Question

Who among the following Mughal rulers led the idea of ‘Universal Peace’?
1. Akbar
2. Shahjahan
3. Humayun
4. Jahangir

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Akbar

Akbar (1556-1605AD)

• While Akbar was at Fatehpur Sikri during the 1570s he started discussions on religion with the ulama, Brahmanas, Jesuit priests who were Roman Catholics, and Zoroastrians.
• These discussions took place in the ibadat khana. He was interested in the religion and social customs of different people. Akbar’s interaction with people of different faiths made him realise that religious scholars who emphasised ritual and dogma were often bigots.
• Their teachings created divisions and disharmony amongst his subjects. This eventuallyled Akbar to the idea of sulh-i kul or “universal peace”.
• This idea of tolerance did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm. Instead it focused on a system of ethics – honesty, justice, peace – that was universally applicable.
• Abul Fazl helped Akbar in framing a vision of governance around this idea of sulh-i kul.
• This principle of governance was followed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan as well.