On March 11, 1605 the 50th year Akbar of being in power began. By now he was getting old and had a poor health condition. The politics of empire and relentless campaigns had taken their toll on his mind and the body. Meanwhile, he received the news of the death of his third son Daniyal with who he was emotionally very attached. Infact Prince Daniyal had died on March 11, 1605 but the news of his demise reached Akbar two months later. The news broke his heart. His mind was already troubled with psychological problems. His other son Murad was dead already.
Now Akbar had only Saleem to depend on.
The kind of differences Akbar and Saleem were having, similar situation was ravaging the relationship of Saleem and his son Khusro which added to the pain of the old emperor. The time had taken away several of his old time confidant friends, associates and faithfuls he so depended upon. One by one Raja Birbal, Raja Todarmal, Abul Fazal, Raja Bhagwandas, Sheikh Mubarak Faizie etc had gone and become history. Only Raja Man Singh, Aziz Koka and Abdul Rahim Khankhana survived.
Khusro was born on August 6, 1587. His mother Manbai was the daughter of Raja Bhagwandas who was dead.
Akbar had given due attention to the upbringing and the education of his grandson Khusro. First the responsibility of his education was put on the shoulders of Abul Fazal and his brother Abul Khair. To seven year old Khusro Akbar had granted command of 5,000 soldiers and governorship of Bengal under guardianship of Raja Man Singh.
As Khusro grew up he showed a great promise. He was a noble character unlike his father Saleem. He was a disciplined youngman and had balanced mind.
To the daughter of Aziz Koka he was married and a dedicated husband Khusro was. He could influence whoever came in his contact with his sweet nature, cultured behaviour and serenity. His admirers and follower ever kept increasing.
Keeping in view the irresponsible acts of Saleem and disapproval of him by the emperor inspired some Amirs, chieftains, courtiers, Raja Man Singh, Aziz Koka and commanders to think of making Khusro the heir of the Moghul throne instead of Prince Saleem. The plans were being worked out to implement the idea. Khusro also began to dream of wearing the crown.
The rivalry between the father and the son sharpened up to such an extent that they began to took daggers at each other. The family lived in tension.
Manbai, the mother of Khusro tried her best to bring peace between the father and the son but failed. What pained Manbai was that her husband Saleem was having tense relationship with his own son and his sire Emperor Akbar both. She could not bear the tension and on May 6, 1604 she took her life.
Towards end
All these developments told upon the emperor and he fell gravely sick physically ravaged and mentally tortured. The fever and dysentry rocked him. The treatment helped in dysentry but the fever did not go. Infact, the fever increased alarmingly. The loose motions started. He became so weak that he could not even get off his bed or sit up. Seeing the grave condition of the emperor the conspirators went to work started preparations covertly to install Khusro on the throne. The two lead characters of the conspiracy were Raja Man Singh, the maternal uncle of Khusro and father-in-law Aziz Koka. But several Amirs and the chieftains opposed the plan and Khusro could not be crowned.
For their support courtiers and chieftains extracted two promises of Saleem, one was that he would defend the Islamic faith and the second was he would pardon Khusro and the conspirators without any condition. Only after Saleem gave a solemn promise his coronation as the next Moghul Emperor became certain. Meanwhile, Akbar was in precarions condition, nearing his end.
October 15, 1605
Saleem came to see Akbar who lay on the death bed accompanied by his supporters. The emperor was not in a condition to speak. He just stared. Saleem sat on the bed at his sire’s feet. Akbar looked at his son with misty eyes fondly as ever before. With his gaze Akbar signalled to the servants to put royal turban on the head of Saleem and the royal stole on his shoulders. The royal dagger of Akbar was attached to his cummerbund.
The mute orders of the emperor were carried out.
The crown prince Saleem made obeisance to his sire and the Emperor of Hindustan.
Akbar peacefully closed his eyes and those never opened up again. Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar died at the age of 63 years after ruling as an emperor for 50 years and planting the sapling of secularism in the Indian soil.
