How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some Class 8

How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some Class 8

How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some years? What could have led to such a change? Class 8

Answer:

Akbar's early reign was marked by brutal conquests, such as the siege of Chittor. However, over time, his outlook changed due to :

1. He admitted in court that with increased understanding, he felt ashamed of earlier persecutions.
2. Exposure to diverse religious and cultural empires encourages tolerance and inclusion.
3. His desire for a stable and unified empire encouraged tolerance and inclusion.
4. The failure of forced conversions made him realize that genuine loyalty and harmony could not be achieved through violence.

He abolished the jizya tax on non- Muslims and promoted the policy of sulh-i-kul, 'peace with all,' which encouraged religious tolerance and harmony. Akbar realised that ruling through respect and cooperation brought greater stability and unity to his vast empire than ruling through fear alone. This change was also influenced by his personal reflections, as recorded by his court historian Abul Fazl, where Akbar admitted that forcing others to convert to Islam was wrong and unlikely to last. Thus, Akbar evolved from a harsh conqueror into a wise and benevolent ruler who valued peace and diversity.