Aurangzeb and the Fading Glory of the Mughal Empire (1658 to 1707)
Aurangzeb Alamgir, 1658-1707, was the last of the six great emperors of the Mughal Empire in India. His reign was at the height of the empire’s expansionist phase, and yet his policies contributed immensely to its own downfall. His greatest qualities perhaps are his administrative skills, military conquests, and religious fervour. However, he is often criticized for his orthodox Islamic policies, said to alienate certain sections in his empire, especially the non-Muslim sections. In this essay, we will explore various dimensions of Aurangzeb’s life, policies, and the legacy left behind.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Aurangzeb was born on 3rd November, 1618 AD as the third son of Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal. He was one of the most intelligent and determined sons of Emperor Shah Jahan and differed much from his elder brothers, Dara Shikoh and Shuja, who had earned the evil name for their love of Mughal indulgences. He was known for the austere way of living and dedication to military and administrative affairs.
It was into this scenario of acute rivalries between the sons of Shah Jahan that Aurangzeb ascended to the throne. By 1657, Shah Jahan fell seriously ill; which subsequently led to a fierce war of succession raging between four of Shah Jahan’s sons: Dara Shikoh, Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad. Aurangzeb ultimately triumphed by executing his eldest brother, Dara Shikoh, whom he defeated in 1659. Shah Jahan was imprisoned for the rest of his life in Agra Fort. Aurangzeb took the throne in 1658, styling himself with the name “Alamgir,” or “World Seizer.”
Religious Policies and Orthodoxy
Aurangzeb will always be remembered as one who actually adhered to religious orthodoxy, thus the social reality was quite influ-enced by this fact. He differed in this respect from his great-grandfather Akbar, who had been an upholder of religious pluralism and had taken to the laying of the syncretic “Din-i Ilahi” faith, against this, Aurangzeb took recourse to more rigid and conservative interpretations of Islam.
He reinstated the jizya tax on all non-Muslims, which had been abolished by Akbar. This is often frequently mentioned as one of the most important moves that alienated the Hindu majority of his empire, yet it’s equally relevant to note that Aurangzeb continued to patronize the Hindu temples in some places and Hindus comprised a significant proportion of his administration, even holding high-ranking positions such as that of the Rajputs.
Satî (the immolation of widows on their husbands’ funeral pyres), which was followed mainly by Hindus, was prohibited. Gambling, alcohol, and public celebrations of Hindu festivals were prohibited. He wanted the Islamic Sharia throughout his empire and his own life reflected this genuine zeal. Unlike most Mughal rulers of his house, Aurangzeb led a relatively austere life. He earned money by stitching caps and copying the Quran.
He is debated among historians as where his policies towards the non-Muslims are concerned. For some, he was a religious bigot trying to “islamize” India, while others have contended that his actions were pragmatically done and that the needs of governance prompted him more than mere religious zeal.
Military Campaigns and Territorial Expansion
Aurangzeb’s greatest territorial extent for the Mughal Empire was during his period: he reached the north down to southernmost India. His military campaigns were an unremitting and ambitious endeavor, though it didn’t quite prove consistent in the long run.
Conquest of the Deccan: The Deccan Sultanates presented a formidable obstacle to Mughal hegemony. Aurangzeb launched several military campaigns against them, annexing, first, Bijapur in 1686 and then Golconda in 1687. These victories enabled Aurangzeb to push Mughal control deep into south India but staying in control proved highly difficult with the emergence of the Marathas.
Maratha Resistance: The formidable rival for Aurangzeb in the Deccan was the maratha leader, Shivaji. Even though Aurangzeb did everything in his power to destroy the Marathas, it was owing to the tactics of the guerilla warfare and familiarity with the rough landscape of the Deccan that made it possible for the Marathas to resist Mughal rule successfully. The depletion of the Mughal treasury and the strain on the empire’s military resources were apparent in view of the failure of Aurangzeb to deliver a crushing blow to the Marathas. Following the death of Shivaji, the war remained unabated with Aurangzeb against the Marathas, and at the same time, the lengthened campaigns damaged the Mughal state.
