Akbar and Shivaji: Guardians of Dharma in Different Times
Throughout Indian history, rulers have left lasting legacies not just through conquest, but through the values they upheld. Two such rulers, Emperor Akbar (1542–1605) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630–1680), are remembered for their distinct contributions to Indian civilization — especially in protecting and respecting the Hindu population during complex political and religious times. Although one was a Mughal emperor and the other a Hindu warrior king, both played pivotal roles in ensuring the survival and dignity of Hindu society under vastly different conditions.
---
Part I: Akbar – The Emperor of Harmony
When Akbar inherited the Mughal throne at the age of 13, India was deeply divided along religious lines. The early Mughals, particularly Babur and Humayun, had followed more orthodox Islamic policies. But Akbar broke that trend and became a visionary ruler who actively protected Hindus and promoted interfaith dialogue in a time when intolerance could have torn the empire apart.
1. Ending the Jizya Tax and Religious Persecution
One of Akbar's most important steps was the abolition of the jizya tax in 1564. This tax was historically imposed on non-Muslims (primarily Hindus) under Islamic rule. Its removal was not just an economic relief but a symbolic move toward religious equality.
He also discouraged forced conversions and protected temples. In several cases, when temples were destroyed by local governors or generals, Akbar intervened to stop the destruction and even funded temple reconstructions.
2. Promoting Hindu Nobles and Interfaith Marriages
Akbar was a political realist. He understood that to rule India, he needed the support of its Hindu majority. He forged alliances with powerful Hindu Rajput rulers, not by defeating them, but by honoring them. He gave high positions in his court to Hindu generals like Raja Man Singh and Raja Todar Mal, making them critical parts of the Mughal military and administrative system.
He also married Rajput princesses, treating them with respect and not requiring them to convert. These marriages were not merely political alliances but symbolic gestures of cultural integration.
3. Din-i Ilahi: A Visionary Experiment
Perhaps Akbar's most revolutionary idea was the creation of Din-i Ilahi, a syncretic religion that aimed to combine the best elements of all major faiths — Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. Though it didn't spread widely, it was a powerful statement that the spiritual unity of mankind was possible.
He also established the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) at Fatehpur Sikri, where scholars of different religions — including Hindus, Jains, and Christians — engaged in philosophical discussions. No other Islamic ruler of that time had shown such openness.
4. Legacy for Hindus
Akbar's era marked a golden period for Hindu-Muslim coexistence. Many later Hindu leaders admired Akbar. In fact, some modern Hindu nationalists, despite opposing Mughal rule as a whole, regard Akbar as an exception — a king who ruled India like an Indian, not as a foreign conqueror.
By ensuring that Hindus could rise in power and live without fear of religious persecution, Akbar indirectly protected and preserved Hindu dharma during a time when the dominant empire could have crushed it.
---
Part II: Shivaji – The Sword of Dharma
A century later, the Mughal Empire had changed. Under Aurangzeb, Akbar's great-grandson, religious intolerance returned. Temples were destroyed, jizya was reimposed, and non-Muslims were increasingly marginalized. It was in this turbulent time that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj rose as a Hindu warrior-king, forging a sovereign Maratha state rooted in Hindu self-rule (Swarajya).
1. Protector of Hindu Temples and Traditions
Shivaji's early campaigns focused on liberating regions from Mughal control and protecting Hindu temples from destruction. Unlike many earlier rulers who looted for personal gain, Shivaji instructed his soldiers not to harm women, children, or places of worship — even when raiding Muslim cities.
He also funded the renovation and construction of temples and gave patronage to Hindu scholars and priests. His coronation as a Hindu king was performed with ancient Vedic rituals, symbolizing a revival of Hindu political identity.
2. Religious Tolerance with Firm Boundaries
While fiercely defending Hindu culture, Shivaji was not anti-Muslim. In fact, he had many Muslim commanders, including Siddi Hilal and Ibrahim Khan, in his army. He opposed Islamic tyranny, not Islam as a religion. Captured Muslim women were released respectfully, and mosques were left untouched during his conquests.
This moral code of warfare made Shivaji a legend — a Hindu king who upheld dharma in both sword and spirit.
3. Political Awakening and Swarajya
Shivaji's greatest contribution was not just military — it was ideological. At a time when most of India was under Mughal rule or submissive princely states, he dared to imagine Hindu self-rule, not as a theocracy, but as a kingdom where Hindus could be safe and proud of their identity.
His concept of Hindavi Swarajya (Indian self-rule) was rooted in cultural pride, justice, and people's welfare. This idea would later become the philosophical seed for India's 19th- and 20th-century freedom fighters.
4. Legacy for the Freedom Struggle
Shivaji became a symbol of resistance for Indian nationalists. From Bal Gangadhar Tilak to Subhas Chandra Bose, many leaders invoked Shivaji as a role model for courage, nationalism, and just governance. Even in modern India, Shivaji is remembered not just as a king, but as a guardian of Hindu dignity.
---
Conclusion: Two Pillars, One Purpose
Though separated by nearly a century, Akbar and Shivaji shared an unspoken mission: to protect the Hindu way of life — one through inclusivity and pluralism, the other through resistance and self-rule. Akbar created a world where Hindus could breathe freely under a Muslim emperor. Shivaji, when that space shrank under Aurangzeb, fought to reclaim it with sword and vision.
Together, they represent two approaches to justice and harmony — one diplomatic and integrative, the other assertive and revolutionary. Both are indispensable chapters in the story of India's civilizational survival and eventual liberation.
In remembering them, we see that India's freedom struggle was not just a 20th-century event — it was a timeless dharmic journey, shaped by rulers, saints, and revolutionaries across centuries. This is the actual fact.