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Agra: Heritage lovers
Sunday celebrated Mughal emperor Akbar's birthday, recalling his
seminal concepts of Din-e-Ilahi and Sulahkul that laid the
foundation of modern-day secularism.
"Akbar's experiments in governance, his ideas relating to
coexistence and tolerance of each other's faith, recognition of
talents as nine jewels and composite culture have to be seen as
part of a rich legacy he left behind," historian Ramesh Chand
Sharma in his said inaugural speech.
The programme began with Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society
president Surendra Sharma and eminent lawyer Achal Sharma cutting
the ceremonial birthday cake at Goverdhan Hotel. A large group of
merry makers then sang Happy Birthday to Akbar the Great.
Agra's identity comes more from Akbar, who was one of the most
popular rulers of his time, than others like Shah Jahan who were
no doubt great builders, but their intellectual contribution was
negligible, speakers said.
Welcoming the guests, Surendra Sharma lamented that the city of
the Mughals had been plundered and pillaged by politicians and
'upstarts' and the city's development had been haphazard and
uneven. "The government agencies have unfortunately forgotten
Akbar badshah," he said.
Akbar's tomb in Sikandra and the Agra Fort needed urgent
conservational efforts. The city must have a Mughal museum and
some special arrangements for the tourists to taste Mughalai
cuisine, it was suggested at the conference.
The Archeological Society of India (ASI) and the culture
department, the residents of the Taj city and Fatehpur Sikri did
not think it necessary to hold any function to commemorate Mughal
emperor Akbar's birthday, even though Agra as Akbarabad owes its
identity to the Mughal emperor.
"Shah Jahan, at the time of his accession to the throne, named
Agra as Akbarabad, but after a while it was back again to Agra. It
is a great pity that despite such magnificent buildings like
Sikandra, Fatehpur Sikri and the Agra Fort, Akbar was not so
popular in this area, compared to the romantic tale of Shah Jahan
and his Taj Mahal," one of the speakers said.
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