A Rare Gem! - Page 4

Originally posted by: rpeez

Hey Mandy,

Great write-up.

I think Akbar, was one of the least appreciated heroes of History.

Most of the Historic texts are ambiguous on him. Many also call him as a war-monger, while it's true about pretty much every Royalty.

Though the Hindus of his time called his reign as Ram Rajya, few of his policies are only known to academics.

And our show isn't helping either, but, in a way, it has helped many of us, go back and check History and Literature to learn all that we can of the Great King and a wonderful Human Being. 😳👏

Originally posted by: Donjas

Mandy, your post is heartwarming. Akbar, indeed was a rare human being.

Even today, many extremists regard Akbar as either a brutal Muslim ruler or as an unbeliever, depending on which religion they belong to. They view Akbar through their own narrow prism, not realizing that for Akbar, religion itself was a means to an end. He said it in that famous letter to King Philip of Spain "We profit from the discourses of holy men of all faiths."

The tendency to view Akbar from the narrow prism of religion is very difficult to avoid, even for secular individuals. At India's independence, when the constituent assembly was proposing various emblems and symbols for the new India, a lot of motifs related to Ashoka were selected, but not one of Akbar. Lord Mountbatten criticized them for that.

On 5th October, the RSS is organizing a historical seminar on "Hemu, the forgotten Hindu Hero". The Union minister of culture is going to take part in addition to many other luminaries. Do not be surprised, if at this occasion a lot of vitriol is thrown at Akbar.

Originally posted by: adiana12

btw if I am not mistaken, the lion and the rising sun both were the banners for Akbar

Originally posted by: rpeez

Hey Mandy,

Great write-up.

I think Akbar, was one of the least appreciated heroes of History.

Most of the Historic texts are ambiguous on him. Many also call him as a war-monger, while it's true about pretty much every Royalty.

Though the Hindus of his time called his reign as Ram Rajya, few of his policies are only known to academics.

And our show isn't helping either, but, in a way, it has helped many of us, go back and check History and Literature to learn all that we can of the Great King and a wonderful Human Being. 😳👏

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Look, my dear Raksha,

I remember perfectly well what I was taught at school about Akbar the Great and all of it was laudatory. No one mentioned Chittor. My textbooks did not call him a warmonger, and if it came to that, Asoka, till the Kalinga war, was as much or more of a warmonger. And we were taught about all his major reforms.

Historians write books that hedge everything with qualificatory phrases, and as you have noted and I agree, all kings in those days were warmongers, which is how empires were built and sustained, Jodha Begum's preaching about awaam ka prem notwithstanding. And history loves the great conquerors, like Alexander the Great.

I do not at all agree that Akbar was "one of the least appreciated heroes of history". Where on earth did you get that idea? There have been only 2 emperors in the history of India who have been called, and this both by scholarly acclamation and public acceptance, The Great. One was Asoka Maurya, and the other was Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. And if I am not wrong, he is rated one of the 25 greatest figures in world history.

I do not know how so many of you seem to have contracted this persecution complex on Akbar's behalf!😉. Just because Ekta has been reducing her Jalal to a caricature does not mean that Akbar has been in any way downgraded in the perception of the people of India. The ranting of some far out character or characters does not constitute public perception. So please desist from all this rona dhona, there is my good girl! 😉 Akbar's position in Indian and world history is secure, and there is no need to look for conspiracy theories behind every bush!

Adiana, if the lion was on Akbar's flag, as it might have been on many others given the royal association with the king of beasts, what does that mean? Asoka was the apostle of non-violence after his epiphany at Kalinga, and that must have weighed heavily with Gandhiji, who I am sure had a major voice in the selection of our national symbol. And I am sure no one here would feel that Gandhiji was prejudiced against Akbar!

Shyamala/Aunty

Originally posted by: gauriS

amazing post👏 too good

Originally posted by: Sandhya.A

Donjas

Akbar was Great. And surely without Jodha begum's tuitions and Maheshdas' so called intelligence and wit. Nothing that any sena can do can change that.

Even the loudest applauders of Hemu and MP cannot take away Akbar's greatness even if they intend to. Of course i don't deny the shaan of either of the kings, but ultimately Jo jeeta wohi sikandar. And Akbar was a winner...Whether it be of the land of Hindustan or its people. Mughals ceased to be foreign invaders and became a part of Hindustan since his rule. That is no mean achievement.

And that he started from the scratches and achieved it so big also makes him great. Not many warriors and emperors are called great.

His greatness can withstand and overcome any slander from any biased group and any silly portrayal by any tv show.

As for Ashoka's 4 lions, why not? He too was great. Praising one doesn't reduce another. Just as calling Akbar and Ashoka great doesn't take away the achievements of Chandragupta Maurya or Harsha.

Originally posted by: mandyg

adi would love to hear more on that if you could dig into it!

Originally posted by: adiana12

Mandy, will pm you a paper on the usage of solar symbols by mughals, as for the lion on the banner - I think the paintings show the lion painted on the royal standards of Akbar - even EK has show the same - and usage of lion by Akbar on his banner could be since lion symbolises courage, strength, royalty, dignity, wisdom, ferocity and authority - and hence he may have chosen this - this was also the reason perhaps why even Ashoka may have chosen the lion for his pillars - as for the Sarnath depiction being chosen - yes the Sarnath pillar has a close connection with Buddha and thus non-violence and inclusivity which were the ideals of the makers of the Indian constitution - and mandy anyone who does not consider themselves as hindi speaking and are not followeres of some specific norms can be called a minority today - becoz these ppl would rather celeberate the hetergenity of India instead of making themselves a homogenous mass - becoz these ppl refuse to be the 'baaing sheep'