Q#1:Muslim rulers made concerted efforts to create harmony and environment of understanding with their Hindu subjects. Elaborate in detail.
Muslim rulers in the Indian subcontinent adopted strategic and humanitarian policies to foster harmony with their Hindu subjects, particularly through administrative inclusion, economic relief, and cultural synthesis. These efforts transformed the region into a model of religious pluralism during various historical periods.
Administrative and Political Inclusion
A hallmark of harmonizing efforts was the appointment of Hindus to the highest echelons of government. Emperor Akbar (r. 1556–1605) revolutionized governance by incorporating the Hindu Rajput elite into the Mughal nobility as partners in the empire. High-ranking officials included Raja Todar Mal as Finance Minister and Raja Man Singh as a top military commander. Earlier, in 15th-century Kashmir, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (r. 1420–1470)—revered as "Bud Shah" (the Great King)—similarly appointed Hindus as ministers, judges, and diplomats. Even the founder of the Mughal Empire, Babur, emphasized the importance of winning the loyalty of the Hindu majority to ensure stability.
Abolition of Discriminatory Practices
Financial and religious burdens were systematically reduced to foster goodwill. Akbar famously abolished the jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1564 and the pilgrimage tax in 1563, signalling that his Hindu subjects were equal citizens rather than a secondary class. Before him, Zain-ul-Abidin had also abolished jizya and the cremation tax, while inviting back Hindu Brahmins who had fled during previous restrictive reigns. To further respect Hindu sentiments, several rulers, including Babur and Zain-ul-Abidin, implemented bans on cow slaughter.
Institutionalized Interfaith Dialogue
Muslim rulers actively promoted intellectual understanding between faiths. Akbar established the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in 1575, inviting Hindu, Jain, Parsi, and Christian scholars to debate spiritual truths. This search for common ground culminated in his philosophy of Sulh-i-Kul (Universal Peace), which mandated tolerance and balance as state policies. In Bengal, Sultans like Alauddin Husain Shah (r. 1493–1519) were also noted for their patronizing of Hindu scholars and their sympathetic attitude toward non-Muslim subjects.
Cultural and Social Integration
Rulers bridged the cultural gap by commissioning the translation of sacred Hindu texts. Under Akbar, the Mahabharata and Ramayana were translated into Persian, aimed at educating the Muslim elite and reducing religious tension. Zain-ul-Abidin similarly patronized the translation of the Mahabharata and the Kashmiri history Rajatarangini.
Socially, the creation of matrimonial alliances with Hindu Rajput families allowed princesses to practice their faith within the royal court, leading to the celebration of Hindu festivals like Holi and Diwali by the emperors themselves. This fusion of traditions birthed the Gan