The Mughal Deccan policy began during Akbar's reign, as Babur and Humayun were only concerned with the consolidation of North India, which was a logical step. Because of his preoccupations in the North, Babar, the first Mughal ruler, was unable to establish contact with Deccan. Nonetheless, his conquest of Chanderi in 1528 brought the Mughal empire close to the northern borders of Malwa. Despite repeated requests from Burhan Nizam Shah I, Humayun was unable to devote enough time to Deccan affairs due to his involvement in Gujarat, Bihar, and Bengal. In this way, Akbar was the first Mughal emperor to wish to extend Mughal suzerainty over the Deccan states. In this article, we will discuss Mughal Advance Towards the Deccan which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Mughal Advance Towards the Deccan - Background

• Although the Vindhyas separated the north and south, they were not insurmountable.
• Travelers, merchants, pilgrims, and wandering saints had always passed between the north and south, blending the two cultures, though each had its own distinct cultural features.
• The Tughlaq conquest of the Deccan, as well as improved communications between the north and south, resulted in a strengthening of commercial and cultural ties between the two.
• Following the fall of the Delhi Sultanate, many Sufi saints and people looking for work migrated to the court of the Bahmani rulers.
• Politically, the north and south were also not separated. As we have seen, the rulers of Gujarat and Malwa in the west and Orissa in the east were constantly involved in south Indian politics.
• As a result, following the conquest of Malwa and Gujarat in the 1560s and early 1570s, the Mughals could hardly have avoided Deccan politics. A Mughal army invaded Khandesh in 1576 and forced the ruler to submit.
• However, Akbar was summoned elsewhere for urgent matters. Between 1586 and 1598, Akbar lived in Lahore, keeping an eye on the situation in the northwest. During the interim, the situation in the Deccan deteriorated.

Deccan as a Centre of Politics

• The Deccan was a boiling pot of politics. Warfare between the various Deccani states was common.
• When a ruler died, there were often factional fights among the nobles, with each party attempting to act as king-maker.
• Hostility between the Deccanis and the newcomers (afaqis or gharibs) flourished in this context.
• The Habshis (Abyssinians or Africans) and Afghans formed separate groups among the Deccanis as well. These groups and factions had little contact with the region's people and culture.
• The earlier process of assimilation of the Marathas into the military and political systems of the Deccani states did not make much progress.
• As a result, the rulers and nobles commanded little loyalty from the people. Sectarian conflicts and controversies exacerbated the situation.
• Shiism became the state religion of Iran at the turn of the century, under a new dynasty known as the Safavid dynasty.
• Shiism had been a suppressed sect for a long time, and in the first flush of enthusiasm, the new sect's adherents persecuted their former opponents.
• As a result, many prominent families fled to India, seeking refuge at the court of Akbar, who made no distinction between Shias and Sunnis.
• Shiism was adopted as a state creed by some Deccani states, most notably Golconda. The Shiite party was strong in the courts of Bijapur and Ahmednagar as well, but only occasionally prevailed. As a result, party strife increased.

Mahdawi Ideas

• The ideas of Mahdawi had also spread widely in the Deccan.
• The Muslims believed that at each epoch, a man from the Prophet's family would appear to strengthen the religion and bring justice to victory. This person was known as the Mahdi.
• Despite the fact that many Mahdis had appeared in various countries at various times, the end of Islam's first millennium, which was due towards the end of the sixteenth century, had raised expectations throughout the Islamic world.
• In India, in the first half of the fifteenth century, a man named Saiyid Muhammad, born in Jaunpur, declared himself to be the Mahdi.
• Saiyid Muhammad travelled extensively throughout India and the Islamic world, inspiring great enthusiasm. He established his dairas (circles) throughout the country, including the Deccan, where his ideas flourished.
• Though there was no love lost between the two, the orthodox elements were as vehemently opposed to Mahdawism as they were to Shiism.
• Akbar first proposed the concept of sulh-kul in this context. He was concerned that the Deccani states' bitter sectarian rivalries would spill over into the Mughal empire.

