on
observ
the
intercourse with
last day \m ™
M
Ibid. hadaafnae.
I f, , I I |
|
:.
"•"~PM94-20O. Vol, II. j[*j
1
9 Mosul. ibul.
7. I ;
-I I, ibid. P. 24%, Akbar the Great
XftT.COM
214
k!KWn OriMst.- That admirably

ofrcfonol AkK,r\ peculiar mind wom i
dcs *
cal Mudcm
hStaTffl
tounderstand io
h,slor <-
sonic
torinous diplomacy and
on so
perfidious
oral occasions marked
J£TL*» ich TREACHERY Si
the emperor's
emperor'
eeedftigs P o|rllJCa ,
Thc frank appraisal of Akbar's C aracipr

, ]i
honest writers quoted m the last

mt ch a 17.
.
borne out by _ his dealings
iHv throughout h
His slaiecrau was crafty and treachery
rcic n. w
t
weapon Akbar used as frequently as any other ht
his armoury
u Akbar*s
1
Smith notes that policy with regard
to the Portuguese was tortuous and perfidious. At
the very moment when

thc missionaries were appro-
aching his court in response to the friendly invita-
l|pn addressed to the viceroy he had organized an
army to capture the European ports because the

Portuguese never allowed imperial ships to proceed
to Mecca without a pass. Gulbadan Begum had to
buy the pass ceding village Bulsarto the Portuguese
in After her return she directed that it be

1575.
retaken. "A party of young men was attacked and

nine Portuguese were taken prisoner. They were
refusing to
brought to Surat and executed for
leader Duarte
stauze. Their stout-hearted
Perayra de Lacerda deserves to be commemorated
Siin
b
V name. Their heads were sent to Fatehpur
bu t
Akbar pretended not to see them,"
The above passage has many *^**£
Went of history.
M °N
Firstly it show.
Wotm£•
women had the same combination
t
^.devilry and treachery as their male

counter*^
ib&
the Great Mogul.
1
fc 145. Akbar
216 217
Then Dfesque names should not prove Highness (Murad) in th esc
n MI K
ir vfefous natures. Secondly it niav I
J Ud
kHfs
JJJrioitt rather (Akbar)'."
fau
" »»<»«ed ,
,
hii
that Akbar was as fanatic a Muslim as ant "T'*
and [hat during bis reign too Asirgarh, a strong fortress
torturing and wE?K wa* r^
^
people who refused ro be
T|lW
converted emtim.
"hichis believed to have been

completed
1585 existed even in early 1580 wh«
ihe first es ''
J
*
™.
J^
Akb
lhc
lenders
ar through treachery
century Asirgarh was
I6lh
of the
space about 60
world.
acres in
The
Smuh
reckoned
su mmi t
extent, was
ob^^w "by
o?^ «*a
1
amolv L \
' ln
Mission had arrived. They saw us

lowers and
" ,
Sth < ««•
11 is "bout 12 mile, aeS^**
duc "Mb
l>
pel from | distance. This should awaken f
Burhanpur).
the ret
earchcr to the realization that
Fatehpur Sikri is an •Two
divergent and apparently
ancjem Hindu township. What irreconcilable
Akbar did was accounts of the manner in which Akbar
merely to transfer his seat of ultimate v
government to it attained purpose are on record. The
his
instead of allowing those buildings to be official
wasted historians aver that the surrender of Asirgarh
on Sheikh Salim Chisii and his band was
of fakirs. due to an outbreak of deadly pestilence. The
Smith again notes 2 -The fathers were Jesuit version, based on unpublished letters
disgus- of
ted at the clear evidence of the duplicity Jerome Xavier, who was in attendance on Akbar,
of Akbar,
who pretended a desire for the friendship of the statesthat possession of the fortress was gained by
king of Spain, to whom Portugal was then subject, wholesale bribery of the officers of the garrison,
while actually ordering hostilities against the Por- and that Miran Bahadur, the king. WW
earlier
tuguese. lured into Akbar*s camp and made prisoner by an

Their Jesuit superiors had sent urgent
letters requiring the missionaries to return.. .The act of shameful perfidy. The tale of alleged fatal
missionaries themselves were eager to go, being pestilence... seems to be mostly invention. Akbar
did iioi disdain to the weapons of subterfuge
wholly unable to accept Akbar's denial of the facts
tise
about war" and want of faith.
41
Smith observes3 that "Prince (Murad). a drun- Akbar occupied Burhanpur on March 31. 1600
the
ken scamp, was filled with overweening pride without opposition and took up his abode in
and arrogance (when commanding a Mogul army Palace of old rulers. (This should alert historian
Fatehpur
along with Khan Khana Abdur Rahim). Badayum
t,la
Tar from building any structures at
H
i
in his accustomed ill-natured way observes ihnt

8
Ajmcr and other places Akbar occ«p^
Peaces of earlier On April 9
Hindu lulersj.
^'ved under the walls of Asirgarh. Akbar iMj
Pp 196-204. Akbar ihc Great Mogul. Ibid. W ^s estimated at
emperor
200,000 men.
The
218
219
resolved *o rely on those arts
or intrigue .•The free speech of Xavier .rrit
Hi which he excelled.
**A
He, therefore iJl gUi,c
i3n to
such a degree.-
gj "*«N «b*
^
,
Miran Bahadur to come out says ,
for Vn ' ng with rage, and gave >*"!
foamed order.
taring on his own royal head
would be allowed to return
accordingly came
thai the
in peace Tk T ''" on of
||idr
the fathers from the
instant return to Goa.
imperial ^
XavLr and
**"*
CCand
he
out wearing a 8
scarf- colleagues, therefore, withdrew hil
signifying submission, Akbar ** But <J,ti,
statue. As Miran Bahadur
andwasadvancing... a Mogul
sitting
dK*,^ motioni!*
officer caunhr l
'
f some friends they did not quit the
tater found
Akbar to have cooled
W7
down)/-
advicc
(and
by the head and threw Akbar was now i„ a

him'down
perform complete prostration
frrc^tt broken his pledged word
fix.
there
Jn spite of \»
was no
u .
(Sijda)â cerc
ceremn
™°*y sm r ?
on which Akbar laid much stress," fort surrendering. Time was precious bcL* L
elder son, Jehangir was then
th. rn r
b3r
"^h in t0 Send ordcr
'"
toe fort s garrison to surrender

* '" writing to reigning at Allahabad as an
in active
independent
reblir
S
When he refused 'He was thus forced to use his only
he was detamed by force. remainj
When the K fnS weapon -bribery. The capitulation
Abyssinian commandant heard took effect
the news he sent on January 17, 1601 nearly
hisson Mukarrab Khan to 101 months after the
Akbar. When Akbar preparations for the siege had begun.
asked him whether his
father (the command""
was wtllmg to surrender, When
the gates of Asirgarh were
opened the
he gave a spirited
'nstantly ordered the population was found to be like that of a
city, and the
kk"^ ..The youth to be
stabbed.. Abyssinian inhabitants were so numerous that there was a con-
commander
then saying
that he might never tinuous throng of people coming
out for a week
behold the face of a king so
faithless, taking a scarf in Some of them had suffered
his hand and addressing from weakness of sight
the garrison asking and paralysis
them to defend the place of the lower extremities. "The
strangled himself assertion of
Abul Fazal that 25,000 persons perished
a Pîlence
is now seen to be an undoubted lie
The
siege continued.
arrange for getting some
Akbar asked Xavier to M
If.
story of the
deadly pestilence i$ an invention
Portuguese engines of war. fended to conceal the discreditable means adop-
Xavier refused on the pretext of
its being un-Chris- by
tian. rite real ^r Akbar to gam possession of the greatest
reason was that the Portuguese had
Jn India. 1
give a
only a short period before
*
The official authors stories
concluded a treaty with ^rposely
Miran Bahadur. There were also some Portuguese muddled traveslv f the fa*
ulficcrs in the garrison

cr of the commandants son is represented a
who had advised Miran a
s
,
uicide are
Bahadur against believing in Akbar's pledge. . and other clearly false statements
|d e
w hich to specify here/
it would be tedious
•
220 221
The captive king and his family

' \verc -
Crtt
LOnfi
in the fort of Gwalior. nei| êxpedition to task. Bhagw^ **
'**« *
forbidden the court and Y ^Po-
The student of Indian history would be ily ûf *"» pi a
c
on the safe side if he presumes all eases or ,i]\ !!]\
2* surveillance. Akbar then '
^r^ ,
LlJ
suicide as murders in Mogul history.

Q Son- BlK,,wandasfeelin
8Br :: v
Jehansr Louse of his pledged word for Yu J"^
^
r
wife was murdered in cold blood by Akbar
Jehangir in collusion, Daswandh he young Huidu
I
•». \
^liUh
ty stabbed
himself
oa- on
The
June 28, 1586
expedit^y^
Yaqab
painter also died a suspicious death,
U p his father a s lost
courtiers whose wives Akbar coveted
Rajput im assumed the title
prepared to defend his
of «k J
were Email and count™ '
ak
murdered. Bertram Khan was murdered. Such Qasim Khan's forces entered
October 6,
the caZ
instances could be multiplied Snnagar and
f Kashmir, read the proctamZ'
Smith notes that "even in an Asiatic country in in Akbar's

name.
and
"Qasim Khan's policy
reprisals kept the
f ~
the year 1600 perfidy such as Akbar practised was rossion Kashmir rebclhor
alive for a few years more, and Yaqub by his
felt to be discreditable, Abu Fazal and Faizi...
I
guerrilla tactics attempted to create

Sirhandi agree in hiding their master's treachery. diversion
Akbar showed himself to among the Mogul troops, Mirza Yusuf

On many occasions be Khan
succeeded Qasim Khan. Yaqub surrendered
crafty and insincere when dealing with affairs of in July
state."
1589. He was kept in custody. Later he was
granted a jagir in Bihar.Yusuf Khan was released
Even an ardent admirer of Akbar, Dr. Shri- liter Kashmir was annexed. Yusuf was made a
vastav is constrained to admit of Akbar's perfidy mansabdar of 500 and was given a jagir in Bihar.
in subduing Kashmir. Akbar had sent an expedi- He fought in Orissa (for Akbar) under Mansingh
tion against Kashmir under &hagwanda$.j The Kashmir episode leaves a bad taste, and is a
Bhagwandas made peace with Yusuf Khan of blot on Akbar's character. He disregarded the
Kashmir on February 22, 1586. The conditions plighted word of a favourite general. The petty
under
were: I. The ruler would deliver the land iagir granted to him (Yusuf) was derogatory to
the saffron crop, the duty on shawls and the

nm one who had hecn a sovereign of a flourishing
to the imperial treasury and would

acknowledge state/'
Akbar's suzerainty, and 2. That he would

temW
On the promise Another instance of Akbar's readier? concerns i
in charge of his principality

safe conduct Bhagwandas took Yusuf
Khan <_ the Hindu
kingdom of Bhatha (modern R<
But Akoar "^ramajit, a boy of tendet age who w* m
court arriving there on March 28, 586. 1
ibid 5- Pp. 382-3, Vol. ibe Greit,

4. Pp. 950-353, Vol. Akbar the Great, J, Akbar
m*m r
iaa 223
grandson of the ate Raja

Ranichandra ro„
allegiance to Akbar.
Consequently
an army under Rut Tipurdas
PUdi
m
^d Z t
,
» ilionS
with those Indian
ruler^v^T'm
IS9 him personal homage decline
was depute?
a
mar. tnL .
«
îilst
in-
tfcf
«
or
This exaggerated wnsiiiv
mZ*^by h
n
(When the garrison could not

by force of arms, it was) agreed
be made f rt S
G allow? h
^render
i
r
ycars -
,M
f.«
J*.
h failure
nlfsh
to win over R ana
irea.ment towards R aja
^
Pr
£f»
sensitiven^M
en *
RamchSJ*
***««»
ng ruler Vtamajit togoto

AkbarW, T?°"'
great noble came
Bandhu and Laran
to
L^ fa
d a period of incessant activity 8
of life and restoration of the
a safe conduct back to
urally expected that they
stated
Bandhu. The wTrkn
fi^^ |isri(lJtc
ipaigns
with only small intervals
imU dexienously
he won the
of!
of peace
cooperation
*'
to mam possession
would (then) be
of the fort.
p
But Akbir
7jt 5
#port (sic) of the Rajput rulers in
them off against one another
RajasthLTv
°
that the fort
it
must be
would be restored
first
to
ev^W^CS
the young
i„T- paying
deserves to be told in one separate
is a st
volume,"
ruler The
The Mugals who had occupied the
country cut off
supplies which caused some distress
to the besieged
Moreover, Tipurdas seemed to have
been able to
corrupt some members of the
garrison, for Abul
Fazal writes that liberality was
made the key for
delivering up the fort,' The siege lasted for eight
months and 20 days. For want of supplies
the fort
capitulated on July 8, 1597. The fort was
evacuated
and a great deal of plunder was obtained. It was
not restored Raja Vikramajit, In April 1601
to
Duryodhan, another grandson of the late Rani-
chandra, was recognized as Raja, and the fort of
Bandhu was made over to him. Bhartichand was
appointed the Raja's guardian."
*"U is too much to affirm that Akbar was

always above board in the matter of statecraft
and in his dealings with his rivals and enemies.
6. Pp. Sli-Kibid.
will
^the reader not t :i
j| Ul
-the inconsistency between •*
,cdby^> ^
.
th*
Ration nd
HYPOCRISY
Jj interfered with on account
U)
mat
,d
be or { *
ânyone was 10 be allowed io
»lpon f
ÎftHmS "*
Despite some, imaginary sanctimonious sayingi
lin
..-«
a
^
he pi i«d
pleased. f3> If. Hmdtt
Musalman. and entered the
Mu.saJnian
',JW
0Vt ,v.th
of Akbar recorded by flatterers like Abul Fazaj
\
.
;
-ould he taken hy f
she sh< nrw
*£-
Mu I!
I
Akbar's seemingly innocuous actions were invari- md and restored loher family."
ably characterised by hypocrisy
Smith rightlj, points out the
While mutual in-
Vincent Smith observes that Akbar "stopped consistency or the scvei regulation* i
tt »d to
without ever reaching the point of definitely be-
have been issued by Akbar wish to emphasis m
coming a Zoroastrian. He acted in the same way no such regulations were ever proclaimed.
lhat
with regard to Hinduism, Jainism and Christianity,
They were all a hypocritic make-believe concocted
He went so far in each religion that different by inventive flatterers
and recorded like Abul Fin]
people bad reasonable ground for affirming him
lo beguile the tedium of a wean i miskid
to be a Zoroastrian, Hindu, Jain or Christian*'—
Ihe public, hum* ur s lie sovereign with unctuous
-About this nme
(1580 A. D„), becoming flattery and obtain irnmnral gratifications for inv
alarmed at the widespread resentment aroused by ing pious prevarications Had they been reilly
innovations, Akbar
adopted a policy of promulgated \kktr himself, his sons, and courtiers
calculated hypocrisy. When on his way back from should have been the first to be deproed of the
Ajmer he caused a lofty tent to be furnished as a Hindu women that were being
hundreds of
*
c=
travelling mosque, in which he ostensibly prayed ndcdupto be dumped in the

five limes a day as a pious Muslim should do Though Akbar possessed innumerabie Hindu girts
A little later he carried his hypocrisy still further. «s hk harem he had a lecherous eye on Raaj
A cedaj Mir Abu Turab had returned from ^rgawaii, Since she died fighting. MAai
Mecca bringing with him a stone supposed to bear iily to mu
• i only mih her a** '
an impression of the
prophet's foot. Akbar know- frughter~iii-Iaw. The> were promptly
ing well that the thing »* *<>*&* ™
was not genuine went c«* harem. Far frum restoring aov
in person to meet if awa) *««
husband Akbar used to tear
™* ilwir homes and hufbam H.ig««r
aa*
*. Aktw Uk Great Mogul, ibid. ^fuddin. Asaf Khan. Adham Kb"
; P. 130. ibid.
X P IM. -bid
*
326
227
common Muslim soldiVrv used t„ m ...
which he had washed
40 in big fc,i
Mncmonioui humbu* ICVc Badayuni this dirty and humilm Acc <"*
of c e ,
'
»i£ w
was specially reserved by Ak Privily
,;,
1
could stoop so low an illu

^f*
*****
»o intersperse
the *iri™; L,have forced worse indignhiw on h*
of .heir p«5 C „S 5ftS* Jf.^^-i
y
^T
m W™
MnciimoniiB utterances
old game of Muslim
^^
and fended ,* a
t^r*
.™ « »rj
1
tl
» S
dledu al
iccts.
•Mkbar was not influenced merely

curiosity and religious sent
irn cn .Vent
h
^S&T™*
,
Jehangtr and a h
„, of other '
Shab, »* stowed unprecedented personal
lathers accredited
favour. «,l
the most horrid f (Jesuit)
rcVC red to
and heinou crafty and tortuous
his coun
massacre, torture and Hl . W as a politician hc
rape are all fSL**? cherished the hope of
credned u Itn having Itways destroving *h c
mercifuHv cons ruetedr^' Portuguese dominion (but) the rebellion of
serais, rest houses, "
alms houses shadv i J ks»
- booths and the like
Ii is nme every
S'oS^ ? eldest son and the death of the younger
put a slop to all his ambitions
prince!
He openly avowed
reader and scholar Jr designs with his intimates."
ôry a.vakes his
such sanct.raon.ous
to rhis realization.
To rT^h I One of the sayings of Akbar fabricated by his
hypocrisy in the face of
over"
wftelmine incriminating chroniclers is ""were it not for the lhiui=.ht ofiht
evidence would he puerile
and pathetic. F
difficulty of sustenance. would prohibit men
I
from eating meat. The reason why do not I
Smith quotes Xavier, a Jesuit priest

at Akbars together abandon it myself is that many others
court, thaL AJcbar used
to pose as a prophet might willingly forego it likewise and be thus cast
'
'wishing it to be understood thai wo despondency/ 1
he works
miracles through healing the sick by means
of the water in which he washes his feet. (Fool- The hypocrisy of the above meaningless con*
Action
note Badayuni record* that if other than Hindus
:
is apparent.
came and wished to become disciples at arty
"'Akbar's actions at times gave substantial
sacrifice His Majesty reproved or punished them.V r '
mnds for
the reproach thnthewasno «-
This testimony by a Jesuit visitor and a Muslim 10 be
regarded as a God on earth (FootflCM
counici clearly pruve* ih.it Akbar's tyrrany over
the Hindus included pouring down their throats p -
'90. ibid.
I
\
* 2tt, fold.
A \\ 1*0. jluj.
P 255,
ibrd.
k J
tfft
mured
il.nt.rvr.
no advantage
if
see God (Am. Vol

to
I.n/h
write
I
.1- by Bloch
ITOnSl
the old-fashioned
to
page
thee
'
!
m ann
'
ra
d
proMraiion
\kbnr and
»*rf
,
calming
ha d
Vet hi
**5led Abdun Nabi and

g£- At Sambhar. on
lost
public.
faith ,
the
^
Mto£Z*fri
hU^^***
« »
' Vfter JtrfShuhbo. M,an to proeec;;:;:;-^

Badayuni says a Htm the ut| C s -
1ne
,-,i..r."
only one. the tbsohite, the Perfect Man became
Here Dr. Shnvastava admits
commonly applied to the emperor."' ih at
A kh
trip to
Ajmer was jusi to hoodwink
B.idawmi. a fanatic Muslim notes"
,
jst hi, vwu'
with re, This only partly
lC(y is true. Had !S*
pentance thai ficroptcd like others to curry fiivou r Muslims into the
to lull ranatic
lc d
belief n!
,,
with Akbar b> idolizing htm) he had his new-booi was a devout Muslim he
k himself need QO
son blessed In VkKn instead of by Qazis and
to faraway Ajmer.
t
hive gone In his capital

itself
died he
Mullas, only to find thai his Bon within
could have visited some other shrine or recited
six
ihe
mom i
Koran five times a day. His real motive was

never
Akbar tried ail along to project himself as to perform any
pilgrimage to the Chtsti tomb
m
a prophet, a perfect man and God himself "On Aimer. He had never any faith in or respect i, M
'"Friday* June 26. 15 9 te [polluted the pulpit m anybody. A bars trips to Ajmer re i
the grand Jami Mosque of Faiehpur Sikri and organize ruthless campaigns against the gallant
recited Khmba... According to Badayuni Akbar Hindu kings of Rajaslhan mustered under the
stammered and trembled while reading it and had inspiring of Rana Pratap. Ever since
leadership
to be ed descend the pulpit. It was believed Akbar decided to discontinue his atrocious, all des-
by some that the emperor was inspired by an troying inroads into Raiasthan he ceased going to
ulterior motive" which was to impose himself on Ajmer, What is usu; liy described a* hunting ex-
hishelpl subjects as emperor, prophet and God pedition or , |ii i i i w as nothing but a run
all rolled into one, Muslims swoop on Hindu areas un-
nable I he
set on, what
announced, Such ruses ire always spi
t<11
On September 8,1579 Akbar
proved to be his lastpilgrimage to the Khwaja
vssive wars. The reader should, therefore.
tW "i' believing any more Ucbart « tllhcr
shrine at Ajmer This was within a week ol I
Maslim rulers' religious pretentions
promulgation or the so-called infallibility decfl
ttaJ
Dr. Shnvastava who had carlkr stated
» P 266, lluiljniim' elflj, IbM Wan
ll
îjselfAkbar had lost faith in
ibid celebrate
10 P 24',,, AM,„f the Great, ibid. SRJtt^Qn Octobw 8, 1583 Ak ha r
11 r MS, ibid.
13 P. 323, Akbat the GfW, '"' d
ftp
T. COW
23|
230
Jdul Pltf holdmc a banquet.

hv \i a p »
hcSh rine of Sheikh Moinuddinchk,-
I3jrh.il Tell from his horse. Akbar went *^ ||s
mi]Q cry then was «Ya Muin^l °r A
Jmcr.
J
H',
t Kl-w»ja." When „.„,» *£
Raja and graciously relieved him hy
his
' nK*%
I
° ^ )K |ie , thenj
^
ing."
or twice a
once nn
From the above passage it isquite clear it, means that
hat Akbar
Akhar»;-.i ,0n wobvim,.
i
VlOUj,
dcar y i
used
Aktw never ceased to be a
(Kid
fanatic M,J
"
to wage battle against Aj mot
t
80 t0
merely the
N^jMiidly his pretensions to prophet-],,, RujpuU.
powers were another irksome
spiritual
so.ir
""
,
, objcC twas
but dealing
not spintual solace
death and
through
H| *
" destruction on hi ft"* Be 8*
TT
Ins mth) (>rannies ih* ii
on his subjects deadly game the name of
\v e h f„ this Moinidd in r^l
already seen how he compelled
ttfcSh-watcr,
Hindus
Similarly
he used to blow h-
to 1Z is use d as a convenient decoj l0 hide
motive of his move out of the capital
7u"
1
Z
liquor-smelling and dope-laden
other peoples' drinking water
foul breath 7 Ajmer in Rajasthan.
djiS
to Uft
™
or face. The* Ln
< ictim dared not remonstrate
lest he be seiuT*
H1 sometimes said that Akbafs
is
conduct
the gallows and his women in
matters of religious belief and
be molested' He worship was
therefore meekly put up with guided by political expediency.- This
Akbar's filthy antics is a clear
and feigned to derive great benefit admission of Akbafs rank hypocrisy.

from it Tha We only
satisfied Akbar's vanity. wish that it be brought to the fore
I„ this hoax not "some-
that he
practised on his hapless limes" but always in talking or writing about
victims Akbar takes the
cake among all Muslim rulers' malpractices.
Akbar.
Poor
Birba had to suffer the
added humiliation of hav- ""He would cure the ailing children by look-
mg Akbars fou] breath blown on
his injured face. ing at them or giving them water over which he
TTi.s literally amounted to adding insult to injury. had breathed. He would have people believe
,a
"Akbar was stern to his nobles
^ performs miracles, healing the sick with the
and vassals w ater with
so that none dared lift his which he washes his feet. Many young
head too high. He was
pleased to accept their Women pay vows to him te get their children cured
presents though often with
prudent dissimulation he
pretended
,ha * they may have children. And if to
not to see J[.
lhm Bs
them. come to pass they bring him offerings, as to
lf "ta,
I5 whtoh though they may be of little worth.
Until 1579 Akbar used to pay regular * rc
visits. willingly received and highly valued by him
otlce cv ery year, and twice
sometimes even
(3. f>. 5U3 -Akbar the Great' \l
"'
£ 506. Akbur the Great, ibid. .
ûKcd
ibid. p 61, Akbar and Hie • u
14. P- 504, rbid
-Payne, '
lb,J
P»8e 5JI. Akbar the Great. V I
'
£33 23*
Europoun to
court have oft
visitors Akbar\ ordert and thc rapacity nfiw
c atari nm
r «fci
,
misunderstood and therefore creduloutlj d ror I00 ° yca

,„'
represented dealing* at Ubat \ court. To get at the

ft
ha d been a
" b
common >
practice
* rm%
f0r
real import of heir notfogs one has i<» under
i
stand ;nen to rush
to the tyrant o****?
itn
£?*
the contemporary atmosphere. All these , ay
their children at his feet in a h;a .!
Western B|ld bitl lo
TO fkft
Motors had practically no knowledge of the court ]ijs
K:ar , so that he may call a halt
, to the gi
language and, therefore, had to depend on super. committed by his barbaric, greedy , Iul lewd
horde
rkial DbsetvatioQS or motivated Muffs u»d brain- Those who could escape rape, plunder and maaic"
washing by sycophant Muslim courtiers. We know p; fled in
terror to seek some relief from Ak
from experience thai a foreign visitor whose con-
That scene of multitudes thronging hit-own
tacts are restricted to cabinet circles goes back
in abject subjection sobbing,
of his royal hosts. Those day and night wailing
and ^ the praises
artd
pathetically imploring the voverign to have
who ect the opportunity to know the people and
mercy on them and their darling children bid at
listen to their talcs of misery would paint a dif-
his feel in complete surrender and humiliating sub-
ferent picture.Thus. European visitors to Ak bar's
mission was misunderstood by the Jesuits ignorant
court laboured under a double disadvantage namely
of Persian and Hindi as signifying people's yentu
oflanguage and contacis. Hence readers of their
lug to obtain spiritual bliss from Akbar.
memoirs must be extra cautious in properly inter-
preting their notings. Such a scene immensely gratified Ak> It
satisfied his vanity. The *feer of absolute power

We. fully accept that Akbar used to be surroun*
over such masses of mortals to make or mar their
ded by throngs of men. women and children. But
fortunes exhilarated him. He felt greatly elated
the observation that they came to seek spiritual
*hen thronging crowds looked up to him in pathe-
bliss for themselves or their children or to be
tic submission as the one and only
blessed with children is incorrect. His cruel Maje
and arbiter of their destiny.
The crowd around Akbar was always of a Akbar would then 'graciouly" break into his untie
drink hi.
mixed sort. The throng included courtiers body of 'comforting' them by asking them to
filthy wash-water or foul- breath -blown
warn
guards, menial servants, cringing scribes, prisoners.
European or Indian visitors, si.me mere idle gazers
Jcftu
and thc common men, women and children. The descriptions of an Akbar or a
Wing in the palace-window at >unsel Q
These la .(-mentioned common people didn \ jnd ^plicated by crowds of tag"
come to Akbar for fun or spiritual solace bill l°r ^ to be understood „, this light
W nea
A kbar's and whim- tors refer to such scenes their de*'.r
'
temporal relief from tyra mi ical

234
XVII
he and interpreted
properly understood
n [
lh
light i of what we know of A k bar's character
.
a !h
domes Earlier historians have all failed
to era
this aspect of the throngs that kept hanging
around FAMINES
.11 A k bar's door.
Interminable revolts,
reprisals, burning and sou
reprisals
*****
massa cre characterised the 1,000-year, long
India. W tth their civic
^ i na
JS"*"
m u JZ
rule in life shattered ,h r
Homes battered and Uicir family life reduced
to a
shambles the citizenry had to run for its life
Those
who escaped massacre had to remain m hiding in
forests and mountainous country. Such turmoil
led
to frequent famines. Akbar's reign was no excep-
tion. His tenure too was marked by some of the
most horrid famines in human history giving a he
to claims that Akbar's was a benevolent rule. His
regime being as atrocious as that of any oiler
sultan or Bad shah, if not mote, it was bound to
result in severe famines,

Vincent Smith writes 1 that in -the famines of
l555-5< capital (Delhi) was devastated and the

i
be
mortality was enormous. The historian Badayuni
with his own eyes witnessed the fact that men
their own kind, and the appearance of famished
scarcely
was so hideous thai one could
sufferers
was
look upon them The whole country
. .
^sert. a„d no husbandsmati remained

to till W
ground.
provinces^ Into
-Gujarat, one of the richest i
iron
wl generally reputed to be almost cwmf*
i!*£âm ine? suffered severelyfor

months
*
TTSTatS-IW, Akbaf the Ore* M<»l* m
:
<;.,.
:^7
in f5?3-74. P.Milemt IS usual follow

ition, so dull ilic inhabitants, rich an 0nc may well imagine i he il?***;
the country and were scattered abroad. action of revenue by the Muslim admin «,*'
••AhuJ . i
-
• ; * with characteristic
i
vagueness
as brave the gemma, tore* beast* than
records that In 1583*84, prices were high qt
Mf, p get i m
account of the dryness ol the year, the means a tortured to pieces by human h r m„
or
sul li' nee of many people came to :ni J a .. A t the time or famine and cTistr
CJ ess omen,
(Akbamama Vol, Chapter IXX1V, p.
625)
iii.
were allowed
to sell their children
He does not trouble to give any details or even touch of irony in

a
to There is
Badayunft
mention which provinces were affected. If we may above. While Akbar. it vee™,
Observation gracio
judge from the slovenly way in which he treats the
|y
allowed his subjects to sell their children for
tremendous calamity of 1595-98 we may infer that of famines, children used to be
food in tunes
the famine of 1583-84 was serious. It does not almost everyday m the chaoi that
kidnapped
seem 10 be mentioned or even alluded to by other
reigned in those days. Citiz< as were also compelled
chroniclers.
tosurrender or sell their children for paying Akbnr's
"The famine which began 1595 and lasted in revenue. Such children passing through the mill of
three or four years until 1598 equalled in its horrors abject slavery and menial duties including
wdonn
ultimately ended up by being converted to
Islam,
the one which had occurred in the accession year,
Hinduism
d excelled the visitation by reason of its longer That automatically estranged them from
mad m feel like para-Arabs
duration. Abul Fazal, as already observed, slurs and Hindus! ban and
over the calamity by using vague words designed to or para-Turks
neea the severity of the distress and to save the Mustitn rule in
So, famine or no famine, undci
I
credit of the imperial government. (Footnote for sale

India children were a commodity
He gives details of the famine in the accession year
chattel either to obtain food or
respite i- - pw»
inorder to show that things improved when Akbar mental revenue.
ascended the throne).
Epidemics and inundation ... occasionally
«Un this year
^heitwasi..C,ujcrutapcncr.ilpt«il«
(981 A* ) «>*
d ^
marred Ak bar's reign. . .
*uch an »w n
a dearness of grain to
-The emperor Babur, in his autobiography
mentions that the parganas were surrounded by
jungles, and that the people of the parganas »>fien in his tramkti '
^'hkWit B*
Si" IICS . I
i-
m, dud 4 P 189,
Bâv.m.'^lK-uJcJ^
m 239
and every minute news came

nniun*
less
iwaiijoM
people died."
for 120 Tankas. and number, hour
g* Khan, of the death ?***«** <^
to
, ,
h(
tdnt listen. but
|;oU he
A student of Miislrrn chronicles must remember
Fromthe reference to
that iln> general Iv mention famines, pestilences or (Muslim* h
tyrnmn and torture only when such calamities none to Hindu cremations '' * b ° ve*
an d the r e adTr
afloci and afflict a substantial lection of Muslims
of our remark made
justice
(he earlier ilTu^
m
themselves, As for instance Badaytmi condemns chroniclers record calamities and Jl ,
-
A k bar's General Peer Mohammed for the atrocities when a substantial section of the w«iZ ° nly
be committed, not on Hindus bin on Sayynds t was afflicted. To them the

Hindus were of no consequence at all because
J^ZR
and ulamas
talismans -
holdini'
cum - helmets.
fcorans on their heads as
To Muslim chroni- Muslim rule Hindus were expendable
Iw
pt0
™
v
clers Hindu men. women and children were ;i The implication of the Jisziya tax was precisely
thai
natural fodder for fanaticsm to feed on, that is why Hindus were suffered to live, if at all, and -
even
almost invariably they use he words dancing girls'
I *
they livedthey were to be ruled by Muslim*
and
and "prostitutes" for Hindu women and 'slaves were to sweat and toil and slave for Muslims.
kafirs. thieves, robbers, dacojis and infidels as
As seen above, during Akbar's reign his entire
ipnymous wilh Hindu males. Even though
Muslim chronicles had a lOOO-ycar-chain succession domain from Bengal in the east to Gnjera! in the
in Hindustan, a Hindu majority country* as a rule west felt prey to deadly pestilence and frightful
they seem to be unaware of live Hindu. famine.

