Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who had led a deputation of Banaras pandits before the Mughal emperor to seek the abolition of pilgrim tax on Benaras and Allahabad?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
Intellectual and religious leaders often acted as diplomats between the local population and the Mughal court. Successful advocacy by scholars like Kavindracharya could change imperial tax policies.Explanation
Kavindracharya Saraswati, a renowned 17th-century Sanskrit scholar, led a large group of Banaras pandits to the Mughal court. He successfully convinced the Emperor (Shah Jahan/Jahangir era context) to abolish the unpopular pilgrim tax on the holy cities of Banaras and Allahabad.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: He argued that the tax hindered the poor from fulfilling their religious duties and was a stain on the empire's reputation for justice.
Logic 2: For this achievement, he was celebrated across India, and his influence shows the power of the 'Pandit' elite in Mughal politics.