Question

Describe the role of Akbar in the growth of composite culture in Mughal India

Answer 1

Growth of a Composite Culture during Mughal Era

One redeeming feature in this age was the continuity of the process of Hindu-Muslim synthesis and amicable contact between the members of the two communities. Consequently the spirit of synthesis and mutual harmony led to the growth of a new synthesized and mutual harmony led to the growth of a new synthesised culture which was neither purely Hindu nor entirely Muslim, but a happy fusion of the best elements of the two. Akbar’s reign is important and instructive for the spirit of Hindu-Muslim synthesis and harmony.

Religious synthesis was displayed in Akbar’s religious policy of appeasement and the Din-E-ILahi. In the realm of art the Persian and Indian styles of architecture mingled happily and its excellence was exhibited in the magnificent buildings of Akbar and Shahjahan. Similarly, the Mughal painting display’s the beautiful fusion of the Indian and foreign techniques. Akbar’s desire wield the people into a cohesive social unity led to the Hindu-Muslim synthesis in dress, diet, etiquette and modes of living.

Literature could not escape the happy fusion of the two cultures. Vocabulary of the various Indian regional languages – Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, etc. was arrived with Persian and Arabic words. There was a fee exchange of views between remarks, the dress, manners, social amenities and festivals which the Mughals introduced in India ceased to be foreign and were accepted by the people.

The Mughals were patrons of literature and gave considerable impetus to its development in different branches. Persian was considerable patronized by the Mughal Emperors and monumental works in Persian were composed under the liberal patronage of the Mughals. The sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries are also known as “the Augustan Age of the Hindustani literature”. The period under review is also noted for a brilliant outburst of the Vaishnava literature in Bengal. The sixteenth century was characterised by great religious upheaval, when Vaishnavism appealed successfully to the hearts of millions of people in northern India and Bengal, the followers of Chaitanya preached the Bhakti cult. The liberal religion preached by the saint poets of Maharashtra is known as Maharashtra Dharma.