They
show a marked preference for the biltetst invectives Dr. Shrivastava describing the Gujerat famine
uttered with fanatic emphasis when referring to
observes 5 that "when the (Bihar) military campaign
Hindus.
was making successful progress, Gujerat in the
Describing another horrid pestilence, in Gaud test was, in 1574-75, the throes of a dreadful
in
tpital or Bengal), Badayuni notes "various famine and epidemic the like of which had nut
diseases attacked the constitutions been seen or heard in living memory. Both lasted
of the Amirs,
everyday hosts upon hosts of people having for five to six
months, The famine was not cm
played out their existence bade farewell to one bV drought but wn
or the failure of seasonal rains,
another and how many thousands so ever were due to prolonged wars and
destruction wrought bv
Id off Tor that country Kbcllions, constant marching and counwr-mai
it cannot be stated thai n
hundred even returned home. Things came i
of I'oops,
the killing of men on
* »!£*
»UCh a PUS, lh;„ lf , c |Vmg WefC unabJc to bury n»dua«l
the dead, und
,
^l^breakdown of administrative
threw mem into die river. Every
5- Pp 169-171. Akhar Great. ^
I lie
1
24
and partial,
partisan
and he economic system. The historian Mohammed being
i is
irftamtnad bin Kasim downwards ** ^

2"*** 1
H.nif Qandahan rightly observes hal the- plat eue
d famine conned not only on account of u lc
ntamination of water and air but also because
(
> Turks, Arabs, Iranians, Afgh

'Mongols, to whichever
ans
dynasty
'
^"^ni
»hey
of
the misrule and oppression by the Afghans, Aby .
sinians and Mirzas. The epidemic which was
s
belonged,
There is
proved
no basis to choose
equally cruel and
a few as
^1^
r"
most bette
preceded the rest. They were animated * ,lf *
probably the plague, famine. The lhan the by a
larniiv was widespread and covered (he whole for Hindus and Hindu culture
of ,Jtre d a nd
2?2
Gujerat,
province.
and a large number of inhabitants left the
The mortality was so high that on an
shared the firm belief that the surest way
islamic heaven was by destroying
qf 1
ing H fadi£
average 100 cart-loads of dead bodies were taken and compelling everybody to profess Islam.
out for burial in the city of Ahmcdabad alnne, and
Another point to be emphasized
it was impossible to find them graves or grave in thedescrm-
tion of the Gujerat famine cited above, is
clothes The severity was equally felt in the towns that if
and districts of Broach. Patan and Baroda, and in 100 cartloads of Muslim corpses alone had to be
fact in the whole of Gujerat. TJte price of jowar taken out of Ahmedabad everyday the number of
Hindus dying must have, been a hundredfold more
rose to six maund. Horses and other
rupees a
miiTLils had to he led on tree barks. There since Muslims may have formed only one percent of
is noth-
ing on record to show that government undertook I he population. Moreover the Muslims were the
an\ rehef measures, Abu] Faza the court historian,
I
rulers. If they themselves suffered 100 cartloads of
silent on the calamity. Had Akbar ordered any casualties day the loss to the downtrodden and dc*
a
nd of relief he must not have missed the upportu- cply hated Hindu community may well be imagined.
Of praising his royal patron." The 100 cartloads of corpses a day were obviously
exclusively apparent from the
of the Muslims as is
Dr. Shrivastava has hit the nail quite on the fact that they were taken for burial and not cre-
When he observes that the famine was not mation.
about by natural causes but by Muslim
and misrule. But we would every part
like to add that Thatduring Akbar's reign almost
»u* 'gned to this particular famine during ° f India
suffered from a terrible
famine not on ?
reign applies equally to

i
all famines during rr

<>m east to west but also from north to
wm*
a rn.llcn.um of
Muslim rcgrmci in India, that
The
*PParent
Juror's stay
from the report
there
^«f«J
wa> •
histi rian Mohammad
Hanif Qandnhari is in Kashmir
November
en m blaming the
famine on the misdeeds of ^nejMhc valley (May to
;hanv Abys inians
and Mirzas alone. In this he *• p 40g, Akbar
-
the Great, ibid-
243
24:
of «hc indigent w as cm
i jmips became very d«w and Imshandsmen had |ass
- of
Jon their hearths and homes. Jerome \. .
* powson, VI, iv<|), (Elliot &

itci thai mothers left their children m u lc w
4
J
i i
falsi
tu
The
'
"
'
opportunity
nat
hat Yemeni k JC ,an "
missionaries tially for
iodic. I he Jesuit picked Lbem*^ oflVn
^ Urc morsel nfnauery to his

Ucr^Lt
end baptized them (Maclagan.
pp. 77-78)/*
About the Gujemt famine

p, 56; Du
rric
» Abul
ntlim
Fazal far more strongly than
less million* The mortality
the X £
mm ^t
£
Vinccm Smiti appalling. Fcnshta, whose well
known work I
observes that "Gujerat (fess liable to famine the best Persian summary
than considered of Indian
most parts of India suffered severely J
from does noL even mention
bn'i history, this famine,
which
famine and pestilence (I 574-75) lasting for ncarfo ignored by Elphinstonc, If a
is
accordingly minor
m\ months Prices rose to an extreme
.
height had not happened to
historian write the few lines
Horses and cows were reduced to feeding
on iree quoted above, even the bare fact that such a cala-
barks (Tabakai-i-Akbari. Elliot & Dowson. Vol V mity occurred would not be on record.. The Jesuit
p. 384)." 597 note that in that year Lahore suffered
reports of 1
Around 15% Hie whole of Northern from a great pestilence which gave the fathers ihc
India
suffered from a terrible famine/' opportunity and intense satisfaction of baptizing
says Smith,
"which lasted continuously for three or four many infants who had been abandoned (Footnote,
years M
beginning in 595-96. A contemporary historian
J
Maclagan, p, 7l)*
records a kind of plague also added
to the horrors endorsing Smith's observation above
Fully
of this period, and depopulated whole
houses and about the utter unreliability of Muslim
chronicler
ernes, to
say nothing of hamlets and villages. Fazal men-
In
we would like to add that when Abul
iibcquencc of the dearth of grain and
the necessi-
lions the poor having been entrusted to the care
ties of ravenous hunger,
men ate their own kind. mea
he and roads were blocked up with dead
streets
of the well-to-do, that has a deeper
W
M"2
at all.
possible that some poor Muslims, if
bodies., and no
assistance would be render, 01
have been billeted «ith or made a
I
1
their removal (footnote:

Nurul Hakk, p. 193). AU>
on some well-to-do courtiers whom ,
Abul Fazal characteristically dy

glosses over the cala- to About
punish or impoverish- £;
mity in language which
of the severit>
gives no notion whatevei i
their millions Akbar

JJ^
^^^^[J^dersV
very
er the imperial
of the situation.
orders, the necessitous received
Abul Fazafsay* —
cautious
-Mvuiuiiu alert mind
and aicn i""" u is
".
died
cai for
revert
covert nu*» " » , ,
daily assista nce to

'"£ and interpreting the overt -^.^
accoum7wriu en by M«hi*
their every satisfaction, and vc|!
°f
«f" account;
7- P. 93, Akbar ihc Grcai Moeul, ibid
chroniclers.
*. Pp. 19: MbiU
KAT.COM.
Ctmpu-r Witt 245
We have already proved

erlions of flatterers like Ahul lhc
P',0 «i
fl8S Fall
Akbar having abolished
ob ouL ihTl
d8 ^'
FANATICISM was a
discriminatory exaction
taken ffi?
{ "h ^
a Muslim monarch may mdu '
s0 that suffer 11
|S
contradicted by tacts Individual "
afteT^V
Akbar was born a Muslim, he 1lkc the
Jain monk Hirvijaya Sur.
lived and l!**"?^
Muslim and died a Muslim— and a
at lhai- And yet in the common
as
fanatic one
run of histories
M to ask for special exemption.
[hal exemption was ostensibly
I
"
?
Sh
And
granted
he is painted as having been anything from never taken or meant to be taken ser jowly.
**
a
devout Hindu, to an agnostic liberal or a generous Similar is the case with the
fancied ban on
synthesizer of the best principles of all religions, cow-slaughter. In Akbar s reign
Cow-slanghtef
Like every other aspect Akbar's Islamic fanaticism continued unabated as itdid throughout
Muslim
too has been whitewashed. Such an image of rule. A number of historians like Sir H.M,
Hiot
Akbar was deliberately fostered under Muslim rule and Vincent Smith have repeatedly pointed out
so that in an unbroken GOO-year-Song history of
l r
that sanctimonious and self-righteous assertions m
unrelieved and sickening atrocities at least one chronicles like Akbarnama and Jchangtrnama are
Muslim monarch should be presentable to poste- not to be taken seriously. Those who claim that
rity. Since Muslim rule lasted for 253 long ye; they have a written firman indicating hat Akbar I
after Akbar that assiduously fostered image took did ban cow slaughter should first examine whether
such root in the public mind that Akbar came to thedocument they possess is genuine or a forgery.
be unquestiomngly accepted as a broadminded Secondly they would also find that Akbar's make-
ruler who was very liberal and tolerant in matters believe orders were a form of deception. Like lhc
of religion as also inevery other aspect of his exemptions from Jiziya agreed to on.Htaijajfl
rule. A few who may have suspected this image Suri's or Surjun Singh's entreaties lucse
orders
to be counterfeit dared not air their views under were a dead tetter,
the delusion that such falsehoods if left undisturb- the
Smith notes how the Bible which
ed lead to communal harmony, Vincent
or that their slender to Akbir
Jesuits al his court presented
voice may not be heard or would be denounced in
**« *
the public hullabaloo of Akbar's greatness. We '"returned to them at a much later ctate ,
have overwhelming evidence to prove that Akbar Ut that it was no use or no long* "j"*"*
or of &»« *
datigk the carrot his liberalism
of
wail no tesf fanatic an Islamite than any other
"« Christianity.
Mublim ruler in India. There is nothing to choose Precipitate love with
amogust them. They were alt fiercely fanatic. rjTm, Akbar the Gtnl UanLM
247
246
lives to
extend Akbar's empire
ka
Smith www Sit Thorns Roe. a contemporaty
visited Mb. as
that Akhar was a fiercely fanatic
rl
Mu ?'m
'^^
li»hman who
had SilVl
been the liberal he Hid he
. is
p a med
i
J?
,„>^
4lB ,
HAktai died in the formal profession of his ct « and soldiers would not have dared
filter P WThe was born, a Mohnmmaden."
VMUcl Boelh0 osscrts lI,Bl Akb ^r Hindu allies and helpers,
m* tew
mS I last died as
••The persons invited io SnafE •
Notwithstanding the aboutfine phrases

l0 the
debates were confined ai
general tolerance
which occupy so large a space n firs, i
M î™"r
four classes, namely Shaikhs. Sayyids,
j
the writings of Abul Fazal

and the sayings of Akbar
The House of Worship
UuT.2
Amirs. . . -
was duto^
main acts o\' fierce intolerance were committed." tEne*
for the use of Muslims only,"
*"Adespatched on December 10, 1580
letter
rector of Goa says 'our ears '"His mother Hamida Bano Begum and
by Aquaviva to the fatk
Gulbadan Begam were extremely
hear nothing but that hideous and heinous name
sister
devout
In a word, Mahomet every- Muslims and hostile to all innovation. Accompanied
of Mahomet. .. . is
thing here Anti Christ reigns.' by Salima Sultan Begum (widow of Behram Khan
and wife to Akbar) they started on a pilgrimage
* Ifc Akbar stopped without ever
reaching the
of Mecca in October 1575, fhey were detained in
point of definitely becoming a Zoroastrian. He acted
Surat by the Portuguese for about a year. Ultimate-
jd ihe same way with regard to Hinduism* Jainism
ly they got away safely, performed the pilgrimage
and Christianity. He went so far in each religion
and landed safely in India early in 1582. Gulbadan
that different people had
reasonable ground for
affirming him to be a Zoroastrian, Hindu, Jain or
Begum who wrote memoirs of considerable interest.
preserved in one incomplete manuscript, has leu
Christian."
no record of her experience as a pilgrim."
We have already quoted, in an earlier chapter,
the
the court chronicler Badayuni that in the battle ""A large party of male pilgrims under
sent
of Haldighal against Rana Pratap Badayuni and charge of a leader (MirHaji) was also
continued
Akbar's general were unanimous in shooting into novel and costly arrangement was
warned
the ranks of the Hindus
of Akbar's own army on five or six years, and Akbar
io the di«uw£
the ground that a Hindu killed on any side was pilgrimage himself (but he yielded
gain to Islam This spun great dangers..
of murdering and massacr- of his ministers because of the
oflfcl
Mg Uic very Hindus who were jeopardizing Uieii v«d). The emperor issue d
/general
2 i' m. iind.
3 1* 159, ibid. 6 Pp. 94-95, ibid.
J P 7. P 9(». ibid
125, Ibid.
»' I!*, i hid. 8. P. 96, ibid.
!
240
MS
'- Christian father*
•The
anyone could go Oil pi er image at state
I
«p«M i "in.li KOI
religious
lit I j.
M,oldmg
of
discussion tuFfS****
treasury."
i he
fencing him in favour of C
hh,w,
monarch or Hindxisthan him-
hen a Muslim were gradually losing Tfc
v\
self warns to
go on pilgrimage to Mecca and gives
her*
fenced Xavier by telling him lhal
^JJ
^ A^
blanket order thai
anybody may go on the Islamic in preaching his
rdedhim
i
pilgrimage to Mecca
at state expense from money
usurious and discriminatory
acCO
t gre
at service- (Xaviefs
rcli ei0n
letter
^
$
of Aug.
,
extracted by way of P. 57, also Du Jarric.

Michigan, PP
to send Muslim citizens to 9n-i,T
taxes from Hindus
is he if not a fanatic
Islamic territories what else Akbar was such sworn enemy ofa
Hinduism
Muslim used to oblige Jesuit priest* by
that he « T acm w |y
have also quoted earlier that Akhar had over to them forcibly seized Hindu
We making temples
for conversion
provided Ahdun Nabi with Rs, 7,000 for his pilgri- and mansions into churches or
similar Christian
use. Thus mediaeval
mage to Mecca. churches
Agra are Hindu buildings- Dr. Shrivast.
Ak bar's goading two sects of Hindu priests, in
records
IWi
'A notable Hindu family claimed a i
the Kurs and the Puris at Thancshwar, to annihilate had been given to the fathers
houses that to
each other, and aiding the weaker side in that accommodation to married Christian
provide
deadly combat with his own fierce Muslim troopers
converts, Xavicr succeeded in getting Akbar'!
so that ihey may see to it that none of them re-
orders from Agra and the
houses remained in the
mained alive, shows how fiercely fanatic a Muslim
possession of the Lahore mission. The
hostile Hindu
Akbar was. vicissitudes to the great satisfac-
family suffered from
We have already quoted references to Akbar's tionof Pinhciro (Maclagan, Pp.6|.«|.
Xavicr in his
pilgrimages once or even twice a year to the lomb in;, dated Sept. 6, 1604 wrote
"1 he ehurch being
can be well
of the Muslim fakir Sheikh Moinuddin Chisti in no large and beautiful, everything
"'
Ajmer, and his patronizing Sheikh Salim Chistii carried out
also a Muslim. Had Akhar been inclined towards
any other religion he would not have confined his The reader may note how *+*gg*
demotions only to Muslim atrocious it was for a Muslini so«W «
fakirs.
Hindu J
to* •£
than to turn out n wealthy
Throughout Akbar's reign temples used to be vet to the I or
and make
1
its property it
razed to the ground or misappropriated as mosque* "

and cows used lo be slaughtered in them as happen- Q. Pp. 409 410. Akbm Ihc GM A t »
ed in the battle foj Nagarkot exactly as under any ibid.
other Muslim ruler. 10. p, 407, ibid.

l
250
251
may continue to pet armaments marched

«o that he from Ju nml llS , r„ ampa
mow down
Z
,
tJ ,
m with which he could the Hindu.

/from 1*1 tu ' t her with iiu- ..,. ,
tonV
Rcuardinc the Nagarkot campaign Mr, SheJat

urDa,y,Kha,M n , pill
notC5 thai
,,4
'A treaty was arrived at. The Mogul
general
way
caused a mosque to be built over the gate
of the Raja's palace.
pictures of vulgar company. On
, lllfi
Uimedabad he was once agl, ln a ™»

JÎ
Here a:*
throughout Muslim chrom
elsewhere mdta n n At last relieved from the tyranny,
J£
irping nobles Muhmud wielded tfo
cks the word "built**
use
mpropriating a Hindu
It is well known
has been used to mean
building for Muslim
thai Hindu gateways used
aU) for the next nine years, ft began to
^religious zeal by persecuting Hindu
Hindu was allowed to ride on horseback in
m
sceptre per
^
-injects'
to |,nve a
music house on top. So the mosque flo
was nothing but n y city nor

was he allowed to enter a bazar with-
u ihe Niicarkot palace gateway
,',
; ,
r
patch of red on the back of a white garment
of at least a part of the ,ii ;i
,he atrocious occupation on a red one or to weat

This was a common practice, or n patch of white en
Hindu Raja's palace. one colour. The Hindu festivals of Moti or
how during 1.000-ycare of M usli ro rule
i
That
piwali were banned and so also public worship and
is
there is practically no
Hindu shrine left without
ringing of belts in temples. Even those who
conversion into a tomb or
mosque wholly or in the
irshipped in the home* did privacy »if their
existence of a Muriim
mrt. This is proved by ihe li fear. No Rajput or Kolt was allowed to move
nb at almost all important
Hindu shrines like
Lord Krishna, tout unless, like a criminal he was branded
Kashi Vishwanaih. birthplace of humitomg
died the palate liisnrm. Anybody found without this
the place where Lord Krishna put death. iBajl-
hdls, Somnatn, iwk was at once to
of Lord Rama, Palitana and Gintar
Gujerat, 427)."
an d Ahmedabad'smany mosques and tomos.
Agra church Jt humiltatina ,nv
And from the instance of the Hud Akbar abolished the*
churches too Hindus, that prevailed m Gujera
is clear that all mediaeval Christian and
ana on
Ak
usurped
isurpedt as prool
Hindu buildings or Hindu land would have hailed '
lories it
are h1IA gj
to favour generosity and sense °*J'
alienated by India's" Muslim rulers inip i
inliiv,
; te
Christians ot the cost of the Hindus.
'
*lhe«ia«o mention of
other IWjg widUion of he Hindus even aRei *** I
Jg jffjff .
About Gujerat ruled over by

,,
rf
Akbar ru
«1 thai > '
notes Gujerat ii is obvious uti%

during Akbar's time Mr. Shelal any to iheir nv c
r
J«*e difference
11 I\ US, AUiir J.M.Shclal, ibid. "^ni ofihc Hindus in the low^X ,„.
**»*"*
12 Pfl 122029, ibid. "wu the regime of every Muslim
152 153 I
Mohammad bin Kiisim in the early 8ih cClJ ". Akbar was so fanatic a Muslim
from
tury \oend of Muslim rule, in lgj^
the
whichever race, dynasty or nationality, and what,
vert not only men but alio
temple and elephants to hl am

thai h
.
C 7/*«*lc
everhis age. was to the

Hindus a period of errX)f i Badavimi tells uM that RanaP ra ,w
leV»***
torture, slavery* humiliation
and great cruelly Prasad which preyed to
Akbar had llnKiiirhai battle was named
"On" October 22, 1573 the cere- lhe Peer tnutZ
mony of circumcision of the three princes perform- Akbar.
ed Willi i!rcat eclat- -In far olTMcwar (in 1574) i Wo Around 989 A. H." "the emperor captured |
districts Mohan and Rampuni were renamed Istarn- or sheikhs, who called ihemsclvei 'diicipfcv
sect
pur. Akbar also tried to set up Muslim colonies in the generally kno^n as Hahiv
but were They had
other district therby giving large tracts to Muslims indented similar names for the la*> and religious
m Budhnor. Ruhlia Bavebra, Pur, and Bhimravar, commands of Islam and for the fast Hi -i
y
(Shri Ram Sharma's Maharana Pratap, pp. 38-39.)'*
.i>ked them whether they repented of their vamti
In September 1577 Akbar sent a party of Haj At his command they were sent to Bhakkar and
Qandahar and were given to merchant in c\chnge
pilgrims with five lacs of rupees and 16,000 khilats
for Turkish colts," This instance proves that
to distribute among the residents of Hijaz (Abut
Akbar was such a fanatic Muslim that he would
PaxaTi Akbaniama, Tr, Bevendge, III, 305*6. j
not suffer any para- Islamic sect to exist

Even Badayuni admits that the emperor sent many
to Mecca with gold and goods and rich presents "When Shah Abu Turab >ind Itimadkhan
From this evident they daimed

at considerable public expense. Gujcrati brought a piece of rock which
impossible to give credence to the accusation Akbar «
it is bore Mohammad "s root impression
of Badayuni and some others that Akbar was
an receive it and commanded
hi:
eight miles to
apostate courtiers to carry it by turns,
a few st«
to the city.
Badayuni being a dissatisfied courtier and a this manner they brought it
rabidly fanatic Muslim he couldn't tolerate

Akbar's
""The 1,000 of the Hijmcit^Bow^J
occasional highhandedness and the only way
could vent his spleen on a despot like Akbar.
he
was
point of
of all
completion, the emperor
km&sof Islam !«' be written,
-mui.
;^™[
ludub him a Hindu. That was the highest abuse commemorated
courtic
aler m HMusthn should
that a lowly, subservient fanatic Muslim
despot P.243.VoniHû«m-»cBro«m'c.lba.
like Badayuni could fling at an all-powerful 14.
15. P. 30t, Vol It. ibM
like Akbar. with impunity.
16, P. 320, ibid
13, Pp. 203-B, Akbar, by J. M, Shetot, ibid 17, p. 327, ibid
^
255
354
-
Abul Fatal writes" "i nl K- „
^
.
£^TLT
t
I.OOOdiyeHJ of>tta Hijra and cause a history

reign), after the
to be written
f
U<*
0ftjj Muslim rulers is indicative of
Kmadc Husayn Khan governor of
ft*
hfe Islamic fiuiaJfeisin,
Akbar, like every other Muslim ruler, thirsted he showed

h.mseif a zealous
for Hindu Mood. Badayuni says •] represented

days)
Aryans did
Sunni.
with the J.wa, he ordered
As Z
thc
(io Akbar) that I had a very strong desire to take as unbelievers to wear a pa ich
1[in aus (Tukra)
part in a hoh war e. massacring Hindus). «i shoulders, and thus got the nick
name of
near the
to lie presumption to desire
i
to dye these black Tukriyatpatcher):'
moustachios and beard in (Hindu) blood (in the
Rana Pratap war) through loyalty to Your Majesty's That patch was obviously to mark the Hindus
as pariahs
so that even through inadvertance
person' and when I put out my hand towards the t
may not get humane treatment. Such div

couch in order to kiss his feet, he withdrew it, but they
under which the mere Hindu was
just as was going out of the audience chamber he
I
crimination
than a dog or pig, was endemic
called me back and filling both his hands he pre- seated, worse
throughout Muslim rule,
sented me with a sum of 50 Ashrafis, and bid me
farewell/'
Manv students, teachers and scholars of Indian
generations on concocted stories of
Badayuni's statement that when out of loyalty history fed for
have best had
fancied benevolent rule
1 at
to Akbar he expressed his yearning to dye his Akbar s
validity of tradi-
black Muslim moustachios in Hindu blood by sneaking suspicions about the
massacring Hindus, Akbar far from expressing any tional tutoring.
disapprobation presented him a handful of gold who doubt theauthenti-
But even these people
coins shows how much premium Akbar put on Akbafs
massacring Hindus. This should disprove the
city
humane rule
of assertions about
believe that though
still
.^J* covertly
claim that Akbar unlike other Muslim rulers was appeared to be very
Hindu-hater overtly Akbar
well disposed towards the Hindus. Akbar like every
conciliatory.
other medieval Muslim courtier and ruler deeply conv
neither
hated the Hindus. This view is
ounaged nor minimised his
hatrec
»rt»kMi
mistaken, Akbar
aku
^ ^^
In Akbars lime there was no let up in the instances
quoted
as is apparent from the
persecution of the Hindus. They were treated as
third-class
methods.
citizens deserving of third degree
Evidence of this is found in the Ain-i iT^Toh Ain-i Akbwl.
Blochmami. edited
wnshied mw
by Lt. Col
D.
^^
1927-
18. P. 234 ibid. edition. Calcutta,
254 ,er M*
Hindus were as openly despised, as conic
tuously treated, humiliated and humbled and*?*
cruelty treated under Akbar 's rule as under
an!
other Muslim's rule There was not the slight MALPRACTICES
mi
difference. Akbar was one of the many links in a
chain of Muslim rule in India. That link was of t Akbafs tyrannical,
faminc^clccn »,*
piece with the other links of the Muslim clu
u ri
dden, war-worn and corrupt regime «,* w'
which fettered Hindusthan, n some
very cruel malpractices The*
were 1
ancient legacy
almost from Ihc beginning of
Muslim
lasted until Mogul power
TU le and
in Delhi ended.
No blame should attach to Akbar foi inventing
those practices,
practices. But
mil since
is wugm nc
h-
»ughl to he built
ideal, noble, gencrou

generous, considerate,
up as an
„n nsidcrate, mcr-
,ful and
tolerant monarch we wish to point
c
that allmalpractices of Muslim rule continued
at heir woi
their worst
s*i uuimg n»"«
during "- He neither
Akbar's* ral
abolished them nor softened their rigour.
One such malpractice was of the compte;

-ever
the realm, to
branding or all horses in J
thev belonged, with
only usurpation of
the royal mark
all horses M*£ Th»w*art
automatically enslaved
horse. The possessor o [ * h
every
-^ruther
M>-
^
b^ «^J
servant of the crown
without much
so
w
**3K * as being
service con4 , U ered
Whenever WJ
farthing in return. ^m
any new territory all the
ruthless
™"Jg^ ^
formed Hie basis of
ll|,NlJ
hi mt ^ c(W of
new territory. Thi- »

Gujeral.
.imiedthou
Vincent Smith
econq.
fDuring 1 57.'.74) the
emperor
^
.7,
ii
^D^ U rbaiK-
w
*Kh
imJ i
W
l. P K6. Akbar the G«*
i
25&
258 ft
tiered and when according to 1K

Todarmil, promulgated the branding regulation the horses of his 20 «* fe had
br0 ught tmo,
a regular system of branding horses.. .based ,, was then to be made a f^n**.
COrrim
Allauddiii Khilji's and Sher Shah's practice," °
m0I c They were likewise tffiSl01 **
The branding practice was deeply camels in proportion to foir ar> d
relented com™™?
evenby Ak bar's own relations and wealthy cour- to the same rule When **«£****
tiers. Smith remark* 3 "Mirza Aziz Koka, Akbar's ^ster new contingent comp^
their
h ,
^'*
bc promoted
favourite foster brother was so particularly hostile according to thc.r
(to the branding of horses) that
to confine him to his garden house
Akbar was
at
obliged
Agra,"
EanceS 10 the port o
&r
merits
commander
cvcn5.WO.wh.chi S thehigJt e stcomn«ni^
did not do well at the musters
rf \
m
and
* 111
I
^
«r they
Todarmal. a Hindu, became Akbar s hot favou- f they were
to he degraded -The conditio of the soldiers gi« w
rite at court only because he permitted himself to be
worse because the Amirs put most of their
ruthlessly enforce all of servants
a stooge to Akbar's mat-
and mounted attendants into soldiers' clothe* (and)
practices throughout the realm. Since it was a
brought them to the musters. But when they got
Hindu who was enforcing hose unconscionable I
they gave leave to their mounted atten-
their jagirs
practices on behalf of Akbar Hindus, who formed
dants, and when a new emergency arose they
the vast majority of Akbar's subjects, found them-
mustered as many 'borrowed" soldiers as were
selves between the devil and the deep sea.
required and sent them away again when they had
The great Bengal revolt of 1580 was partly served their purpose Hence while ihc income and
due to the resentment provoked by Akbar's insist- expenditure of (he Mansabdars remained in status
soldier
ence on the resumption of jagirs, the preparation quo duM fell into the planer or the helpless
of descriptive rolls, and the systematic branding of so much was no longer Rl fot
so, that he
wpm
" l<W tea S-
horses Bui from all sides there came a lot ol
c ênters™
people. weavers and cotton Cleaners,
Badayuni records that 'Shahbaz Khan the Mir
'
greengrocers, both Hind,

and M«ta
Buksh. introduced the custom and rule of Dagh-u- JJ
Mahail, which had been the rule oTsultan Allauddin brought borrowed horses, got *
were appointed lo comma]
effl
J~^
°'
d<
^^^ iuJ
i
Khilji and afterwards the law under Sher Shah.

Ii was settled that every KrorJs/or
.11 A hades or Dak* 10
Amir should commence as
a commander of 20 and be ready with his followers when a few days afterwards HP hc
to mount guard, carry messages, etc., as had been found of the imaginary ho* <* i vr;
-
3.
P. Ml
P. 265,,
ibid,
saddlehey had to perform* !»«_
I
Many times it happened at

^
™**^
* fe
**
4. Pp. 193-W. &c emperor hnnîi Ifl
tfudayum\ chronicle, ibid.
COM
260
who fleeced the

common man
lha! tlun were weighed in their clothes inls
wilh
feci tied. rhe> werc f
thdr hands and 0Und .
weigh from 21 10 three maurtds more or less, the 23rd year of Akbar\
and ln **.
m& found thai they were
net inquiry it
god that their very clothes and saddles were
all
bor-
hired Sharif
of
frdayum. "he came
Amul -In
to Ulc Dukllm
hii *2£«* S£ ay,
ides,.. Lo in my day but ask
rowed an ! all this
no ,t ^ ^
self-restraint h e bet
raved ,hc
the ££*"*
fil.h
questions." and the rate of
m disposition *™»*
The horror of the above atrocious practice k iH htm) but he was u 01l
maj well be imagined. Every man was reduced to

|0
x* shown about the m

5ct
4****
Hindusthan a wide place where
serfdom. Each one became liable for mtJitan
is
licentiousness and no
all
there is m u Dcn
In addition he had to bring his own place for one interfere*
service.
animals like horses and elephants and camels itfith another's business so that everyone
tan do
1
Each one was also supposed to progressively enslave lusi as he pleases-/ Thus, according to Budavani
more and more men to be turned into soldiers himself,under Muslim rule the whole of Hindusthan,
One who did not submit himself and scores of whether the Deccan region or Northern lndm.
others to such military tutelage to ravage reduced to a place open for all licentiousness, and
Hindusthan for the alien Muslim monarch was every Muslim could do just as he pleased.
flogged, tortured and even killed. It was methods
such as these that caused the spread of Islam
It was a practice during Muslim rule in India
and
to treat all prisoners rounded up after every wra*
Islamic rule in India.
massacre them. saaie
paign as slaves or I
is
Since everyone was forced to enslave men and practice continued in all its rigour and t'urv e\
animals for the royal musters the persons aspiring Akbar's re ig n We ha \ c already noted a<
to get some land and rank from Akbar had to people

.
were enslaved along with then

.cr^cc
«« R.
resort to plunder of animals and kidnapping of the and other live stock for military
w
defenceless for being produced before Akbar Fitch, an English traveller rio
iu«
This gave other malpractices such as bribery,
rise to Fathepur Sikn during Ak bat "s
theft,
that far
murders, massacres and torture This proves
from being kind and noble Akbar was one
William Lcedes the jeweller
Echebar iJalaluddm Akbar) in
^V^
'Pî^
I
"ft he most ruthless and rapacious monarch* known

Certain him very well and %|l
f
" history.
id Though ai umj u
vlc
five slaves
rounded up utter u revolt was
quw
Thus Akbar happened to be at the apex of y
tapacious system based
on tiers of big and small 3< Pp. 252-53. ibid.
Liitt
262
263
as slaves the
majority of slaves throughout Mu n
„„ s m
Ajcbar also took as hostage,
mk in India,
This human
including
stock, like
that of Akbar, were
animal stock"
Hindu?
used to be tr ns
of defeated
quired to
adversaria
prostrate
The
themselves mabjee
^™ *
one ot m. ,
assigned for any menial or immoral duties at UubLt!

his courtiers
nc i
^ytimcthcy were ushered .ntothe^fc
pleasure of the sovereign or
Nl ost of these practices originated from ih*
Referring to Akbar's discussions on various
Muslim invaders. Over the cenum«
subjects with his courtiers Badayum says 'The h,
earliest ,£
perfected, sharpened and imposed
were
of these questions which the emperor asked in these
with ruth,
efficiency. During Akbar's time
days was(AJf. 983) "How many free-bom Women
less the rip
man legally marry by Nikah ? those malpractices was abominable. Akbar was
(i.e. Muslim) may a
f
the greatest among those who perfected
The lawyers answered that four was the limit fixed
truly all
The emperor thereupon remarked cruel practices.

by the prophet.
that in early youth lie had married any number of
women he pleased, both free born (i.e. Muslim)
and slaves (i.e. Hindu)/ This observation proves
thatAkbar kept innumerable Hindus — both men
and women -as slaves to be apportioned at his
will between himself, his guests and courtiers for
immoral purposes or menial service.
7
A large number of Shaikhs and fakirs were
sent to mostly to Qandahar, where
other places,
they were exchanged for horses,.. The emperor
captured a sect of Sheikhs... At Akbar's command
they were sent to Bhakkar and Qandahar and were
given to merchants to exchange for Turkish colts."
Another sinister practice was Akbar's insistence

that vanquished adversaries send choice women
from then entourage and families to Akbar**
harem,
*• P. Ill, ibid.
*• P 308, ibid.
.
COM
ii 1GS
the
country, and many
turbulent people. Same
mm ^ plu
bv Shai u "^d
peered the parganaofB,^
REVOLTS GALORE ^ s
m odern
ome
Gurgaon
others laid their
hand,
district of
„ > '
R 8jpuil
***»,
mthc
the collector
the tWk Shahba *
Khan of Bauat
Every aspect of A k bar's character was so
fii!?
him * lf
powerless, fled to Koil (Aligarhi" ?
revolting "that practicall)
Cl
ins son. Jehangir alias
mate relations
Sallm,
1
and
1
II
in-
courtiers
h is
U under one Diala

try near the city of Mcerm."
to
^Jt£*f «t of -
revolted against him The whole of his reign w
marked by unending revolts, besides interminable
Had Akbar been
ru!er that he ,s often
the generoib.
made out to be
m 2tl and k
- .
it
wars.
contentment should have prevailed during
Vincent Smith remarks' "Akbar usually had a hh
time, and on his death his subjects should
rebellion somewhere or the other on his hands and
have
looked upon his children with passionate
devotion
the unrecorded outbreaks of disorder in the provj- hope, love and respect. Instead rumour
nmmarily dealt with by the faujdars. must
Akbar's death unleashed the pent up seething d
have been innumerable/' content of the public. It was only Akbar s cruel
Dr. Shrivastava notes that- The vast empire *
and ruthless measures, which were the despair of
hardly ever enjoyed complete immunity from some ever>'body from princes to paupers, a hich prevented
kind of disturbance" or rebellion. Some chief or them from overthrowing Akbar. They all wished
other taking advantage of slackness of administra- that Akbar died or was killed.
tion, lack of vigilance... or the occurrance of a To give the reader an idea of the serious
natural calamity raised his head in revolt It is

and continuity of revolts throughout Akbar's reign
tedious to recount cases of civil disturbance. One wc reproduce below relevant passages from a cross
important example will suffice. In February 1590* section of historians who have written on AJctett
while one dav riding a female elephant, which was Muj/wnv
Smith
Vincent says 3 Khwaja
Hacked by a ferocious male companion, Akbar
Mother of Akbar s rmtlier was lurbukBt
«»«
fell to the ground, received serious injury in the
Suin> orinain irders and other dfcnc
face and became unconscious. Rumoi: spread i
abûi the seriousness of the injury and p< bly ''

*»*d ihc *Ju is if to hunti"
**>
alh, w hich caused revolts in distant ,
irts of *Hmnww attacked, arrested
driver alone. He did not drown.
P. 276, Akbar thfl Great Moaul, ibid. where he dr«J
m
2. P. 3bl. ibid.
JSanjnCwalior fort,
3- P. 49, ibid.
w^ 2ft?
that whoever brought

.'..I-
Mi issued in
aWn
hunting' is not to be !cad should get a gold mo!
Hindusthanri head
^"g *t
,. nav be noted ft** hl a should I,?
CT h ">"
1
value Throughout Muslin,
,, ft* Sj S shows how the head
used not lo indicate ™"8«|
u j||dU rthan was rated
is
«„rd •hunting-
hi5W>
!
"
,
1hut of all Hindus, and so mc
griien Mogul. ^*^j£^
mv, to
Muslim rebel* ^g killed everyday m their thm. ,„

