upscools
UPPCS Mains 2009

Philosophies of Kingship

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which emperor may be called 'an enlightened despot'?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept An 'enlightened despot' is a ruler who holds absolute power but uses it for the social, cultural, and intellectual improvement of their subjects. Akbar fits this model perfectly through his state-sponsored pluralism.

Explanation Akbar is hailed as an enlightened despot because he abolished discriminatory taxes like the Jizya, promoted Hindus to the highest ranks of government, and established the *Ibadat Khana
for interfaith dialogue. He ruled with absolute authority but based his policies on the concept of Sulh-i-Kul (Universal Peace).

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: While Aurangzeb had absolute power, his policies were exclusionary, moving away from 'enlightened' pluralism.
Logic 2: Akbar’s reforms were ahead of his time, focusing on national integration and the welfare of all subjects regardless of faith.

Active Recall

Question

What was the core of Akbar's 'Sulh-i-Kul' policy?

Answer

It was the principle of 'Absolute Peace', where the state maintained neutrality toward all religions and focused on administrative justice.

Core Insight

Akbar's 'enlightened' nature was not just moral but strategic; he realized that an empire as diverse as India could only be held together by a ruler who protected all communities equally.

Practice Navigation