Mughal Relations with Rajputs

The Rajputs were inhabitants of India’s northern areas. They were a warrior clan, but they formed an
alliance with the Mughals for some reason, serving them with obedience and devotion. Muhammad Babar (1483-1530A.D.) was also the 16th-century king of the Indian subcontinent and founder of the Mughal Empire, Babar In the first battle of Panipat in 1526, he defeated delhi sultantes last ruler Ibrahim Lodi. The first battle of Panipat marked the demise of the sultanate of Delhi and the emergence of India’s mighty Mughal dynasty. Babur had to face the Rajputs, but these wars were waged for strategic reasons. Because of his early death in 1530 A.D, Babur was not able to frame any clear set of strategy against Rajputs.

Humayan – Rajput Relations: Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun (1508-1556A.D.) was the second Mughal
emperor who after the death of his father Babur succeeded to the throne, at the age of twenty-three. Early on, Humayun lost his kingdom to the noble Pashtun, Sher Shah Suri, but he recovered it
15 years later with Persian assistance. Subsequently, Humayun was able to extend the Empire further
in a very short period, leaving his uncle, Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar, also known as Shahanshah,
Akber-e-Azam or Akbar (means ‘the Great’) with a major legacy.

AKBAR Relations with Rajputs

The third and greatest emperor of the Mughal empire in India was Akbar (1542-1605 AD). Under a regent, Bairam Khan, Akbar is known for his efforts to create a culture of religious tolerance and for his policy of reconciliation with the Rajputs, who were a powerful Hindu warrior clan in northern India.

One of the ways Akbar sought to reconcile with the Rajputs was through marriage alliances. He married several Rajput princesses, including the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber and the sister of Raja Udai Singh of Mewar. These marriages not only helped to secure alliances with powerful Rajput rulers, but they also helped to create a sense of unity and shared culture between the Mughals and the Rajputs.

Akbar also implemented several policies to integrate the Rajputs into his administration. He appointed Rajput nobles to high positions in his court and government, and he granted them land and other privileges. He also abolished the pilgrimage tax, which was particularly burdensome for the Hindu Rajputs.

Akbar’s policy of reconciliation with the Rajputs was also reflected in his religious policies. He promoted a new syncretic religion, Din-i-Ilahi, which sought to unite the different religious communities within the Mughal Empire. This was an attempt to create a common culture and identity among the diverse peoples of the empire, including the Rajputs.

SIGNIFICANT OF AKBAR RAJPUT POLICY

1. Most of the Rajput states had submitted to Akbar. As a result, they have supported Akbar for his
   extension of rule in India.
2. Due to the friendship with the Rajputs, it brought peace and stability. It even further led to
   economic prosperity in the country.
3. The submission of the Rajputs to Akbar, it helps him to become a national ruler.
4. The friendship of the Rajput is indispensable because Rajputana serves as a major route
   towards the Deccan, Malwa, Sind, and Gujarat.
5. Akbar’s Rajput policy drew the Rajput close to the Muslims. This has helped in the growth of
   new cultures, i.e. Indo-Muslim culture. Moreover, it also led to the growth of a new type of art
   popularly known as Indo-Muslim Art.
6. Jahangir also follows a policy of conciliation towards the Rajput. His mom was also a Rajput
   princess. Also, he married a number of Rajput Princesses of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner.

Overall, Akbar’s policies towards the Rajputs were an important aspect of his rule, and played a significant role in consolidating Mughal power in northern India. By creating alliances and integrating the Rajputs into his administration, Akbar was able to secure the loyalty of powerful Rajput rulers and create a more stable and unified empire.

