Previous Year Question

The correct answer is Prince Akbar.

Prince Muhammad Akbar was the fourth son of Aurangzeb. In the later seventeenth century, Aurangzeb's relations with the Rajputs of Marwar and Mewar had become seriously strained.

After the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Marwar in 1678, a succession dispute developed. Aurangzeb attempted to bring Marwar under direct Mughal control, while the Rathor chiefs supported the rights of Jaswant Singh's son Ajit Singh. The Maharana of Mewar also supported the Rathors.

Aurangzeb employed his son Prince Akbar in the campaign against the Rajputs. Akbar, however, came into contact with the prominent Rathor leader Durgadas Rathor and representatives of Mewar.

Eventually, in January 1681 Prince Akbar rebelled against his father Aurangzeb. He obtained the support of Rathor and Sisodia Rajputs and proclaimed himself emperor, assuming the royal title.

The rebellion placed Aurangzeb in an extremely serious position because, on the one hand, he was fighting the Rajputs and, on the other, his own son had risen against him with Rajput support.

Aurangzeb, however, changed the situation through political manoeuvring. According to the traditional account, he used a false letter to create suspicion among the Rajputs regarding Akbar. Confidence between Akbar and his Rajput allies weakened, and his forces dispersed.

Akbar subsequently moved towards southern India and took refuge with Chhatrapati Sambhaji. For several years he remained a political source of anxiety to Aurangzeb in the Deccan. He ultimately left India for Persia.

Therefore, the son whose rebellion seriously weakened Aurangzeb's position during his conflict with the Rajputs was Prince Akbar.