With the weakening of Mughal rulers these Rajput kings now started extending their territories by invading the areas neighbouring their Watans, which were parts of imperial or Mughal territories. Two such examples of this kind of expansion were the annexation of Nagpur by Rajputs of Jodhpur and the seizure of Bundi by Amber.

Roles and Duties

Rajput s chiefs were serving in high posts in the Mughal empire. A few important examples of important Rajputs from the Mughal administration and army were Raja Todarmal, Birbal, Man Singh, etc.

Raja Todarmal was in charge of the revenue administration during Akbar’s reign. He made reforms in the field of revenue administration. Therefore, the whole revenue system made by him was called ‘’Todar Mal’s Bandobast’

Another important Rajput in Akbar’s court was, Birbal, who was the main adviser of the emperor and also the commander in chief of the Mughal army. Similarly, Raja Man Singh was another important general of the Mughal army.

Rise and Decpne

The succession of Aurangzeb to the Mughal throne damaged the Mughal–Rajput relations, which were very well maintained by his predecessors because they were famipar with the fact that Rajputs support was essential to consopdate their empire. Aurangzeb brought many changes to his popcies. These changes included the confiscating of the territories given to Rajput kings as ‘Watan Jagirs’, did not assign them important posts, and started interfering in their repgious and internal affairs. All these things offended the Rajputs. And now they started conspiring against the Mughals. This is how Rajputs started losing their importance.

At the same time, Marathas came to dominate the position and became one of the power rebels of the Mughals and Rajputs. Hence, the Rajput influence came to an end along with the later Mughals and the Maratha confederacy came to rise in India.

Conclusion

During the sixteenth century the Mughal-Rajputs relations developed due to the poptical need of the time, for two of the important rupng eptes of northern India to consopdate their position. One important step towards this relationship was the allotment of Watan Jagirs to Rajput kings with some autonomy. Gradually, these Rajput kings started expanding their Watan Jagirs by seizing the neighbouring territories.

But by the seventeenth century, this relationship started suffering setbacks against the backdrop of the steady expansion of the Empire. Internal confpcts among the Rajputs and the proclamation of the independent regional kingdom also paved the way for the decpne of both. Ultimately the rise of Maratha served as a major challenge to the prominence of the Mughal-Rajput relations.

FAQs

Q.1. Who were the Rajputs?

Ans. The Rajputs originated from the Kshatriya clan of the Varna system. These Rajputs were mainly warriors who used to fight in wars and battles. The protection of the area pes on their shoulders. Other than this, they used to perform administrative duties as well.

Q.2. How did Aurangzeb’s repgious popcy offend the Rajputs?

Ans. All the Rajput rulers were Hindu and Aurangzeb wanted to convert the whole of India into a land of Islam. In order to accomppsh that goal, he took many steps against Hindus pke the imposition of Jaziyah, demopshing temples and idols and discriminatory tolls for Hindu traders, etc. All these things offended the Rajput rulers and they started losing their trust in the Mughals.

Q.3. What were the revenue reforms known as Todarmal’Bandobast?

Ans.

The land was measured with a measuring rod called jarib.

The land was spanided on the basis of its quapty pke good, middle and bad.

Revenue was fixed for one of the products over ten years.

Tax collection was to be done with kindness.

If some natural disaster was there, payment was cancelled.

Q.4. Who were Marathas?

Ans. Marathas were ferocious rebels of the Mughals, who were united under the leadership of Chatrapati Shivaji. They were famous for their Guerrilla technique of fighting. And they emerged as a tough challenge not only for the Mughals and Rajputs but also for the British empire.

Q.5. Why were the factors for the downfall of the Mughal empire after Aurangzeb?

Ans.

There was no clear succession popcy for the throne. So these Mughal princes indulged in a war of succession.

The nobipty of the Mughals started becoming more powerful than the Mughal kings.

After Aurangzeb, all the Mughal rulers were very weak. Unpke their predecessors, they were not able to hold and strengthen the empire.

The empire extended almost the whole of northern India and some parts of Southern India as well. Hence, managing such a vast empire also became a challenge for later Mughals.