Mughal Rajput Relations during Jahangir

Jahangir was the son of Akbar, like his father, Jahangir was also an imperialist. Besides, he wants to
extend the boundaries of his empire. Mewar was the only Rajput territory that had not submitted to
the Mughals. Therefore, Jahangir wanted to defeat these Rajputs of Mewar. In 1587 C.E, Rana Pratap, the
Rajput chief of Mewar died and he was succeeded by his son Amar Singh. Amar Singh also continued to follow the resistance policy towards the Mughals. Jahangir, therefore, sent a number of expedition towards
Mewar but it was only the expedition of 1614-1615 C.E which has led by Prince Khurram (who was
later known as Shah Jahan) that Mewar was devasted and ultimately the Rajputs had to come to a
negotiation with the Mughals.
Therefore, the war ends with treaties in 1615 CE. The treaties are:

1. The Rana accepted the suzerainty of the Mughals.
2. The emperor restored all territories of Mewar including the fort of Chittar. But the Rana fo does
   not have the right to fortify or repair the fort of Chittar.
3. The Rana was not obliged to attend the imperial court but his son Karan Singh was to represent
   him and also to assist the Mughal Emperor with his troops.
4. The Rana was not required to enter into a matrimonial alliance with the Mughals.
5. The Rana’s son Karan Singh was to enroll as Mansabdar of 5000 Zat and 500 Sawar.
6. The treaty of 1615 that was signed between Rana Amar Singh and the Mughals (during the reign
   of emperor Jahangir) had a tremendous impact on the history of the Mughals. This was so because right
   from the time of Babur, Mewar was constantly fighting against the Mughals and it was the treaty
   of 1615 that ended the long-drawn struggle between the Mughals and the Rajput states of
   Mewar.

Mughal Rajput Relations with Shahjahan

Shah Jahan also followed the Rajput policy of his father jahangir and grandfather akbar. The Rajput during his reign still served the Mughal empire. However, they did not have the same prominent position in life as
before. It was during the reign of Jahangir that Shah Jahan was known as Prince Khurram and that he
was able to subdue the Rajput state of Mewar. But again during his reign the Rana of Mewar, Jagat
Singh began to refortify the fort of Chittor in violation of the treaty of 1615.
Therefore, Shah Jahan has sent a force against Mewar and ultimately the Rana of Mewar had to
tender an apology to the Mughals and also to dismantle the new addition made to the fort.

Mughal Rajput Relations during Aurangzeb

During the initial years of his reign, Aurangzeb continued the policy of his predecessors towards the
Rajputs. Therefore, he appoints Some of the Rajputs to Mughal services like Jaswant Singh of Mewar and Jai Singh of Amber. But Aurangzeb was a staunch Sunni Muslim and therefore he wants to
convert India into an Islamic Empire.
Besides Aurangzeb was also an autocrat and therefore he wants to conquer every tribe and
community that stands on his way so as to add to the Mughal territory.

RAJPUT POLICY OF AURANGZEB

1. He took his first step when he sent an expedition to Marwar, which was the most powerful Rajput state at
   that time. He sent an expedition because the best troops of Raja Jaswant Singh were still awake
   in the North-West.
2. The Mughal could easily capture the state of Marwar. After capturing Marwar, Aurangzeb
   orders the destruction of all Hindu Temples and reimpose the Jizyah tax on hindus which was earlier
   abolished by Akbar.
3. Akbar placed Inder Singh a relative of Jaswant Singh to the throne of Marwar, who agreed to
   pay to the Mughal an amount of RS 36, 00,000.
4. Aurangzeb wanted to bring Ajit Singh of Marwar in the Mughal harem itself but this was not
   acceptable by the Rajputs. On the other hand, the Rajput leaders impressed Aurangzeb to accept
   the legitimate claims of Ajit Singh to the throne of Marwar. However, Aurangzeb did not pay any
   attention to this demand.
5. Disgusted with the high handed attitude of Aurangzeb, the Rajput under the leadership of
   Durgadas Rathor, they rose in revolt against Aurangzeb, This greatly annoyed Aurangzeb and
   he sent a big force led by Prince Akbar to Marwar in 1679.
6. Aurangzeb moved to Ajmer to direct the operation in person. After much resistance, the
   Mughal forces were successful in dethroning the Rajputs.
7. The whole of the province of Marwar and the Hindu temples were demolished. Aurangzeb
   then divided the whole country into small districts and placed each of them under different
   Mughal Faujdars (Military Commanders).