Akbar the Great: 'a Badass or a Great Guy?' and 'Akbar vs Le Corbusier'

by Nitayaporn S. (Prae)

To begin with, a man named 'Akbar' was surely different from others; a unique color. Akbar's empire is one of the most extensive empires in the medieval world as he was a fast learner and able to take care himself really well. Nevertheless, there are many kinds of rulers; some are good, some are bad. Thus people should make a judgment by their own, although Indians believe that Akbar is their prophet, base on the contemporary records whether he is worth for respect or not, and what knowledge we have gained from the story.

As an architecture student, I found it attractive and doubtful that Akbar seems to fascinate in numerous topics particularly art and architecture. The well-known architecture in Akbar's reign is 'Red Fort' (figure 1)and 'The Fateh Fur Sikri'. From our trip to Red Fort of Agra , we can see that it had been created with the massive red sandstone and decorated with beautiful lattice, carving, and pierced-stone screens (figure 2). Unlike the Modern architecture in Chandigarh by Le Corbusier, which we visited a few days after, buildings have less decorations as their characteristics are simplicity and clarity. Punjab and Haryana High Court (figure 3), the palace of justice, which also designed by Le Corbusier was inspired by Red Fort of Agra. However, Le Corbusier's buildings seem to fail in India, even though he used his 5 points, as his 5 points do not really suit to India's climate. It turns out that buildings can't use full ventilation as they then installed windows, air-conditioners, and etc. While architecture in Akbar's age is more ventilated even nowadays. Anyway, Le Corbusier studied, explored, and designed buildings by himself. On the other hand, Akbar claimed to construct lots of splendid forts, palaces, and monuments as these charming caught Akbar's eyes, which they were initially designed and constructed by Rajput, but not Akbar. Rajput, the major ruling warrior groups of the Hindu Kshatriya Vama, has distinctive style of architecture which are enclosing red sandstone gateways, an enormous defensive wall around the area, and an outstanding palace complex. With plenty of evidences, it can guarantee that Akbar did not built his significant buildings, but his obsession on a monumental scale made him filled the landscape with walled cities in order to overpower the native rajas and promoted the glory of his reign.

figure 1: Red Fort of Agra

figure 2: the amazing decoration on Red Fort

figure 3: Le Corbusier 'Punjab & Haryana High Court' vs Akbar 'Red Fort of Agra'

With his brave and command personality, he became a powerful man. It made everything simple for him as he never afraid to use that power. Akbar was such a talented warrior and smart in his language as he used it to control people's mind so people believed that he was a prophet. Besides, Akbar invented the harem that treated women like servants and prostitutes, and killed less trusted people by suspicious manners. Moreover, his cleverness of economics made his empire wealthy and it made lots of thins turn out pleasingly too. Ultimately, I will let readers to decide whether he is a super badass or a really great guy.

A part of the high ceiling design in one of the rooms

A courtyard of Red Fort