An orthodox Sunni Muslim in private life, Sher Shah’s policy towards the Hindus, who formed the majority of his subjects, was of toleration and good will. Hindus were allowed to follow their religious practices during his reign without any interference in such matters by the state. A large number of Hindus were employed in his civil and military departments while his infantry was composed of a sizeable number of Hindus.

A Hindu general, Barmazid Gaur, was his trusted deputy, whom he sent to pursue Humayun after the battles of Chausa and Bilgram. Dr Quanungo says, “While he did not abolish jiziya, none of his victories or peace measures specially aimed at the massacre of the infidels; if he did not actively advocate a Hindu-Muslim rap­prochement, he also did not intentionally retard its growth.”

Dr R.P. Tripathi is also in agreement stating that “Sher Shah was a tolerant monarch which is proved by the activities pursued in the fields of religion, literature and fine arts during his times. Malik Muhammad Jaisi wrote his Padmavat and Vaishnavism became quite popular in Mathura and its nearby areas during his reign.” Dr Sharma regards him as no different from the earlier Turko-Afghan rulers.

His fight against the Rajputs was declared as a jihad, his treatment of Raja Purana Malla of Raisin was nothing but religious bigotry and his construction of a mosque after the destruction of a temple at Jodhpur was certainly not a mark of tolerance. It would perhaps be correct to say that he was good to the Hindus during times of peace but was not unwilling to whip up religious feelings against them to serve his purpose, especially during times of war. Maybe, he was not as intolerant as his predecessors, but definitely lacked the tolerant grace of the future Mughal ruler Akbar.

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However, Sher Shah’s patronage to charities and public welfare is almost legendary; it is said that in the royal kitchen 500 gold mohurs were spent everyday to provide free food to the poor and the needy. There were state dispensaries for free treat­ment of humans as well as animals.

Sher Shah also opened maktabs and madrassahs to spread education and learning and gave stipends and financial support to men of learning so that they could continue their studies. In such matters, his approach was more like an elected legislator than a king, who had come to the throne by the force of his arms. In fact, he was a reformer.