°n m« me
Abdulla Khan Uzbek, successor pretext or the other.
i i Julv 1564
Malwa revolted •-Just about this time (1572 end)
nf Pec,
Mohammad (governor) in it *****
organize an expedition Akbar Ibrahim Mirza had murdered a person of
xkb:ir had to that do-
Mandu and drove Abdulla mto unction named
uomww Rustam
iwwiii Khan,
ixiiau, and
ana was
iucrcd Lincuo" medium-
mediiaiin?
further misdeeds. Sural was thes cnicl
chief stronghold
Gujerat/
Nagarchain lodge was of the Mirzas.
Akbar, then near Barodu,
Barodu. decided to
pleasani life at
T h,
news that Mohammad Hakim march against the enemy. When he came near
interrupted bv the
the fort of the Mahi
he learned thai the enemy
prince ofKabul had invaded the Punjab, Khan
khutba in his name. Towards was holding Sarnal, a small town on the ol ide
Zatnan recited the
five miles to
the east of Thasia. Baupu ihc
the end ofFebruary (1567) Akbar arrived at Lahore
already retired across the brother of Bhagwandas was slain*
but his brother had 24."
having been received of the Akbar returned to his camp on December
Indus... Intelligence
rebellion of the nobles commonly called Mirzas...
-Soon after Akbar's return from Gujera
distant relatives of Akbar.. jt was necessary to quit broke out under the fatal*
rebellion
the Punjab and return to Agra..." Mohammad Hitsain one of the b
Ate
•"At the beginning or May 1567 Akbar
rebellion
left
of
and a chief named IkhtiyarulMulk.
more than a loosely
little
organized milriu M
Agra in order to deal finally with the
Khan Zaman. The rebel chiefs given over to been exhausted and the
equipment
It wai necessary, iherebie,

to
^
drunkenne** and debauchery had no sentries posted.
In the battle which ensued Khan Zaman was killed
brother Bahadur was taken prisoner and
pedition from imperial funds.
he was ready and rode out
Oa« '„
wto
fca
rhcbimkJ f
^
11
beheaded.. Several leaders were executed by beiil covered a dtNluncc ol 600 151
foughi on
l
^cinbcr :.
trampled to death by elephants. (The tight took Ahmedabad was fought prisoner.
**"
place in a village of Allahabad district). An order Mohammad llusa.n Mirza
:
P. 53, ibid 7, Pp. 79-80; ibid.
5. P. 56. .hi,!
8. P. 185, ibid.
k 57. ibid
,
:68
7m
Uhtiv.tru] was slain. The Mirza Wasdeca&i
MMk n Akbar intended to v
In accordant with the gruesome custom
,
laicd" of Burop-
H I ii
is M
vas built with the V to
the toes, a pyramid heads uher Monserrat. forth '
f ay I
c
more than 2.CO0 in number. Shah
the rebels, MirJ cc awnv from the court,
became a homeless wanderer.** |h- Deccan. *****
iM[
Describing the discontentment in Bihar
and Muzaffar continued to
I
1
Bengal Smith says -Special cases of severity l0 or
giv c m,„u,
wild regions Kathiawar an,
individuals increased the ill-feeling, and it {$ sa ^ <vhcn he « is captured He
that the officials added fuel to the fire
by greed for is
chiefs of Bengal
emitted suicide by slaving hi, ,.,./
..->ney. The influential
revolted
,
580 January.
in 1
In April 1380 Muzaffar
Khan .-I* August 1592 Akbar started 0IV „
of Tanda was captured and killed with all sorts of visU to Kashmir... He received new thai
, n cph
tortures. Akbar dared not go in person to quell Hi, governor m
the valley had rebelled
m
the disturbances... By 1584 the rebellion had been up as sultan on his own account, (but soon tin
generally suppressed. Rebel leaders were punished after the rebel's head was brought fei hkbtr'i
1
j
n diverse ways,".., Akbar never felt any scruple inspection)**
about ordering the private, informal execution
or II
Asirgarh marked the waning of \!
assassination of opponents who could not be
ex- Hiscortquesi tadbeenpi
fori utu'.ie star. I :lly
ccuted publicly,"*
cont in tunts for 45 years. His rem
10 u"The
leader of the conspiracy at court was were few and evil, In view of Jchaai RbcuV
Shah Mansur the Finance Minister. Mcbai returned to Agra
Letters from (fi
him to Mohammad Hakim (Akbar's

half brother babl) early in May Ml Pimo Sutim*< prolon
who ruled in Kabul) were intercepted. {Akbar DantyalVd. md oili
rebellion, prince itl
epared to crush the conspiracy by a combination tadd the closing:

I
or Akbar's »
Wb
of guile and force) Shah
Mansur was finally im- while in rebellion sougtH the
wport ^ the I
*ned and is hanged on the strength of im d their ammunition ai

v,
evidence partially .hue hc*«
forged)... On Februarys, 1581 did Ins best to pcrsu-k them
marched from Fatehpur "l
At Shahbad,
Sikri. do lol j, c rhriNiian id
|
L7^
y
r en "rt^hwar a "d Ambala, on a tree an l0 G<* atkmj? Iha
Hc
AW*
'
,>
«C
solemnly k
hanged."
B Kachhwaha Shah Mansur was accredited
I". 147
to
.'
his rival court iri
£
w -
J*
1
I
***,
-
1
137. Aid.
ibid. II pp i.,.'- 9, Ibid
i
P, | g Ibid
n pp. 207-m Ibid
' ' "
270
27l
subscribed his letters with the sign of the Bahadur and Iskander to
cross. cd ravne
and round neck wore a locket containing parganas of Surharpur near
traits
his
of Jesus and Mary.,. Throughout the
Po m aman one of Akbar B generals,
FaiâT,^
ve Z wa« „-,
1*02 Salim continued to hold court a JjJJ?

Allahah^H I
was dining this rebellion
It
and to maintain royal state as king of the province thai
Hindu temples
which he had usurped. He emphasized his claim
t*
sftC
red
Rama, were
in Ayodhya T*™"
of Lord
desecrated
royalty by striking both gold and copper aJec^riS^
mcd «*o
monev mosques by the Muslims.
specimens of which he had the impudence to send
to
his father. He sent his adherent Dost Mohammad -During Ihe Uzbek rebellion Sher
Mohammad
of Kabul as envoy to negotiate with Akbar.
his Dtwana takmg advantage of «he
Dost confusion
Mohammad remained at Agra for six months,
His revolted.'
conditions were that Salim should be permitted
to "»The rebellious Mirzas proceeded to the
visit his father at the head of 70,000 men,
that all
neighbourhood of Delhi plundering the country.
his grants to his officers be confirmed, and that his
adherents should not be regarded as rebels... On •"Mohammad Amin Diwan. an important
August 12, 1602 early in the morning Abul Fazal officer, shot an arrow at a Faujdar, and was, there-
was attacked, as he was about to make the day's fore, ordered to be put to death. His life was
march, by Bir Singh, the Bundela chieftain of spared the intercession of some courtiers But
on
Orchha, whom Salim had hired for the purpose. he was ordered to be beaten up and so he fled
Abul Fazal was transfixed by a lance and promptly tied from
•'S'Junaid Karrani, another officer,
decapitated. His head was sent to Allahabad,
Hindaun. his assignment, to Gujfi
where Salim received it with unholy joy and treated revolt on hear-
with shameful insult. (Abul Fazal was murdered
Zaman again set up the standard of
Hakim was on the march
to
ing that Mirza
near Serai Barar, 10 or 12 miles from Narwar)"
Lahore.'"
w "lt is certain that Salim ardently desired his
"-On August K),l 567 Akbar P{^™*
-M*J £-«
father's demise/"
tfllh the
hunting expedition
^'iehangir's rebellion if successful, must have the Miflt*
suppressing the rebellion ol
resulted in his parent's death.'*
and Qf conquering Chittor-
About the numerous rebellions during Akbar**
IK
reign Dr. Sh rivastava says ""Khan-i-Zaman deput-
15. P. 234, ibid

" P. 237, ibid
IT, P. tOt, Akbar the Great, ibid
272 m I I
Above is a dear ..it ion of how liisto - »2 and joined the rebellious
Mi
to the couri JlL ***
have failed in understanding and interpreting br ouBhi S|J
trit.
MuSF ,
chronicles
irtcd
Dr. 5hrivnst.it u
on a hunting expedition, and then n
firsi asserts that AVk ** ,
In*
,as thrown before the feet
was spared and yt was
life \
^^M^
y** *
;; cll Saml
Khwaja Ahdu* Shahi<T
tions two objects which have nothing to do
Jh s 1L"
ppcal I**
X
animal hunting. Hence \vc wish to caution ,

\Tirza free was rejected;" *t t<J
Jj
students of Muslim chronicles term •hum thai the

That shows how Akbar'* ow n henchm™
ing* should be understood to mean waging war *
,
'
under k fe-ful raids on Hindu

Hindu women for
SSn^
ki dnap
A proper understanding of fraudulent, Akbar's harcrn
chatty-
Them
got disgusted with Akbar's
inislic and fawning Muslim chronicles cannot selves trcachermi deal"
be d revolted against
had from the superficial men n ing of the word* kp an him. It also shows
h„u
even panders and ravagers were recommended
They need a special key. For example, the term Tor
leniency by Muslim fakir, Another
'destroyed temples and built mosques* only pertinent
means that Sharfuddin *s revolt
fact is lasted for eleven
that Hindus were ousted from their temples
and years before he could he brought
j on g
to book.
mansions and the same buildings were used as
mosques and tombs. That is why all mediaeval — Hbraluni Husain Mir/u retreating to Sanbhat
mosques and tombs in India look like Hindu and the Punjab was ruthlessly devasiaiing
*'
temples and mansions. Similarly a Muslim's territory
marriage with a Hindu woman must be understood "' Gii jerat
;,
had not been completely subdued
to be a case of kidnapping and the word dowry
when Akbar left Ahmcdabad (April 1573). Ikhtiyar-
should be taken to mean ransom as seen by us in tdar
ul-Mulk supported b* Raja Narayandas. or
BharmaFs case.
(Fuiher-ui-la-A Rana Piatap) and the mmh ot
•!
After conquering Gujerat "•Akbar resolved a t

Sher Khan I auladi m was veiled
Mohammad Husam Mim, who turned from

nrpate the Mirzas w had seized a consider- was turned,
able part of Gujerat. When the siege of Sural v- Daulaiahad, as soon as Akbar's back
1*
in progress Ibrahim Husam Mirza attempted to joined the rebels.
make a surprise attack on Agra...Mirza Sharfuddin -Among
other things Vtuiaffar
Khar mw£
Husam, a former governor of Nagour and Ajincr tk regulation of branding of honj^JJJp
had helped Akbar Min.
iio in kidnapping the Jaipur qucmly dismissed from the Prime
rulerBharmal's daughter for the royal harem) and
** 1* 143,
an inveterate rebel who had fled from the court in
25. t>p 145-150. ibid.
Pp 137
1
P. 151. ibid.
, ibid.
27S
i.
« x '.' (Coka had Med to maintain
immlvi ofcavalij in his services to bring .Êarly in 1580 Akbar had
,
fixed to fat,
» the muster and
l>a\c Ins horses branded. rebellion of his officers and i r0 o
d a* *?***'
arrested and degraded! darted almost »*
Altbaf. Ihcrefbre had him
It
Bengal simul.aVoJ^
bceo m n e c \ pre ss on s a bo u 1 1 he re fo mis.
, i , i i
i
lo provinces (while) the rebeUioM
.
? lhc
f
\...k.i > \klMi% foster brother.

"
He \Vas provinces was in progress and
some JL ***
I
free in 1578 after apol< gteing
fjcfS Bt
Fatehpur Sikri who were k
rebels formed a plot the object of
JJ^g
Shal bai Khan a general engaged in the cam- lhe
Akbar, proclaim Mirza Hakim
whlc h w^
RauaPratap. Mwas recalled some*
" kl !t as the Z»
P ,iifn inM
march 10 join the rebels tn Bengal,
m despatch to Bihar and Bengal
1580 for a „d The plot
rime
1 leaked out. the conspirators were imprisoned and
where the Mogul officers were in rebellion.'
the chief
among them, Miraki, was pat to death.
»"Raja Madhukar. elder brother of Bir Singh ss (n Bengal "the victorious rebels proclaimed
Dc\ Bnndela and ruler of Orchha was in rebellion. Hakim as their ruler, and
Mirza recited the khmba
Akbar sent an army under Sadiq Khan to reduce Mirza Sharfuddin, an arch rebel and
in his name.
him to submission. After a brave and stubborn governor of Nagaur and \jmcr who was
a former
resistance he submitted (in May 1577), He however
kept a captive in the fort of Tanda and had man-
revolted again and continued to give trouble till
aged lo secure his release on April 19, 1581 was
ht> death in 1592 A.D.
elected leader of the rebels. The real leaden were
"Sheikh Abdun Nabi who had enjoyed great however Masum Khan Kabuli and BaHa Khun
ascendant in Akbar "s mind for over 10 years fell
.
Qaqshal."
into disfavour aboui the end of January 1578. At " 33 Azad deputed to
Khan Turkoman was
the end of 1578 Abdun Nabi, was dismissed and
Jaunpur to and bring to court MiitU
arrest
replaced as chief S idar by Sultan Khwaja who had Mtffc *ho
Mohammad Yazdi and Mir Mwazzul
returned from Mecca. Towards the end of 1579 against c
religion* disaffection
1
were spreading
Abdun Nabi was exiled to Mecca against his will.
On return tt» hid in m 1583 he died in suspicious

emperor.
the boat
The order was
in which they
speedily exceu
were being coi duej,d«*

; £
circumstances/ Obviously he was murdered at
Akbar's behest.
near Etawah, and the two "^™\ Hikilrt
P 188, Ibid lhe news «
"Encouraged by
28 ? 220, ibid.
start invade India. MasuiD Faiaai
to
19. ? 230 ibid.
30 Pp. 231-232. ibid, 31 Pp 26S-273. ibid.
32 p. 274, ibid
33. p p 276-278
.
'bid-
^
*
i
:<J
tali Bahadur (son of Said

entertained
Kh
Md r.>r some time secretly icditfou
d wW med the
of king, title
*£*£^ «*,
,. 1S
tanpur.
. opcnl)
him, in a us forced
In
to k
riw
unfurled
campaign
the Hap
his
ol rebellion
undertaken against
family and treasure
,
„
Ul |. was compelled to
death by Akbar's orders/'

r
0r M ^^ e T,
fhut hj
nd *<U
jmt
of Ayodhya Shaltbaz Khan occupied •'Shahbaz Khan who had fur a fexw
ht the fort
Hie city rhe next da) Akhar mcrci- hl ,h post of chief Bakshi farmy,^* td
Ifce tbrt and |h ,
fully ordered shahbai

Khan ithc royal comntanderi had rendered conspicuous m,lu
ar C J2****
acid
not to molest the family and dependents of the gU ilty of

miolcnt behaviour was '"*
put unl'
arrest
n d kept
in custody."
rebel." ,
The fori of Ayodhya was Lord Kama's citadel •WAftcr his success (against the
Bengal rebel*
and a place sacred to the Hindus, li was desc the Chan-i-Azam
Khan- begged to be relieved nf
hisdi
du
crated in Ak bar's lime for the umpteenth lime by Thc rebellion of 1580-83 constituted a great danger
Muslim invaders. All mediaeval mosques m to Akbar and the Mugal empire, h wa t "a w£
Ayodhya arc ancient temples and mansions hallow- prcad rising not confined to Bihar as is gencralty
ed b\ the divine incarnation. Lord Rama. supposed, but also embraced, besides those two
provinces, most of Orissa, the districts of Ghazipur
Akbar's special instruction that the enemy**
and Banaras, the provinces of Allahabad, and
women should not be molested, is clear evidence
Awadh, and modern Rohilkhand. Some of the
campaigns Akbar"- troopers had not
thai in all other
only a licence but were specially encouraged to
ministers and topmost courtiers were involved."
molest women of the rival side. The exception made "^Gujerati noble Aitimad Khan had thrown
m this case indicates lhat Akbar wanted some of Hie Itis lot with the Gujerati rebels and was, therefore.
captured women for his own harem. it to jail. The important province of Gujerat
witnessed another rebeilion in 1583."

''During he period I
when Akbar was proceed-
" ao Transoxa-
ing against Mirza
Hakim, a rebellion occurred in The restless Jalala returned from
Tirah
Katehr now known as Rohilkhand." "ia early in 1592 and once again rallied in
under
foe wild
Afridi and Urkzai tribesmen
'^Masum Khan Farankhudi sought •
the protec- rebellious standards On March II. Akbar
tion of Akbars mother (March 1582) hut one nighl ob %ed to frontier forces
while depute the Kabul and
I,
,h c ,
y fr(mi the pa acc
j | 1C w as
assassinated." l
291. ibid
n Pp. 293*294 ibid.
34 P 315, ib.d n h' ibid
m 129 'ii.
P t [bid Pp. 347-49. ibid.

,.M
279
I
ler of Jaipur. While he was

and Asaf Khan respectively (hc rU rcduccd
under Kasim Khan (o ing
submission and made r «
lo
*mni.
pui d^wn the
Mahmudzai
Raushaniya rising. Kaktani aud
chins also joined the revolt. The revolt
Jgyof his beloved
a huge ransom because of
.ta^S**
«"£
BJ , oppressed
Jalala held his own
But Wahadat AH
at the fort Kanshali.
a relation
The
of
tubal
^
vv|(h
most accounts have fraudulently
a great
honour conferred on
SLS"'
"
1
revolt continued even beyond 1600 A. D/'

flS
and patronizing
Bharmal hv T *"'
descending Akbar.
On «***No v, T6, J5S6 Raja Basu or Mau alias
ii-During Mansingh's absence at
Nurpur came and did homage. Although he had Agra a rmh
occurred in Bengal
submitted to Akbar long before, yet when the royal rebellion (Mansingh mm*
in |599
and undertook a prolonged
army had suffered a reverse in the frontier region campaign He
he felt disposed to revolt. Accordingly an army routed the Afghans in 1601 February by
which
was sent against him.' lime the Bengal rebellion had practically come
1
an end)/
Dr. Shrivastavaand several other historians are
wrong in stating that "Bharmal came and submitted «*" Another rebellion occurred in Bhatha or
to Akbar, Raja Ramchandra came and submitted. Baghelkhand. Ak bar's prolonged absence from his
Raja Basu came and submitted", and so on. This capital gave an opportunity to the ruler of Bhaiha
misleads the reader into believing that Akbar had (modern Rewa) to assert his independence,
some irresistible attraction and unique lustre which
43,,
sent ruler after Hindu ruler voluntarily and During Akbar's absence in the Deecan in
1600-1 Raja Basu of Mau in the Ban Di-ab of the
irresistibly hurtling towards Akbar. like moths
hurrying towards a light. It was just the opposite.
Punjab, the Raja of Jummu, and some other
Akbar was a great repeller All looked upon him chiefsof the north western region revolted,
The
with great loathing, hatred and disgust. So, what powerful contingents of troops had to be sent.
Jasrota, Mankot.
Ramwrh
is insinuated be voluntary submission had chiefs of Lakhanpur.
behind
to
a gruesome and ruthless campaign of
it *ud JCobast in the mountainous tracts of m
u
cruel plunder, massacre, rape, arson and dese- ^njab also revolted in imjtef had
cration of shrines. It is an insult to the bravery o\ suppressed with powerful forces.

India's gallant Rajput fought the
rulers who
MuiUm invaders for ,000 long years and ultima^
I) rendered them
1
«to Kashmir. At tins time U#* w J "
impotent, to insinuate thai iln-'V

submitted to Akbar out oftovc for PP. 376-78.
for him or just
The mi st glaring instance is that of Bharmal 4 2. P 38|, ibid.
43 Pp. 383-387, ibid-
-
P 158, .hid
*4- Pp. 387-95. ibid
!K»
i
emeiod to - local rebc n and th c

l111pLMl)r , x ad unsuccessfully l|t
- .
,,Mr was probabl) undertaken to overawe th ar

A kbor. Thus throu
throughout al! ^î Hd
E hom /SjKj*^
,,i y«dgarii»to submission
regarded a, public
tt
, LIS
enemy N* ) >'< ^t
was during
It
his Kashmir visits thai
Akbar "
and magnificent When such preponderating
destroyed ilie famous
temple towce of tfceJhclum river,
near the
Verinaa sons.
able it is an academic
J^ hil0 *"
and crime to «i ?? '* av «'l-

several other Hindu shrines which doited Kashmir The
malthaa"*? * kb *
•great souls of the
ZZ mm du
'
By a cruel irony ihe Kashmir archaeology depart! rormented and tortured must * l
be t
ng
ment ascribes to Akbar the construction of the very agony at ilie academic insult mb
Un _
buildings that he ravaged and razed to the p|j ni form of Ak bar's glorification
fl ,
l *m h
,
the
|,
level and reduced 10 their prevent state of gaping

ruins
i4
"Mirza Aziz Koka. Akbars fostei brother
i
I
r
)
did not see eye to eye with Akbar. secretly
prepared to leave for Hedjaz out for Diu and set
under the pretext of making an attempt to capture
it from the Portuguese (March 25. 1592), He
embarked on a ship with his wives, six sons and
six daughters He was shamelessly fleeced by the
priests in the lemple of Kaba
in Mecca.*' Finding
unbearable he returned torn between
the devil
and the deep sea.
|A»«*
the
Ahmadnagar people were so exasperat-
ed agamst the Mugal.s
that they plundered some of
Mugal baggage when the
Moguls began retreat-
ing on March 20(1596
A. D.)
The late, years oT Akbar*, life were tormented
msubord,na i'on of his sons. eldest of
tLn r,
The
"« himself proclaimed
king in Allahabad Earlier
JP- »«-S. .bid,

*( »'
<
432, ibid
2H3
CHAPTER \
There arc innumerable rcferenc

!
lll0
uicle8
aching back into many
to
wnv c™.,._ _ \
the
Pyr
exisl ctlcc
r%!^
,Uch
nMu ^
til,.
cemurau k ?
; ikr,
Bt'll.DlMiS What is more Fatehpur Sikr, ha, r "' r ,
10 as the royal headqua, *«" ,,/

cd
Muslim monarch* preceding Akhar and
Akbar have built u number

is said to outset wc w '*h
offQft At the to m akc
and palaces and founded many towns. This is it dear th*.
big a hoax played on B gullible world by a

succc
t
i
lC
^°? l l C
!; TJ^^ {
« q»«e
as unl;
Wr"
ssionof Muslim chroniclers as the one projeciko Sikri. Any
of the for«
names Siir
a cruel and Fanatic Akbar as n noble and libera] Fathpur or Fatehpur Sikri have bee
ruler. It will be proved chapter that all
in this indicate the township of which the hillock
those palaces. Forts and townships are of ancient bedecked with beautiful Hindu redsione
palaces!
Hjndu origin. The) existed centuries before forms the focal point and the dominating feature
Akbar was even born, and were merely occupied
A clear indication that all those three name*
by him as the heir to Ba bur's acquisitions India. m are synonymous is given by the Muslim chronicler
Fatehpur Sikri Yahya Bin Ahmad in his Tarikh-iMubarak Shahi

He says that "by order of the Sultan the family and
1
Twenty three miles to the southwest of Agra

dependents (of Mohammad Khan, son of Auhad
is a township called Fatehpur Sikri. The ancient
Khan ruler of Bayana, who had surrendered Bayana
Hindu capital SIKRI when captured by the
fort) were brought out of the fortress and sent to
Muslims was renamed Fathpur/ And since*
Delhi (on 12th November 1426 i e 130 year* be-
Fathpur' means only a 'captured
town" it was called
Akbar ascended
fore the Baynna
throne).
'Fatehpur SIKRI. has a massive defensive wall known
Sikri, which is no*
It
given to Mukul Khan.
around it. The walls Khiiniddio
enclose a very large as Fathpur was entrusted to Malik
plain and a ImU-ek, On the hillock there a
Tub fa."
magnificent redsione gateways and a majestic
FaiehgwrSifcri
palace complex, Before Muslim occupation
Rajput style,
They are purely in the Hindu,
an independent principality
as
of
its fortune
*«l* B ^ »J
B garters according J
these beautiful niyal buildings and iheu
the origin palace conn
of the redstone
1
tcways which have been blatantly ptf
'J;iras the Ting gateways reaches
towering into
creations of the th.rd-genera-
Akbar,
"" Mogul tT^Vol k 0o*m
1
ruler m India. tv, Eilioi

284
Htaiht histoid
Testifying to this!J Cot jW ..\nntii.-i reference in
p ateW
Todd, a ™> tcd hisioiten,
says- "(Rana San
Mewar
g , Jlrn ,„h 1405 which is 151 vcatK^'W
Singh) came to the
Eipht> thousand horse, seven

Rim ol the higfocsj
rank, nine Raos and 104 chieftains, bearing
of Rawal and Rawut with 500 elephants folio
throne in 1 509 A. b
the
; sls
ltse feH
°
defeated and
upon him and
He
lied, Ke v
woundcd^l^ *
*« kllW^'SftS
^ Kh *«
1
titles uUl not escape

wed him into the field (against the Mogul invade,
Baburi The princes of Marwar and Amber did
U se,U to Fatehpur/'
Mahm.iid. Such decapitated
TCs *?££+
S||BW1 heads 1
him homage, and the Raos of Gwalior, Ajmer ung on gateways lo scare potential
rebels
l, n,
SIKRI, Raisen, Kalpee, Chanderi, Bnondi, Gagrown indicates, therefore, thai the towering gateway
f
Rampura and Aboo served him as tributaries. .
Fatehpur Sikri, known as Buland D arw aza existed
even 151 years before Akbar. Th
The above passage makes it clear that during ncanceof
sending the severed head, of all places, lo Fateh-
the time of Ak bar's grandfather, Babur the Fateh-
pur Sikri principality «j> ruled over by a Rao pur Sikri was that u was the royal residence
I who owed allegiance lo Rana

Rajput chieftain) generations before Akbar, having been conquered
Sangramsingh of Mewar. The redstone palace by Muslim invaders from the Rajputs who were
complex which modern visitors are made to the creators and builders of the magnificent palace
believe as was the residence of

Akbar's creation, complex there
the Rajput Rao centuries before Akbar,
is stated that 'Khizr
At mother place it
°
Tracing the origin of Rajputs of the Sikarwal remain

than (the rounder of the Sayyad dynasty)
clan Col. Todd says8 -'They have their name from
cd in Falhpur and did not *. u> Delhi Kto
the town of Sikn (Futtdipoui which was formerly May
Ktan Sayvad ascended the throne in i
*
W
an independent principality
Sikarwal Rajputs
1
'
This reference to Fatehpur Sikn -îs ol
are a very ancient clan

whose origins reach into the prior to Akbar's accession.
Mw KM
Since
hoary immemorial past They did not originate in clear that
***** m °"
soon became the sultan \\ is
the post-Akbar
period since the Rao or Sikri had buildings
Sikri had palatial
fought against Akbar's
grandfather Babur. U Akbar.
should, therefore, he
dear that the Sikarwal Rajputs lesiifies lo
AiLharr
m
the redstone palace
=>i*ri several
complex in Fatehpur Babur the grandfather of
Sikn, aW'"
r
-
^k
^ xm
centuries before Akbar. the palaces at Fatehpw *'i
Mtbtf't coronation and 13

yw
Vo1, Annals
d o?\ '• fl nd Anliuuitics of Rajastoan* ADo*
J r y/, ibid 4. P -JO, Vol. IV Elliot
5 l» 44, ibid
Cf:l#K-35
•
28?
Babur say* "In Agra alone, and f sl SIKRI being ihan„

S **£
hiriti.
C fcaod. whfch
cunerslul.ngmgtothai place only, I
evcry(la -bundani was upon the whole ** 1
the
employed on my persons; and ;
palaces 680 for a camp, «*«
»„ frfon
SIKRI. Bayana. Dhulpur, Gwalior and was
Agra. Koel o"When it
Abdul
on my works Aziz's h
he re were ">ycd
employ 49 '
W lhow
i sl0 1
1
taking
any precautions he
advanced l
curlers'*. kanwaha which is five kos from
sikbi **
pagans Rana Sanga's Hindu
(i-e.
From Ba bur's own mouth we have the admis- armv?
sion
Gwalior and
that in Agra,
fCb'el
SIKRI. Bayana, Dhu|
(now known as Aligarh)
pUr
the
march forward. When thc
V 8 ,TnL V n
there
sooner than a body of
learned
were several palaces a II equally magnificent. This 4000-5000 o
once pushed on and fell u pon him.'
clearly means that the red stone palace complex at ai On the
very first charge a number of Abdul
Fatehpur Sikn is an ancieni Hindu building occu* Aziz's men
we re taken prisoner and carried off the
pied by Muslim invader^ field t
then detached Mohmnerd Jang Jang to cover

Babur conquered Faiehpur Sikri after defeat- their retreat- (The enemy) had reduced Abdul
. . .
ing Rana Sanaa's Hindu army in the plains around Aziz and his detachment to great straits."
Fatehpur Sikri Historians mistakenly believe It is clear from the above passage that the
that 1 his decisive kittle was fought 10 miles engagement fougnt at Kanwaha alias Kanua was
away Kanwaha alias Kanua. The engagemcni
at
not between the main bodies of Babul's and Rana
at Kanwaha was between he advance columns of I
Sanga's armies but between small detachments of
Rana Sanga and Babur. A large reservoir of both and that Babur's Muslim detachment was
water several miles in circumference used to exist have, there-
routed. Students of Indian history
outside the elephant gateway of Fatchpur Sikri. text books
fore, been grossly misled by their
That reservoir supplied water to the Faiehpur defeated at
which assert that Rana Sanga was
Sikri township and the
large herd of elephants K it 11 w aha.
maintained by the pre- luslim Rajput rulers in battles
Fatehpur Sikri. Babur It believed that mediaeval
is commonly
observes 7 "There being a *ere fought in open fields or baie plains,
large tank on our left. encamped there to have
|
a gross error in the understanding of
meowa
benefit of the water
"It occurred to me.
situated as was. of all places in the neighbour-
history. This error has crept into ^^feS
I
3, T u ,ik .i-Bataan. Vol. IV. Elliot and Do*»<M»-

becauseauthors of those books have
Ncre academicians who have nertftf ™P
bee
^£
' 26B. Vnl. IV,
Elliot *
Oowion. ibid. âr^nor have made any study of At
•• 1 zbj, ibid.
9 - ?. 267, ibid.
*
289
always been uaiwa in his own capital

Mediaeval bottles have a .
j s c
.
rough,
g massive walls and bastions. Even modern
cross tarricikh-s An army the engagement
mn Me fiw*M *
shdMol
Like
was entrenched behind the
at
Kanr .
,
encampmeni *> '1"^* in an embank.

ftanga nL •
**«»
nH3U barricade, thrown

up earthwork, bunkerj fcitade. the final decisive fci»»**
eic. The three decisive battles fought at Panipai J, and that of Babur was Ib^^ *
in (524
1556 and 76 1 were fought there because
1
the defenders had entrenched

Sang a was camping on
battlemented walls and
the Fatehpur S ***
all the thiee cases
J
m inside its
pal.ee co" J
themselves behind the beayily fortified township, Babur was camping outside those walls nea/th
palaces and citadel of Pan i Magnificent gate
pat.
bastions, pavilions and rained

rtjys, isolated We have already quoted Babur to *a
ythal
fortifications may still be seen testifying to the
camp was close to Sikri and the
his reservoir. We
destruction wrought in ihose three important
n0 w quote
another passage from his
Memoirs
battles and innumerable raids and engagements ""The
which says battle was fought within
view
during 1000— year long Muslim invasions and near our camp. On
of a small hill this hill I directed
revolts
a tower of the skulls of the infidels to be construc-
The battle of Kanwaha was no excepts ted".
On his march towards Fatehpur, Sikri which was l2

"When Adil Khan and Khawas Khan reach-
then owned by Rani Sanga, lie had encamped at
ed Fatehpur Sikri they went to visit Sheikh Sulim
Kanwaha because there he had a palace and a one of the holy men of the age. This reference"
fort. Such fortifications and royal residences existed
again is of a time when Akbar was yet unborn.
at every few miles during Rajput rule Even after
died at Sikri," says Yahyj Bin
,3,4
a millemum of destruction by Invading Muslim The Mir
Thu
nes such palaces and citadels may îll he seen
Abdul Latin "in A- H. 971 (1563 AD.)"
was only seven years after Akbar's accession and
at Kanwaha, Fatehpur Sikri. Bharatpur. Bayanu. of Sikri wo-
Dhoipur, Agra, Gwalior— all within a few miles of
refers to a period when the founding
to the
one another. ^t even contemplated even according
traditional fraudulent accounts.
rectifying of a palace at Kan-
to the existence Sultan
Mahmud the son of
waha Tud says "''Rami Sanga was of middle ""After this Sultan
1-' He was celebrated for energetic enter- " P. 272, Vol. IV. Elliot
&Da**0D.
prise of which his capture of Muzalfar kin! '- P. 483, ibid,
«*»••
1
^ P. 294, ibid.
Antiquities of
1(1
PP M64*. Annuls ,nd '*.
IbU
P. 346 ibid.
290 291 w
Hasan Khan Mewati and R
SiUndar. whom
had sec up
fil ,
Shfti the Emperor Baburm

n ^ «^g?d the 2nd j
ani
an actio., near Sikri.
a Cfrcikli
Akbar
^h
decided
Salim
Sa1.niand hi*
to make
Faichn
Chisti
eBln
.
Chis^ ^
a &c -
m,
.r h}; refers to
Fatehpur Sikri two generatW
for him- "^ *>* rQom
before Akbar
who is supposed to have founded
Giving the reason for Akbar\
Fatehpur Sikri.
capital, the chronicler
is- when Sher Shah marched from the capital
as the Fcmhu ST!?8 ***
of Aera. and
arrived at Fatehpur Sikri he ordered
army should march to-
mch
him (i-e.
came to
incensed
Bchram Khan)
the resolution
or office $ J
eL^ Pnv,n
&
that each division of the a scheme
order of battle/ Sher Shah ruled from mention suggested to
the kJT **
gether
J540 to 1545* i.e.
in
his reigncommenced iwo years n* (Maham A naga)
while other says, that she
^ ^g»J
seals ;
before Akbar was

born and it ended when Akbar discovered
(Behram
«& ^
the protector Khan's) design to
was only three years old.
Akbar was at that time
confine him. a plot she is stated to
yet Fatehpur Sikri existed in have
in Afghanistan and
accident!
|y overheard, a conversation between
in
Behram
India,
Khan and the queen dowager. This, they say
was
"* Adil k
Khan went, accompanied by his nobles, the cause which determined Akbar to quit Agra/'
to his Shah, son of Sher Shah).
brother (Islam
Ferishta thus gives us a clear and cogent
When he reached Fatehpur Sikri, Islam Shah came
reason why Akbar moved his court from Agra to
forth to meet him in the village of Singarpur."
Fatehpur Agra being an ancient seat of
Sikri.
This reference to Fatehpur Sikri is of a time when
Humayun had not returned government it was full of senior and powerful
even Akbar* s father
nobles who were privy to Bhcram Khan. Ai this
to India after his exile.
time Akbar was only an adolescent. He had fallen
Innumerable such references to Fatehpur Sikri out with his guardian Behram Khan. Therefore
reach back inn the dim centuries before Akbar.
he might be done to death by
fearing that his
The reason why Akbar left Agra for Fatehpur piqued guardian Akbar moved from Agra to
fatehpur Sikri so could be sure who hi
Sikri was his fear of being murdered. He, there- that he
a
W was not for nothing,
fore, thought it prudent
Fatehpur Sikri which had all those palaces built
to shift his capital »al adherents
traditional accounts would have us
were It
believe m
by the Rajputs before the advent of the Muslims" 1 Akbar suddenly thought c( 'building a •* ™ ew '
India. T hose palaces had been the haunt oi "" Sikri and as suddenly leaving it.
'"
15 t* 404, ibid,
17- P. ,21, vol. IL
***********
>* P-481 .bid. 1
•
i*n Brigs*, ibid-
CTOICM?.
193
292
the popular belief that Akha
to
Soon
Fatehpur Sikn dnd
reported to have
thereafter he
his campa.gns began
is
moved
from
S,hm Chist.s hermitage m
aS ed
on a canard pa mcd offbyT'^b
h»
.
*v* F^
and ended Fatehpur Sikri from about 1562
al credit Akbar with the
1585 This is the precise period in which
t
Akbar s j
"anted to bui,£ T^«
sard to have buill Fatehpur Sikri. cross examination. Wllh
liut e Firstly AkW*
Akbar's entourage consisted of live thousand wh0
observed strict purdah W0U
|d J 1* * lVei
harem women, a menagerie of ,000 wild animals J

fl
ma ie (Fakir Salim Chisti) for
deliver fe?
and thousands of nobles, generals
move
and lesser m recluse worth his name and
undertake the deliveries of others'
5 alt
himseS
officials, AH these could
to Fatehpur not nol
shuns the world
w, vc 7 *
Sikri at a moment** notice and live in a capital of recluse precisely to get
rid or such
which even the foundation had not been dug, , ,rries.
Thirdly Sheikh Salim Chisti is not known
to have been
running a maternity home.
'*'
Akbar s earliest Hindu
k He
Mr. Shelat notes is also not known to have been a specialist
in
consort, the daughter of Bharmal of Ambar, who gynaecology and obstetrics. Fourthly had he
was in the family way was sent to Sikri for deli-
been living in some miserable shanty Akbar*
very. She gave birth to a son, August. 30, 1569.
wives couldn't have been sent there for delivery.
In November 1569 a daughter, Khanum Sultan Fifthly according to Monserrate and Badayuni,
was born and in July 1570 Sali ma Begum gave
quoted by us earlier, Salim Chisti was of an
birth to princeMurad, Daniel a third son was immoral character. Akbar himself being very
born at Ajmer on September 10, 572. On 1 . . .
1!,
shrewd, wily and immoral he wouldn*t venture to

