64th B.P.S.C. Prelims 2018

Medieval Kashmiri History

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which Sultan was reputed to be 'Akbar of Kashmir'?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept In the history of medieval Kashmir, one ruler stands out for his enlightened and benevolent governance, which closely mirrored the later policies of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Explanation Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (r. 1420–1470), also known as Bud Shah (The Great King), is called the 'Akbar of Kashmir'. He abolished Jaziya, banned cow slaughter, and invited Kashmiri Pandits back to their homeland after the persecution under his father.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option D is correct. His reign was a golden era of peace and cultural synthesis in the valley.
Logic 2: He was a polyglot who patronized the translation of the Mahabharata and Rajatarangini into Persian and supported local crafts like pashmina and paper-making.

Active Recall

Question

Why did Zain-ul-Abidin invite the Brahmins back to Kashmir?

Answer

To restore the cultural and administrative balance of the state which had been damaged by the religious intolerance of his predecessors.

Core Insight

Zain-ul-Abidin's policies prove that the template for religious syncretism in India was established by regional sultans long before Akbar's national reforms.