What values we learn from Akbar
Answers
Valued Diversity: Akbar did not tolerate diversity- he celebrated it. Akbar was deeply aware that his subjects comprises of people of different faiths and cultures. Therefore, Akbar made it known that his subjects need not conform to his set of beliefs in order to be favored by his administration.
Akbar philosophy can be summed as ‘Sulh-e-kul’ meaning universal peace. He focused on the ideas of peace, unity and tolerance.
Akbar’s bias for diversity & inclusiveness earned him the admiration & adulation of his subjects that no other emperor can boast of.
Akbar’s life is replete with examples where he showed a preference for confluence and not conflict (we will see more of it later).
Valued Talent: Akbar was so successful due to the fact that he got the best talent to work for him. Akbar’s court had the best generals, the best artisans, the best counselors, the best administrators.
Much before Howard Gardner came up with ‘The Theory of multiple intelligences’Akbar recognized exceptional talent of 9 gentlemen & made them courtiers in his court this providing for their sustenance and growth. They were ‘Akbar’s Navratnas’ (Akbar’s 9 Gems).
Folklore has it that one of them, Tansen, the singer has such talent as to lit a candle whenever he sang in Raag Deepak or bring rains when he sang in Raag Malhaar. While, Daswant, was a painter of great talent. Todar Mal was a financial wizard. Abul Fazl was a great historian & his brother, Faizi, was a famed poet. Abud us-Samad was a brilliant calligrapher and designer of Imperial coins. Man Singh was a mighty general. Mir Fathullah Shirazi was a financier, philosopher, physician and astronomer. Last but not the least, and arguably the most popular amongst Akbar’s Navratna’s was his Minister Birbal.
Foresightedness: Akbar had the gift of foresight. He had one of the mightiest army at his command still he relied more on diplomacy than destruction to win over potential opponents.
Akbar’s marriage with the Rajput princess effectually ensured that Akbar was insured against any future resistance from the fierce, but loyal, Rajput kings. Post his marriage to the Rajput princess he gave high positions to Rajputs leaders in his court thus making them a part of his administration.
Curious Mind: Akbar had a curious mind. How else can one explain creation of a library of over 24,000 volumes written in Sanskrit, Hindustani, Persian, Greek, Latin, Arabic and Kashmiri by a man who did not know to read & write?
Legend has it that he would frequently summon scholars to read out to him every night before he went to sleep. Akbar had an open mind and invited intellectuals and religious leaders from afar to understand their perspectives.
I will rest this point with the following fact available on record:
In the year 1582, Akbar sent a note for King Philip II of Spain. Part of the letter read as follows:
“As most men are fettered by bonds of tradition, and by imitating ways followed by their fathers, ancestors, relatives and acquaintances, everyone continues, without investigating their arguments and reasons, to follow the religion in which he was born and educated, thus excluding himself from the possibility of ascertaining the truth, which is the noblest aim of the human intellect. Therefore we associate at convenient seasons with learned men of all religions, thus deriving profit from their exquisite discourses and exalted aspirations.”
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