{"id":8024,"date":"2013-08-03T12:59:56","date_gmt":"2013-08-03T12:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/?p=8024"},"modified":"2026-03-28T06:42:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T06:42:53","slug":"aurangzeb-alamgir-an-indian-pride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/index.php\/2013\/08\/03\/aurangzeb-alamgir-an-indian-pride\/","title":{"rendered":"Aurangzeb Alamgir: An Indian Pride"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article compiled by ghazipurwalamakki<\/em><\/p>\n

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Of all the Muslim rulers who ruled vast territories of India from 712 to 1857 CE, probably no one has received as much condemnation from Western and Hindu writers as Aurangzeb. He has been castigated as a religious Muslim who was anti-Hindu, who taxed them, who tried to convert them, who discriminated against them in awarding high administrative positions, and who interfered in their religious matters. This view has been heavily promoted in the government approved textbooks in schools and colleges across post-partition India (i.e., after 1947). These are fabrications against one of the best rulers of India who was pious, scholarly, saintly, un-biased, liberal, magnanimous, tolerant, competent, and far-sighted.<\/p>\n

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An Urdu couplet by an unknown poet admirably sums up the historical vilification of the last great Mughal:<\/p>\n

Give and take, this much we remember from history; that Aurangzeb was a tyrant, oppressor, and temple desecrator. All the good deeds that he had done remain forgotten as though they never existed.<\/em><\/p>\n

The man who ruled the largest state ever in Indian history needs a more dispassionate assessment.<\/p>\n

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Handwritten Quran by Aurangzeb<\/strong>
\nFortunately, in recent years quite a few Hindu historians have come out in the open disputing those allegations. For example, historian Babu Nagendranath Banerjee rejected the accusation of forced conversion of Hindus by Muslim rulers by stating that if that was their intention then in India today there would not be nearly four times as many Hindus compared to Muslims, despite the fact that Muslims had ruled for nearly a thousand years. Banerjee challenged the Hindu<\/p>\n

hypothesis that Aurangzeb was anti-Hindu by reasoning that if the latter were truly guilty of such bigotry, how could he appoint a Hindu as his military commander-in-chief?<\/p>\n

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\n<\/strong> Surely, he could have afforded to appoint a competent Muslim general in that position. Banerjee further stated: \u201cNo one should accuse Aurangzeb of being communal minded. In his administration, the state policy was formulated by Hindus. Two Hindus held the highest position in the State Treasury. Some prejudiced Muslims even questioned the merit of his decision to appoint non-Muslims to such high offices.<\/p>\n

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The Emperor refuted that by stating that he had been following the dictates of the Shariah (Islamic Law) which demands appointing right persons in right positions.\u201d During Aurangzeb\u2019s long reign of fifty years, many Hindus, notably Jaswant Singh, Raja Rajrup, Kabir Singh, Arghanath Singh, Prem Dev Singh, Dilip Roy, and Rasik Lal Crory, held very high administrative positions. Two of the highest ranked generals in Aurangzeb\u2019s administration, Jaswant Singh and Jaya Singh, were Hindus. Other notable Hindu generals who commanded a garrison of two to five thousand soldiers were Raja Vim Singh of Udaypur, Indra Singh, Achalaji and Arjuji. One wonders if Aurangzeb was hostile to Hindus, why would he position all these Hindus to high positions of authority, especially in the military, who could have mutinied against him and removed him from his throne?<\/p>\n

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\n<\/strong> Most Hindus like Akbar over Aurangzeb for his multi-ethnic court where Hindus were favored. Historian Shri Sharma states that while Emperor Akbar had fourteen Hindu Mansabdars (high officials) in his court, Shahjehan had 105 and Aurangzeb actually had 148 Hindu high officials in his court. (Ref: Mughal Government) But this fact is somewhat less known.<\/p>\n

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Some of the Hindu historians have accused Aurangzeb of demolishing Hindu Temples. How factual is this accusation against a man, who has been known to be a saintly man, a strict adherent of Islam? The Qur\u2019an prohibits any Muslim to impose his will on a non-Muslim by stating that \u201cThere is no compulsion in religion.\u201d (surah al-Baqarah 2:256). The surah al-Kafirun clearly states: \u201cTo you is your religion and to me is mine.\u201d It would be totally unbecoming of a learned scholar of Islam of his caliber, as Aurangzeb was known to be, to do things that are contrary to the dictates of the Qur\u2019an.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the 1946 edition of the history textbook Etihash Parichaya (Introduction to History) used in Bengal for the 5th and 6th graders states: \u201cIf Aurangzeb had the intention of demolishing temples to make way for mosques, there would not have been a single temple standing erect in India. On the contrary, Aurangzeb donated huge estates for use as Temple sites and support thereof in Benares, Kashmir and elsewhere. The official documentations for these land grants are still extant.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A stone inscription in the historic Balaji or Vishnu Temple, located north of Chitrakut Balaghat, still shows that it was commissioned by the Emperor himself.<\/p>\n

