Religious Policy of

Akbar
Lesson Plan
Date: 24th May 2018
Duration: 40 minutes
Class: VII
Topic: The Creation Of an Empire
Sub- Topic: Religious Policy of Akbar
 Objectives

To Understand Akbar's vision of a universal

religion.
To Understand the basic beliefs of the major
religions of south Asia, including Islam, Hinduism,
and Buddhism and others.
To Develop the positive value of unity in
diversity.
Teaching Learning Materials/
Aids

Amar Chitra Katha

Painting of Ibadat Khana
 Exploring Learners’ Knowledge Base:

 What was the expanse of Mughal Empire under Akbar?

 What states or regions were under Mughal rule?
 Like India today, Mughal Empire was made up of many
social and cultural units. Do you agree?
 What all religions did you notice, in your study until now,
that were present in the Mughal Empire?
 Do you know about the marriage alliances between the
Mughals and the Rajputs?
 What was ‘jizya’?
Introduction to the Sub- Topic

Analysing the answers to the pre- requisite

knowledge, the learners will be asked what do
they think about Akbar’s take on religion.
According to the administrative policies of
Akbar, was he biased or tolerant? The learners
will then learn about the religious policy of
Akbar.
Teaching- Learning Process

The pedagogical intervention will be

establishment of dialogue. Learners will engage in
an activity and thus a dialogue will be established.
Discussion will take place. The learners will also be
engaged in a picture source. Emphasis would be
on the context and environment in which “Din-i-
Ilahi” emerged and the policy of “Sulh-I kul” was
accepted.
 First, the learners will be given a Amar Chitra Katha to
read. The learners will then be asked small intermittent
questions.
Describe what is happening in the picture.
What all religions are mentioned here?
 Then learners will be shown a painting of “Ibadat Khana”
where discussion is taking place. The learners will learn
what “Ibadat Khana” is.
The learners will be asked if they can identify the
learned men of different religions.
What do you think “Din-i- Ilahi” means, according to
the amar chitra katha story?
Why do you think Akbar wanted a universal religion?
 The students will then learn about “sulh-I kul”- a policy of
total peace between all religions and communities and
the essence of Din-i- Ilahi.
What do you mean by ‘tolerance’?
Do you think Akbar was tolerant?
 How do you think this policy may have helped Akbar to
rule over a huge empire?
 Do you think abolition of Jizya was a measure under this
policy?
 Did you know that Akbar allowed his hindu wives to
celebrate their festivals and even participated himself?
 The learners will be asked if they know about the following in the
different religions. Do you think these are some of the topics
discussed in the Ibadat Khana? Why are these important?
 Belief in a god or higher power?
 How do different religions look at afterlife?
 What is the code of morality in different religions?
 What role does religion play in our society?
 Does a higher power determine one’s fate/destiny, or is one fully
responsible?
 Is there a soul? What happens when we die?
 Should men and women behave or be treated differently from
each other?
 The learners will then be asked to notice the similarities and
differences in these answers and what could have affected Akbar.
Fact File
 The learners will then learn that seeking a common
ground among religions, Akbar’s teachings synthesize
ideas from multiple faiths(as we have seen), do not have
a sacred scripture and include a form of sun–worship
that reflects Hindu and Zoroastrian influences. Virtues of
celibacy, kindness and piety are encouraged, and vices
of lust and pride are condemned.
 Among other measures were to remove special taxes on
non-Muslims, allow Hindus to build temples, and end the
forced conversion of prisoners of war to Islam.
 Akbar started giving donations and alms to saints,
temples, madarsas, and maths (maz) of all religions.
 Following the policy of Sulh-I kul, Akbar banned the
slaughter of cows.
 In his own life he started observing some of the rituals of
Hindus, Parsis, and others. At the same time, Akbar
dropped many aspects of Islam that he felt were not
correct.
 He had the main religious books or scriptures of different
religions translated into Persian (the official language).
The Gita, Mahabharata, Atharvaveda, Bible,
Panchtantra, Singhasan Battisi, as well as many science
books, were translated into Persian so that Persian-
speaking Muslims could read and understand them.
 Towards the end

What does this tolerance of different religious beliefs

tell you?
Do you think this policy ensured acceptance of the
emperor by the people?
Despite transcendent aims, Din–i–Ilahi centred
primarily on Akbar as a divine personage and did not
attract many followers outside the realm of Akbar's
court. Why do you think so?
Do you think Akbar's idea of a universal religion (Din-i-
Ilahi) could work in modern times? Why or why not?
Blackboard Summary
Date: 24/05/2018
Topic: Religious Policy of Akbar

 Din- i- Ilahi – Divine Faith

Propounded by Akbar in 1582
 Sulh-I Kul – Total Peace
 Ibadat Khana- A prayer room
 Importance of Sulh-I Kul
 To ensure national unity and peace
 For acceptance and Support
 For peaceful and smooth running of the administration of the
state
Home Assignment

 Badayuni, a historian of the time, wrote, “As a result of

these discussions a rock-like conviction grew in the
emperor’s mind, that in all religions there are good
people. If true knowledge can be attained in all
religions, then it is not correct to say that there is truth in
only one religion and that other religions are false.” What
does this statement tell us about the Emperor? Critically
analyse the statement.
Content Enrichment

 Social Studies for Class 8. (2006). Bhopal, Madhya

Pradesh: Eklavya
 Amar Chitra Katha- The Great Mughals. (2010). Mumbai,
Maharashtra: Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd.
 Akbar and the Jesuits, illustration to the Akbarnama,
miniature painting by Nar Singh, ca. 1605