Akbar and the Deccan States

• Akbar desired that the Deccan rulers accept his rule.
• After being fully secured in the north, Akbar decided to conquer the Deccan states during the campaigns in Gujarat in 1572-73, because the rebels, driven out of Gujarat, used to seek refuge in Khandesh, Ahmednagar, and Bijapur.
• Furthermore, with the conquest of Gujarat, Akbar desired to assume the rights that the previous rulers of Gujarat had in relation to the Deccan states, namely the rights of overlordship.
• Since 1417, the Deccan states had acknowledged the Sultans of Gujarat's supremacy, reading khutba in their names and paying them annual tribute.
• Internal conflict among the Deccan states also prompted the Mughal ruler to intervene.
• One of the important factors that guided Akbar's Deccan policy was his desire to protect the trade route to the Gujarat seaports and establish his dominance there.
• Furthermore, the Portuguese had made a strong presence on India's western coast and had emerged as a formidable force.
• Akbar desired to establish Mughal suzerainty over the Deccan states in order to drive the Portuguese away from India's western coast.

First Contact Between Akbar and Deccan

• The first contact between Akbar and the Deccan states occurred after 1561, when Akbar ordered the governor of Malwa, Pir Muhammad, to subdue Asirgarh and Burhanpur, where the former ruler of Malwa, Baz Bahadur, had sought refuge.
• After capturing Bijagarh, he advanced to Asirgarh, where Khandesh ruler Miran Mubarak Shah-II and Malwa ruler Baz Bahadur were preparing to resist the Mughals.
• Mubarak Shah sought assistance from Tufal Khan of Berar, who joined him. At Bijagarh, the allies marched against Pir Muhammad and defeated the Mughals.
• Akbar marched to Mandu to take control of the situation. This alarmed Miran Mubarak Shah, who dispatched envoys to Akbar to apologise for his behaviour.
• He married one of his daughters to the Emperor, recognised Akbar's overlordship, read khutba in his name, and gave his daughter Bijagarh and Handia as dowry.

Akbar’s Deccan Policy - Features

• Malwa and Gujarat had already been conquered by Akbar. Because the borders of both of these kingdoms touched the territory of Khandesh and Ahmednagar, Akbar desired to establish control over both of these kingdoms.
• Because Akbar was an imperialist and expansionist, he could not tolerate the existence of an independent state near his empire, and he could be satisfied only after establishing his control over Deccan India.
• Because of their mutual conflicts and wars, the Deccan states were very weak militarily and politically, making it very easy for Akbar to achieve victory over these weak and unstable kingdoms.
• The Deccan states had a lot of money that they had been saving for a long time.
• Taking the example of early Muslim rulers, Akbar was confident that his treasury would be filled with victory over Deccan states, and he would become the master of the Deccan treasury.
• Some historians believe Akbar was a devout Sunni who wished to conquer the Shia kingdoms of Khandesh, Golkunda, Ahmednagar, and Bijapur.
• Outwardly, Akbar admired Christianity and was very close to the priests in the Mughal court; however, he was completely opposed to Portuguese colonies and wanted to destroy them.
• The Portuguese were unkind to the Deccan states because they wanted to expand their trade, territory, and religion.
• Furthermore, they resorted to converting people to Christianity; thus, Akbar saw it as worthwhile to establish his control over the territory near the sea-coast by defeating the Portuguese.
• Akbar devised a long-term strategy to defeat the Deccan kingdoms. First, he sent ambassadors to the southern countries, requesting that they accept his suzerainty without fighting, but no one responded except Khandesh.
• As a result, Akbar was forced to wage wars against the Deccan kingdoms.

Result of Deccan Conquest

• In his Deccan campaigns, Akbar had tremendous success. Khandesh, Berar, Ahmednagar, and the surrounding areas were conquered and annexed to the Mughal empire, and Prince Daniyal was appointed Governor of Deccan.
• The victory at Ahmednagar and Asirgarh opened the Deccan route, and the Mughals established themselves firmly in the South; however, Akbar's conquest of Deccan was incomplete.
• Nothing could be done against the rulers of Bijapur and Golkunda, and Ahmednagar's decline was also only temporary, as it quickly regained power under the leadership of Malik Amber.