September 23, 1570 Akbar again visited Ajmer send his wives for delivery to a person whose
halting at Sikri Tur 12 days on the way." The moral character was suspect
above passage makes it clear that Akbar had
visited Sikri before 1570 and that all his principal Mr. Shelat mentions that afar Akbar's
Kalyatimal
wives had been staying Fatehpur Sikri at least
in marriages with a relation of Rai
(sic)
Har
from the beginning of 1569 A.D. According to °f Bikaner and with the daughter of Rawl I
traditional accounts Fatehpur Sikri was not even Rai Singh *> -Akbar again went to Sikri.
conceived by Akbar before 1569. Then could he didn't make frequent trips to F* h P"*EL
and his wives visit there unless Fatehpur Sikri
already possessed palatial buildings where emperor
% on honeymoons with every new **«!",
pa^
*°u1d have been no idyllic and dreamland
Akbar and his wives could >iay in royal comfort There.
\Z.
IV.
P. 102.
!». llf, f
Cambridge Hlrtory of
Akhar, by J.M. Shelat.
Indiu, Vol. IV.
* P. m, Akb«r. by J. M. Shebw. M
294 2!»S
u On Julv 4.1572 stinted from Akhm Sikri between 1570 and

Fatch | 5 ac
tfiral to Ajmei and then to i^,
r ur Sikri
Hiat shows that Akbar had
Gujcfflt)" moved »» August 23, 1573 saw him
even before 1572 (AVk
capital to Fatehpnr Sifcri
A.D
is
until 1585 Akbar arching out of Fatehpur with a^ )read
^nd
and thai thereafter transacted ajj
droi
me""- *of3Qtt,
royal business from
Fatehpur Sikri His armies
and returned to Patch pur Sikri bet-
from Akbar couldn't have entered P a ,^
started
5": and 1585 or even earlier. June J573
and left it two months
ween J According law?"' ?°tti in
to traditional
accounts Fakhpur Sikri was built hU ge armies unless Fatehpur
bv Sikrikl?^
1570 and 1585. accommodation enough to house
bj Akbar between
tf the capita]
thm„
Si*
.
was being built how is it thai Akbar was residing soldicrS| hundreds of generals, a big
during the period of construction. ra c e, a

bodyguard, a harem of
there precisely
Akbar is said to have
_
menagerie of ,000
5,000f XtnT*
Another absurdity is that i
animals, and horses
1
c]^
left Fatehpur Sikri Tor good in 1585, Thereafter and camels belonging to the cavalry.
he went there only once. That was in 1601 only
"-The heads of Muhammad Husain and
on a flying visit. Akbar with his robust common-
Ikhtiyar were sent to be hung and displayed
shrewd nature luxurious habits and disso an
sense. *
the gates of Agra and Fatehpur. Following the
lute ways wouldn't slay in an open field called
custom of Timuroids. Akbar had a pyramid made
Fatehpur Sikri. all dug up for building a new
of the heads of the rebels who had perished
capital. And he wouldn't be so idiotic as to leave
day in the campaign against the rebels in Gujcrat
a brand new capita] for ever tn the very year in
which it is said to have been completed. The mention of the gates of Agra and Fateh-
On Akbar entered the gales of

June 1573
pur Sikri, as early as 1573, clearly proves that the
3,
Fatehpur after an eventful and triumphant e*pedi- gates of Fatehpur Sikri were as ancient as those
or Agra. Had they been newly built or under
tion, Sheikh Salim Chisti and others came and
be
welcomed him." construction the Fatehpur Sikri gates wouldn't
bracketed with Agra gates.
If of Fatehpur Sikri existed before
the gates
Haldiglut
June 1573 there must be equally grand mansion*
>
'""Badayuni carried the news of the
to which those
hose gate
flatcs; led. Gales won stand
dates won't .lurid in*
1
*
in n i
fctau against Rana Pratap to Fatehpur
aching there on June 25,1576." Hew
there
void. Thuss ifboth the gates and palaces existed
before Jum IS73 tip canard that Akbar built batch- Pp. 138-40. ibid. 14*
24 P. 370. Vol V., E & D. NiwrmKldi^^^
21, P. 129 ,b,U,
Akbari quoted by SJielal
P- >2y, Albar b> J. M. Shcl.U, ibid. *5 > P. lf>0 4
Akbar, ibid
296
297
of the construction going on. m. Goa on November 17 1579
no mention t
construction huge detachment,
rhca.v been under thc same
year they left
Dam^r^^f
of infantry and
cavalry couldn't move in and
0U| Feb ruary 28, 1580, Fathers T%m 0«r
2Zl° ûl
of Fatehpur SJteri
arri ved at Fatehpur Sikri. m
£g'£ **&
Dr. Sflrivastava relying
"the foundation of Fatehp
-'
on unverified Mu*|i
m ing been taken
week
ill at Narw ar 11°?^^
canards asserts that Uf
capital a later
on March 4 Mo »A
Th
Sftri was laid in November 1571". received at court. Abul Fazal *"%
and Hal*^
adds "A brief account
Shrivastava were asked to look to the comforts ,5" Al Ciilani '
Dr. of
the construction work ts given by Father
Anthony pc*." Here there is no men 1 u fhoflhe
Mnnscrraie, who was an eye witness of the opera- Lived in a Fatehpur Bk^fi******
The stones were brought ready-made, section. Had it been under comu-"
T
lions.
shape according to design and fixed up
chiselled to
in their proper places and the city rose as if my
would have had
stone,
tc.live in
dug up earth and lime lying al!
^SSÂ ar0Un
! *•[
the dust and din of thousands of
magtc within a short space of time {Commentarius, in
hboum
pages 200-20 1 J."
ing all over. No emperor himself lives or ever ^Sf
pvitci
ambassadors in such surroundings. The
a typically gullible piece betraying a fact that
This is
they were made comfortable also shows that the
wrong understanding of what Monserrate has said.
mansions* and palaces existed in Fatehpur Sikri
He has never said that he was an eye-witness of much before their arrival.
the construction.
Let lis refer to Monserrate's writing, ourselves This Father Monserrate meticulously wrote his
instead of depending on the second hand mis- diary every night before retiring. It is that diary
inter pretat ion of Dr. Shrivastava, which has been published as his "Commentanus
(commentary)".
Since Akbar wanted to hoodwink the Portu-
guese by professing superficial admiration for them Monserrate ^"Buildings erected by Zeladinus
and he kept pressing the Portuguese
their religion (Jalaluddin Akbar)in various parts of his dominions
rulers in Goa to send their representatives to his •have been built with extraordinary speed. For
court in Fatehpur Sikri. instance he built a very lanje peristyle, surround*
w ith colonnades, 200 ft. square m three mort
Accordingly »**TJw first Jesuit Mission left
a nd drt*-
some circular baths 300 ft. in circuit.with
26, P. 130, Vol. I, many *
Akbar the Great, ibid. ,n £ rooms, private apartments and
Editor'* r
0. introduction, the Commentary of Hjtj|J
Monwnite, s . j. Translated by I S. Hoyl** 1'
ibid.
2y > Pp, 200—201 The .
Cummcottflui.
298
'
299
^
m six
Her* he himself bathe* u
months, The host
in the unabashed
channel^ and
order to prevent
noise
himselJ being deafened by
of the tool* with which stones arc
thc
shaped
tradition
children.
would reply ..„ unnu,- M
He would never
acknowJS* ar< *£
^
other timber cut. had every, he children, in the presence ,he ™
and beams and hi8 of hkîf * be
thing fashioned
elsewhere, in accordance with i
or king.
A flatterer who can stL* !** **"*
exact pla the building and then brought to the parentage of his own children would ny * the
and fastened together. Th " all,raU
spot, and there titled cribc usurped Hindu buildW > a*-
c hs t
lhc
priestsgave close attention to all this, and were creation. **w<n\
reminded of what is said to have happened at the Since a 14-year old Akbar w.
building of the temple in Jerusalem, when no iron throne in 1556 A.D. Mo^?^*«***
trumenl of the builders were heard. They saw four years later was
that this could have been true without thc
dismayed l0 1J*T
vention of a miracle."
inter- lhe Fatehpur
as being
Sikri which was
of recent
represented
creation, showed
not
£
This is all that is mentioned in the Commcnta- slightest of any debris,
trace
about the founding of Fatehpur Sikri,
(sic)
the
scaffolding
workmen. The absence of all these was
2
rius
explained
Closely scrutinised the above passage is very reveal- away by another bluff namely that since Akbar
ing though superficially misleading. didn't want the dust and din of the construction
must be noted work, the stones were cut and dressed

It first Monserrate who
that to specific
kept a daily diary does not testify to any building requirements in far away quarries and just piled
activity. He mentions buildings in Akbar's domi- one over the other blindly and silently
nion which he believed to have been all built by Still surprised thai even after that absurdity is
Akbar from the bluffs conveyed to him by Muslim swallowed there still remained the question of
courtiers and flatterers. pulleys and scaffolding and hammers and chisels to
haul up, hoist and join stone slabs Bl >us
We may visualize a gullible Monserrate arriv-
ail to
ing in Fatehpur Sikri early in I58U heights Monserrate ultimately ascribes it
A.D. Agreeably
surprised at thc pleasing red magic of the kind which his religious gulWlgf
stone palaces, their
ornate interiors and associated with the creation of Uw chief temple
towering gateways. He asks
the courtiers who built in Jerusalem.
cringing Urdu and
all those ? According to the
Persian tradition of Muslim

This clearly shows that Monserrate m brum-
court.
everything including one's own continuing washed by Muslim flatterers at Afcbar's
existent is credited But there are many more absurdity wjudi «»
to the sovereign. If t*
mperor visiting a u PTrom
Akbar's fancied authorship of
courtier's house was introduced
to children he
would ask whose children were iRv Sikri.
>:h T.C^^H
300
!61
Questions such «s who selected and surveyed clearly indicates that
lc mc ?
The bow long did it take
who
who desgined
planned the
'
th c
hillock
înihcp.l«ccm^ int
the a
^di pcralc
U«
rt1to _
lavout of the
township 3! builds stand 4 ltch
years did the palace complex take
how many to The hundreds of gr a v cs
constructed the (5)
huiJd ? and who thousands of n 1h
,
houses for noblemen,

and when ? did Akbar have inside
the Buland
w»- killed «-—
Gatewaj
—
are^^ste
w no were
...I.* in that msi cnoaeem^n,
«* last Muslim,
and the funds while engaged n ^vho ,mi
the rime, peace
bitter warfare against
his own guardian Behrani
i
palace complex two generations before

AkS
-' *
Khan and innumerable Rajput chiefs, rebel cour- Fatehpur
Sikri has a gai
( 6) c flanked h, w
tfcfs, Muslim rulers
and imposters ? and after ail elephants with n
their
this how is Fatehpur Sikrf an entirely Hindu
structure? remain unanswered.
^
slone
lp
mis
This design
ocsign
trunks arching
is exclusively
pictures of Goddess
sc en in Ukshmi,
Hmd«
J^,
Z^l
There is such overwhelming evidence to expose elephant statues at gateways and inside palace,
the historical fraud which ascribes the creation of a common Hindu motif. Such elephant
statu*
Fatehpur Sikri to Akbar that it will need a whole adorn the Gwahor Gate of Gwalior fort
the
independent book to tear that myth to shreds. interiorof the Maharajah palace in Udaipurand
the gateway of the City Palace in Kotah Elephant
Here we content ourselves merely by sum-
shall
statues are found flanking the royal gate or the
marizing the prominent points to call off the bluff
of Akbar's authorship of Fatehpure Sikri.
Red Fort in Delhi. Similarly it is on record that ele-
phant statutes flanked the royal gate of the Red Fort
(1) No design-drawings and blueprints or inAgra. They were removed by iconoclastic

names of designers and workmen are on record for Muslim invaders and occupiers. We have already
laying out the township and erecting proved in our book titled 'Some Blunders of Indian
its magni-
ficent buildings. Historical Research* that the Red Forts in Delhi
and Agra are of pre*Muslim Hindu origin.
(2) IfFatehpur Sikri was constructed by Akbar
why does that name recur stone Litnp post brat-
in histories af pre-Akbar (7) There is a fat. Hindu
times ? outside
ling with stone brackets to hold lamps,
0) Badayuni, a courtier of Elephant Gate. Such lamp posts may still
Akbar clearly says temples
before the decisive all over India infront of goddess
father Babur. Rana
battle with Akbar's grand-
Sanga had reached Fatehpur. lamp post in Fatehpur Sikri is ^«W^^gj
tu a
cd away as Akbar's memorial
hJP
Heads of
refcrcnC€S ^ the hillock
T^staugtcred and tower of
Hindus being raised on the
to or elephant.
dear deer or elephant had whispered
One wonder, •
Jjj
W ^
otiimh?.
302
103
Akbar** cars that wished to be he an idiot to live n a

in
if
commemior j
And considering ?! cd ;;;;;;^n and leave v;;;hV5:!;
"^^
hv a HmuIh lamp post. ,
ufi
^ c
Afcbur kepi a menagerie of jooo wild [;
an iJ ?
J) Akbart final «., rrn
m should have had similar memorial columni ? mFal .
every hyena, bear, wolf, cheetah, tiger, Hon,

jC BTOi«««
jcessitaicd
iieccs
r âu« mc
because the large
L ^ >ri
Ur
re**^****
arge rc ri ]
ass. elephant, camel and pig around all

*°
S mA the »^muwc of water t^X h for
towns a .
burst m October I583andw
1h
buildings ascribed to Akbar.
i
'"wniw em I
It must also h!
drv
fCser voir mentioned in
remembered that Muslims are image-breakers Babar's McL '*
,W ° 8cnc "
,hc
* rations before Akbar. Had u been
not image-makers and Akbar was as a
fanatic a Akbar's orders it would not Clfcllmn
Muslim as any other. a!
had
have h™ ^
Hindu
(8) mythological scenes:
a reservoir burst Akbar
those involved in that shoddy
would h^
Swastik all
const IT™***
peacocks and palm trees have been etched fact the lake burst precisely
inner walls of the red
in Falehpur Sikn.
disfigured with
on ih
stone
palace apartments
All Hindu motifs have
Muslim
been
Muslims did not possess the know-how
the captured Hindu reservoir. Having
to
been darT
because the
S
chiselling and tinkering. ged during Babar's assault and in
subsequent
skirmishes the lake burst from want
There arc tanks in Fatchpur Sikri
(9) of mainte-
known by their Hindu, Sanskrit names
still
nance. The fact that it continued lo sustain the
such as
Anup Talao (peerless tank) and Karpur Muslim usurpers from 1526 to 1583 despite war
Talao damage and lack of maintenance is a compliment
(camphor tank). Camphor is a sacred
requirement
for Hindu idol-worship. tu its Hindu engineering competence.
Had Akbar constructed Fatehpur Concocted descriptions of Akbar having

(14)
Sikri he
wouldn have permitted the
t
buili a mosque- and a house of worship and other
huge Buland Gate
Quadrangle to be turned ,nto buildings are all anomalous and contradictor).
a Muslim graveyard.
" ™PPJ; ned l0 be a graveyard because Muslims Visitors like Francis Xavier have men-
(15)
aiea lighting there
duringBabar's assault against tioned Akbar's lifetime Fatehpur
Rana Sanga two that even in
generations before Akbar. " Sikri was in ruins This is very important
evidence
lived in J
Fa»Jip
F *! hc P ur tooe u proves that Akbar
froJil^ 1585 been a-building
Sikri had Sikri which his grandfather Babar had
taken *
Xf
sely during u
h0W did Akbar I** there preci-
that period
storm.
whvdW
,
tchpUrSikriwa » completed
?
1585 A
(16) There is a painting which
*"** alongside page 82 of Mr J JJ
* gg
^^
A [w*
why did Akbar
caV€ „ ,
precjsdy ^ m in
year ?
A ^baf (latest edition publish^ t>> J
.
104
Vidya Bhawan.
n\'i *nai
>urtiers in
it
Bombay-7) the caption of
depicts Humayun seated
Fathpur. Since Humayun was
with h*
w .
(l 0) Smith
an d stayed
says**
in
Fatehpur
This has a
SOS
..,
n^ SjL L
d^2*»8
]
**W
father that painting belonging to a period befo
Afcba
\khar"s birth emphatically and visually proves \\*

•
'
Lui
,r«crs.;
had stormed Fatehpur Sikri
Muslim fakirs headed by Shckh
T **
A
*
"^
Salim rT*
rstenccof Fatehpur Sikn before Akbar.
(17) The building of Fatehpur Sikri is said
'ccupied
tim
redsone palaces,
the
e maintained any
H l
mmnm £**
**
'
t
at n0
have begun somewhere between 1564 and 1571 A ^ ,

Fatehpur Two aen^f.^.
according to dilTerent versions. This Vagueness hen Akbar
decided to move from
would not have been there if Fatehpur Sikri had
w
Sikri for security reasons
Agr n to F Qteh .
move at
been really built by Akbar. We have at least
pomeni s notice was made possible only bccL*
threecontemporary chroniclers namely Badayum th ere
were grand, majestic palace, and
mawive de
Abul Fazal and Nizamuddin who were Akbar's fence walls
already existing in Fatehpur Siltri
courtiers. They would not differ in their accounts Since Sheikh Salim Chisti had already settled there
unless they were For instance Vincent
all blufliing. and had been guarding the premises against Hindu
Smith observes 29
"The language of Abul Fazal in re-occupt ion Akbar is said to have come and occu
the passage quoted might be understood pied ChistiN building. may be But it recalled that
to mean
that Akbar did not begin his extensive programme even earlier Akbar's queens had their deiivcriei in
of building at Fatehpur Sikri until 1571, but this is Fatehpur Sikrfs palaces.
not a fact, his buildings had actually been begun in (201 In a redstone-paved quadrangle amidst
1569." theFatehpur Sikri palace complex, infront of the
From above observation it is apparent that
the Paiiclimahal is an ornate Astrologer VSeai. The
decorative stone festoon which adorns the seal's
Abul Fazal has used vague and devious language
carved
regarding Fatehpur Sikri and that subsequent his- tophus figures Horn Hindu my tholog) in
official in all
torians like Smith are hard put to divine the real it. An astrologer was a prominent
import or meaning of Abul Fazal, They, therefore, Hindu royal households.
at the far
indulge in vague conjectures which are all wide off Seat
In front or the Astrologer's
(21)
ctfern knw£
the mark.
(18) Sheikh Salim Chisti's brother was known

end of the courtyard is a stone
Uje .ghati-patra' or the water clod
d^M"
as Ibrahim Fatehpuri.
He would not get that ap- Hindus used to reckon their W***" m amcnt
auspi
pellation unless his
family had settled down in so necessary in finding out the
feslivtiics*
£atbcpur Sikri for pencrations. ln begin Hindu worship or
P ibid.
29. 75, Akb i the Great Mogul, ibid.
30* Akbar the Great Mogul,
CClfK45<
)QU 309
Sikn has a dninvh

(22) Falehpui'
nt"Maryam ki-Kothj u
0Usc
W
r
of Hindu palaoej Sunehra-Makun.

is an essential part ail
Muslims frown on music.

^
ff called a wu
of »
oi long room with »"»« ftjj
Z**«
Howg,
temples. deists
consist tiaeS***:
(2?)Fatehpur S.kri has Ashva-Shnla. sides. One of the pillar,'kS
Ga H i * three
Shala. Ooshlra-Shala (i e. stables for horses Ju "covered with the figures of **£
phants and camels). No Muslim palace had mn
Hindu palaces do have it.
Vhe Se *
^Hindu gods, and the wall. m ^v,l
paintings
(24) The board of Chaupat, a Hindu The myth or the building of

Fatehpur Sikri h
be blown to pfa*,
has been inscribed in
courtyard in front of the
the centre
Panch
ganic
of ihe redsto A kbar
in «le.
can
An
thus
exhaustive discussion
from
will
C J
Mahal. Chaupat require
was a very popular Hindu game in separate book on Fatehpur Sikri a| or, c
mediaeval We
therefore leave it at that and proceed
times. Muslims never played or play that to examine
game. equally fantastic claims of A k bar's author-
ihe other
(25) Incidentally the Chaupat design hip of various
townships and buildings.
also re- s
presents the layout of Fatehpur Sikri. Hindu
architects used to carve out The Red Fort in Agra
the basic scale they
used in constructing buildings, in some
part of ihe Keene's Handbook for Visitors to Agra andjlu
budding. In the Taj Mahal courtyard, Neighbourhood, gives a 2,000-year history of the
it is the
full length trident pinnacle
on the dome which has Red Fort in Agra, and then quotes a rumour of
been inscribed on the floor below as Akbar' s times that Akbar demolished ihe fort in
the basic scale
used in the construction of the 1565 for no rime or reason and constructed
Taj Mahal. In the
case of Fatehpur Sikri the
design used to plan another. 1566 Adhain Khan who murdered
In
thrown down
the township is that of the
Chaupat game board. Aigah Khan, was punished by being
royaUprtmcnts
from the second storey of the
A very important per n^
piece of
evidence of the inside the fort. Keene expresses a very
Jindu origin of Fatehpur Sikri.
that it was a if the fort
^dcniobkd
doubt in a footnote, that
Akbar had begu no
Hindu capital before
Rana Sanga lost it to Babur. how come
•
found ,n ihe figures
of Lord Rama, the Hindu
in 1565 that
^
negation, and o( Hanuman,
the Hindu hercuhan tnat even
«arnoror the Hindu epic second storey. Keene adds
Ramayana, found in
*»• P. 310 Part II. Archneol
^ZTkcW <***"
An Muac U m ,publKlicdinl^«^
fc
Archaeological Survey
Archucotogical Survey m
of India publication IndM.P*
J09
308
palace
ye dinlhe
^
in Aj m£r cu
of the extern
fori could 1101 have been co
mplel jjtfo Kings like V, grahr
y ; which
Under these circu ms
cd wiihin ihrec
years.
evacuating the Red Fort, its
ance : t
Juhviraj had l.ved earlier. That ^S^ *
^H«
Alder's demolition Muslim accounts claim that
heaps of debris, digging up
^ m
^
ofihe and built
towns and
cities *
removal of forts n ,
^
old foundation
and digging the new foundation speed. All this magie B
filling it up, ordering the

flagic J of
after a new plan, ons at courtiCK cringing
redstone, marble, bricks,and lime for the superstr-
required si
Hindu
j*n
buildings to
wh&fe
^
ucture and having the whole edifice decorated wjih
a earlier Akbar. Similar
building
magic' has been claimed
shining plastei and multicolour ornate forAlJdf
aai "
0ra fl
|
Khilji too.
designs, all within the space of 12 months smacks
Moinuddin Chisti Tomb
of Arabian Nights magic. Unfortunetly Indian
History has been loaded with such fantastic myths In Ajmer at the foot of Taragad/ihemour^n
without arousing anybody's suspicions. fortress, is a shrine, where Muslims gather
every
year to commemorate Sheikh Moinuddin
Chisti
Ajmer Whether he was actually buried there needs to
be
Ajmer had been an ancient of Hindu Kings

seat investigated because there have been instances of
centuries before Akbar. It is a corrupt form of fake tombs. The precincts of the ihrine are
the Sanskrit term Ajaya-Meru (meaning the invin- clearlya part of the fort's outer defences. A huge
stone archway leads to the shrine. This was a pan
cible Mount Mem). It derives its name from the
fort Taragarh built on a mountain top. At its foot of the Hindu citadal stormed by Muilim
After capture fakirs like Moinuddin
lies Ajmer city. In the city is an ancient palace invaders.
now occupied by Government offices. It is this Chisti lived amidst such ruins. When they died
dwelling places,
palace, tlte fort and the other remains surrounding they were buried in their
fakir Moinuddin ChistPs tomb thai are credited applies equally to all mediaeval Muslim tombs
if
Hindu temples misused
to Akbar. But Akbar used to frequent Ajmer from India. They 'are all
the age of 19 to direct his aggressive operations Muslim tombs.

Rajput rulers. He could not have gone and
Allahabad Fort
^ ayed there had there been palace. Even
no ready Kv rhe fraudulent
before the advent of
succession of powerful
Muslims Ajmer had a long
assertions
Indian histories taken
Muslim
in
chronicles
b> *
na
*
^^
^^
ll: n du monarchs- The in
laces, tombs, fort, Akbar with the construction c
gateways and the other ruins me
fl|||!
nielli Hindu Allahabad at the confluence ol

constructions stormed and
devastated m successive Muslim assaults, Akbar * a muua.
311
310
prayag is not a 1
modern town
but
Vincent Smith observes,
for instance "«One
of ancientmost city m India with
a hyJ?'?
1 l
*»
sacred place* of pilgrimage and known Us of
the most millcniums. fort could
on1vh*!£ n
,o Hindus a* Prayag does not
appear to have been
ihc
confluence of the Ganga and' y mm^ it
rtjficd. in October 1583 Akbar travelled from two streams constitute W inilu
thc natur^roau^ t-
Agra to the confluence,
most of the way by river. two sides of thc fort ****
at least invulnerable
He began (he building of
the fort in November.
«*
remarkably short lime, A Allahabad not only had an ancient
n was completed in a fort fa,
jzreat city. he
modern Allahabad, grew up in the
I
als0
th eir
had
steps
towering
rising
nver
tier
fronts
upon
paved with
tier and
c Z ,,
neighbourhood of the fortress." bristling Wl

n
temples, as we still see in Banaras, Akbar
had
There are many flaws in that statement which them all uprooted when he plundered Allahabad,
betrays remarkable gullibility of authors of Indian If there had
been no Allahabad what did TO
Akbar
historical text books. Firstly, the very vague state- plunder 7 And since Akbar plundered Allahabad
ment that prior to Akbar "Allahabad does not ii is clear that he did not found any city, A
1
appear to have been fortified is very naive.

"
Ln plunderer never builds a city for the very people he
mediaeval India every town and village used to plunders The two are paradoxical.
have massive fortifications.
So, far from building Allahabad city or itvfori
Allahabad fort is of immemorial antiquity
Akbar invaded them and razed thc innumerable
built through and through in the Hindu style. Its
magnificent temples and stately nver fronts.
inner royal apartments are all carved in the style of
Hindu palaces. Inside the fort arc Hindu shrines Historians have grossly erred in not subjecting
close lOfuitu
like the Pataleshwar temple and the sacred banyan claims of authorship of buildings to
Had they tried to investigate who
thc arehtcct m,
tree (the Akshayawatj.
him, when dtf
where are the drawings prepared by
Towering inside the fortress is an Ashokan hwm*
stone pillar which shows that the fori is at least of
the construction start, when did it
was the expense, why has
end.
the fort Hmdu »"d

king Ashoka's time iff not of earlier origin.
aHindu pillar inside^ *hy are um J-
Secondly, Allahabad being a place of Hindu m the Hindu style-trie hoax of AkWr * vas „e
pilgrimage woukTnt be unfortified. would not have passed »**"&
On
it
the opposite side of The fort across the Ganga

left
statement that all o Vkbar 9
»>«' d "* " ^
an ancient township called Jhusi which dates
back to the Ramayana. Similarly Allahabad aim
ships
shows
were raised
there
in
is
miraculous
nothing on
^Jmor( „ yv
that
abound
such bogus claims which
I* 16], Akbar the Grcal Mogul, ibid.
"
of M8Slim ruk in India which constrained Sir H.M,

Elliot to remark that thai
history "îsan impudent'
and interested fraud.

at
Nagarchain
Like oiher building hoaxes Akbar is supposed

to have founded a township and named it m
Nagarchain. If a lay visitor asks to be shown that
miracle township which, Akbar founded, pat comes

the traditional historian's reply thai the township
has vanished so thoroughly that there is not the Here again we come across the
r™
slightest trace of it.
phrase that the building of a whole
executed so rapidly, almost overnight,
t*^
oft
i?
Muslim era in India abound

Histories of the thai i
knows when was
is such bluffs. For instance Humaytin is supposed
completed,
it
how much money

begun or when it ^
to ha\e built his own Delhi. If you ask where it was spent or «|j n
is the answer is that during his short five- designed the township. Similarly nobody know*
year tenure as sultan Sher Shah wiped out the new how and why it vanished. We alio brail
Delhi founded by his ousted rival Humayun. He even Akbar's own contemporaries like Badayani
did such a thorough job of the demolition that confess their ignorance about the township. It
iheie is no trace left ofHumayun's Delhi In the should, therefore, be clear that Nagarchain (which
same breath we are also told that Sher Shah during is Hindu, Sanskrit name) was not built b> Akbar
a
his nominal five-year reign not only wiped out but was destroyed by him. Allahabad was not
every trace ofHumayurfs Delhi but also built ano- founded by Akbar. Fatchpur Sikri was not built by
ther Delhi of his own. This is something breath- Akbar but its Hindu ornamentation xvni disfigured
important
taking especially when Sher Shah's entire reign by This then leads us to a very
him.
Mudii
of five years was a bitter struggle for survival deduction namely that Akbar and other
against powerful adversaries. from building anything in
rulers far
M*wp*
out damaged, misused, mutilated cr dejWJ"
About Nagarchain Smith says " a *Executcd rn«
rapidly at the close of 1564, on return from Mandu. magnificent Hindu palaces. Mfd*
nnd reader
Unifications canals, bridges
Introduction to Elliot & Dowgon's eight- volume study ancient India was famous.
g4 Mi urometer.
34 I'p 54 55, Akbar ilic Great Mogul, ibid. unwilling!*-
Badayuni, perhaps
.
315
\poscs the hoax about Akbar's claim he was ordered

)0 __
undine i
to *\
Nagmhain, Badayuni states 3 * », n t u-
B j (972 AH.) the building of the city of lsi «** a
tfhich
feunded by Akbar, It. hu
?m mhas been rash
in
,
^
*£& ^ Z
*>*• i*
chain took place. On this subject
one of \h~ founded Nagarchain Hun
^
nobles, at the time of the composition of
the Here we recall a
footnote
Miiunu ordered me to compose some lines *
which here insert without alteration. '

jlt his critical study of Ihc j»*H M i
.
E|1
I
It s j Muslim chroniclers had "
the
'
of the traditional wonders of the world, that habf

fabricated claims with
minute detJL
that city and edifice not a trace now is left, so of reality,
mi% to create
that illusion
,J
it> site is become a level plain.
This very important statement of far*

is a Manoharpur
reaching significance for a correct understanding
Dr. Shrivastava a
of Muslim history in India, His is a very honest writes;
*"Whi!c at a**,
and frank statement which seems to have escaped (old Jaipur) Akbar decided to restore
an anSS
from his pen in an angry mood when he must have but deserted city and on November 9,1577 h e , Bld
been hurt by some orders from the court. its foundation with his own hands. He ordered
his and engineers to build a fortress and
architects
Badayuni inadvertently leads us into the secret other buildings and named the new cjt)
Manohar-
of how Akbarnama (i.e. the official history of pur after the name o[ Manohardas, wn of RaiLem
Akbar's reign) happens to be a blatant concoction Karan. Manoharnagar is 28 miles north-east of
and fabrication manufactured
and modulated Jaipur, and is known as Manoharpur."
according to the dictates coming from the court
from time to time. This should open the eyes of The above passage is lypical of the pathel
gullibility of writers of our history text boob ind

j II students and scholars to the fact that all
heads of university history departments. The ciie
Muslim chronicles have been made to order to
wuh which they accept fraudulent claims i
rehabilitate the vanity, and comfort the conscience

for
chronicles without verification, is abounding
ul alien monarch s spending (heir lifetimes in
'« pathetic imtvct
I
tic destruction, aggressive campaigns, ruth-
of
less plunder and drink-drenched and drug-sodden Even h cursory examination of ihc onfin
amour, Manoharpur Mated above would reveal
iM™
As w nolc story chauvinistic concern
"™
for Nagarchain itself Badayuni confesses is a
lie did not find any trace of the tow ginning to end.
Mifc-70, Vol tl. ibid-

