Who among the following Mughal rulers carried out an experiment for newborn babies to be raised in silence, only to find that the children produced no speech at all?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (1) Akbar.

Akbar (1542–1605), the third Mughal Emperor, is often remembered for his interest in scientific and philosophical experiments. He was known for his progressive approach toward education, culture, and religion, often seeking answers through experimentation and reasoning.

The experiment involving raising newborn babies in silence is attributed to Akbar. He believed that language development in children might be influenced solely by external factors, without the need for human interaction. To test this theory, he ordered that newborn babies be raised in complete silence. The result was that the children did not develop speech at all, leading Akbar to the conclusion that speech is a natural, social, and learned skill that cannot occur in complete isolation.

This experiment is often discussed as a reflection of Akbar’s curiosity in human nature and his quest to understand the forces that shape human behavior and development. This interest in scientific inquiry was consistent with his overall approach to governance, where he encouraged intellectual freedom and open debates.

Information Booster:

Akbar the Great (1542–1605):
Notable Contributions: Akbar was one of the greatest Mughal emperors, known for his religious tolerance, administrative reforms, and patronage of the arts. His reign is often considered the golden age of the Mughal Empire.

Religious Policy: He established the Din-i Ilahi, a syncretic religion aiming to blend elements of Hinduism, Islam, and other religions. He also promoted policies of religious tolerance, removing the jizya tax on non-Muslims and inviting scholars from all religious backgrounds to his court.

Interest in Knowledge: Akbar had a deep interest in the sciences, philosophy, and arts, and his court in Fatehpur Sikri became a hub for intellectuals from across the world. He invited scholars from various religions and backgrounds, including Abu’l-Fazl and Faizi, who contributed significantly to his court’s cultural life.

Literary Patronage: Akbar was a patron of the arts, commissioning epic historical texts, such as the Akbarnama by Abu’l-Fazl, which detailed his administration, empire, and personal life.

Scientific Inquiry: Akbar’s curiosity about the natural world extended to experiments like the one with the newborn babies, reflecting his desire to understand the laws of nature and human development through empirical methods.

Additional Knowledge:

(Bahadur Shah Zafar): Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperor (r. 1837–1857), and although he is remembered for his poetry and symbolic leadership during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, there is no record of him conducting any scientific experiments involving newborn babies or language development. Zafar was more known for his literary works than his involvement in scientific experimentation.

(Aurangzeb): Aurangzeb (1618–1707), the sixth Mughal emperor, is known for his strict interpretation of Islam and his expansion of the empire. He focused more on military conquests and religious orthodoxy than scientific or philosophical inquiry. While he was an influential ruler, his policies were often seen as regressive compared to Akbar's enlightened approach.

(Babur): Babur (1483–1530), the founder of the Mughal dynasty, was known for his military conquests and the foundation of the Mughal Empire. He was a man of letters and a poet, but there is no historical evidence that he conducted the type of scientific or philosophical experiment associated with Akbar. His contributions are more related to the establishment of the empire and his autobiography, Baburnama.