Conclusion

Akbar was concerned about the Portuguese's growing power. The Portuguese had been interfering with pilgrim traffic to Mecca, even arresting royal ladies. They carried out proselytizing activities in their territories, which Akbar despised. They were constantly attempting to expand their mainland positions, and had even attempted to take Surat, which was saved by the timely arrival of a Mughal commander. Akbar apparently believed that by coordinating and pooling the resources of the Deccani states under Mughal supervision, the Portuguese threat would be reduced, if not eliminated. These were some of the factors that compelled Akbar to become involved in Deccani affairs.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the impact of Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns on the Mughal Empire.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns had a profound impact on the Mughal Empire. While they led to the annexation of several Deccan Sultanates and expanded Mughal territory, the campaigns were prolonged and resource-intensive, leading to a severe strain on the imperial treasury. The focus on the Deccan diverted attention from other parts of the empire, weakening central control and fostering local rebellions. The continuous conflict with the Marathas further destabilized the region and exposed the limitations of Mughal military strength. Ultimately, the Deccan campaigns contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire by depleting its resources and weakening its hold over vast territories.

Q2: Discuss the strategic and political objectives behind the Mughal expansion into the Deccan.

Answer: The Mughal expansion into the Deccan was driven by strategic and political objectives, including the desire to control the rich and fertile Deccan plateau, subjugate the Deccan Sultanates, and consolidate Mughal dominance across the Indian subcontinent. The region's wealth and strategic location also made it a key focus for imperial ambitions. The Mughals aimed to prevent the rise of independent powers, such as the Marathas, and establish complete political control over the southern territories. However, these objectives often met with resistance, highlighting the complexity and challenges of controlling the diverse and fragmented Deccan region.

Q3: Evaluate the role of the Marathas in resisting Mughal expansion in the Deccan.

Answer: The Marathas played a crucial role in resisting Mughal expansion in the Deccan. Led by figures like Shivaji and later his successors, the Marathas engaged in guerrilla warfare, taking advantage of their knowledge of the rugged terrain. Their resilience and military tactics posed a significant challenge to Mughal authority, forcing the Mughals to divert considerable resources and manpower to suppress their rebellion. The Maratha resistance weakened Mughal control and highlighted the limitations of the empire’s military and administrative apparatus. Their opposition not only checked Mughal expansion but also laid the foundation for the eventual rise of the Maratha Empire.

Previous Year Questions on  Mughal Advance Towards the Deccan

1. UPSC CSE 2020

Question: Assess the consequences of prolonged Mughal campaigns in the Deccan during Aurangzeb’s reign.

Answer: The prolonged Mughal campaigns in the Deccan during Aurangzeb’s reign had significant consequences for the empire. While the campaigns initially expanded Mughal influence, they drained financial resources, exhausted the military, and overextended the empire’s administrative capacity. The focus on the Deccan weakened central authority, allowing rebellions and regional powers to rise in other parts of the empire. The Maratha resistance further complicated Mughal control, highlighting the limitations of imperial ambitions. The prolonged conflict contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire, signaling a shift in regional power dynamics and the emergence of new political entities.

2. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: Examine the factors that led to the Mughal Empire’s difficulties in consolidating control over the Deccan.

Answer: Several factors contributed to the Mughal Empire’s difficulties in consolidating control over the Deccan. The region's diverse geography and political fragmentation posed significant challenges. The Deccan Sultanates and emerging powers like the Marathas offered strong resistance through military engagements and guerrilla tactics. Prolonged campaigns drained Mughal resources, leading to economic strain and administrative inefficiencies. Aurangzeb’s rigid religious policies also alienated local rulers and communities, complicating efforts to establish effective governance. The combination of military, economic, and political factors ultimately hindered the Mughal Empire’s attempts to consolidate control over the Deccan.