Akbar the Great

Akbar is considered the greatest of Mughals, and his achievements are many. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was to bring Hindus and Muslims together. Akbar transformed the predominantly alien character of the nobility by incorporating Rajput princesses into this select group. He entered into matrimonial alliances with distinguished Rajput clans and allowed his wives to follow their own customs and religion. Akbar inspired and encouraged other nobles to be tolerant.

Although Akbar's own education had been disrupted by the accidental death of his father, Humayun (1566), and the difficulties that plagued him in its wake, however, this did not inhibit him from taking a keen interest in literary and intellectual discourses. He was generous in patronizing men of talent ranging from music to metaphysics. Most illustrious among these were referred to as the Navratna - the nine gems. These included Tansen the legendary musician and Rahim the poet. He encouraged a lively exchange of ideas and refused to accept the primacy of religious dogma. A devout Muslim, he tried to encourage communal harmony by propagating Din e Ilahi - a fraternity of goodwill and tolerance which proclaimed respect for all religions.

The most important administrative innovation introduced by Akbar was the Mansabdari system (1577) that put every official of the state on the army rolls, irrespective of his duties. And every official, from the lowest to the highest, was paid by the imperial department of the army. This greatly tightened the central control over the bureaucracy and the army. The system of transfer of officials was rigorously implemented.

Akbar built the city of Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, and though it never could replace the imperial capital, the buildings there reflect the grand vision and the catholic taste of the man who commissioned them.