Badayuni chronicle, ibid, 36. P. 229, Akbai the Great,
317
116
mat r people ? What

all
The nr<t que
m
"
luestion wc
we ask is that during Ale
Akbbar's ruler
provocation or pretext did
hus,,^
rimec'when
there existed
thousands of decadent
Of
Hindu township in tnc v
d ** Akbar^
rc
*
deserted bv people fleeing f a
extinct row
roships rom
Muslim atrocities
what made Akbar
Tor
choose on c
restoration. The secom
clse -s
capital ? Were there not
defunct towns all around Delhi

cnlh
Aera
Vc^
Jaipur aloue j
which were the
and engineers did si kri haunts of avL*tL elipUr
question what architects
.. he ^rtTheohti,
centeniion that he conclusion, therefore, is
sess? It is our possessed
an ancient
Manoharpur is
Th!™^
*'
with him only an army of stonc city
none. He had
who at Akbar's or his courtiers' bidding Akb ar founded it is a hoax. He may fi!
cutters
Muslim claims on earlier Hindu
Ôtigh h -one ofhisrnanv'iS/
inscribed
third question is who Rajasthan. giving his sycophant chm mcIm
buildings. The paid for
must have been
expenditure which occasion 10 concoct the story that Akber
founded
the huge
incurred on the revival of the township? If
Apartments Tor 5,000 Royal Prostitutes
Akbar spent it what interest did he have and
he gel for his investment How Abul Fazal records to the glory of hi* ov*r-
what return did ?
37 "His Majesty has made a large
take to resurrect the city? To whom lord mclmurc
long did it
with fine buildings inside, where he reposes.

were the palaces, fort and dwellings handed over
occupation ? Were they given gratis or on a Though there are more than 5,000 women he \m
for
hire-purchase township had
basis? If the earlier given to each a separate apartment. He has also
" We wonder where
been de&erted which people were asked to populate divided them into sections
consisting of
the new buildings? If people residing elsewhere on earth that huge building complex
were persuaded to occupy the new city what 5.000 suites, is. Had there been any such our
been vers
incentivewere they offered ? Is there any corres- government or any factory would have
ponding exodus on record to justify the claim that happy to use it for staff quarters in tee
*
.rcd
unsuccessful
domanto M
people from some neighbouring
township came housing shortage. We have y^ ;
and occupied the new town Akbar? the whole of dead Akbaf . erstwhile
Akbar named the new town as Manoharpur why
founded by
anything even remotely wmflai
to aM
called Manoharnagar
i
name what was the name

? If Akbar gave it a new
of the old defunct town ?
complex*
the
This should
blatant lies that Abu.
^J^JS
F^^fi.
*
a
>M &av;> it a new name
m name it he chose a
and not some Persian or Arabic
how is
glorify his master.
mere pig-siy-lype enclosure
where
All that we may
o«
co
^
*mcc he had even unuU-
converted an elephant's Vol. m. Rtobfl'" *
„" nwnc im ° a Aini Akbari

. Muslim name ? Why did Akbar 37. Ain 15,
name the townsh.p
aftef the son of gome Hindu tion,
*IS
lcs<abducted women were herded up to h c Wicre Muslim chronicles

a( etofa, ,l
beck and call of the emptor's amours.
If Muslim claims are subjected to
le
ot a
Fcrozshah
conceded
built a pa|, Cc
even taking a
w
lhj«
*
X&*m*
such C ° bc very ,.
l-cxamination their fraud
cro»-cwimination can
Masters of historical methodology
be exposed
* |
?
lhal be,
Hindu
at the
building
most. spcm
damaged
a
when it was
»»
«K
,ep *
m r
no time,
time.
repeatedly emphasized that statements n
hlav
a
chron* j
|
nl0Sl invariably
even thai pa u
ry
* 0nnttl ^
clcs. especially mediaeval Muslim chronicles. limes that
sum was extracted fro* £»»*
not be taken at their face value: that
they should
be subjected to a detective-likc scrutiny, and
dcn
âdc
subjects
for the repairs
by
levying a lax
to
Such
Fatehpur Sikn
.
lhe
T^
laSSS
that
every case should be argued threadbare as a Fort in Agra are on record though they ma iuu
f aw . sums spent on building a new
>er would do. These very wise principles ra de as fori and
have
been given a clean go-by in the compilation of new Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar3* or any other Mui|j
text m
ruler did not lay even one single brick over
books of Indian history. The result has been another
at least in India. All that they did was
disastrous- It has burdened Indian history with
that they
blaram falsehoods which through repetition and usurped and misused Hindu mansions.
sheer passage of time have acquired the sanctity

of Jestifying to this, Monserrate a Jesuit contem-
truth.
porary of Akbar, who observed mediaeval Muilim
•This examinationof a cross-section of the 1
Itfeand practices at close quarters remarks *. .."the
building claims made on Akbar's behair should
Musalmans whose nature is indeed that of barba-
alert students of Indian history to be very cautious things (i.e. erecting
rians take no interest in such
when studying Muslim chronicles. Very often and township*
massive and ornate building*
truth is turned so topsy turvy that the and unreliable *nt
very oppo* Their chronicles being scanty
ite of what is claimed 1
will be found to be correct. full of old wives tales...
We have already illustrated this by explaining that
whenever a Muslim ruler or courtier is credited However I was told its M'
with having raised a building
or founded a town- mat
ship that should be tribe from
understood to mean that hc Is of a different
ravaged, plundered or
destroyed it as Akbar did
with the Hindu township
of Nagarchain.
38. This
tilled
point
:
hai
Some
also ^^
been
Blundct*
KBU ded
«p
"J th*
b00fcl
moual
p,^-
Where Muslim chronicjs say that temples
^^
^^ft*.
Rescarch" and
were destroyed and author ol
mosques were built what they written by «he
ally mean h that of
Hindu temples were seized and 39. P. 16, The Comment™"
4
pui to use as mosques

(and tombs). ibid.
320 m
been celebrated
thai 200 years tgo,
in our own limes.
the
For
Mongols being In'ieaS
it IS
said
aeration
iho
it is clear
uprooted Hindu ima^ and

that the very
m \ w "^"
'
Of a fmh DOUntr> to occupy. lefi their

ancestral mansions
*
palaces and tcmpki*
m <^*
**
encampments, invaded India and
dho." This passage shows how nav J
settled at
Mu
ivfe„ d
buill
residences have been
credited
them, through fraudulent
mf*
clahnsrSJ?^
^
been
India
generations
bluffing
In 1579 when on!)
of European visitors to
53 years had elapsed
juries
thal
of Mushm occupatton.
students, teachers and scholars of
h ^ZZ
hml
since Babur the first Mogul invader established archaeology took a second look at |JJ£
himself in India. Muslim flatterers at Akhar's buildings in India with a view to trace fair uu«
court had 1 he cheek to
Monserrate that two
tell history instead
of relying on mere bluff and
bi UU4r
hundred years earlier another Mongol tribe had as hitherto. The guide rules mentioned above
occupied Central India and built the massive and provide the long lost key to a correct understanding
magnificent Hindu temples and mansions in of India's
mediaeval history which has been badly
Mandavgarh. The statements of European scholars tampered with, mutilated and fabricated all these
which arethe result of mediaeval Musiim brainwash- years.
ing must not. therefore, be accepted without a
careful check-up and corroboration from other
unimpeachable sources.
Monserrate adds *°*'the religious zeal of the

Musalmans has destroyed all the idol temples
which used to be very numerous. In place of
Hindu temples, countless tombs and little shrines
f wicked and worthless Musalmans have been
reeled in which these men are worshipped with

vain superstition as though they were saints (Foot-
note -The persons whose names stand out cons-
:
picuous in this business of destruction were

Atlauddiii Khilji and also Malik Naib Kafur.
Sikandar Lodi and Babui)."
Taking the evidence quoted above, into consi*
P. 27, t*i
C Commcniartus bv Father Monserrate,
>b»d
123
CHAPTl R XXII Incensed by such Ucemicm,

ind
Viour
place
they would rar,
orthodox restr a , nt
^2?/^
*«£
fd by flinging defiance
irled d**, J*!!
at Ht
notam
WN-E-ILAHI in iw
^v
followed his
T^
own religion,
etot
^n52*s
g which wwc^*"
Literally interpreted the term Din-c*1iahj Thus, on a closer analysis, Wnt
rod's own religion
1
or system.
This term
has been much abused, misunderstood and misused
flaunted
turns out
as Akbar's wonderful
be
anti-reli^> n or a
io
defence or ill
rcli £lon
,
H
hi 2
in accounts Akbar's reign. In most Indian curbs on his licentious and
religious autocratic
hist ones ii is lustily boosted as a wonderful
religion behaviour. This is exactly what a
contemporary
invented by Akbar by blending the golden charact- Monserrate has recorded from
Jesuit, pcrwnal
eristics of all religions known to him and
it is observation of Ak bar's court. A disappointed and
added for good measure lliat it was inspired
by disgusted Monserrate justly complained "'wemay
compassionate concern for ihc temporal Zeladinus
justly suspect that (Jalaluddin Akbar)
happiness and spiritual bliss of his subjects,
[f we
had been led to summon the Christian pntsr* not
goto the root of all such fantastic praise heaped
by any divine prompting but by
curiosity and too
on an imaginary system hc find that it is much
ardent an interest in hearing new things,
or perlapi
ado about nothing.
of ma
by desire to attempt the destruction
a
The term Din-c-Ilaht arose out of a constant souls, in some novel fashion... RodolfuMwouw
acrimonious tussle and war of nerves between Jesuit hoped that

priest) Zeladinus would
a
the worrfup of
fiercely egotistic Akbar and a fiercely fanatic converted from a wicked life to
«
priesthood consisting of qa/is. maulvia God, (Rudolfus) was delivered unscatn* ¥
Btanas fed on archaic and antediluvian from the midst of barbarious and fa*^J
notions. As
W «• i«arof
art alt-powerful despot roans, from many threatening
Akbar wouldn't r(
any restrictions placed destruction. .He was murdered in
on or any objections
*cdat Ins autocratic
behaviour. Correspondingly ^ age on July 15, .583/*
laMh *Dr>*
Muslim priesthood was ,n
plagued by Akbai -'s Monserrate is right in
.M>«n*
fof ibe
^
.
1
'" roads imo t,lt in«
ST" abduct Uieir wives
Privacy of their married
-'
and sisters to his own

J*l was a
dcMr..^:-
diabolical system
n crt ,ik and
f
11
^ruetbn of human .
souls.
compelling them to take spirituous Ovation.
£"""• :
Bdolhc "defying drugs; and to 2. r.

'
'
n»p1undcrort .fiscal ion L p P- 192-196,

of tMrJwaltbH
will. the Commentariui.
325
324
cn message from
iron* ih
There are specific tif ascertain itt
whether
^*»*
i *
might have
migiH nave been
uu
Every religion has jfcfch e h
system is a religion.
,
its
<)XVn
chri stian
king. He CV e n «+.
shrines, temples, mosques or prayer hulls. Di„. e docl J*
Every religion has ;, pricsu

.
ausalman and attributed no hc
vZlf **Z
Ilahr had none such.
hood, which Pin-e-IIahi did no) Imve. Every
NlLl
hammad. saying
without a rival"
that he
wail ^**d«
Toll °
w*
which Jone ofc^
religion has some prayers also Din-c-Ilahj
did not have. Every religion has some memphy. Since Akbar used to flout
he M
steal explanation .iboiit the creation of y
lc anfl0 uncing
that hc was no
Mus|i m
i
**« b,
universe and a philosophy for attaining subservient to

salvation n0 l ^ their religious
au
,r its own concepi. Dm-c-ilahi had nothing of poor maulvis and fanatic chronicler* lit'T? the
*'
these. Historians have therefore, blundered m

ma de it a convenient peg to
likel
-
hang
mijii
asserting thai Din-c-lluhi was a religion, withoui against Akbar on. As poor subjects
applying any tests. mercy of a cruel despot lite
|fa Xi£SKj
A footnote to Commentarius says that
the weapon they had to strike Akbar within
th,
devotion to Akbar was the main tenet of Din-e- fanatic wrath, was to dub and condemn
firm w
llahi. This is absolutely true. As observed earlier renegade and an apostate. In those days of religion,
Akbar was a fiercely egotistic egoist whose vanity orthodoxy the priesthood could threaten
made him desire that every human being bow a monarch with religious sanctions But
down to him as sovereign, plenipotentiary, prophet Akbar's wile more than matched his mauWi guile
and divinity all rolled into one. resulting in the latter's impotent frothing, fretting
and fuming.
Akbar's flouting the authority of- the Muilas is
often paraded as proof that he was not a fanatic In order to cut the maulvis to siw and pui
1
Muslim. This is not true. Firs) and foremost them in place Akbar used to skip "the custom*)
Akbar was an egotist who wanted

he regarded to Islamic prayers at the time appointed
as God and prophet. But the hard core of his Mohammad, and did not observe the monuYi ft*
heart was always that of a fanatic Muslim, wholly called Ramadan. He frequently made jokes
ml*
Muslim and nothing but Muslim. Monserrate expense of Mohammad, especially at his
cautions us against misunderstanding Akbar'* over! ,hr «si
out of doors without shoes.
moves or protestations. Monserrale -notes acc »unt
of his licentiousness. All
this
«g£
(Akbar) went on in the samerati am (praising th c "?*ny Musalmans and especially &*
Pope and asking the Portuguese pnest to kiss the âJi Mansur)."
Pope's feet (when the Jesuit went to Buropa oil
Akbar's embassy; m proxy for him and bring sonic I'p.
64-65. i he Com men i an us, «»
ctoiph?.
327 i
Vionserrate has also

The above
prophet Mohammad, recorded by Monserrate tvc
description oi akmt
of Akbrii reviling
kh;ir
fury.
ime Islam reigned
^"*
i
crra W^^
Ported
supZTL
ho fr
lt
_
if has to be properly
pi .(v true. Bui understood rrom Agra whieli
u .|,iuir-i:'.'" P^puiju
running down Mohammad, Akbar wished him.
ii th €
in ami from Fatchpuran,
n, r K vvhcreT*
1
°f *•
o prophet and God by all his
i ,
;
self to he regarded lis
subjects This does nol mean thai he had shctl

destroyed aindcl temples which used
of his 111 itei ate Islamic fanaticism. to
any lumcrous. In place of Hindu very I
temple
counties
Akbar used to keep I lie maul vis guessing by tom bs and little shrines of wicked and
worthy
professing lo be impressed by other religions, This
Vjusalmans have been erected m which
those men
arc worshipped
with vain superstition
was his mode of making lie maul vis cower in the
I
as though
Akbar may at any time renounce Islam. If they were saints/'
fear that
the vereign look to another religion Ihcy knew This should convince historians that all
what the a fate would he. They would have been mediaeval Muslim tombs and mosques in Indy
either forciblyconverted or tortured- to death. In are erstwhile Hindu temples and mansions It
ludu that such a threat should be kept hanging should also persuade them not to believe in the
perpetually over their heads &o that they may not sophistry that Muslim invaders aimed at u fusion
raise >us objections to Akbar's despotic of Hindu and Muslim styles in the buildings ihcy
and licentious behaviour he used lo often parade a erected. It ts wrong, therefore, to explain away the
faked love for other religions. As part of this out and out Hindu architecture of Fatehpur Sikn.
ategem he used to have priests of other religions a*, having been born of Akbar's fancy for Hindu
surround him. This served a double purpbsi It
architecture. Firstly Akbar has been proved lo be
satisfied his vanity and egoism in being the as fanatic as any other mediaeval Muslim
throng of people Akbar
central figure admired by a Sccondlv. as Monserrate slates, even in
many and regions, and be rut

belonging to faiths times all Hindu idols and motifs used to
secondly kept the Muslim maul vis at bay this context whei
it -ly disfigured. In
make-believe. mission
or in leash. As pari of his thai in 1580 when the first Jesuit
ar i
Monserrate records, that when the Jesuit priests and «»the fathers perceived from £
m> to the palace precincts "Akbar (went
i
their quarters, and) prostrated himself on l*JJ

1
i-
or Fatehpuram...they began to ga*
est delight upon the great «V nd
f*™^
™ U*
ground in adoration of the Christ and his mother- appearance of the en B
5 P. 26, ihc Commciitwriu*. W*

6 P. 27, ibid*
* I
'
* ommcniariuft, ibid,
328 329
Fatchpiu Sikri was a grand inhabited city even sWC ar

temporal and spihtUtl
alt
before nSO, When lhal is so Muslim accounts vieitce

and adherence to Akhan.
fa
*' ***<- ? T
saying auhpur Sikri was completed by 1583-85 and of course it ceased l**u fl0
t0 say.
I
to 'f
concoction* veil after completion Akbar...The whole
irc,
.11 I
how ^cath of ichc^Clh^
,hc
many years woutd take tor about two ridiculous vanity, a

it
hundred
thousand people to occupy the city and hold regul-
mc of rn^Z^t,
ar bazars as Fatehpur Sikri
Monserrate states
7
is stated to have had
"wliai ever pertains to

?
imr cstramed
Smith
autocracy The Divine
Unument of Akbafs folly, notllf
right in dubbing the
is
Din-e-Uaht at .
J^ Faith 1
(
*
i
digressions from the direct course o( my narrative sham political religion arising out of
AkbaVi
J have gathered primarily from King Zclaluddin ridiculous vanity and monstrous autocracy.
<Akbar) himself." This explains wh\ he attributes •»The truth that Akbar's pretended
is
'religion'
Fatehpur Sikri to Akbar As a vain egoist Akbar essentially in the assertion of his personal
consisted
wouldn't confess that he lived in a second hand
supremacy over things spiritual as welt as things
Hindu township conquered by his grandfather
temporal (He assumed primacy of the Mtttlim
Babur He misrepresented it as having been
faith by means of the infallibility decree),"
newly constructed by himself Apparently disma-
10 Bartoli writes on the authority of his mis*
yed at seeing no sign of recent construction
Monserrate exclaims that if it was so constructed it sionary bretheren that Akbar, summoning a general
council "sent a distinguished old man to
proclaim
must have been raised overnight as though by divine
quarters... - the law to be professed through-
magic with material fashioned in distant quarries in all
four degrees of
and silently piled and fixed in place. out the Mogul empire ....The
in radii*
devotion to Majesty consisted
His
"The number of adherents of the Divine Faith.
fi
and religion.
to sacrifice property, life, honour
Akbar's political sham religion, was never conside- ui *
^
give *Jf
rable. Blochmann has collected from Abul Fazal The above four requirements
mud, boc£
and Badayuni the names of 18 prominent members. picture of what Akbar,
Raja Birbdl being the only Hindu in the list.. .The was. He wanted everyone *~
organism cannot well have survived the murder honour, property and ;
religion
"^^ „,,..
Abul Fa*al (because according to Badayuni

he Akbar's mercy and disposal.
*?££* aod
was an areh flatterer who mobilized people

to was renouncing the authority
oi
nd P ropw
^^
qazis. Surrender] us life *
7. Momciuic\ introduction to the ComnicnUrius
». I
i tfM60i Akbar the Great M«yul, by Vincent Smiih. 9. P. 153, Akbar the Great W gul, i*"*
ibid 10. Pp. 152-154, ibid.

531
wealth and extend

his
« MIS w increase
of surrendering
hH
Ml , hnpKcation 0n c\
undertaking not to object to Akb^,
SSTîb for sodomy and lifting wonici,
ivnuind if any.
for his own or his courtkn'
from ihc.r n.nniics
or gOCSte* harems. Allauddin who ruled over D»i

Khilji -
h
was tMit natural, therefore, for a few abject generations before Akbar had ,j miiarlj * * **
11
Abul Faxal and Birbar, to
flatterers alone, like
conditions of despotic
fhe sec, desire to displace both
Moh^^
kowtow to those humiliating Allah himself But Akbar and
Allauadin both
autocracy. Thi> was no religion but a ganging up failed to be hailed as spiritual leaden. Tha
r personal
aggrandizement. remained what they were, namely cruel sadist
With a view to make the Islamic priesthood tyrants and despots. They failed to inspire any
11
"at the end of June 1579, dis- spiritual allegiance because they had nothing
powerless Akbar. , tpiri-
them. Their entire make-up wiftur un-

placed the regulai preacher at the so-called chief lual in
mosque in Faichpuri Sikri. In order to emphasize restrained licentiousness.
disposition of spiritual leader of the nation, to A typical instance of how Indian histories
which he laid claim, (he) availed himself of certain
are based on wishful thinking and unverified hearsay
alleged ancient precedents and resolved to recite the ta "Akbar showed equal
is the following passage :
khuiba himself. The use of the ambiguous phrase religious men of all creed* and
attention to
Allahu Akbar gave colour to the most extreme for the suppoi
grant of subsistance allowances
criticism... Even Abul Fazal admits thai the innova- id«
Hindu, Jain and Parsee scholars, saints.and
tion aroused much uneasy feeling .At times he Mata* i
institutions as well as those of
allowed himself to fancy that in his own person he n^m
had bridged the gulf between the finite and the
Infinite and skilful flatterers Abul
His learned
testified
edicts
by a number or
preserved in K.M.
M«y
^ ^* To
extant royal
erl
nU
Fazal. Faizj and the rest were only too willing to
entitled Royal Firmans i«-J^ £
lull In. mind with such
notions, and he after the
Hindu scholars, and same*
anc
other pari*
«
^ ^^m
manner of kings swallowed flattery with pleasure." Hindu temples in many .
wmi w
must have been made tollo '
Ucd
e term "Allahu Akbar" means "Allah U granbdeeds hi« I*
:ely most of the
nately
f
jreat: But it also connotes that "Akbar himself
Vol. I v
'
12. Pp. 238-239,
II l»P 125129, Shrlvasuwa.
ibid
S
Or:l«-M5
.132 »3
«*». «««m ncgloc. and wear and , ear

of *£%!£* *" h '«
«•
tunc *>'"., Ie
time.
The assumption that Akbar treated all religions

to tf
threshold
h
f off the
s ou ,..
f
i
bul
.
palace he
^m n <£t**"+*
. **«ittii *..
*°»*hi
tli re
f
mdif.
on a par is wrong. Throughout this book Wc have
quoted many contemporaries and many events
; or ld
;llld
of usury,
ponderous swoops,
extortion,
|
n
mi^
^ J* t
J
proving that Akbar was a fanatic Muslim and a dangerous travel-modes

md * ai £*! ii
cruel tyrant If his equal regard for all religions second visit to
pay a the emperor.
sought to be defended on the ground that he Evwff?
is
u-visil were undertaken there
,
*ano«Zf
always used to have at his court monks from
^(T
an audience would be granted, or
various creeds like Christianity, Zoroast nanism and
Jainism. we have already pointed out that Akbar
had those men all around him for two chief
:
frau-
emperor was in good heahh w *^ .„
Very often Akbar to be used
thai"
<
i
u |n
„„ ^
,,,„.
rf
all these
difficulties a second visit did
materi the
dulent reasons. His vanity ingratiated by having
I
felt
same game of empty assurances used to
his own person surrounded by men from different
all over again. There was a tacit undersi...
faiths and regions, looking up to him for protection
between Akbar and his officials thai Im onk
and favour Their presence was also meant ot be
a constant threat to the Muslim maul vis that if
pretending to be fair and genr u ere not m
to be executed. The visitors themselves, ever
they ever ventured to assert I heir religious autho-
A
though sorely disappointed in finding thai
rity over the emperor he would embrace some
orders were for mere make-believe,
i
other religion and then wreak vengeance on them.

and inscrW
The gambit of moving bishops of other faiths preserved or paraded those orders
like pawns into his ambii was a part of Akbar's

them on shrines so that the} mayicwi
to proton »"
nefarious political game. scarecrows and totems
and (ft*
from molestation
Moreover, it has been shown by us that
their shrines
once »*
Akbar's decrees insofar as they professed to give
official marauders who might
taken in by those fake orders beiafl mm
generous donations or protection to people or value.
their mere show
shrines of other faiths, were all sham and make wl
Akbar twd «*
believe.
out.
They were never intended to be carried
That is why we find priest after priest coming
Soon after
regard for all religions and
asset tins
. ..,,.
thai
p.
^^
and over and over again begging for abolition of adds "-Akbur every *&*£*« i***"
the discriminatory Jiziya tax,
and protection from »ry of prophet Mohammad !
Muslim atrocities, Akbar had no scruples in

appearing to be very sublime, generous, forbearing.
13. R 244, ibid
m
m
idca of subordination to j
that he remained a fanatic Muslim. Had he ftie
n KClar.
scCl1 |ar. (By that
thai decree
^cr^.
heen so he would have equally meticulously n .JJ '
Q^ bar
Akbar was authorized to
served and celebrated the birthdays of Lords p r(ymini..
n
'hlt)ii»,
Rami provided lhai
'"••I
and Krishna, revered by the Hindus who formed oJ law

that it wa
* a8 „ <-
^coT ^V
a vast majority of Akbar*s hapless subjects. On
the contrary Akbar is known to have paid at
superficial homage to Christ and Mary but he
least
vcl se
vcrsc
ad on
dld H
of the Quran..
,t,
Quran.. The
Akbar
make
wide
him a
1 h, decree
powers aand
mujtahid,
m
n!
i
in its o
,,
^
'l
l"
COn,
1
<"-
'"%ii
•
1
1
1
",
.
,
Hind
diitg
supreme head „rthc

;
mU ch less the
never prostratedhimself before Hindu or Jaj n Musi
idols.
expediency.
The reason is again found
He wanted to
in his political
humour and hoodwink
^bu»F.»l admit, that the two
great dissatisfaction and unrest
1 '
£££*
the Portuguese because he desired from them The above passage
a is B clear Amission ha .
continuous supply of their superior armament for Akbar remained at the core of his
,
m
heart a fitnoi
his aggressive campaigns and he sought exit and All that he craved was .upreme
Muslim. pontifical
entry facilities, specially for the Mecca n pilgrimage authority over the destinies of men to do just what
at the west coast ports which the Portuguese he pleased unhampered, unquestioned or unobject-
controlled.
ed to. He continued to think cxcfusiu-ly m terms
M **On Friday June 26. 1579
(Akbar mounted of he I Koran and the Muslim law, Therefore all i
the pulpit in the grand Jami Mosque of Fatehpur talk of bis trying to synthesize all religions or
Sikri and recited Khutba (proclamation). pay equal respect to all religions is sdf-contradic-
Accord-
ing to Badayuni Akbar stammered and trembled lory bunkum.
while reading it and had to be helped descend the Birbai ***
lfi,
*Frorn amongst the Hindus tml)
pulpit. He asked the khatib (priest) to read the as
came a disciple. So serious a historian
remaining pan It was believed by some
emperor was inspired by some ulterior motive..,
(hat the
asserts that by means of bribery
and
**
1^»
more or less prominent converts
Within two months of the reading of the Khutba
Akbar took the bold slep of declaring himself to (Cambridge History of India. * IW
meam willing
be the chief interpreter and arbiter of the Shar or
Muslim law
called
This was done through a doeumeni
Mahzar, to which he secured the signatures
îd
fee one's life
a
thai if discipleship
he was
Person had to approach
already one .
the cm]
r
^
^
|
!k
n
of the prominent ulema hand, and place it at the ep*«£ pbcc the
of his court... Badayuni
correctly emperor would then make hn« \ ll[Kn.
observes he was not inclined to brook hm fl|(
an on his head and give

U I'P 240-244, Vol. I, Akbar the Grem, ibid by
. i
J-
vl sh«W
sl
15. Pp. 255-257. Akbur,
331
cause they nmted Akb.^ '

Ulfl name of Akbar and does not prove*
nfolk
—
cneraved Uic
1
h -
';
..
M
re
hu Vkhar- .
Din-c-Jluli. vra by no
-
m^ £ founder of anj new
^^ y
r; i <
Attfc.ni... i. Wtt
ra ther
proves that he was t
he
{*** -.** :,„
Perhaps was veoeta- p human decency. *°«*«U| „£
Uôfderwliosc^rpose f
"
rion for author
its
must be remembered that
[t
iil.
the learned author. The
\\c fully agree with inverted even himself. Had h, rZ!?**' Ida,
initiation proves that Din-c-tlahi

verv Mie* ©f
demanded subjection to Akbar's person and
total
rclig ion
he would have declared
everybody else, to be the first
' *•
CS
adW ',
***
adherence 10 any rules of conduct Mansirgn's
,ot religion, and that he was no longer to
He s&w very clearly t, be r<
remark too it revealing-
, Muslim.
He would in that cist
Akbar demanded only personal
loyalty sans reli-
name and
tit 2S!
his own that of his vim I''
n. sans morals and
sans scruples which all his and chilZ
He would have driven out the MusUiaeldgyS
courtiers and others conceded to him in
oges,
replaced it by that ol his new faith, had
measure even without his ostensibly asking for beta
it
fti]|
reality, With Akbar's pretensions to sainthood
it because of the dread of Akbar's vengeance.
d his great military might he could hit &.
renou-
Akbar further desired them to swear by it.
ed thousands had he really founded any new
nce their fear, if any. of Muslim priests outlawing
ft
even as Muslims tortured and threatened millions

any of his immoral practices, and holding him m
were divinity all over the world to join their faiih.
such awe and respect as though he
.If In view of what we have said above we hope
not authors, scholars, students, teacbea

One who flouts an existing religion is that
Teiiib
nccc sarily tbefoundei if anothei religion Take examiners of history would stop making a
in fe " uc
he instance of a son conform to
who refuses to of Din-e-Ilahi as a religion, and see it
Mobs
mother's or grandmother's orthodox rules on colours namelv thai was a system (a*
it
and tc en» *
the specious plea that as a •modern' he did not for the destruction of souls
ate says) >
to Atwr
believe in antiquated notions of religion, and that complete surrender and submission j
he had his own That callous disregard

religion. ^ of one's life, property ^ ^X% **
our
for the religious susceptibilities of the elders by 8 no stretch of imagination can this <
thoughtless youth amounts to the uprooting of U

old, established religion bin does not in the lcast
g«on. Nor can
be glorified
it
on
*as a pernicious system which create
an>
^^
amuunt to the founding of a new religion. several
h «wd all around and led to
the same anal <>y we may say that Akbar's haughty
be-
rejection oft! authority of fanatic maulvis
C£WM£.
339
Chapter .07//
,
AbulFaizi 3. Todarmal 4 u
Tanscn9. Hak.m Humam.

I hir)n r
THE LUSTRELESS GEMS already mentioned

It is
ahm-c
have the slightest ***
n0t regard for
had any memorial
m* f
*«
Like every Olher aspect of Akbar's reign some of them raj^T,
* N
Akbar, and none of them ha\ C v« h.
historical texts try lo boost Akbar as a great patron
,lrT|
bT
oecn
emulated by posterity. Huottd *
of arts, literature and able men. Am such we are
lotd that his court was adorned among others by Abul Fazal Ailami was the
so
nine men who were veritable gems whose lustre Mubarak. He was horn Sbnkh
near Agra d„" !
shed additional glory on Akbar's benevolent (sic)
1
reign.
1551 and was ambushed and
Crown Prince J changes orders on Aueuu
Z^S *
9 11
The evidence on record proves that they were 12, 1602 while proceeding from Suraj Burkivill^
all worthless panders, stooges, flatterers and oppor* to Antri six miles away,
tunists who by their abject subjection to Akbar's
autocratic despotism had ceased to have any con- Abul Fazal was an Arab. His jncesirr Sheikh
science or scruples. Must was a resident of Arabia. In the m

century his forefathers accompanied some Muslim
A 1 1 he outset we have Akbar's own appraisal
invaders to Sind. From there Abul Fazal's grand
• f thewonhlessnessof his ministers. He says *'It was !
Sheikh Khiz. an itinerant Mir moved 10

fattier
grace of Allah that 1 found no capable minister,
Nagor near Ajmcr. There Sheikh M> (father
otherwise people would have considered that my
of Abul Fazal) was born. Soon after hi
measures had been devised by him/* Since Abul
faiherand other member* of the family perished in
Fazal, himself one of Akbar's ministers and classi-
« famine. Sheikh Mubarak in hn
fied as a gpm\ has recorded Akbar's none-iot-
l
so«ul
reached Ahmcdabad and stayed there for
complimenlary appraisal of his ministers there
Km Later he moved to a village mi
should be no doubt that they were all lack-lustre
'îng shelter with a fakir, a Sunni btil W"*"**
DOS undeservedly boosted by doting historians.
Reports of his beuv
10 »hc
Shi, sect.
The nine individuals often classified as special "*** The bittr
conveyed to Akbar.
class gems (sic) of Akbar"s court are: I. Abul Fazal Mn*
**the Shias ordered Sheikh
**h that Afcbjrg &
1
* 2 Akbar the Great Mogul, ibid. ?. Kl. Akjwr. Mubarak convinced
•tod
U»n*l.
387. v„i tu Abul Fail's Am-i-A
1(b trl
'
^ murdered
m Abul two young *
left his
turned 1
lugiu
Fazal at Agra and
1 fey H. S Jarrci
34)
340
Towards the end of i«
te ,
shelter with Salim Chisti. The younger Ab *
fled to seek
le was introduced
died. H*g
of the two was
A hul Fazal. I
to footfci
elder brother FaizL **The courtiers

Akhar in 1574 by his
were against
introduced
jeftaogir AbuTpa^ ^m
Abul Fazal when
a,
fir*t Akbar, to
by Jehangir to Abul Fa
make any
visit
*alt:
An
**£
in 1574 A. D.
failed to impression on
|eiU
opportunity to charge f1 L?*M**
Faza|
Akbar. Abul Fazal cursed
sure thai once he go! an
his fate since he was
opportunity to be near
entering the house he "foniT^!
copying commentaries on then
* r lcr
* bui
vk-i
'
1
'^^ excel
Akbar he could worm his way into Akbar' s heart.

>
,
follow him at once, he l0ok ^Sihem
hei ?,
Expressing his keen disappointment at being spur-
t
an d showing the copies Jehangir mpeT0 '.

