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DOCUMENT 4 The Memoirs of Emperor Jahangir

The diverse peoples of India had seldom experienced a political system that encompassed
most of the subcontinent. But in the early modern era, the Mughal Empire gave to South
Asia a rare period of substantial political unity. Document 4 offers excerpts from the
memoirs of Jahangir, who ruled the Mughal state from 1605 to 1627, following the reign
of his more famous father, Akbar.

Source: Emperor Jahangir of the Islamic Mughal Empire on his father Emperor Akbar’s
policy of religious tolerance, from Memoirs, 1605–1627.

[H]aving on one occasion asked my father [Akbar] the reason why he had forbidden any one
to prevent or interfere with the building of these haunts of idolatry [Hindu temples], his reply
was in the following terms: “My dear child,” said he, “I find myself a powerful monarch, the
shadow of God upon earth. I have seen that he bestows the blessings of his gracious provi-
dence upon all his creatures without distinction. Ill should I discharge the duties of my exalted
station, were I to withhold my compassion and indulgence from any of those entrusted to
my charge. With all of the human race, with all of God’s creatures, I am at peace: why then
should I permit myself, under any consideration, to be the cause of molestation or aggression
to any one? Besides, are not five parts in six of mankind either Hindus or aliens to the faith;
and were I to be governed by motives of the kind suggested in your inquiry, what alternative
can I have but to put them all to death! I have thought it therefore my wisest plan to let
these men alone. Neither is it to be forgotten, that the class of whom we are speaking . . .
are usefully engaged, either in the pursuits of science or the arts, or of improvements for the
benefit of mankind, and have in numerous instances arrived at the highest distinctions in
the state, there being, indeed, to be found in this city men of every description, and of every
religion on the face of the earth.”

Question to Consider: What reasons did Jahangir’s father offer for his commitment
to tolerance of non-Muslim citizens?

AP Analyzing Sources: Why might Jahangir describe his father’s advice instead of
®

discussing his own process for developing a commitment to religious tolerance?

250 Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample.
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.

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