[Solved] Who was the 'Akbar of Kashmir'? | Sultan Zainul Abidin

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

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

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

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.

Authentic Source Evidence

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.

Analytical Breakdown

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.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

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

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

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"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."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Bud Shah 2 Rajatarangini 3

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