/
ned by Akbar Abul Fazal records in the Akbarnama me
,ii
Fazal teaches quite different
is Abul
s "As fortune did not first assist me
almost became 1 f
m
practices in the house.' **
'
*hai he
selfish and conceited. The pride of learning had
made my brain drunk with the idea of seclusion. This incident perhaps
convinced aw.
The advice of my father with difficulty kept me Abul Fazal was the right man **
to be Lt *
back from outbreaks of folly. I was sick of the
learned of my own land
1
This shows how Abul

where Machiavellism was a dowt^
Fazal hankered for a life of luxury and royal patro-
-Towards the end of 159: A, D.
nage at court. Akbar «-
moted Fazal to Du-Hazari (i. e, to a status of a
"When Abul Fazal was introduced at court at
commander of 2,000 footmen). He now belonged
Agra Akbar was busily engaged with his prepara-
to the great amirs (Umra-i Kibar) at court.
tions for the conquest of Bihar and Bengal. Abul
Fazal attended court immediately on the emperor's His father died at Lahore on Sunday, Septem*
return to Fat eh pur Sikri where Akbar happened oer4, 1593 at the age of 90.
to notice him first in the Jami Mosque."
Two years later Fazai's elder brother E
About Abul Fazai's innate knack for flattery also died, at the age of 50 (October 5. 1595.J
which ingratiated him with emperor Akbar Bloeh- In the reign Fazal wa*
43rd year of Akbar's
rnann notes in the preface to theAin-i-Akbari Se nt \luwd
on active service for the first time. Prince
"Abul Fazal has far too often been accused by ha <i not managed matters very well m Uic
European authors of flattery and even of wilful
concealment of facts damaging to the reputation
a
^ therefore Fazal was sen! to return
with
tlie<mr*ro
of his master." êxcessive drinking caused
*n amved if
^Y. On the day thai Abul ?w\
Preface, AiiM.Akbari, Vol. Ill, translated by H.
BJoclunitn.il 3- Preface, ibid.
XftTjCera
343
542
dared not approach his own

, okos from Daulatabad
on the banks of rather 4 m r
tliat Ahul Fazal would prejudice
fc 1r
"
died.
py( urftd
Fazal continued the AVh?
jehangir by some
'
"tcrcd into a ueaty with Chund insinuating ZTl ttfi
™t
insl
,
almost barred from approach uu'*' UI
5Rj»*n regent of the Nizamshahi king-

Jehangir plotted Abul
ft,
Fail's mJe'
" 1Cr
Hindu
dom of A hmednagar.
Abul Fazal had all lire v«s that a
Inlhc j7ih vcar of
Akbar's reign Abul Fazal man ahnu( fiq
a Muslim court could have, M c is fiunoui
mtcnt to send him against prince for his
,*« ret tiled mtJl gluttom It is said
that exclusive
in revolt and uf water he
, Jehangir who was then ,
consumed daily 22 scerl of tood When he

was
up a* emperor in Allahabad. Hear-
him^cll
I *ct
camp in away from Akbar; ai. the >upreme commander
u Abul Faial had started from Ins of the Mogul army in t'nc Dcccan "his tabic luxury
10 counter hi* revolt, Jehangir
asked Bir TO
I he wnitfl exceeded all belief. In an immense tent one thou-
SinghDeo Bundcla to ambush Abul Fazal and slay
sand rich dishes were daily served"'
tamos he passed through the Bundela's Orchha
principality. Abul Fazal had a foster brother anil two otj
brothers born uf conaihmes kepi by ho futiier
\hu! Fazal and his part> were set upon from

Sheikh Mubarak, He had also at least four sisters.
all sides while Abul Fazal lay under a tree. Fazal
so far js is known.
received 12 wounds and was finally transfixed with
a spear His head was severed from the body and That Akhar consul *%»*££
forwarded to Jehangir
great glee flung in a
in Allahabad,
heap or filth. That was
U
Jehangir with importance map dip *"?*22f?m
p-.rhaps deserved divine punishment for a mouth
which had sung undeserved praises of a degenerate
on Jd.angir tor
because he had
&Sêrt
^ <%"£&,«.«< ,h<
«ver n»4y
A) bar and burdened history with heaps of shame- with »"" ™" I I
to curry favour
less falsehood*. mud, .oh-n,
one didn't mauer ,0 * n
hurt Anul I"'*"
1
„„ -.in
Jehangir
held Abul Fazal in great dread.
^'winjMhat he held Akbar's confidence Abul
contemporary P^'M^m" *' now. *»
art lued to
brQwbeaUehangJT and tick him off and
rm**rvtag.
oj**
at Aktar's court
Wf
,
«J AkUffi presence
in the supercilious maimer
Ahul ',...„ ,,.,iu "ap**'"*"*-
welWuher Conscious of Abul laithk-.,.^" " 1 11
""-,, „,,„;„:
., Batterer K-'" 1
Ibid.
Hc4 ^«n clirollk,c
ihttlwuiL
«*» work Abul r
Fazal w* s i t
With (he ^^
his Memoirs
he 4 P. -""
X '' „ Bnaiy«n*'»
344
143
Thus most European authors, Jehniiifr

and w^re he could make and at
Badayuni arc unarm nous in certifying that as well as reU.n for
Abul oth ers him* elfa l
Fazal wjv a shameless rattcrcr.
^
of
position with the emperor so lhw ***. ^
h is therefore That \in-i-Akbari chronicle
hit bask in the sunshtneof impend **
of Akbar^ reign must be kindled with great, * Hindu
cauti- These conside r.t.ons made
on. I here are many things thai Abul Fatal has Abut f
niorc or a confirmed flatterer
skipped over or grossly misrepresented Following
25ith "term
day at court Abul cway '
in the footsteps
passing Fwa| maiuied
of his elder brother Faizi who used
ex p erl at matching his
*
tocompose poems in Ubar\ praise Fazal hit upon fulsomc „
e
lhc changing moods
the idea of singfng the cm ptror's praises
jnjprose.
Gradually and unwittingly he found himself writing
fa nc,cs wMia*
mc nis of Akbar. The resulting Aktanni

t
££
»
highly imaginative accounts of happenings at therefore, not a truthful account of Akh. 2 -r --^
Ak bar's court. These he would show to Akbar. but a vs ishful concoction. All those who tm care
The latter gratified in finding J flatterer academic truth, and hate falsehood must bear thU
who could
effectively present his cruel and crafty deeds man in mind when handling Abul FazalV |
rccable shroud of fabricated glory to hood- matter any Muslim chronicle.

wink the people at court and the general public,
Inorder that his cuj>hy and strategic assign- TJ
suffered Abul Fazal to continue his literary
ment may never end Abul azal kepi mflafu)
I
ficuon. Thus both Akbar and Abul Fazal
colluded
expanding the chronicle into an iiuci m in iibk account
in fabricating a fraudulent fabric of of tents and shamianas, bazar rates, market g
Akbars reign, now known as Akbamama or couti rumours, religious discussions,
Ain-i-Akbari Dick
concocted sayings, accounts of Toms,
undertaking this labour of love Fazal assu-
In Harrys at court and everything d*
«* **
conceived. Like Penelope's ** * '.j I
red lor himself a cosy and easy job at court or ££
with all luxuries from kitchen
delicacies to the
proximity of a teeming harem at the royal court,
wauled the account to end until
he or a
It is therefore that lie neve. quoJ«

^
^Vl^
thrown in for good measure.
also a good excuse
This occupation was and his statist.es about
rates arc
™*»£^*
« ec
for him to shun all field assign- revenue and bazar
ments where intrigues, incessant warfare, privations vague.
and usics made life precarious.
not tninj
L -
l ,r tit M
Smith say s^-I do
Staying court writing the empror's panegy-
at
appraisal of Abul Faal)!*
1 * 1
ric* also ensured for him a strategic position from

undine Rlochmnnn's opinion lo rhc
contra 347
ihc author of the SI
Akbarnama and Am-i-Afch
was a consummate and shameless flatterer.
Almost
,
— - -« ^
bu| F
considered detrimental to
rs -Abul Fazal displays
Akbar's unbh,
running down Bchranj
^J!
i
renown i»re suppressed, glossed over, or occasion- *lko(

(to Kha
ally even falsified Kb books are one-sided panel ...and even lavishes unsiinicd
'
gyrfci Aotil Fazal availed himself of i nc Mohammad, the worst of

liberty Akba r \ Pi r
allowed h\ hi- £jon in his relatioriswith period,"
l!
women Btthia
•-
--r ,
He had rhc canonical tour wives.

at teflSl
He had
.. prodigious appetite rivalling thai of '•'The same Abul
who t Fazal
Sultan
Mohammad Bighara of Gnjerrat (Footnote: He tious deed (or Maham A nBff h ,
married Hindu and Kashmiri wives,

Persian of Akbar's harem slau.htcrm^wobc^K" 1
in
addition to a lads or Jn honourable
house He
"
led Hindu women U. tamed
mba/Bahadw =1*?
says the cxira contorts were occasions hom, after defeat mgB.zBahudmMta
of great joy ,
him An Vol HI. page 449... He had a good son Adham Khan sought to appr.
conceit of himself as appears from
..^
the concluding cocking a snook iit Akbar. An enraged Aihw
paragraphs or the autobiography, found journeyed way from Agra to Central India
all the
in Ain to
Vol 01, 417-451) secure the entire haremofBaz Bahadur for Mimdf
^
His general Adham Khun Surprised by tkcmptr
unexpected visit surrendered all the women en
The reader may well assess the character of
an thetwo cho ice beaut ies mentioned iib en Alt-
Abul Fazal who was a glutton and a
'shameless bar was informed of it he ordered tbatAdhai
flatterer* and who wielded
unlimited power in an
be brought to book. Maham Anag
at it. ,tc seething vs ith intrigue,
and who smacks much of accounts of Akl
in flattering
li
;
academic lips in nostalgic delight recalling his had those two women murdered in cold r m
lecherous rexclries with a wide assortment of villainously observing that 'dead uomeati
women, aome of whom at least, according to his Aktw
own confession, were of
ô that her son mav besaved front
,11 fame and mean status,
by pleading that the women concerned
'Urse when Abul Fazal mentions a lady of an
been retained bv him but had
house he means a Muslim woman.
I
ers wh... he
implies, were rtol of an honourable
» not ashamed to praise mew"1 '
Abu.
were abducted and kidnapped P«acity of the guilty woman/
Hindu women wfers to Maham Anaga am
•ding lo tin: jargon
Mushm chronicle
and terminology of
A*»gn in glorifying terms
such » P
,M
* P. 33. Akb.tr the Gred '
7
P 8ft, ihid.
348
149
vfftU&' They deserved his meed because, knowing Notwithstanding the

»*• 2£
fine
as we do Abut nazal's Licentious weakness f0r general tolerance which occupy *<*»* 4**
iHris
women, was but natural for him to be supplied

it
writings of Ahul Fazal "g»ipi*
the and T** m
with a wide assortment and variety of abducted
tht «Buc
Akbar t
mat acts of f, C r ce
sweet-hearts from Ak bar's ever-growing harem committed
Hmrjy
pool, by Those two women and other so-called v, i
»=Abul Fazal mel his

nurses who managed the women-herd. death in the
s2nd
uttfuif
pf his age
The theologian wim
8 * *A Fazal slurs over the
bul crimes of Pj r
Mohammad and laments "so loyal, able and gallant
to WW?*
spiritual
<° A^bar
as well as the lempnral
the
\
idea of m£
a man underwent such a fate* {namely, was drown*
people, succeeded in 1574, by meant of*
gu,daio fh t
ed)."
commentan in attracting the
Um
attcnti. ,^
•**Abul Fazal relates this horrid barbarity (of emperor. Having once entered on the road to
Mohammad Miralc being tortured for five successive advancement he took good care la bob hii
days by being trussed up in a wooden frame to be continual progress, His favour at court became so
tossed and flung by an elephant) without a word marked thai the Jesuits speak of himasuVw
of censure," Jonathan." Incidentally ihe fact that a atujj
the Koran proved to be Abul Fa/ulS p.i^pftfi to

V
""'At Shahbad, midway between Thaneshwar
and Ambala, on a tree adjoining Kot Kachhwaha Akbar's heart proves once again thai Altai N
Shah Mansur (Akbar's Finance Minister) was never ceased to le a fanatic Muslim.
solemnly hanged (on a charge of treason), Abul »"Ahu] Faial's prose style, as read hi
Fazal suppresses the informal ion that he was Bevcridac's translation of the Akbani--
entrusted with the unpleasant duty of execution able to me. Sirrbk facts are iffappca '"
J * icjJ
which is known only from Monserrate." Tins adds of almost meaningless rhetoric.'
a new dimension and a rare 'lustre' (sic) to Abul
Fazal's versatile genius for he has
described as a womanizer, flatterer and glutton, and
now he turns out to be even a hangman. He was
been earlier Even .hough Indian author,
arc not m, oulspken as bm*»
"uMims Lire
Muslims
>»
uc aPP™'^, .,* lh «
io be
arc to
8
^
«*i f
M™ |
|(
truly a
demand
minister since lie ministered
He was
to every Dr. Sitrivastavrt
and
book
encompWHiigthttt
eiconipassnigtUref
titled "
^
^ ,„,,,
nf Akbar.
ready to play any part
pen-pushing to stabbing and hanging.
thus a perfect factotum
at Akbar's bidding front fttt
its
is si/c.
si/e.
he has o spechiH)
\inil Fazal yet even in
wjfl
hi
a^Jj k
^ h0-»
now*-
'' tones come in for adverse
S. P. 42. ibid. 9. P. 58. ibid. 10. Pp. 1J7-M2,
'«- p. maid. '2
*»* )'
151
J 50
Since there were no record « isi
r ni
Hctitfoua Vkbarnamn
is
Abul Fajal ;md
Shrtvastavtt's reverence
apparent from Di.
for
ênce
qu ...,, on ol Ahul Fa, al
r
matenat does not

mrJ^ atem^
trilT^St
S aMava\s preface to his book
,
"Akbar t| lc
states "Abu| Fazal's
Tltf teamed author
Great.'
beingan executioner of
c Hindu
his colleag^"
Akbinn;]ma must alwajrs remain the most valuable and a shtelder ol
source (compared 10 other accounts) of
,
,
, (cr ,
H^hamnwd and Vtaham Anaga

mJd^^J- r
Akbart life and times 85 its author had made use Abul f *
hardly the man who would '^ 7* *»

state records and other dceumertta including
!
Tht
basing his
statements o n court
ic aide roemoires,
which included \erbaiim every- docao
meticulous regard for Tru , h wheit
thing that Akbar said 01
did and which was a W|
;
^gtnation could devjseand ^v lllcgrdndll

rccnrdiJ by writers who were
there mid I hen ^
These records and aide accounts of his master s nctitjout dory.
employed on this duty
mcmuii s have unfortunate!) perished, but Abul We. therefore find \ „ Smith's apnrai
Fa / ifs work remains as was, without any Perhaps even Vinccai
more accurate.
ii
Smith felt
diminuirik n (Vincent
ns Smith)
interpolation; propei vords which tould
the want oi exjutsihii
was Injihly distrustful of Ahul Fazal whom he
Igony on reading Abul Final's academic perfidy
unjust h accused of deliberate perversion of facts rr;
lhat goes by the name of -Ubarnama.
smd even of forgery."
Despite Dr. Shrivastava's rexercritulswc
Abul Fazal's historical genius he Is constrained to
D Shrivastava is wrong in thinking thar
verbatim r»c«rds of all that Akhar said or did word \bul Fazal's itvle is samewhal iJwohd
ll>
hi* patron
intamed in Akbar's time. The very fact and vitiated by his fulsome flattery of
that none of those records have come down to us whom he considered a superman.
ical
should be an eye-opener. That those records
ttshouldbeevide.it to anyone thai
perishci is as specious a plea as the
*d and devious style is always
the H>
winch maint.iins thai Akbar built a mighty
n
devious mind which strives hard
y billed Nagarchaui Much became so defunct
*«*£«„
-
thin his own Ntertn.il. by circuitous

lifetime as to leave not even the ofluiw
*ttg of iis locaiion. Similar is the case
wnh tic Agra which Sikandar
trace
Lodi. and the

winch Httmayun and Shcr
%oud
Secondly,
believed
it with
it
Akbar
is
the
to be
flurry
unjust to Abul
a sup;
lmlt W ¥atA
-
Shah are claimed

have founded We hope
studcnls. and teachers of had uorrec >
' history will no t hereafter pm pathetic faith

â superman. \bu1 Fazal
in such fraudulent
assertions,
'4. 'hiJ
|>
p 4c.b-409 f
353
J52
was murdered, not
.
i ux .
vengeful despot, and as a shrewd tomb, for whfch ^Z *>i*

•Ukir
^
;*s
m lific cnt
.1
ol lie world Abut Fazal took core to

tin
i
i.du vide of Akbur.
he could live
remain "
That was the only
uid live well under Akhar.
<
NV[l
i0C h a
^fve us a
proclivity This i„
gu.de to historians
slan
t« r
palat.aHombsareer,Uvhi,
> M^ ,
ttf
Akbar had no dearth of flatterers

Since
he
hardly mis^d hazal when the latter was murdered
Sled
Spies
5.
and mansions which came
of Muslim conquerors. 1n
tH
3
^
;
«**
*.
.
I Himh
Ic hi Dr. Shnvasiava remarks "Akbar

nip to this
did noi consider lum tAbul Fazal) indispensable
L«. where no Hindu palaces or l*^**
^.j ,rby -^'PP^dmthecaseor^Xj
did not always accept his nd vice, and more than
ishadioremaincontem^hhunprcC
Otice punished him publich by forbidding him
grave nu'unds. The> were noi as lucky
court. A unpretentious tomb was erected
small 1|S
over f Abul Fazal's) body" Even that triangular a^ts of Akbar, Jehangir, Muminz Begum or Hu- 1 0«
Jgyun iii gel lofty Hindu edifices far their
mound of and lime was not commissioned
brick burnt.
by Akbar but by some local VTuslims. Even thai When Jehangir exposed Abul Faial'i
tyj
was completely Ignored as is apparent from the crn y to Akbar the latter ostensibly fawned on
But Dr. Shrivasura fcchihat u
fact that only about 40 years back some archaeo- Hbul Fazal. -Thii
loai depart men t fliciafs tried lo locate Abul Fazal's

i |S
probably done to please Salim, for the
tomb guided b\ vague historical descriptions ol tortan uas restored io favour within a fa*
the amnuscade. They came across a cluster of s,' This is proof of the collusion betvi
tombs all around since in the ,000-y car- long 1 Akbar and A luil Fazal. Shrhuttm*! Wtf
Dr
Hindu resistance to Muslim onslaughts there are iluu Abul Fa/ul was a hisioriun. is howewmfe-
dusters of tombs found all over the country. The pliiced and unjustified.
Abul Fazal
archaeology officials bv an academic fiat arbitrarily (2) the elder brother of
Abul Faizi
identified one among several clusters of tombs as K reckoned as another gem of
Akbun court ™
lie which should include Abul Fazal's tomb The he
I said to have been a pJtt though
that one was half a fool or one foot taller than quoted or included in any respect^ «£*
the others in that cluster of graves clinched the I ,„,,„, ,„,,„ 0II September WW*
i sue with hem Thai grave has since then been
i
stamped in archaeological records as Abul FazalX

Introduced to Akbar in I*
hwl Jled \gra since he wa* &**
„"
'
j^
and official machinery was set into motion CO turn
ftalAkbui wanted to execute .
maintain that grave. A small room was then built

wmctime employed is atutoi
over the grave in
We
^ler was appointed Sadai
1 1
thus e how Akbar hardly cared even to

mark the sit where one of his much vaunted TTT46I. AkburllicGre.it-
ibid
' *
355
in the books of European

of (n ay |C
vcn
Indian authors based on
too)
nr mil
\mir
honoured with a poet laureate.
KhusnJ are
wn poets
reckoned as two
among Muslims
He an<J
noteworthy
mediaeval India.
in
Persian imtorians
man of Image
Yet
m
the
that Hindu
Indta^«utcr even
«K* tta,. A b
himself, inasmuch as the eonqt^t
to have authored 101 books. Such f the
heZ fl
properly and meticulously and minds of millions of men and women

darrw mu*t however he effected
believed. Ftuzi was at by the poet was an achievement infinite!) nu, rc
investigated before being
an envoj In 1592 visited lasting and important than any or all of lie vi
times deputed as lie
the t
He suffered from ries gained in war by the monarch. He does not

Deeean on one such mission
On Saturdy (October 4 or 5, 1595) he
:i
appear ever U> have been brought to the notice of
died at \yra. either the emperor or Abu) Fazal, Tulsittai

enjoyed no advantages of hirih, fortune or educa-
Vmcent Smith lias scant respect for Faizi's ^TO
10 tion, being the son of ordinary Bntlimn. p.nei
cticmuse He observes "The versifiers, or
who exposed him in his infancy to live or to
tailed poets fat At bars court J were extremely
because he had been born in an unlucky hour.
Abu Fazal tells us. that although
I
should be
Fate or providence willed thai the child
w did not care thousands arefor them, who gave
continually
picked up by a wandering mendicant,
M
at court," tn fact it is these fawning legen-
in the
him sustenance as well as instruction fl
leisineishanginft around for filthy lucre who

have
dary love of Rama.jAbul
Fazal #m **
'aken for series and chroniclers by
Jesuits. It is no wonder,
comem- extracts from the writings of
the *g >
therefore, that nn
ncyl records to talk of are have read in their English rift* ?£jg*£
»«aim What is found is
found of Muslim
a pile f panegyric
single sentiment
extracts include passages
worth
^*3ftr
taawt
t
Abul
J***- ^.
tto**
"toto* tin uxte Mo-
brother. FaiZK the -lung
•''
a)
.age possess little interest
Fazal considered to
»"* £ ^rf ** i"
\
Most of the authors Jf^ ^ Md 1
Fa,/t sinatn
KfcjE^
...
and '^l^nty of most of
tlic service of the
uoholjfp^" ^ pBROns who
that way like others.
-vianyn ^T of poor.
ofmtt? ,.' -''^'ircein the magic garden

H «~mcwill not be
*.i«;«,-^ iUa honour
h«
better i-m
claim to that
'° "
}k
title
.;.».
.
'f
has.
he î
,lhhm,composes
hvC
svords into
U S,d
_u
all
f
ifceAfaiaR^- far i
Muslim
I
"ie
annallii tv7,
wcliurvcn
m lne
"'? in the P
pages
a £ cs
,"
kr Proof of
ofranv
° any
the fanatic
acrostics
their pcrvc.
aorta
XiSBssZ'*
of shapes-
__ > ofmediaeval Muslim regimea)
1
P J* 92 ail
lAkbar,h
^^« Mogul, ibid
- j
3S7
J56
2£
constructing cunningly devised chronograms, and dependable stooge he '
n
« P'QVc*}
such like trivialities.. .Blochmann held lhal a fIrr

Amir Khusro of Delhi, Muhammedau India has
«^^l ke an n 8h
:i _ ,
5» and cajole proud R aj
^£?Sii
^ ^y+fc
it)
seen no greater poet than Faizi .Admit ling the ihcir daughters
rendering fo sur-
T
can only say that Mansingh ^kht Hind
justice of Blochmann's verdict, I y-a-time and
the other 'poets' of Muhammaden India must be
Wtt0
brought such daushwc .^ rffial them. ToTlV^'
selve* 1 ** them.
WQTth very little. They do not seem to to Akbar. In 1567
I* ihr„ u&h
have TodarmJ- at was
written anything with substance in it sufficient to subdue the impostor Sikondar dcpw
|0
SiiT
f Shah '
stand the ordeal of translation. All, nearly all of in the Ayodhya region.
He achi^/
them -"arc disgraced by the filth mess to which that and the subsequent camroiZ! m%
made " i„ ?
*****
allusion has been
|p him. Like Abul Fazal TodarrTal
Z
Vincent Smith has thus very effectively and
competently pricked the bleated bubble of fantastic
perfect factotum.
That was the
Akbaryavour. In 1^76 when Akbar
surest T^
eo££
claims about the literary merit of not only Faizi Gujerat he deputed Todarmal to see
that cnJ\
but of all Muslim author- In a 1,000 year* money was extracted from the Gujeratis to
seiiic
long rule in an atmosphere surcharged with coopera- ail claims, pay for all expenses of Akbar'saggrw.
tive conjoint chauvinistic flattery mediaeval Muslim sion and yet leave a handsome margin for the*. *>
chronicles, poetry, treatises and translations of treasury. Todarmal did such a thorough job
Hindu works, have been boosted as rare gems of u that an impoverished Gujerat was stalked by
Muslim scholarship. Smith effectively scotches an unprecedented famine. Akbar's chronicler!
these claims in pointing out thai the chronicles were bound to boost Todarmal's financial latent
rarely any truth worth the name and
contain the Inch squeezed the wealth of poor, downtrodden,
poetry rarely embodies any noble sentiment, defenceless subjects to fiil Akbar's treasury rod ui
imagery or melody. Readers who care for real WMain a parasitic nobility but that is no
history and nut communal fantasy must therefore
carefully examine all claims of mediaeval Muslim
% modern
Llud 'ng
authors in blind faith should
con
TodanoaTi
in lyrical rapture
imperial pressure propaganda It could be thai fr,
*ardry in the si rain. Vti
same old imperial
he expertise in astronomy and Sanskrit, geometry S «tith, obser
>^r thinker, rightly

i
an independent
and geography claimed in the name of authors Arrf*
systematic assessment of theentp«t
like Al Biruni and Badayuni ne gross exaggera- A
and Todarmal are given so «**«*
tions of art age of rampant illiteracy.
Charily intended to increase the impend
(3) Todarmal was a Rajput Kshauiya.
H tf
wa* firat employed on a minor post to KC*P ^252-254. Akb* the Great M**^'
358
m
,» a Khatri from privati
AkKtrwis a hard-headed man of business,
not u a murderous assault hatred
^
urinal in tk ,,nd
sentimental philanthropist, and his whole policy was cutdown ' 'art
,ncc
directed principally to the acquisition or power and Bt£
MI the arrangements about jagira, branding to which Todarmal

ties fhc lengths
(of horses) do* were devised for the one purpose favour w.th the Muslims may
,J^ m
r¥ h^tll
namely, ihc enhancement of the power, glory, and ,!,'
Lt
fact that
in Hindusthan where from
richesofthe crown. We do nol l"o\\ in ma]o r ||y
substantial about the actual effect of Im adminis-

rfthc
population was Hindu,
and^ ,
etnona accounts used to be

1||]m main(a
trative measures on the welfare and happiness of
tfpaous languages it was Todarmal who ^
\ ",
ihe common people Certainly they did not prevent tir
the occurrence of one of the most terrible famines

M'time -ordered that all govenment .c l
on record which desolated Northern India late in
should thenceforth be written in p m , an
forced his co-religionists io learn the court
the reign, from 1595 to 1598.' A Knit the revenue ianeJ
b &
of their rulers."
system devised by Todarmal which is praised sky
high in average Indian histories, Badayuni a con- Blochmann quotes Badayuni about Akbarh •
temporary chronicler notes that 18 the usurious Dig passed "orders that the common people
should
exactions were squeezed and 5£TCW0d out of the do longer learn Arabic, because such people were
pOiT subject^ with such ferocity that the wives and generally the cause of much mischief" ITcun
tiidren of the raiyats (peasantry)
were sold (as Akbar realized that perpetuation of Arabic caused
slaves* and scattered abroad, and everything was mischief in Hindusthan the same rule should apply
thrown into confusion. But the KronS middle |
Io Persian. Justifying the abolition ci \i
men) were brought to account by Raja Todarmal, Di Shrisvastava observes 31 that obviously Arabic
and man) good men died from flu sevue beatings could not be a
language of the people of India*"
which were administered, und from the tortures ©I Hut he forgets that Persian too is equally alien to
the rack and pincers. So many died from Ua India.
reve-
proctracted confinement bl the prisons of the
the
nue authorities that there was no need of Despite the Muslim line ii
Todarmai's toeing
executions t oi -wordsman and no one cared to find wi bc said io his credit that he remained
u
rgraveclothes... At the time of famine

1lfl
"nch Hindu to the end of his life. He W
their
and distress, patents were allowed to sell
*""''
children. & Ainl-hAkhari. Vol. 111. I odtfitth •*«*
at Abul Fazal as grandee No,
It is no wonder then that (on July 28, I5H7
WocIibm', comment t* AbuJ I
i
p 192. Vol. U. Bodtyunl'i chronicle, (bid Todarmal, ibid.
p-tt7. Vol. .thid.
1, Akbjir thedic:.!
OM
so
3ft |
to convert or
< «,n md n*btf« pressure sister was married
deM * ope"" Once when to J chanqrJr L
fully iin „ |slam sis'cr was married to k»
W * C ^l,l.canipa..n Punjab he folllld Akha r * **"*>*
^
alMht
l0
Hnkand
.doHand
pamphcmalit
p v
of worship missing
obvi4lUS y it was a subtle
for
|
Mansingh was
Akbar when
born
his grandfather
RhT,
at a ,
liiuj.
Zto£ imposing upon an orthodox

Of
his daughter to
sent against Rana
A&^KB .
*+«
had
Pratap an d
"*Z
f„ l
to cross swords wi.I, J J"*"*
three days in a state of
of Huid/ghat WneB
battle
Vansingh) was appointed
B^LZ^
nfl and water for
oT Mansingh commanded
governor ,
Hmb
his devotions.
for having missed ihcdnirfctsalo^thernduL
"JLttl tormem
Urtimaid he had to reconcile
himself to the Later he was sent to restore order in Kabul Hn m
uncle Bhagwandas dhgtmed wjih the readier), i
ntredloss. debauchery and fanaticism at the Muslim court

pin-pricks and affronts went mad, according to AbuJ Fazal, and bier
Disgusted bv such insults,
a harried T darmal resigned
and lived in Banaras stabbed himself At his death in 998 AJ-f. Mansingh
He did not however succeeded U the title of Raja On his Muil

tod Hard war hut was recalled for
live long thereafter At the age of 54, on November subordinates complaining against turn
lie *ai recalled from
pandering to their fanaticism
Hi. 1589 he died in Lahore,
ruer* of the region,
ruler
(4)
Bharmal.
Mansingh was the grandson of the Jaipur
two immediate ancestors
Like his
a hra\,e Hindu
patnotie a„<f bray H
«
m
nsmgh forgetting his proud Rajput tradition
•wielded the swoid of Islam" and allowed women '" ,nVa C »h„nc far hi
f ? ft««« Hindu
of his family to be lifted at will by alien Muslim
|
rulcTi and nobility m India. He was therefore Muslim OvWlwJ " |

ipuri for tIK ump.ccm
deepp. bated h, Rana Pratap. Once when he
*emio Rana Pi ibode to negotiaic "ii behalf
i
Akbur ii ( brave and patriotic Rana of indomit-
able ipim refused
iodine with Mansingh, a Muslim
"*. as he wiled him. Alter Mansingh's depar- wrested W» :1< ,
„, bury i- '<
,
nh ,. Jf
he had the
esiU, at the meeting place dug up*
^dand.hc dis- Man*"*' "
weoiils thoroughly cleansed and , f„
=d frutn the
contagion of slavery. Mansiflf
362
harried soul. Far from
Manbai his wife who was Ma ttsfngh's sister Man- since he --was sham^' ^^, 15
ch had plotted to prevent Jchangir from corning priests in the templc y«*«Cj
to lite throne and proclaimed Jehangir's son Khtisru.
emperor aftei Akbar'* death.
w
{||i
Akbar
n » ,yre,Urncd
s court
>oir^ u
thinking a ,
^^M4^" rc " of
Despite his having spent a « hole Lifetime In light- Mecca, with hisatt^L
attachi !*»toi«.' '
,
AkbarS battles and indirectly helping the spread down. -He
ing died
«S,n
,;"'<•
*"'S| J
,
of Islam Mansingh was deeply hated by Akbar. disillusioned in the

<J»
Once during a drunken brawl Akbar had tried to
throttle Mansingh.
of the
The lauer was saved because
of some other courtiers then
intervention
at Ahmcd.1*.
fortune.
Abdul RahimlCh
after
X r
°I>5^ I!'
present. In 1605 Akbar wanted to poison

Mansingh by administering him some poison pills.
of
6.
Behram
Rah.nrs fatl,,-,
an
Kha,,
Behram
£m ur-year T*
Kb*
**
Unluckily for him however Akbars perfidy boom-
^
kl,,„"
^
,
cranged on himself. He had prepared two doses

Akbar's instance though Beh
tL L «
of pills looking alike. One contained poison while

Akbar's faithful and »l« £*-
murder of Behram Khan the
the other was a harmless dummy. Through
Rahim was
W dfc,
oversight he swallowed the poison pills himself

his mother Salima
brought to Akbar's
«*,;
while passing on the innocuous ones to Man- Sultan who had then
singh in all confidence, ine result was that niily to play wife to Akbar. Unm. inc
Akbar died while Mansingh survived. Disgusted murder of bis father and abduction uf
with the lecherous and treacherous atmosphere at owed mother by Akbar and wwc:
the Muslim court Mansinglis son Jagat Singh and ireacherous court life Abdur Rahn hi*
a number of other descendants drank themselves life-time fighting ihe battles of Akbar i
to death, ing the sorrow and tedium of hb life by '
5. Mirza Aziz Kuka was Akbar's foster poems. He was born at Uhuie fa
brother. He rebelled against Akbar because of Abdur RnliinVs motto wasili.it one
Akbar's despotic behaviour. Aziz Koka one's enemies under the musk of
refused
him with malic«
to have his hordes branded with the All charge
imperial mark.
Apprehensive ol Akbar "i vengeance I™"
he left for taaess. He lies buried
1 ...
Dm on the pretext of capturing it |>nm il lv.rtu- called Humayun's tomb in *a

gucse. But instead he set sail in 1593
foi Mecca
iHfldj nh his many wives and a
dozen sons AIM Mb
and daughters to seek 345, Vol 111.
spiritual solace for his
2J.
f*.
P 360. Vol III. Aim

* m
164
L Hindu king U was m
when living.
had occupied
manfton which he
BhW*- ,s i,mi & alcd to ie ad *****
He lies buried in his own reside im The Hindu
Shakti hakra (the esoteric design made up of
two
seen adorning
its
ruler liirb ir led the '!' ^
interlocked triangles) may snli be I_ Hindu
mansion From he sacred
.dol in
il^JJ '
^
t
each of the four facades Of that

the (do rs canopy was riddled with
\\ n
its dome, adorned with
Fashion of the Hindu palace in
blue Hindi,
Gwalior fori). U
the time thai
tiles (in
is
invaders slaughtered 2r
shoes with i^c blood of the
co* &
Z^ ^*
slaughtered^
called Nila Burj by Muslims from
i;
came under their occupation. ed the

Id temple walls. Despite
inch
DeJ S^Jg *8
Birbar could not be foisted on the Nagaik^Z?
" j|! "
often referred to as Birhal in

he said to
rone I
7. Birbar is
As a sop is have been oflWerf .1
The two words arc quite differ-
popular parlance. and a jagir at Katanju. But he was not pern* Hi
ent, Birbar means a top-class warrior. Birbal enjoy even that. In I5»3 he w; i^
to
In eon* l0
means the strength (or grit) of a warrior. td an expedition against I he rebellion! Ywufhi
temporary Muslim chronicles the
name Birbar is
Afghans on tlmdusthan's northwest froniiw n
used. He was born in 528 in a poor Brahmin
1
As a wasslain in that expedition The self-appointed crnm

family. original name was Maheshdas.
His
entourage of Raja chronicler Badayuni in rabid!) fanatic und tarty
young boy he joined the
When Akbar Islamic style remarks that "Birbal the ini
Bhagwandas of Ambar (Jaipur),
the other infidels in hell mju« rdiihuiiot
Birbar joined
ascended the throne Bhagwandas presented »i*
many misdeeds:' Badayuni u«s the
used to style
to Akbar. At that time Maheshdas
for his
himself as Brahmakavi (poet of the universe).

rose from a mental position at court to the
He
rank
intemperate and abusive Imgo*
to the death of any Hindu/For
when
»«*
of a grandee because in him Akbar found a ready to the deaths of Raja
Bhagwand^n fad
tool and a perfect factotum ready to execute any

days
in Lahore within five .
the
job or manAkbar* s
at command. Like Abdur November 1589. Badayuni Pf
l -
*
'"
.,,
«.*.-««! ofhelM
w "*
Rahim, Maheshdas also used to relieve the agony taenedtolheabodeofheMJ^
^hastened rt <*»
lo the abode,
**» mS
of his heart by composing poems. In 1574 he was it! the lowest pit became ihefoi^
ilw^*^;. |
Light to be foisted as the ruler
tupercestion of Nagarkot's lawful ruler Jaichatid.
of Nagurkol in
scorpions. May God scorch them
lidUi
^ ^*
li was a common high-handed practice of Akbar
feems to be unaware of the
^^,1, liifl
"ic Hindus who,accoiui..e

away a reigning Hindu
will monarch's king *"' ^
^t"ld not have been so jit***
dom tuh i& own puppei and set
with imperial Muslim might, as a
him up, backed
i ival of live reign-
w « the
first
a. *.-*
to arrive at
b W
&**>»*'
P m, Vol. U.
^
307
to make*
meticulous list ofall the Hindus d
pro—— 10 be his
»"* un(
uiicioiiii;
j
he thought, a Muslim Allah

whom fnnscn's music las! its 1
consigned to the sacred I

Islamic heJJ. quired
w
the profligacy
associated with drunken
i,
"' V"^*
'fa
^T
t if
en
1 w,l * ,
^w*ii
«
in
Some Cheap stories of Akbnr-Rirbal repartees ,ion A disconsolate j £m ^ '£

and wnncism* current in India have been
invented when
by some ingenious « rfter ;uid added
pjtiowly abducted lo JS* }^
to from time of a huge ransom m
time hy others, giving ihem a
I
pari
men worna' j
'
* "
historical Akbav-
B.rhaf background. cavalry and footmen that
The real Birbar led a horrid Ramchand bi'!'
der to buy peace from Akbar's
precarious and deeply detested existence
far re- nZt
moved from am humour tr poetry. At Akbar's court Tansen C mcUt :i -;;
fanatic Muslims at court

Utrustinghair^
Tansen was born sometime m 1531-32 in
8
a hy morsels of betel leaf from their own,
Brahmin family in Behat village 28 miles from mouth of Tansen opening to sing hh mclod
lhe
Gwaljor. He received
hisearly training in music in may well be true. Shunned hy orthodox Hmdm
Gwahoi which had a tradition of high class Hindu
and dragged and addressed as Miy Mtahm
mi Tansen has attained legendary fame as a
style Tansen has been willy nilly rcprw
wjcal musician par excellence, A
saint musician, as a Muslim though till the eml of hu life lie I*
Haridas of Vrindavan, is also said to have impart-
tnaincd a Hindu. He died in 1588 rorraent-
ed imiion in musk to Tansen. He took up service
cd career of twenty six years' forced tin
as a court musician with Raja Ramchandra of
alien monarch's court He lb bu
Bhatha (modern Rewa>. It was there thai he re-
erstwhile temple pavilion near Mdiunm
ceived the inlc of Tansen because of his mastery
in
Hindu
singing In J 56 when Akbar invaded
kingdom Tansen was wrested away.
that
temple-tomb
entire area
al
where these two lie

with ruins of a huge temple
the foot of
cwnplH »
Gwl
^
Badayuni says, ** 'Tansingh did not wish to leave
several o\ Muslim «M
his royal Hindu patron. Finally (a fierce Muslim centuries
°™"
general) Jala) Khan Kurchi came, and brought him ftkbai Like lltouumds *t -mpk*
West a
to a sense of duty.*'
Tansen is often flaunted as an sites thrughout India and
at Gwahor fart too
*
example of Akbar's encouragement to music. But the foot of
no
that is a bogus claim msen was already an
I
Muslim ccmeteiN They arc
accomplished musician before bting dragged to tombs but misused Hindu of
Akbar's court, in fact his expertise in music Hakim H.m>um - Ml
Akbar's
9,
HrV royal
rrt « n ifiichen i*
kitclici
'1|M '
,
fMI
J^
25. P. 14%, ibid. but till
*he nine gems. Uiva»
I
l
„ Hakim
•Ubar.
Med
^r^ch.ehJv coveted.
he
mm
19
hid to
The very fact that Ifumam ie

j n nay standard
,
sheer invention
uncance.
favour for self-aggrandizement.

