Military Campaigns in the North-West (1585-1605)

Military Campaigns in the North-West (1585–1605)

Among other conquests of Akbar, the important were the campaigns he launched in the North–West of India. Akbar added Kandahar, Kashmir and Kabul to the Mughal Empire. His battles in the Deccan led to the annexation of Berar, Khandesh and parts of Ahmednagar. Under Akbar, the Mughal Empire extended from Kashmir in the north to Godavari in the south, and from Kandahar in the west to Bengal in the east.

Akbar died in 1605 and his mortal remains were buried at Sikandra near Agra.

Akbar’s Religious Policy

Akbar, realising that the gains of affection would be more enduring than the gains of the sword, made all out efforts to win the goodwill of the Hindu nobles and the Hindu masses. He abolished the jizya (poll tax) on non-Muslims and the tax on Hindu pilgrims. He also married a girl of a noble Rajput family. Later, he married off his son to a Rajput girl as well. He appointed Rajput nobles to important and top positions in his Empire. Raja Man Singh of Jaipur was sent as governor of Kabul once.

Akbar treated all the religious groups fairly with generosity of spirit. The Sufi saint Salim Chishti and the Sikh Guru Ramdas received Akbar’s utmost respect and regard. Guru Ramdas was gifted a plot of land in Amritsar, where the Sikh shrine Harmandir Sahib was later built. In Ibadat Khana, a hall in the new Fatehpur Sikri city, constructed by Akbar, scholars of all religions met for a discourse.

Contributions to culture

Akbar was a great patron of learning. His personal library had more than four thousand manuscripts. He patronised scholars of all beliefs and all shades of opinions. He extended his benevolence to authors such as Abul Fazl, Abul Faizi and Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, the great storyteller Birbal, competent officials like Raja Todar Mal, Raja Bhagwan Das and Raja Man Singh. The great composer and musician Tansen and artist Daswant adorned Akbar’s court as well.