What were the differences between Akbar and Aurangzeb's reforms?

Answer 1

The most significant difference in the policies of Akbar and Aurangzeb was each ruler's policy toward religion. Akbar was a very tolerant leader, and always accommodated for both Muslims and Hindus. When he took over as emperor, most political leaders were Muslims, even thought most of the common people were Hindu (en.wikipedia.org). Akbar made every effort to remove the distinctions between the people, and he put several Hindus in government positions. Aurangzeb was the absolute opposite, and he inexorably forced Islamic religion, law, and practices upon his people. Akbar consciously worked to gain the approval of all peoples. He revoked the Islamic practice of jizyat, a tax on every person that is not Muslim (wsu.edu). Aurangzeb, a devoted Muslim who ruled more than five decades later, reinstituted this practice. Not only did he remove place the tax upon the Hindus, he encouraged and carried out the demolishment of Hindu temples, including two which were very sacred to the Hindus

He built mosques directly on the foundation of the two sacred spots, as he did with many of the temples. Aurangzeb closed religious schools that were not Islam, and any Hindu practices that he deemed inappropriate were made illegal He offered rewards for those who converted to Islam, but there were consequences for those who didn't, and the punishment was often death To try to compromise with the different cultures, Akbar created a new religion called Din-i-Ilahi, meaning "Divine Faith," which combined Islamic and Hindu beliefs and also incorporated some other religions including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism Although this new religion experienced little success and gained only a few converts who were of nobility, it shows Akbar's dedication and effort to accommodate for people of all religions He did not force his subjects to convert to his religion; he was merely trying to break down the division between the two different cultures.