'rtf
supervise
in •'
Akhar suspected "Hakim

BVe poisoned
ihii
hardly ever men-

history is eloquent proof of
courl where food
him is evidence enough

Wumam, M* everybody else hated
Thus the nine-pem story

of court flatterers who sought
«nd
As kitchen Miperf*
the preparation
of
is
their
a
^
Chapter XXIV
In looking for contemporary

<
SCRIBES
recordi
Akbur's or for that matter of any Muilim'i
in India one comes across two contradictory
men ts.
while
Writer after writer complaint that nn won
records
confidently asserted
record of every word
somehow il
me available while
has
that
all
k tho it
a plethora of twtioilma
of Akbar was mide trai
disappeared Both
«
understood
about
reign
mu-
Thus the so-called nine gems turn out to be,

all apparently irreconcilable statement!, if
are justified
-naseont^n
mi etossr scrutiny, lustreless, base opportunists in- in their proper context,
voluntarily embroiled in a game of mutual be apparent from Vincent
Smith. «N
hate will
all led miserable lives disgusted with their
We have -I ready quoted Akbar that he consi-
undertakes to
J£ ^
deal w,ih
t te Ufe
of-any...no«b^P«'«^ *-
ef
dered none of his courtiers to' be worthy of any
reign
i tlicir part the court ieis too deeply hated
Ifth century, «*2£Sm,5is
h*^ f, J
AJthir aiii reflected m

their dealings with liim
State papers
***** so ** matter lh«
:«w the nine-gem story for from
<>n
shedding any
Akbnfs regime, adds a new
diligent studenth-^:,
A
a- I^ 7,;
"f «*>">'?%
f
dimension The biographer
8
, '
J e «n
one
M notoriety
different
»
1* ft'^fflf*
have not
Akbar'. ««»••
lS-**^?2**
•"
MrtPJ lc „. P.»
compilation
°r a
„ Tahh
«*" *„,„,„<
^
I* St
" Fiild,,
vuni'% chronicle quoted by
sss* ,„.n>d«c.J«'
10
;:::-
*
,T1
Akbar ilic Greni, Vol. i,J»gfl *&
"
371
mmis. tni w&iB i««** ™d Poises with. the time. All these totem were
in, mIa , cd -
^contmiWinj
nwsier to their fclfilmeot
But H M.HIbotbyLt.Pritchard^dnX^
f^rm one of h.s monuments to ted thai they were not more woittiy of
h«c cpîks the
ml ..« of interminable sentences, involved bestowed upon them.'*

parentheses difficult to unravel, and
in frequeni Apparently these modem writenof medtaevaj
paralleled i" the
West only by the decadence of
history have been misled by contemporar> itate-
BOtrfnj rn prose, as
Gibbon justly remarks,
taste. ments of court --cribes like Abul Faial, and Euro*
to the vicious affectation
if poetry, and in poetrj
pean visitors like Monserrai <- Luge group of
linking below the flatness
and insipidity of prose.,,
Muslim scribes swarming around Akbar used to
have not felt hound undertake ihe labour of
to
I
on its tiptoes 10 take down every word of whil
examining the te,\t nflbose difficult compositions)/'
he said. Those contemporary statement » lie per-
scanty record that understood the proper conn

So even the exists of fectly true if in
Akbar's reign is all trash. What else can be while ihe eomplaint of modern
writers
available r* il»o jitfatt

expected of a regime of illiterate barbarians! Histo- are no worthwhile record*
rians are mistaken believing tliat there was much
in nor true
'^-^^n^
«^^îm
Basically tt is
other record that used to be maintained. What

of all important
has come d™ n to us is all the record that was Akbar J**** *
tittered were ever
ever kept.
The lack of State papers dealing with the

of such records
iff**
systematic dm*» M« iw***
dk fcmnun
respect for
I
Akbar is not due to any failure of his to

ep a record of his sayings and doings.
economy where **jî& *«*
Each day
ilc he *as giving public
audience watchful
« standing below him
committed to paper
tv word uttered by
his august lips, and recorded
technologic' S?£53:hn99
*&^
Wuwalring minuteness
the most ordinary and
trivial actions of his Americacaim|' llC() ,
u i^>> svhe
life.
Uy|, '' Thelelten of their r**&d *# ruled

!*».
JkJn^l!!!
or?
and
»thWl
t ?T
"Li
t,lc
T
i t
!
" lain
of a *°«iP in *
arc
and arc ^bellished with plenty
***"«
° r importance,
"** upon the political relations of
»»3 JS3
rU
w itta *i J ^".L top**"'
with
pjpe«-
* M VI. Elliot 10
'
urf Dowsoi,.
, «
m
justify their existenceand eftMl
unknown, copious m themselves, used to put Up J*
stenography «n%
Sm ,,j
•«»*
„ rd to believe
ttW er kcpt
v 1!
that while unimportant, long,
kso
V tiptoes to
Even if
take down an
they had honesty
m
uft«%*
,^y
**
<*
winded alone of all court record have sur-

letters and reduce to *
above,
,ng al ,
thai
>ai
m T
record has wdusively and observed it was
vived the rest ofthe
im posslblc
mvslcrjouslv disappeared.
The fact thai (he cable to reduce even a Traction ofit ****> ,
have come down to us constitute about the absence

of mechanical
letters thai means * "* *
of
al wag ever reduced to writing.
Ik rest waj I
stenography and the requited slWw ?°W>.
all done verbally. That most transactions should standard of literacy. Besides, the
kS ? *
be oral was necessitated by the very nature of the at all
interested in exerting themes Jn *5
at Muslim courts- It was all a medley of record of all itmutim.

ctetJings a meticulous Tkurd
intrigue, lechery, treachery, faithlessness, bribery,
was also impolitic to reduce to writing ife tu-
corruption, nepotism, confusion, plotting and nings at court which were mostly v cry dirty for any
counterplotting and cringing flattery. In such a way Despite all this, cringing scribes Ifo
record. ,
of life there is no administration as such and there* Fazal and Badayuni had to make a ihow of then
fore there arc no records. The few letters that have
being busily engaged in writing. After ill
come down to us had to be written to coax examine what they had written, How ihev
ro 1
and cajole or threaten and control recalcitrant

written or whether they had written wiythmi
at
tends or rebels and imposters located far away

all ? There were no supervisors over than. 1
from the capital. Therefore, modern historians

conscientious and i
were no responsible,
can be dead sure that have almost all the
they siudc^ -
record '»f whatever was reduced to writing There
was nothing more and. therefore, the question of
superintendents.
room who engage
Like wayward
themselves *£
its being destroyed does not arise. useless scribbling to make
dingenl
the
^J*^
*»
It would then be asked as what should one
to
they are taking down
swarming around Akbar
also a m ^^
make pf confident assertions by contemporaries
like Abul Fazal and Monserrate that meticulous
theirpens on parchment
in lawning and feigning
and
^
app^^ ^
*
,,
records of all that transpired at court were assiduo-

usly maintained ? The explanation for the state- and deed of the sovereign .^ |cJ
^t^
ments of contemporary Muslims is slightly different down nothing, "v^S,**?*
to
parchment dfi**« „
*B that fur Statements by Luropean visiles pens and
*l
f «*J»
like Monserrate. record some imaginative „ t
t^t ^n-
Court employees
did record something
like Abut Fazal in order to
]
375
374
hardly be expected t
was makc «y
after the make-believe over. intelligible notes. intelligent
or
drtUoyed
why we have on record only
This isthc reason They also couldn't
WM« tctuaU y wrrUcn and dls " be expected iu
u which to *H
Jc
patch
CJ s
i
foolhardy as to record any.
the sovereign or any courtier
ling which dj
even by
J^
impk ulj on/
Monscrr.ite records that
*Akbar 'appoints
Even if at limes any scribe dared record
01 five secretaries out af
a body of scribes for any-
four thing deprecatory was not
secretaries write down all
it retained wiUiout (he
duly each day. These sovereign's approval or consent. If at
the king, all the measures ail »ny idiot
rhe business transacted by
They lake ot a scribe ventured lo submit a written calumny
betakes and all the orders he issues
.
speed that they or invective or derogatory note both lie and

down what he says with such
note could not escape being torn to pieces
appear carefully to catch and preserve his words
agalaii any worth
before they can fall to the ground and be lost. There were such heavy odds
(Footnote —
They were called Waqiah Nawis or
:
."
while records being Kept during
Muslim
and roatfacre
role in
Regimes thr.vj.ig on murder

script writers) 1 iid ia.
plunder. t— J^^>
We above observation
attach great value to the
being that of a third, disinterested party But
tike all other evidence we insist that it should be
ravage
drugging and
and
never dare or afford

^^^J^SK
^ to
falf
.f^Jf
Mo hanJ ,
1
anv such records «hc O-
properly anary&td. silted and understood.
* "** in
^Lanently dh*d»
Firstly, t-ince Akbar liked to be surrounded posterih _ ,,r vlons
rf
b> adn
part of that stage-setting.
multitudes the scribes used to be a
What then -p b
f
* "S 1
Secondly, this pretension of
being at the
personalobs.rv.^J
Monserrate being •«JJ» -
J
! of Hii Majesty was also to the advantage modes **»«"'£, il
'
venbe* because they

sovereign and in
got paid for it. Being court he
*&l* ,„,,
:
bis confidence inflated
oZT.1l
dl,W ^ e ,hem a***** advantage
who lid ".""a
,eis Bcm * «"* a «*« ^
Z not
fead
™ aUd WrUc a " d
w hoic interests And r: ,:
o he Se^X^ J"*
lopia and
***** *» Koran and
court imr iguc r they could
376 317
^mmitnl
SSSWSôo.
ZSFvmmkm
-round
Se mo.io.is Of
douMftil noting
I« out
the emperor
,um-pushns iiflml ever ..ally
We fully
view
muted
endorse
too the
all
basic concepts of luli
.opsyturvy.
before aspiring to g cl
T^^^
by the nattered dc spo| ,
T
|
t0 ,
'
h
"•"•
'
*t q
hc
d
4
pushing their peal very

Sorting anything or .'Some Blunders of \Jhu Hc-un,
This should awaken students or

researchers .hat buildings and tow^;^-
UM WUse fact thai
every
understood in the
mediaeval Muslim
Similarly
rulers were
here we have
in rait
pr^T^
d '« ,ft4
*-'
**
statement needs to be properly
When it was made subjected to a Muslim rulei
relevant context of the times.
was made should be the more worthless. '
n,,kci •Kg
and wh) and by whom it

all
considered. Such analysis would

often reveal that
may
their statements either connote
nothing or some-
it then
historical concoclions are
be despaired
all the
.tut
neonlm*
m
times they ostensibly mean the very contrary of we
should give up recaiwrudui| mcfo
their superficial import. We assure the reader
history? that there iiabto.
Most modern scholars place great reliance on lutely no cause for despair, Hamaningtt
Abul Fazal s Akbarnama even though they seem to
f
intelligence are not so shallow as to be left Mufti?

be aware that he was a thoroughly unreliable or blanked when confronted with fabrtcn
flatterer. In considering Ain-i-Akbari alias
the
Bring to mind the methods of crimim
Akbarnama as a fairly reliable record of Akbar's murder-
lion used to unravel mystery
reign they attach greatimportance to the fact that Such crimes them*
clever forgeries at
"Hhe Akbarnama was written by Abul Fazal in Investigation sum
seeds or the truth.
obedience to an imperial order and partly revised »P« W
initial doubt and suspictom
-\kbar himself (Ain Vol. iii, p. 414)".
checked tfuri * »» »
We wisSi to strongly emphasize, however,

arc carefully
investigation As the inve^W P^^
ipP*»£
that the very fact that
Akbarnama was subject to
Akbar's revision renders all the more
itworthless
and dangerous with regard to any claims made in
flimsy clues first make
7 -d perseverance
iheii
^ * ,
f *
Akbar'v favour
ill
What is the worth nf a

iging flatterer to start with
document authored by
and then censored Mian historical r^
Wg* ****
theic centuries, and h«
P 4, Aktar the (iitai Mogul, by V Smith, ibid conclusion* I
With illogical
d
378
of criminal
methods 379
olubrious
unfold *T I
adjudication have been One need noi

d legal
.
tfo
^,ication disheartened and bc
inv
^ d w|lh
academ ic naivete or help. hebw *J
**rtd
shunned*
1
''
^ books have been fashioned
f
^-nic.er.Foun^^; "^^ 1
writings. No Badayun, dubs every "* r««"

te d questionable dead I
\
*V
to hell we are
jejons attempt
seems to have been not bound V
£
issure ourselves
' ll lhdr <™
motatio,ls u wa« that Bad™. !,t|1 *c
I'JaW
Uevendreamptthatmcdiaval assert
tethered at the gates
of h,
the very opposite of ihcir super-

T ni Juld mean the Hindus But
Hut when
M fed*
w..<. L
tt : *.
%Z
ficiai import.
It 15 the absence of
such awareness that makes
h .,
chromclerhke
we can
,
safely assume
Abut Faa.au M.n,,
ti io be tl,.-
HE
inmH sup-
themselves in first caution- ported by our own appraisal ofhis life and
most writer* contradict ,
the unreliability of and bolstered by the unanimous judgmc

ing thereader against believing .imon
and then proceeding all historians The misleading objection that we
Muslim chroniclers' words,
«f
on the basis of fraud- doubt Muslim chroniclers' wn must not

lo write authoritative history
rely on any part of (hem, therefore, uirn* out m
ulent chronicles.
be untenable. On the contrarj human intelligence
Same readers might inadvertently lay the same demands that m separate rhc chair of I
careful
charge at our door. Therefore we would like to from the grain of troth with the sieve of
ilkustratc our position. When a murderer plants investigation.
we make agr« with iiU washers of Indian

a forged suicide note on his victim We fully
use of that forged note as very valuable
evidence to implicate him both for investigating onlywureeÛ^JîwIfi.
mode and motive of his crime- Bui
mcrch because we use the
his forgery against
he doesn't get the right to insist that w«
<-"
intents .o be true. very sifting neaps
Contrarily the
relm i
" mm shou,d caution Hie history resea- piles of M' _ . ,
irn we useu
hary in drawing any conclusions' l' M aue« u * M * %
i .Iihil'UH! k.
'
rch wond ucted along such guidelines
*Uih/r'
"+£?J1
2 /
rmg
°m **** aCCL,rat
from the very dross-heap ofr
r
court*
mer;
9ft
cm
, ,
381
IflO
Statements about Akw
'JS* 1 *
be avidly
pushing their
«* to Jiziya or banned ,hc a «
ffiMh P
nothing worthwhile, " (>llcm <"*•«
iu .ffrded panegyric humbug. pion,
,
ii
i« come down 10 us were
m *mMm J«« own ...thai
^
li
from tlieir Thcyure;.IUTittenby

lcisllrc lheKfjherri)mh ) ,
by thesoverign fancy, or first conceded by bin, and *

•""fn^. «orcdici»icd 10 them ,„„
£K
«nd pleasure
^> hi.
confidan, conrtien
a. .her leisure ed altered,
improved U p 0n VBi approwd
presumptuous courtier or mona
^
Badayuni has unwillingly let 04 mio ifc
K 7S t^W
ESS of his fe2| chronicler.
then Abul Faial tells us
the emperor,
That IS to say
that many a time Akbar
fancy
secret of Muslim chronicle-wririnp by revelling
lhat when ihc AktanumM was being Kritlen
courtier came and ordered him it» retard iba*
Akbar had founded a magnificcni IwMhfo called
carried out
^
supplemented, approved or Nagarchain. Poor Badayuni

examined, corrected, hit o»n reser
v«,«r, i»«
his writings we fully
believe him. In Tact imperial order but added »•
altered
ncro» even the
d*rt
we conclude mm it that all Muslim scribes had to he had "ever come
get their writings censored by their court-patrons.
That is why we find scribes like Kamgar Khan

writing a whole fake Jehangirnama to oblige an is rightly regarded •£**£»
*"*" *»* «»»'*
aggrieved Shahjahan. consummate skill i» potion mi
For the same reason we also find confirmed
'ha, won bim
»
Muslim chronicler,
^H- «£ * ded mm
b; f
Jehangir and «*»J

drunkards and
Akbar ranting
dope-addicts
Hibtil) in
like
sanctimonious horror
his grand
«<f^'\ :
; t
against the consquences of those vices.
We would therefore, every truth-

tike to alert
seeking historian against be he ving
even a word of
sanctimonious sayings of a
Jehangir or Akbar,
Ferozsbah or Slur Shah,
Tamerlain or a Tughlak.
The roads, buildings,
bridges, serais,
canals,
P' <
•*
gardens, towers and
tombs attributed upon m cd
Sid W**
tothtm B reaUp, 1
agiariscdHmduproperty
381
382
- "'y* Majesty dr ei wt drmkniuchkutp^

illustrative cxiracis
below a tew
\\-y
pwl attention to this (Abdar Ktaui
*
,Uv
,
h a great friend
good order and (What made him pay special auburn
JJ ot
Hi
The f
Gulal-bar is a grand to drmi
'
* tv in business he didn't drink much?},

;:-_ t ,K- invention of His Majesty.
""His Majesty's clothes becomingly fit pvtn>
candlestick one
•
••Hi* Majesty has invented a one whether he be tall or ihort, (That Implfi
yard high. that Akbar possessed miraculous power* jo m io
••His Majesty has composed more than 200 i

m pa rt to his ro bes t he magic quality of shrinking
l lines,
or expanding to fit anybody. Thank God wr
mules
of 24 hours His Majesty cats

not told that His Majesty'! robes also fitted ^
•*i*li» the course and asses or panthers and fcyenasj.
but once and leaven off

before he is fully satisfied.' Aifenliun to both
"« 6 His Majesty pavs much
abstemious when
(\\c wonder what made him so
he spent lifetime in atorturous extortion (' of (painting nd mttlUl * »""
(The,,
»
M HflT*
«*»«
who <h. ,
torn and though,

morse It of food from the mouths of millions).
it
"His Majesty cares very little for meat,
par. S . some of
the bon b£ *J l(|alf0 „ of
(This a typically inane sentence which doesn't
*{£>* ^ * *
is "'
the harem, I
»eli»,«
wl , hiB tte
mean a thing),
H is Majesty has such a knowledge of the

hooks and
prjvllcy of
£
«**££, «t l*ff»
musicians did not c<"> 40 "
nee of music
'
as trained ,
abducted „ ,„«,«»«
possess ho was his tutor and when did
Akbar find time to study music in the din of war
drum* and the horrid shrieks of the millions who
were tortured. And if he was after all such an ac-
omplished musician did he conduct any concerts
or open anj imperial music schools?.)
Am 1
5. 4i&j Akhari, Vol. ill, ibid
Aintt,
I. \m IS.
9 Am 19.
H, Ait, If UN
21 ,. ,
II Am 2*
II
3M
;--
*>»* inwnied guns which can Akbar was certainly an adep

~*H«
te frcd vftnout
sk) no or* bui H
Ma«e>t>
i match Balis (of a particular
esq wo«W dare to fire.
through plunder camp: ai ovw
therefore had enough of ihat metal
•«
lodiipUy an
,
al
^
lootiwE
__..
quantity anytime to anybody. Thus

He Majesty to invented
wheel, which
a goes Abol
Fuzal on and on merrily m an useadiag
so in rootie©, enables cleaning 16 barrels ai aid
unflas - of unabashed panegyric chantinf
strain
•His Majesty M .H 1 r.aaseara tad
-»Hs Majesty mounts every kind of elephant. projecting His Majesty a- a saint, a catiie-hree
Hs V has wonderful knowledge of elephant-tarn< Matter ranle-inves!
alchemist, miracleman and everything else m the

world cxcefH drunkard, womanizer, nnssacrer,
**h is beyond my po*er
describe in ade-
to was.
Hindu-hater and plunderer- *nica be really
-:ms His Majesty's devotions/' aregmfed
nailery
a p.tv ihat this fabric of
U is
-^Thc good habits of His Majesty are so a throng par «**«*•
bv sei eta! histonans as
thai | cannot adequately describe them "
Thev seem to be «na«f*
of the
«^ »*!£
three volume, ftbc
bulging
=sty gives satisfactory answers to Packed ai* those
VKb„rnanu aD 6u«em
^needed in
adttse had cm ihis ion«ue and throw- rnedu-

*di the tares ,the fullered*
d the palace wished
w*rl!!? \F*°*"
:
'm> tongue would be

thai in <** s
X
™£&m***"» 9
"t
in c :^Sw a**"^
_ J
~!^*^>ome .f the gold made by "him:
*
a* s
;«,.-
N .«&»-
*
d «
3*7
M villagers
eagerly flock
aroUnd
h
frankness he dese ibes how fu ignorance of thc Akb

t hrough- |
fact ,w
and murderous
«
Loci* reign that august Muslim

S,l
with 'butchering* Hindus,
monarch busied nimself Ifany hotel is sough
Uobenani
mire of these fraudulent
vv rtdtng Ihrougfc the what amcnit.es it will have
to ££?***
chronicles we have pointed oul how *kbar turns KVtf* °* n Mlf^yW a??** chronicler
be a man of every conceivable vice and He S ays -His Majesty (Akbar) hat' . ti hui
of character.
widejirable trait win e shop near the palace. The ma«ui! *'
From thisil may be realized how dangerous mfm who had collected could
wa
hc
i?°^ '
to name air institutions after A It bar.

!f< „ large - their number. If
Ijfig
names when associated with courtiers wanted to have a virgin they
fndj\ idual public w&l) | d ,
have His Majesty s permission,

projects .ire intended to be memory-aids to inspire lathe um *x
fly. boys prostituted themselves, and druntai.
and ignorance soon led to bloodshed. Hi* Mijnij
what respect will posterity he inspired
In
after himself called some of thc principal prostitutes and
knowing the facts about Akbar?
asked them who deprived them of their virgin
Akbar's sordid career had
remained not only The calibre of a monarch who has the time
carefully shrouded
but was even presented m taste to keep a count of his realm's myriad r
hcCllUSC his
^ndants continued and their virgin daughters, and an-
10
lo'ml
m,c a mW Part of India for 253 years.
litutes
to inquire from each one of them, about the

i>
viola-
imagined.
ti« n of their virginity may well be
whether the mm&( *
htimvet*
wttnvened .
p usa * e and repetition Any way, we wonder
it with the aura of truth. be expected
any hotel would like or
kind of impend
**
»-'^rir
,ndKl to "*»» of commu-
and preside over the
lu,IBfl1,
d M> Initiated and patronized by Akbar
I> r; '
tJmi?
"wfcaia ;' ,n thc of
avcC T,c,Kktl fttriae
H_r 1
L
f ,
* noM Wheete
Afch, fa
^^«leaatath!J! hoi,t the
,he name of Smith quotes
Vincent » «il
.
?
^pt a poisoner in pay". » n0 « ^ W*
^ ^l*ve
k
a
p ,0
M ,
,hc
"' «hut role.

"« Hindu king poison
named
unwanted
afier Akbar, have
persons.
such an
Shou
all
Wc hjiv onerous re.

Such
***'
Z°V m ° hlk ' a » n ^«ed after ^
o
f romlherame
are the
of Akbar.
01 J h|
their logical conclusion P"

lt
>
Chapter XXV
tcistjtution has to be named
nubijc
Im4*
essential that historical
ihcrefWc very
I, Is
** wd "«' * I""** AMARTOMBISAHWDUPALAO
tJmTc«*na to Em
on finnariw
thai accentuated commu- That Akhar was hated by
^ also essential ail „r,„„i.i w
It
wUsffl parading under

a secular garb, and passing
expcdienc) ire not allow-
that they regarded hi.
reflected even in the manner
ÊjKJt!
farced needs erf political of his burial
mishandle history. Vincent Smith

ed u> manhandle or says '"the obsequies or the ^f
we thought essential
dead lion were hurried and perfunctory. A gap
It is in this context that it
was made in the fort according td custom (Cmoltc,

to put the record of A knar's history straight.
Introduction to Popular Religion and Folklore i
>\
R India. 1894, p. 219, Popular Religion

Third
&C. I
Vol. ii, p 56, Dubois Hindu Manner*, etc. 1
Jataka rjiaBtatioa
ed. (Beauchamp), «fi, p. 499
I
the
Rouse and Cowell 1895, Vol. ii. pftj*
at &bad«-
body was interred in the sepulchre
lo«d and ropecid
I..
&'««
Hid *
Had Akbar
KOdr
icd wd
.
perfiioetoD
numc
would not have had >
bUnal very rnipor-

"
. u
But besides
that
thai we wm
have another
collt c n ».on
ai
tut point m thia'"g^' m* *****

that P^nly .^; the p
orAk( ,
m
toe*.*
ihc
even regarding
I
dicd
Fo.i...A^;. s* "rtrr—
S3 .,,-~^
;.mi
391
by Vincent Smith
nc utv authorises quoted the very pa| acc whcrc
"™ *ii liter Furopean writers Thai shows there was no fiiMfti
„,
* b «rted
4
SSSKS mere
died fa, the Red For,
ASr
rumour and myth not based on « u,
body was removed by
can be accepted only
tffi" 1
'
u
S&
,
ilnr rnilu
lErth »f.t, «2 " '
*****
'
«1
authentic source. In fact the
hi Imtmpom of bis father Huma,,
I','
thai Akbar* body was not brought out also removed by breaking
tiny detail
nf anv gutebui was

clandestinely removed through
mansions where ,h,v,,",
b ok^'
T fl f,c *""
B: "
bears out Smith "s observation thai

a hole in the wall
perfunctory. Wc
,-cedenUhecla^,^^^:;
Akbar 'i burial was hurried and taken out through i holt hi the will
add from Smith's observation hat
Akbar's burial
i fc 1^
reason, is untenable
was also secret Such secrecy, hurry and per-
Even conceding ihal WW taken
functoriness a possible only if Akbar is buried in out thr
it
Our con- a hole people were hound to thiong rami

the very mansion in which he lay ill.
I
Ihc bodv were lo beamed to Sikni w miles

clusion! therefore, that Akbar died in the very six-
i\ i
away, It would have ihcn nude lomg mid leng-

storeyed Hindu usurped palace at Sikandra wheie .<
thy procession. In thai case the burial amid ROl

he lies buried is thus based on sound logic.
be called ""hurried und perfunctory."
The fact that his burial was hurried and per- u
There is vet another decpci rayslerj
functory makes n clear
i cry spot where he lay dying.
that he was buried at the
fancied grave is empty. M «^*"""!l
VcrwtoMitiiu^
Since he h buried
Vincent Smith ôt n
« iJw
in Sikandra it is our contention that he died in
Sikandra. This conclusion

at
tZ'Z
all
-
In WW in* *«
U*WP*
IIP-"
rcwrvai
is reinforced by the fa ci
palace.
Akbar lies
He happened
buried in
to die
a six-storeved
when he
Hindu
was camping
,h€Mar
1w
report that *.«»«
cr
,;
(
lS^^ ^ ^f
thi. Dc.
wrcd „
Jl
there.
Hadhe died in the Red Fori in

Agra there was brcakmg "> '1*^ J 'u4 ^ !««'""
no reason why his body should
t* breaking upen a
have been removed
wall instead of being
the on**""
destroy
'" s '
,l h «toi
" W ,uld
,'
carried .tnd the iw nL "' "
out through the forts .ndWi"" 1
1
main ca i e
The c^ri ihrew.lK,,!
.....I;
«M "^
that Akbar s ,,
dead bock was u
mnoved from
through -
the
.pecmllv
fort, unkm, WfI
madc scqm '"
,
^LZ
uW
tlK P c>
pUff
not know
'
lb ™ - *
"'
j:0) ,
NW.ll. '
I
p
M
2
v>y
991
It was he who n amcd .
ghost continues to mislead

Thu<cven AUW* palacs after himicfl UIUrN
hi
Hin
Akbar's tomb has rm.nv
i^^*^. Ik,.! i
people. The hoax about After Akbî

H Mi
ramifications namely ;—
empty and doesn't contain (7) To cover up the fact u.
(li His fan, IW 6 fe ili.il ih»
remains.
lcumwasbu.it for htm. a, ,,*
Jehangir who hated Akbar and who wanted bus been planted in \m\
Akbar rn poison or in open combat
kill
his own life lime Akl ai
^.
ma> himself have caused Akbar "s remain* to jndia site foi in'- burial am Jin|
be burnt in the "hurried and perfunctory" his own *, T^
palatial lurnb n„. .|
!:
obsequies
ses that if Akbar tia own
1 3 » Ak bar's to-called tomb was obviously not tomb why didn't he jump into
over his dead body, because MpoKi ju ^

buiii ii is a six on as he Jul' u : Willi
storeyed Hindu palace consisting of hundreds even mi re
rooim, a basement, and huge grounds MujIji

and bull stor> afever>
enclosed by a baiilemented wall. The massive grave and buildn
wall has lowering gates on all the four sides anticipation of htf^«'
as was common with Hindu build int:
(4) A mere tomb which is haunted by fakirs, built his
mendicants and other riff-raff would

never yddinTu^*;
have embellishments of gold, within fi> >"" u
silver and gems.
Tie wealth referred to
forms part of the tradi-
r thai building
usurpation that
because before Muslim ;:;: as
Hindu palace did contain all
thai wealth
5>
<
over on thewalfa of
the palace arc ted *** ,
w2b and i^* <

ln *^ked-Lnang.es,
^^Wncrth^chcenSikandm had it
^^smecatious before Akbar.

