However, Umang, a group of students of journalism, celebrated the emperor's birthday with a party that included cake-cutting, at the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society hall.

 Eminent historian Ramesh Chandra Sharma said Akbar's concepts of Din-e-Ilahi (Tauhide Elahi) and Sulah Kul, were more relevant in the present context of fundamentalist terror and growing intolerance in society. "Shah Jahan at the time of his accession to the throne named Agra as Akbarabad, but after a while it was back again to Agra. It is a great pity that despite such magnificent buildings like Sikandra, Fatehpur Sikri and the Agra Fort, Akbar was not so popular in this area, compared to the romantic tale of Shah Jahan and his Taj Mahal."

 “Akbar’s experiments in governance, his ideas relating to coexistence and mutual tolerance of each other’s faith, recognition of talents as nine jewels, composite culture, have to be seen as part of a rich legacy he left behind,” speakers said.

 Agra’s identity comes more from Akbar who was one of the most popular rulers of his time, than others like Shah Jahan who were no doubt great builders, but their intellectual contribution was nil, speakers said.

 In his message Mughal historian Prof R Nath called Akbar a visionary ruler.

Welcoming the guests, Surendra Sharma president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society lamented the fact that the city of the Mughals had been plundered and pillaged by politicians and so called land developers. "But the city’s development had been haphazard and uneven leaving large segments of population untouched."

"Umang" president Rekha Pachauri said Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra and the Agra Fort needed urgent conservational efforts. The city must have a Mughal museum and some special arrangements for the tourists to taste Mughalai cuisine.

Rachna Updhyay said the younger generation had to be told about the great ideals that Akbar cherished and his rule symbolized. Kiran Kulshrestha said Akbar's Fatehpur Sikri needed better amenities for the tourists. Kavita Kardam said Akbar's nine jewels enriched India's cultural traditions. Pooja Sharma and Deepti Singh wanted Agra to have a memorial for Birbal and Todar Mal.

The registrar of Central Hindi Institute Dr. Chandra Kant Tripathi said, "Akbar's life provides fascinating glimpses of how tactfully and diplomatically politics had to be pursued, uniting all segments of the society towards a higher goal."