Military campaigns in the Northwest: During his rule, Aurangzeb organized several military expeditions against the northwestern regions, mainly against the Safavid Empire and the Pashtun tribes. His efforts to maintain control over the empires in Kabul, Kandahar, and Baluchistan remained only partially successful. The Afghan resistance movements, especially led by the Pashtuns, became a contributory factor to the challenges in holding together the peripheral areas of the empire.
Though Aurangzeb was the greatest military leader of his empire, his long campaigns emptied the imperial treasury and created unrest among the people, at least in the Deccan. His extended absences from the capital further weakened the center’s authority.
Administration and Governance
Aurangzeb was an astute administrator, and his policies show deep understanding of statecraft. He abolished almost all the profligate expenditures which characterized the Mughal emperors to date. Aurangzeb reduced court musicians and artists and created a court atmosphere more austere. The reasons for this were rather part of a large goal of aligning governance in the empire with the principles of Islam.
There is no doubt about his devotion to orthodox Islam, but in matters of governance, Aurangzeb was pragmatic. He retained most of the administrative systems created by his predecessors. The Mansabdari system was one of those systems that played a necessary role in organizing nobles and the army. He retained a colorful group of advisors and administrators, most of whom were Hindus, to play important roles in governing his empire.
One of Aurangzeb’s great administrative successes was the compilation of the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri, a comprehensive tome of law based on the precepts of the Islamic faith. It was to serve as a reference for the empire’s qadis and administrators as they dispensed justice within governance, civil, and criminal realms.
However, though very shrewd as an administrator, the emphasis which Aurangzeb put on Islamic laws often clashed with the more pragmatic considerations of running a vast and diversified empire. His policies were often unpopular in various regions, particularly in non-Muslim regions, resulting in rising tensions and rebellions.
Legacy and the Decline of the Mughal Empire
After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, it can be said that the decline of the Mughal Empire had just begun. But in this reign, he had expanded the empire to immeasurable proportions. But expansion always damages proper administrative efficiency and financial stability. His relentless military campaigns drained the empire’s resources and further weakened the influence of the central authority.
Probably, one of the main causes that led to the decline of this empire was because regional powers were established; among these powers were the Marathas, the Sikhs, and the Rajputs- entities that could now voice their independence following the death of Aurangzeb. A hard balance was originally established between the central authority and the local rulers by the Mughal Empire, which was now crumbling with regional governors and nobles increasingly voicing out their independence.
Religious policies left by Aurangzeb left behind a mixed legacy. While determined to govern according to Islamic principles, the actions taken by Aurangzeb have often been interpreted as having further entrenched the religious gulf between Muslim and Hindu communities in India. His reimposition of the jizya and his eventual destruction of some Hindu temples may well have been exaggerated in afterlife histories, but these remain perceptions that have defined him as an intolerant ruler in modern histories and continue to inform current arguments over his legacy.
Conclusion:-
Aurangzeb was undoubtedly an intricate and formidable ruler. His era was the peak of Mughal territorial gain but concurrently, at the same time sowed the seeds of its decline. His orthodoxy in Islam chiseled his administration and policies but alienated the very important segments of his empire. His military campaigns, more so in Deccan, expanded the Mughal empire to unprecedented proportions but also exhausted its resources and weakened its foundations.
Much of the success and failure legacy lies in Aurangzeb’s period. He was an efficient administrator and a very capable military leader, but ultimate rigidity in policies and inability to adapt to the changed political and social landscape of India weakened the Mughal state. His reign reminded everyone of the problems involved in reconciling religious conviction with the practicality of governance in a pluralistic and vast empire. Today, Aurangzeb continues to be one of the most polarizing figures in Indian history, representing both the glory and the confines of the Mughal Empire.
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