,
(
»l£r
And yet even that

C1
but within thai in peace. Up comes ],\v ^f »\noi ai^ p
of his arrival,
,
f
Htilii ft*
was he who Insfe^
fK ,her an
J lm ^
uneducated Humaytm was an
L. somebod,
|,
Jehangir claims
on foot to see
built
''•OnTueuW*
the rcs fc
P nd J *££* •*"*
"***
'J*
he must have learnt

M B it told that
the desert-wastes of
father. If 1 could, I
mm rf„
Persian architecture in upon my eye-lashes oj my
head M y
when he wandered
SindJndPcrsia.it a lime he made a vow respecting m
y i
taiicred clothes
without any shelter over foot from Fathpur to Ajmer'on *
in a pta^*
head or a morsel of food in his stomach. shrine of the great Khwaja
his
Mu.nmldin K
One wonders whether the Persians had set up space of 120 kos. and it would tta
ih
any school ofaidaiectute m the desert for an un- very great tf I were to go this ihori di.tawe^
couth, wandering Humayun to study at. my head or eyes When
fortune of visiting the tomb and
t had obi
luii outiM
^ •
The canard that Akbar built hisown mausoleum

building which was erected over it I did m nnd h
FT)
is therefore part of a set formula of Muslim chro ni-
to my liking. My intention was. that it should be
ck- writing trick
so exquisitelhat the travellers of the w
Government of India publication the
In a H
not say they had seen one like in
author contradicting Emperor Jehangir

confidently inhabited earth. While the wwkwia m
tells us that* The
construction or his own tomb by rcbcllli
»<**
Akbar in consequence of the
at Sikandra near Agra had been
jean when death overtook
going on for LZteKhusruJwasob.i^^ fell
him. Jehangir
The builders had h.* « «^,
T ^
CSign andcha
"Sed it. He completed
*« k.mbi m 1613, ,„ foe seventh
fh?
year of his r®W
Lahore.
at their discretion. Tn« "

Mfid ,
tl^voâ *
been expended, and
il
ordered
or four year,
^h^^^lF** ^
I
(
fishy slips which always
wtiaj fibricatioiL
in concert
objection^
fis^^wSiL
*****
?
Wn
*
*ud Ua,
mausoleum
1
i,,
™ J«»
"ûgnt
1
Wh,ch
since nowhere has
of building his own
chronicler's
down
was
the
raised, with
*A
•*
313. f arl
lr " i
L
IT,
Ichangir was knowiuo ,
k|
sliahtcsl slip
made of white
tionhavmgpumshed„ 1Cerr
tir defiance
S|h ^ **.
i* »*
|
ii>
large building ;
Ulkt
claim is a hoax and a
me nmoutrt to 50.000
ro annua of rnud i
,.,
STwporitti ro
and 4.< toes of!Ch«»M Of Turan." Another fishy deUil
is j,a_
Irak ,
accomodate the contradictory eertain 'objectionable nam 4
whk]
In order I
nulled
pu down, h,,,"hkm
Akbai and Jefumgir having built one and cls nl „ |
,
claim* nJ
th'c*imc Sifcandi maasoleuiti anothei disannini iv *
compktc.y. ThcobjtdkiMte^
tie OBjcctionabk
i
* *f)
naive canard is foisted on history It says thai were obviously those of a Hindu ml!! In
lehansif completed the mausoleum begun by his f his having chiselled awa>
ofhts awa; ,
n
me ^
ty*
"M
__
n father Akbai and motifs Akbar second-hand - j n>hnn
mauiokunH
•<*"*>*
a m
replete with Hindu wheel symbol^
It is conveniently forgotten tlitM Jehangir IBtefkN
triangles(Shakti-chakras) Nu
esn'i s&y that he completed a half- built lomb. rcfctcnce .1 mu
On closer examination of Jehahgir*s assertion his
to the man who altered Hie design or to m <â
set it right.
claim too turns out to be bogus.
Wl\
His statement that he had entrusted the work J changes vague reference to the toiildtttf
who altered the design being "completed* in three ot

10 architects patently false
I
is
quoting the cost not in Indian ainwqil
becai those days when anybody's eyes could be his
'IwhW
uged ft r even the slighte-a slip or disobedience two foreign currencies all (
a concedta
who dared trifle with urn approved plan or Akbar's claim. The figure of expenditure is
mausoleum
L\cn if there were any dare-devil architect
Sir H,
Jehangtr's chronicle ha,
M. Elliot m
^^Z
his
.«*«g
.l'.ii,.il
Ikj
page how it is a ussue of
idiotic enough to flout a cruel Jchangir's chosen
building design what interest would he have in end. has also cauuom
He *«^
substituting thai design with one of his own fancy ? Jehangir's unctuous and *-«"J
After all the architect ct uldn't be anotJiu son of feigning the deepesi ifW^ ^
/Vkbar who could be adamant about having his Jehangtr's hatted h» f**for
own aiKmr
that he had made
design in pi ctf the J eh angir's approved te^nse
design lor bis father's tomb
If at all somebody did
lausofcum which ttogpred 1 u what punish-
obstinately construe! a
upto his very grave-
second-hand usurped
H*» ^ fe
tt did tie mete ut to the erring men, since

<
specially builtmnus^ um
p
1
H indu ,ownshiP
The n*» of the WM*"" °f
the focal point, may still
,,,„« p,b« fonned CM
,
he seen around
tllHtu
Mtbirt chapter in B ! » L
Our object h rewriting G R A p
I
ii y
In all such detail,
has been to rebut lint
Indian hit
Our aim has been to present
a majoi Wsification.
ihetruih. ine * J,oic tr,lth
Jnd nolnin £ bul lnc
tl) 'Akbar\byJ
^HHhavun •
M Shetat. \W A D
rhtwpatty. Bambay.7
bw
reign, death
Truth about Akbar's character,
life,
(2) *Annals and Antiquities orRajaat&arf
In two
and burial volumes by Lt-Col James Tod, RouM, >dc
We are afraid we may not have been able to & Kcgan Paul Ltd. London ^
extract and present ihe whole
under the piles of flattery
homd Truth from
heaped by fawning
m 'Alcbai the Gnat Mogul
1
ty Vincent Smith,
2nd Iiiiotu revised Indian
.
reprint, > 95 S, Vti
chroniclers. S C hand & Co Delhi.
we have tried to piece
But so tar as possible (4) 'Memoirs of Jehirudtftn Mohammad Buhur".
together and expose the falsity of Akbar't usual translated by John Uydeit 8t William Erskii I
image, and bring out a coherent and logical acc- annotated and rcvM bj Sir Lucas King, to
ew ir*s diabolical role from his cradle to two Humphrey Milford, Oxford
volumes,
•
gravr University Press l«l VD '
- ^
Crescentt t«
tn uu" •'
liulii bv
°i *
S K Sharing Hirnl
How (5)
readers to judge.
far v c have succeeded it is for the
KftabLtd Bombay-1. 1^ A D *
eal
l«^ A D "
r V-
V..I I H' ,,ta1
hia '"'
.Akharlh"! Gl*»' ljS im

'
,
,
'
£t;/'
. SCW^r rS?3S£: ^
T
After', a monthly review
,0. .CftHOartuiy*
Volume VIII. artie 1c
owlcs
Ut, ^signers/ by E.B.Haveil
Analogical
m
•The Tn cdom
Aj-'^ Januar> to June
of
1878.
the
ERRATA idmc
SodeiJ ol
and Page U»e
tti k
',,,
c , Handbook for Visitor to Agra Incorrect
.shbomhood.tThacker's Handbook of
25
Hindustan, rewritten and brought up-to-date ouahed •ihulithcd
I
\ Duncan) 30 Tanscii tin-
(hUSttTiiU
«TJic Bad.shahnamn', by Mulkt Abdul Hamid sen Ibe fanmut
i a lion (Elliot & D. n> musician wi

cndcred)
Mohammedan
1
r th« Rise of the

Pov^-r in India, till the year 1612 V D trans- 30 16 Rlwrmol Blurmul
red npnal Persian of Mohammad

from the 2 Muslim rule Muslim rule)
3!
knnm Ferishta, by John Brings, Vol. II, SO:CAL 1 1 D 504 ALLfcD rn
126 Heading
published by S Dey, 52-A Shambazar Street. PLINDER
Heading PLUNDR
lcutta-4 -Reprinted 1%6 A. D.) 153
bcciiuw
becasuc
1 14. 'Ain*f-Akbari\ by Abul Faznl Allami. trans- 163 15
he
lated from the original Persian, by H. Bloch- the
170 IS
iccond edition, Bibliothcca lndica paid
20
Sen-.- published by the Royal Asiatic Society 178 that ii.:jI
of Bengal. 30 abh
197
Die Commentary ommentanus of Fathert 24
225 ^ .c fan
Monsermte, S. J on his journey to the court
8 ptcienvion*
Akbar. translated fr< m Ik original 228 pretentions
Latin I
by J s Hoyland annoiaicd bv 29 which

S, Banerjee, 229 will' I'
:,Humphrev Miiford, Oxfurd 29 he

University 231 he
Press, London 9 Jizi
rijziyo
(16) •Saivadeshik' 238
Hin.li weekly, dated 12
April 14
WW. puwwwd by Suvadefcfl, Arya aroog"
Pntti 28 U
:! dt
28 i he
:so ilw
8
251
*«*«**._
•• •
to
404
403
320.331.
aa M ,«
309.
m247,29L 3W :^^ll 6.,2«.
lT| j |, Hindu
''
*•
Alt'
Aifi«r Sin^li *°«

Uhairaich 1 84,
AlUHtall Mi
1!
Bhakkar 34, 89, «m,
24d, V*
'
ia OR 1 57. 203. 25J •>•

I L 2M ,
Bhartnal (Baton. Mull etc)

m% m .
I'm* »*««*"*»* m
.
a2 "
ttMl 7 l44 '
"-*riTw
Khan
Aiafi.v.,1!
ZO*r,J*,
I78. 272. 27JW,
BliaUia [Rcwg) in. jrj

360.I
n
' -
(
223, Jfy jj(N **»
Bhupul 32, 92,2 •
386. Bidln Chiind 43,133

I
,44, 208. 310.
Bijagadli (Beejagnrh cic 73, 86
-Lran I J?. 1W )
BijapuT 135-6.
AtphKlum 23,73,173,307.
Auianpeb B*«V*.W.1S«b i91 ' Birbar (Bubal, Mnfoegrultf) 40, 4 >

•
IP!)
339. 364 6.
A-rtJliya 41. I0S. 197.271. 276, 357,
32,35,46,258.274,280,3^362, Bir Singh 50,270.274.

U&i
228, 255, 317, 328. 340.
344, 35ft, 3»
BLochmann
BsbaDmi Boetho 246
BabuMBabar) 53.6,58-9.80,115,120,139,197, 236. 284-7, Bourbons 191
269-90, 300, 302-3, 305-6, 320, 391 73, »-7\ 136, 217.
Burhanpur
r jl
Baibytmi H, $9.73, 85.89. 91. 101. 103. 105. 124, 133, 137,
150-1. 156*7,162-3. I7x 180, 182, 188, 194, 200-1. 203,
213. 216. 22fr8, 235, 237-8, 245-6, 252-4, 258, 261-22. 293, 53,13'
chagli1 KJvud
j
JOO, 304. 313-4 325, 328, 334, 343-5. 356. 358-9. 59

Cbampancr
36S.4. 36S. 373, 379. 381
ChnndBih <8>3«
|jg
Kah*dui (Khan) 22. 29. 49, M, 163, 266, 271. 277.
B*i«ur iBa, ;2. S5, 105
ChutorlC^'.
t(Batiaraj Van»nui) 277,
f 29,34,66.75, 163*4, 197.
311, SM),
,J
Coui'F ml
B»ribLi 213. 130
Bmu 41-44, 51, 27U-9
293
llajuM. 42. 197,
*•»**« 2| .23.73W.99.HJ.US.347, juniy"!

,
406
Hakim Humam
47,49,3a l6?
H«Wi|lm 35,180,2^295^/ ill:,
Dm HamMaBanon ,
y. ,, ..
^ e Kn,d B
Hamzaban 33. 77
Hangu 55 ItttfSg
Havel! E.B 65
OMibtnlHu) 47.66.2
72. 74, 83. 9*. 101,1*3.203. Herou 19, 71-2,
,.,.,^41. 54.% 58.
HtiKJal 19. 60 i
Hirvijuya Suri 38 r 194-5. 24$

130. 4«3
Dgp» :
Humayun 16-8, 27, 31. 38, 50 56«6l ( 68. 83, n_\
D«m 21,73 W '.S3. 205. 290. 304-5, 312., 350. 55J
i*.
Husaln Humyn)
1 26, 84. 87. 90. 103, 255,
Du-irtc I dc Laccrda 215.
Dur^* 4. 26-8. HIM. Ml-:, 144-5. 164, ISO. 225, Ibrahim Chilti 204.
Ibrahim Haji 88,91 opr}
Fife! 228,339.311. 344.353*6 Ibrahim Husain H Wi l72f3
h -rhru* Sibl 7, 194), :*. J) -3, 36-9, 49, 54. 85. 87, 91, 107, Ibrahim Lodi M
134,
307. 313. 317,

157. 1*2 193,2034, 215-7, 278, 261, 268, 275. 282,
319. 327-8, 330 334. 340. 395.
Ibrahim Mfc» H 2 '*''
85,267-8.273,295,
lkhuy.it
Fwiihfc :m 27, 61, 83. 124. 135. 183. 243, 291
Iskandar Kb" ».»'
FaenliBli 153 5 197 225 J 19. 3*0
tariud
Ftrnzatod 81
Ralph 261
- '
.1
-
Ghijttuddin 393
Gibbon 570,
GukundaiGojHndaj
&
n 102
«"»*I» R 30.215.241
Gui w ,
rw> d » uo
|5
Jam"1 "
Maghfur D1 $<,
41-2. «-5. 47-51. 61-5. «?. 123.

x233.269.-0. 280. 339, 141.4.
eHiai.
Mali Ghck <>,
Jluvef 311
m
1 .
Mahmn4(SiltMiarCh|nd
Makbdmnul M„lk
M 20 ,
JL-nlMui 46
Ma! ta
1 Ik Band 1 1 ft
Malkson I4|
J«yk*Klu> 6S
Manbat tSliah Begun jm
Jrtmbr .
Mandavgadli (Mtadu, Mandated*

„ :<*
*
-: 45. 145. 149. 266. 270, 277, 361 319-20, 393
Mankut 19. 43. 127. 255,279

43
(pi
Mansingh 22. 32. 41-2. SS, 123. 137 m-1
339. 357. 360-2
-
Manuui 391
W»
Kunnji "|
J7-60 fit,
MaqsudAh 744
Kandahir tQinddun 3S, 4* a <H>. 203. 253, 262
Mariatn Makam 51
K.:in Kkas I
MiKudHusais W W
lii« fQtat Khan IS2
Khun JS, 107. 156.275
Mast.ro
keac 66
Kkamcm Satan Mathura 24, 101
30, 51, SB
npr 129.178
ftbum.rp.il •<* «*, ,34, W |,
Idfitlj
"'
aJalua
- - -A 270-1
Wl.l54.lfl
•56,362,395 Medina
•»* 4bdu> Shahid 273, Miran Bahadur
Miib.M.ik 1*3
Mi ran
tf*
Mir Uak*h
Mir***"*
'• l2
'-"«.22.. J«.J«.2 I
1
ML
iJ, aeS| 1*** 4U
Mohan""*" '
a flM !
Lerto Wdkm. 26]

'
««*r *
ltd
******
.
,, ,
li.ikmi 21 37 266 Jog, J7 . 411
Pinhetro 93, 249
a*
Pralap 43, 133
VHBMl „„, cu
Tuelil^(q>IS5 Priihviraj 31, 118.9,
' Htwt u
,
3M
P**— 17 lK . 229.23l,248.30»,-9.3« PuranaQila
M m
16. 25
'• 9 2b9 »3. ' Valdnt

"*S «.i [OS
"
IH IS4 - 7 *
Qabul Khan
MS. 371-2. 374,, lie, i 4
J37
Qa&im Khan 43, 221 in
Qazi Atdus Sa»i 1 2a
Qazi Ali 156, 203
Qazi Yaqub U faj r^

-
'
Qullugh INigar Knanum S3
Muiu Mttjdi
Qutub 115
Mulijn frM*
. khan 3 H ft Ragbava Dev 47.
..• 174 S3, 123, 154, 183,216-7,292. 341-2, 353

Rai(c) Singh 44, 10UIU32, UM.
Rajmahat 35,78 tJFII
Mason i 283
Raj singh 119. ITS
Uuufli -
31 i23
30, 40, 109, 222-3, IK 34*-7
Uuaiflai Shall J, 0, H
Ramchand
RanaPratap
(rah Raja
I.M, 32. 35-*. 50, »5. 1 18/ « « 159.
253*4, 274, 295.360-1.

180-3, 223. 229. 24*.
Mcliam 26-7, 26a, 512-5,318, 350, 381
ftgiita 43 u, |3j, us, 24 R, ;-m M4*S
RawalHarRai l32
MmM 25. 27
Red Fott, ittonîl
273 Thomas 24*
Roc SJr
Nwnaul T5 ,5
in.
Roosevelt Fr.nklh»
..I**
KtMaiultab 385
RudolAis HI*. I* 3* 3
Sahara^* 8
OrcbUa 30
Sh«iW
Chi*'-
Satin.
fjHfiBitkag
M
• 8 «238,2n
6( 347-«„35t
**• hh
112 *.«
South KtaiiBjton
Srinaj-ax
H 8Q
43-6,
Sulian Khwaja ** ffiafa

45, 2?4,
Sultan Rustum 45
i, mj* im. i* » *i. w. 1H Sultunntat Begum 41

Sural
Surjan
^38.77.,2l,
30. 146, 194,
2l ,^^ 1?1
Mm
J«,
Swat
^ 18. 364. 392. 397,
"^ ,7J '"

Sycdpur
42, 105
56
Shall OHM IUl ' l,|d
37, 2*8, 325. 348, Taj Mahal .5, 361,

Shall MaiiMir
Tambol 55
Slapoo! 83, 183
Tansen 30, 41., 45, 339.3M-T,
Sb
•
<,iii 194-5
Sharfuddin »31, |44, 178. 225, 272- J, 275

Timur (Tamcrlaml SH 61. 6S. 139. 135. 2M. 226. 380,
Terry 54.120
StauBuSK 38*197*25%
Thatitthwur iThaitewi. Sthaneahwiiri 23. J7, T4, 241, IB, 341 TRjl
Stobil.M 53, 59-61. 68, 84, Hi ., i;J6, 189, 195. 198, 250,
Tipurdas 222
292! 295
14UR
Sli« Shah 16, 153-55. 197, 226, 258, 290, 312, 350, 380, 393,
Tod
Todarn,!
54, 70. 82. .17,
33 .3*. -144* It. «l. IM 1«. I* *

Saiiaji 155
339, 356-60. 3*5
Sfcnwtjiva (SnvMimi etc. Dr. A,
i
I
1 38, 63, 9?-3 [26 ^9-
I
Tukaroi 34, ?fl
lgn*J 182-3, !94 199, 212, 220. 229, 239-40. 249, 354-5,
-' TulsWai
.-»5, 331,.333.349.53, 359, nlu-i^jJ
368
Turk AH Muim
5 <>
Saiga
StaAni !
:gum II»
UdwiStnih
Sifai 44
Ujjain S6
S*ddliapu»
Puuti 21 Sheikh S3
Umar
V*» 28«
,43-4
14 J
.
37S
I.'»i J!;
K 56 '
7- 59.62,68, 70-i, Wah
i
adflt
.
ah
Ali It*5 '
80
\yhed* r
,^'W W-..204. 2.6.219. a,****
*• !
*
say
iiV354
64 " 5 2««. 304-S
-
.310.
387,389-91,
312, X*vi
COM
414
v^s *n Ahmad "» Hindi*
Other UooUs b v (ht S;

^ Building
Mory
4.\ 64.105
ZiicKhiin Mew DelM*. or other puM,^
1. Taj Mahal ms A Rajput Pahi:i
, R , n
(author s own publication now
oui of pri
2. The Taj Mahal Hindu Palace, Ri U5,

is a
India Book House 245 Dr. Dadnbhai IS
Road Bomba\t
1
^
4. Sme Blunders of Imiian HftMfM fe»«
own puhl.cjiion).
price Rs, lfl- (Author's
institutes a blueprioi
-or **m ««*"
and world history.

iconc.il
6.
a..thort •« ft'h both he
is an W"" 11 "" ,
;
m^
7.
5»*
, j c
koc
Hindu
,
.
rini if oi the Indian National
freedom, led by Nctaji Subhas
r
,.V, f;
dug
i
and iti Base; Its haeKdrop and aftermath, REVIEWS AND REACTION
(Now oui tt print)
The extent to which
[his aiithnf* two y
books
sr^nVr^ i!?«n*TH, price Rs. .V-Mimohur Granlh- The Taj Mahal Was A Rajput Palace fa success, r
ma i;i Wa rig mai Shobh a K;t rye ay a, Tlla k
I Ro ad volume of which has been brought nui under the
na-2 Tins book is m Marat hi ll has The Taj Mahal
title : is a Hindu Palace, by the
received literary awards (Nov, out of print),
L.dia Book House, 249 Dr. Dadabhai jl
Road, Bombay- and 'Some Blunders of

1 Indian
Historical Research*, have unsettled current
by the historical concepts the world over, may be
judged following reviews and reactions >
T)
1. Dr.K. Vaidyanathan M.A. Ph.D. Madras;-
It is not so much '.he Taj Mahal but it is your

4 *
book on be Taj Mahal which is the eighth wonder

l
of the world."
2. Barat Jyoti (Sunday edition of the English

Dalai Street, Bombay
daily, the Free Press Journal,
ical
-I) dated August 27.
1967 ; -P. N. Oak is emerging
aspects el Indian
as a popular writer on different
Ill addition
to hh fe* but
history and culture.
Oak * article, h
quite sensational publications.
d
found iheir way into weeklies
™f ^J"
[
*^
both Enghsb and regional languages^ Th
lies in
upon him as a veritable
are (people) who look
Ol Hindu
rcoorn to reinstate the glory
w
VvVsa
vyasa reborn
misrepresented
„ n u , us v
callously mi i i
heritage so grossly and

,
by wicked f^tieân^^
right «*e«fePP
ci pl«...Oaki* absolutely to be
... .u. . s understood
A«i has been mMintftrstoot
that lu term Arya lias
fl
i*
a racial term
.
——*..»»
419
41*
Mahal. Your Cily
scholarly
Monthly edited by
Molhir India .1
lf J. M P Sir Pherozsbah Mehta
sft cred our o wn ll 1C o
ended for the clarity
ritk
-
Cb,i
lT
8'«onM,.v f l
?°' U -
Mr j
,
lfi l?"«" 10 £ «fo Hind,,
Roil d. Bombay-t), December 966\ pa^c IS;

ro books ii missing the most excit-
•his new and
^fc^JmWl?*
m of the stupendous fraud two cd wnh ,h„ Problem r
ing
ic MoghuJs and the British per-
*•
India.
\v] J n
On „„ c n r m , " 7 ^C4m
«W
'
H.tioncd l„
J
Un
petra; il»e helpless Indian people for ovei
t^dvc centuries Only after Indfji got freedom, Upon
disclcsure> contained the two
seeing I hie lovely
i ruclu <
* 0Wn ^ tt -
the iwrsftfcmsJ
books could be made. These books must be read
in
ii magnificent grandeur
i w
'
lJ" Tm* <*

-^^
b« inicliictiii people. The books provoke thought, was NOT a Moghu] building.
nd ftjth new thought old history begins to assume For m «
i different complexion."'
tourminaren reminded me of p«turei
Hindu architecture m what was
1
then
JZZ
known as
Sundnj Standard (Indian Express,) Rajpu tana. Also the octagonal design is definitely
i tirr)
februar i
"Or Oak's 'Some Blunders of of Hindu origin. Our library recently acquired
Indian \}m. neij Research" is a book of a baffling your wonderful little book, and some of these
5 ,nd r?
,
mudjoriniegrits and comic- things which had been puzzling me were irame-.
S^V***- A«he ujkcI rather my tely cleared up."

I
7, The Astrological Magazine (Editor, Mr

Mr D *s January r
,i, ni,,,a,h
Governor, uuar B.V. Raman, Sri Rajcswart, Bangalore 20)
Ptad!; ll u ;
"
Mahal Was a rt.-r-.il
as '
^"r "I welcome toe poblica-

daW »** 1966 "Here is a publication (Taj
*
RajP „t Pate) which tnay -WJ-. »-•

thc Ta> * having
From a slumber
with close attention both
hy
«^g££%2m*
«™ it*
.n
1
* a Ra P
1
«"<> ; ! ; been
( man.'
history and the lay
lore). June 4. 1967 ' Jhfc ^^ w> ,„,„.
prop*"
i
s a
J
"
;JmJ Eail «n »«dlei cstiiig
Uônthe^
book which
ggw fodi
[chtoihe
MS
,cl '
'
.V' d December
and ™
tblu ' d
«« ShahJehan
1
*" '» contempt the
built ,he Taj
history,
subject,
%
£ cxpw From
k
the e
n utiu.i>
K* 0-
\
f :
't^r
**'Hih, ih.
^jaajn
30 421
in «'ie book 'Some

mm of the
more ImpOflMl and Bu »Gty
monuments one RescarcbMiassetcaedZ? of

** H Ufo*
* ^"T. ihm medlaevall
is sound ration
and aUhouah one ™, "r l w<*toiif. ^

Saws?
1
,.
one can deny that lev "

r .
THE IUTIONaITo?^**
£
e
<| Hi ^ **£
las *pen1 considerable (4IIWV
kcr
time ,*, cfiiri end

leboiir to delve deep ^Jhe P.N. Oak. price to.
chanting guide to Indian
a W^b C2S5° Y >•
l
of the theory he ha*

evolved, Mr h *.*r«u aMroUl^T
nwrawgy it alio "t"
repay close
how
rt «u
aerology is ya com s cunialai
and will comunttc science
0j; ichellengtn«boolc baitd
^
.
squarely on phytic
irnw ,
..
r j. i,, one Interest* d m anther)- Miaemaiiei
âtaemaiicsaaaaiiioflotirt rr,
of research Achapterinitduadateshowuj
uciduics bow the
\ K .
and by even rtudenl KuTub

Kuitib ii
Miliar was raised by Kins

I
certain!) impiv King Vikramadltya i» ™.

Vikramaditw to
In an> event it cant.,
into
morale the beginning of the Vikrnrn En. farmed
dearly th id Tor furtlter re sen re h It
the central tower of a pre-eminettl anew iimdu

the adumbrated and explained so elabora-
iht
il
(4 TO)
observatory of times when Indians ruled u large
tely by linn, and f change in the approach of i
firr)
imton is id n teerch workers."

i
i
pan of the world, Tiic book has been unanimoufly
acclaimed as a unique contribution to sclentl
OiiianUir i jIi i
weekly, Marina BuiJd-
astrology. Some typical comment* arc
inp I
ght Circus, w Delhi*!), dated
madras). June
Wry t. I
rch .. bonk (Some Blunders The Hindu (English dailyfrotn
book arc n«>%
in this
I 'Indian 11 al Research) requires a lot of 1968; The argument used
ODurajp and loi til*
SearchHshi (English daily, Paina), dalcd

scholarship." and Ihoitght-provokhtg.
rules which enable
»^*JflJ
ft** **" »* JS
-IlilflTlClJ
J^'^, ^
j
subject Printing and
launched •Mi Oak has of the
inn)
°Jcclol n vriting Indian history
:
Ail lovers of ast

with
bee
tow* claimina thai ih. .,,
Û by the,
Mahal had not Th . Mail (English
JM
ideoipcroi Shahial.an"
11 Dl N| U»
Wegmdernj SLA.): Youi dmple -W clear
d
sax
emulated
ed
f5[«qu«
*^^rf
upon
u r on .
i
au-liiundcr.of Indian
hll
„,tc
Hi
masterpiece or
explaining the
.«'
^^M December .\|%7; » M|. q^ calclaling llw <f as
'
1 1
«}
sizeable fund ,
( .ilia
could be cmp^^jWcb Ba
* Hvn4 u
AN APPEAL TO THE READER —"

The
"
!
•
1
1
en of hi
Mory.
aiiauim
Institute
e , 17.
should tave nc
v
,.
.,,1 of the foregoing pages mediately so lhat f ^' mt R ,,
to which fndtan h story
conv „c«lv.w»f the extern
( Z
lconscquen.lv world history
in ~c portions) may employ at least
%££ ^ ,„> narj
been distorted. _..»., •

aevai towns,
\H^&*+f~m
L
,
The Taj Mahal

.^^f
»
DM
Hindu
H ,"'r,c,l
of our earlier books
Palace,
Reseat*,
and Some Blunders
bighUght
:
ol
some other senon.

Man proving that they
tactions fraudul n
Muslim
a
invade, rt
L
^^ ^
2^ ^J
f
"
Indian and world history.

flaws in
Thi* task of rebutting our

maimed and dis-
several books proving
Indo-Saracemc theory of architecture
,.,^1^ a
in fact, be undertaken
by 3, Publish
translated
torted historv should, and annotated editions of at tan qi)
Z nnivereitio and historical

,ions.
research orgamza-
was coming forward to
But since no one
thousand mediaeval Muslim
nicies to bring to the surface very valuable evidence
and European chro-
a
Indian History
rectify the Institute for Rewriting
it.
so far suppressed or ignored. For instance Sim 1
1964) as a public body

was founded (on June 14, own
jahan's •'Badshahnama" >md Tavcmler'i
to
onerous but noble, national
undertake thai "Travels in India" contain emphatic aneitioM
Mahal existed prior to Mumtoz'i
task. that the Taj
ihiwins itarial
9,000/- in death 4 Write hundreds of books
The Institute has only about Rs. tots such u^ under-
Baroda, Connaught light on some unknown
Us account with the Bank of
Delhi (as Oil July I, 1968).
Circus.
I„ h dated August 2, 1939 Dr. Einstein
, i
tier
President Franklin Delano
informed the American
Roosevelt that he had the
if 'he
know-how lo make the
United Slates Government
country of the
world pomuu
J*
o*«•!*
^
atom V ble traces of w
All that he needed
wanted ro make Hie of il
then was manufacturing and
testing facility. ukc- lh e m
that most
. 6.
*^»Z!K
langu^ *« ^ rcadc
Sam
*
wise «e have now the
know-how lo rebut maimed nvagazmc^,; lflJ
»«J*
re****
Publish a (|
some extent, world A*

,
and distorted Indian, and, W with the

fmdmgs of cjvilltf
»,*u.
now up to the public to make avail- *»

hjM, li ii
to world history
necessary facility by raising a
able tc III the
424
small, rich and poor.

lb {c and
m* *
,
non-Indian send to in
We } ?'
di3 n'or
their * * *« Uerity may be saved from

that a tuiorcd in fanciful.
ledge so ;tf
icl . and
tf» feet*.
lm red with
^' ,l
A t least
f™
a™d diversities realize their
ot ftc
Govern**"
,n
'
|d w 00 k to folk of
,
^powiWity ;" members by paying '0

means to bccome
o
ordinary _
|ifc , memb ers by contri-
or cnroi um
rupees a year j ^
5?fi£5f» incite «»»» » <•»
earnest Iv I jHdtcd.
entitled to a discount
on
Maobeis/donon are
Sm
by Institute members
or published
Plications may be ordered
£lhe Ste
perVPP.
The Institute has thousands of books to

m,
publish, which will change the entire orientation 1-.
of Indian history and to a considerable extern of

world history Your financial support is of vital
importance in this great task of rebutting history S rltuS The palnling is apparent!, of a pe.,od
sat present being grossly misrepresented to when Akbar was : r>
ludcnts, visitors to historical build- Humavun' S ex^(lHO-

j ul 1555 and died
w hJ
•
Humflyur returned
monthtJ
,
Pflfle ^
to
^
Delhi In
|V
ing* and to the world at targe. y ^ rMFampi|l roaaJls pater*
-nation
Elliot
pur
A Dawson, ciea«y
Sikrr. On poQ» \
^mi^^ $
Ba(fayi ni
, SQ &,«,„
hB5 fl |
as Falhpur dur.no AhtMf'a

as a member, send a hut
^
'
«r you can. and order r.ur publications- quoted referring & r* township, rt.choeofOQy on"":'*
18
own time v 5lt * L. '

r
lUMPf* must not herealtermii-
penuade your friend* imilaf i"™J l * hBr s ol
to render and students hb0lil the or igin of Falehpur SIM,
help
lead themselves
w* before Akba*.
fou nd*d centuries
It was an
Thar
Hindu
.» whv
ejir
It* ^^ in0i
d^
0n||ro|y of lh(| Hlndw dti
—
This painting depicting (Akbar's father) Humayun with his
nobles at Fathpur should explode the myth that Akbar found-
ed Falehpur Sikti. The painting is apparently of a period
when Akbar was not even born, Akbar was born during
Humayun's exile (1540—55), Humayun returned to Delhi in
July 1555 and died within sin months. Page 62, Vol. IV,
Elliot & Dowson, clearly mentions thai Fathpur means Fateh-
pur Sikri, On page 157 of our book Badayuni has also been
quoted referring to Falehpur Sikri as Fathpur during Akbar's
own tlms. Visitors to that township, archaeology officials
and students and teachers of history must not hereafter mis-
lead themselves Bnd others about the origin of Fatehpur Sikri.
It was an Hindu capital founded centuries before Akbar,
1 Ji _ ._.'..!
Some othe r works by the Author
1. Fatehpur Sikri is a Hindu City
2. Delhi's Red Fort is Hindu Lalkol
3. Lucknow's Imambaras arc Hindu

Palaces
4. Agra Red Fort is a Hindu Building
5. Fowler's Howlers
6. Islamic Havoc in Indian History
7. *rf <TOT tWMMK
10. fl fH ^ (fH * Ht^ranO
12. ft^^nf
13. W( aft? tt^t (iw)
15. uror 3 5^nr f*iH (2 *ft)
16. *? mtu I ^^ *^ OT?
17. dl«IH&d Hf^T *OT t
18. m$w ffi$™ * ^^ ^

19. fts*r sfasrer * ftspr ^^
Indian Historical
20. Some Blunders of
Research
Who Savs Akfaar was Greai?
The Present day historians consider Akbar as

a great Moghul emperor. The author of this
book questions this view. He quotes innumer-
able incidents and deeds of the so called great
emperor and proves that Akbar was the great-
est rogue. A well decumentcd work worth

reading...
HINDI SAH1TYA SADAN

30/90, Connaught Circus. New Delhi - 1100O1,

Who Says Akbar Was Great

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VhT.

HINDI SAHITYA SAPAN

II A Chronology of Akbar's Reign 16

III Akbar's Vicious Environment 52

VI Drink and Dope Addiction 120

O P.N. OAK VII The So-called Marriages were 126

IX The Plunder Economy 153

Will lustreless Gems m In the preface to his eight-volume critical

369 study of mediaeval Muslim chronicles a well-known

Western scholars like Sir H. M.

Elliot, who have seen through the "fraud' have

realize that as m other spheres tall claims made

Fatehpur Siku and the Red Forts at Agra and

Prince Salim, call him a "shameless flatterer/

to sifting that evidence from piles of glittering,

" andexplanatory obser-

and carefully hiding the skeletons

all seemingly incompatible contemporary

ing notch pot eh. Tim is the feeling one gels on

THE NEED FOR REASSESSMENT

A KBAR, the third generation Mogul emperor of

Had been a mere matter of opinion or of

degree it wouldn't have mattered very much if

If a person donates, let us assume, Rs. 2 for a

Such is the case with Akbar's assessment in

Not a single act of his

are raked too ea$U)

Wnal this book tries

accept In India term 'historian' is very often

The> came and stayed to exploit it ro its utmost,

law of judicial investigation which is very useful

_ nc Here the historian

lion* human weakness He wrote statement U would be definitely used

3^ abo%e we Shalt explain to the reader how a

reject the whole evidence. In a conn ol law all

that ai times even a clear confession

accused at every stage but never in his favour.

dcarcut confession .is e\ iderice of ihc crime,

who died .n 1707 AD,

the law of evidence enable

ruler after another did so only to lavish more loving straight.

care on the Indian people than those slaughtered logic compel us to

Anoiuvi easy tally to assess Akbar** role in

Tr nidi wrong conclusions We allowed to

j,,„, tfl &CCCp1 and put up with similar illogi-

happened In India in the field of history. False

be classed as villains who wanton)) tioning and cross-examination of long-standing

religion"* Mohammad Akbar. The adjective

Humayun died in Delhi, His ^«*»£*

at Umarkot in Sind where his father Humayun.

Akbamama gives the date if Oclobci

Vincent Smith *uy? an page 10 of his book "Akbar-

TneGrcal Mogul" thai many Persian and English author*

Smith who ii wrong. The original name could only

,hic nalace He was buried in

r:!,^ believed ,„Ma

Akbar won the battle of

February //. Akbar was proclaimed king

and subsidiary buildings subsequently

£Ufl at Siddhapur Pultun In Gujarat. He was obviously

deal with this matter in greater detail in a subse-

protest and disgust or

Port in Agra. Being only hall dead, he was again

iithinisw Whs blatant i-.-i ol kidnapping a

Humayun died in Delhi, His ^«»£