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Ramayana was translated at this time and Abul religion. He felt that every religion pointed
Fazl wrote the preface to the Persian text. towards God and, therefore, he wondered why it
During this period, poets began writing in Hindi. was not possible for the people following different
More important was the work of Tulsidas who religions to live peacefully with one another. He
wrote the story of the Ramayana and called it the also wanted to find a way which would be
Ramacharitamanas. common to all religions and would unite all
people. So he invited the teachers of various
Tansen was famous singer and enriched the
religions to come and discuss about their religion.
Hindustani school of music by making additions
in the style of singing many of the ragas. One of First, the Muslim teachers of religion came to the
the most popular of these was the raga Darbari Ibadat Khana. Later, others were invited to hold
which some people say Tansen composed discussions with the king- Hindus, Parsis, Jainas
especially for Akbar. and Christians. The Portuguese governor sent
missionaries in the hope that they might be able
Many of the painters in Akbar’s court were to convert the emperor to Christianity.
Hindus, some of whom signed their paintings
and we know their names. They came from After all these discussions, Akbar decided that he
various parts of India, from Gujarat, Kashmir, the had found the way. He did not create his own
Deccan, etc. and the local styles from these areas religion. He suggested a new religious path. This
also influenced their painting. When they were was based on the common truths of all religions
not painting illustrations for a book, they would and a few rules which he took from various
paint scenes depicting legends and stories from religions. This religious path was later referred to
India and Persia, such as the legends of young as the Din-i-Ilahi or divine monotheism - the
Krishna as a cowherd or the story of the love of religion of one God.
Laila and Majnu. He favoured peace and tolerance. He dis-
Architecture couraged the killing of animals and suggested
that people should stop eating meat, at least for a
Akbar had great respect for Salim Chisti, a Sufi
few days every year. He disapproved of cruel
Saint, that’s why he chose Fatehpur Sikri as it
was associated with Salim Chisti. At Fatehpur punishments and the mutilation of those who
had committed crimes, because he felt that it was
Sikri, Akbar built his magnificent palaces and
pavilions in red sandstone. The architecture of better to make a criminal realise his fault rather
Fatehpur Sikri is an excellent blending of Persian, than just to mutilate him. He strongly disapproved
of women becoming satis on the death of their
central Asian and various Indian styles. The same
is true of the tomb which Akbar had built for his husbands. He also introduced the venaration of
the sun, fire and light in his rituals.
father Humayun at Delhi. It is different from the
earlier tombs of the Sultanate period, not only There were still others such as Raja Man Singh,
because of its architectural style, which has more who disapproved of all this and said so quite
Indian features than the earlier tombs, but also openly. Akbar respected their feelings and did
because it is placed in the middle of a large, well not insist that they follow his religious teaching.
– laid out garden. The entrance to the whole Some of the Muslim nobles became very worried
area is through a massive gateway which is because they thought that Akbar was trying to
monument in itself. destroy Islam.
Akbar’s Religious Thoughts Akbar was great and fearless ruler of India. He
showed boldness and courage in physical feats
Ibadat Khana, in Fatehpur Sikri was built by
Akbar. This was the place where the Emperor when he rode and tamed angry elephants across
rivers in full flood. He also showed courage when
Akbar was very interested in the problems of
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Social Science-7 38
Social Studies-7
