For the members of the family he was extremely affectionate. The death of his father at his early age always saddened him. He often used to say—”Alas! Had he lived longer I would have got chance to serve him!”
All his life he took great care of his mother, Hamida Begum. Akbar had profound respect for his step mother Hazi Begum and aunt Gulbadan Begum. In return Akbar received true affection from the women folk of his family.
His step brother Mirza Hakim had once rebelled against him but he pardoned the culprit saying he was the living reminder of his father.
He was very considerate and loving for other relatives as well. He always remained very soft to his milk-mother and nurse mothers and all their children. When one of his nurse mother Anaga Jiji died Emperor Akbar lent his shoulder to her Janaza (dead body carriage). In the funeral of Maham Anaga he walked a distance with the procession. Aziz Koka who was the son of Akbar’s nurse mother several times misbehaved but the emperor never punished him. Each time he pardoned him magnanimously treating him as naughty cousin brother. He was very emotional. Akbar could never forget the fact that he and Aziz had suckled from the same breasts.
Akbar did punish Adham Khan, the son of Maham Anaga only when the latter crossed all limits of defiance.
As a sire he never shirked from responsibilities towards his offsprings. He made appropriate arrangements for the education and upbringing of all his sons and daughters. Saleem, Murad and Daniyal were his three sons. His equal number of daughters were Anam Sultan, Shakrunnisa and Aram Bano.
Akbar had appointed Mansrett as the teacher of his son Murad. He writes at a place—”The nature of Akbar was that inspite of being fond of his sons and daughter he would harshly order them to do things. Sometime he would rebuke and admonish ending up with some thrashing. He had asked the teachers of his sons not to spare the rod.”
Akbar would train his sons in the use of weapons and to give them experience in administration appointed them on various poets. The death of Daniyal and Murad caused him great sorrow. Inspite of rebellious acts of Saleem he had pardoned him every time. Akbar used to treat his sons and daughters without any discrimination. Most of the rulers love their offspring but Akbar was a bit different. He had arranged for upkeep and education of so many orphans, poor and helpless children. About the children Emperor Akbar used to say, “the children are buds of the garden of life.”