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Chitrkoot Temple<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aurangzeb granted 300 bighas land for temple at Chitrakut in Ramzan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

It was the month of Ramzan, 334 years ago, when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had granted 330 bighas of land for the Balaji Temple at Chitrakut in present day Uttar Pradesh.<\/p>\n

In this holy month, the official decree was issued and the document is in possession of the present pujari Ram Naresh. On the 19th of Islamic month of Ramzan, this firman was written in order to ensure that the idol gets the \u2018bhog\u2019 with the earning of the land.<\/p>\n

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In the firman, which is available with Ram Naresh, Aurangzeb writes, \u2018Sant Balak Das gets 330 bigha lagaani zameen of eight villages viz. Hinauta, Chitrakot, Devkhari, Raudra, Siria, Madri, Jarwa and Doharia. The firman written in Persian says that apart from this land, the lagaan of Re 1 should be given per day from Kini Paroshtha pargana. Balakdas of Kalinjar Pargana in Allahabad Suba gets this land.\u2019 Chitrakoot is the famous temple town in Uttar Pradesh. Lord Rama spent 11-1\/2 years here. It has great religious significance for Hindus.<\/p>\n

However, the old arrangemen\u2026t continues till date. Nearly 323 years back Aurangzeb Alamgir had issued a \u2018firman\u2019 as per which 8 villages (330 bighas of land) were allotted for the upkeep of the temple besides Re 1 every day from the government fund.<\/p>\n

Mahant Balram Das of the temple is in possession of the firmaan that was written on brass plate and issued on 19th of Islamic month of Ramzan. As per the decree Sant Balak Das of Allahabad\u2019s Kalinjar pargana\u2019s Chitrakoot was given 330 bighas of land without any \u2018lagaan\u2019. The temple is now in a poor state despite enormous funds at the disposal. The discord amongst Mahants has led to the situation, say locals.<\/p>\n

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Interestingly, Aurangzeb had not only got the temple constructed but also wrote the order of \u2018rajbhog\u2019, himself. The land adjoining the Balaji temple has been encroached by musclemen and the infighting amongst the temple committee has hit the structure, which is crumbling, says the District Magistrate, Chitrakot.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Umananda Temple , Assam<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Umananda, the oldest temple of Bhagwan Bhole Shankar situated on the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati, was not only not harmed during emperor Aurangazeb\u2019s conquest of Assam, but was also conferred vast parcels of land. Aurangzeb conquered the area of Kajoli, Bahbari and Pandu along with the Itakhuli Fort from Ahom dynasty. According to History and Culture of Assam, an anthropological research paper published by Kamrup Anushandhan Samitee and edited by S. C. Goswami, the conqueror conferred the ownership of vast tracts of land on the official pujari of the temple of Umananda known as Doloi (Brahmins) in September 1667. The areas of the grant measures 13 square kilometers today. Interestingly, the Government of Assam accepted the demand of the Dolois to exempt them from any taxes on the land. The official declaration (Sanad) of Mughal\u2019s Emperor was written on a stone plate popularly known as \u201cShilalipi\u201d. Aurangzeb had also sanctioned annual grant to Maa Kamakhya Mandir- another famous temple situated at a distance of 8 kilometres from Umananda on the hill of Nilachaal, Guwahati.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Jangambari Temple , varanasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n<\/strong> The proof of Aurangzeb\u2019s land grant for famous Hindu religious sites,especially Jangam Bari Math in Kasi, Varanasi can easily be verified from the deed records extant at those sites. The same textbook reads: \u201cDuring the fifty year reign of Aurangzeb, not a single Hindu was forced to embrace Islam. He did not interfere with any Hindu religious activities.\u201d (p. 138) Alexander Hamilton, a British historian, toured India towards the end of Aurangzeb\u2019s fifty year reign and observed that every one was free to serve and worship God in his own way.<\/p>\n

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Aurangzeb Mosque,Dhareraha , Banaras<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>
\nOne of the greatest charges against Aurangzeb is of the demolition of Vishwanath Temple in Banaras (Varanasi). That was a fact. But late historian Bishma Narain Pande\u2019s research efforts exploded many facts about Aurangzeb\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n

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Gyanvapi mosque ,Banaras
\nHe razed the temple because the Maharani of Kutch, the wife of one of the Hindu Rajput kings loyal to Aurangzeb, was dishonoured and robbed inside the temple.<\/p>\n

He razed the temple because the Maharani of Kutch, the wife of one of the Hindu Rajput kings loyal to Aurangzeb, was dishonoured and robbed inside the temple.
\nThe story regarding demolition of Vishvanath temple is that while Aurangzeb was passing near Varanasi on his way to Bengal, the Hindu Rajas in his retinue requested that if the halt was made for a day, their Ranis may go to Varanasi, have a dip in the Ganges and pay their homage to Lord Vishwanath. Aurangzeb readily agreed.<\/p>\n

Army pickets were posted on the five mile route to Varanasi. The Ranis made a journey on the Palkis. They took their dip in the Ganges and went to the Vishwanath temple to pay their homage. After offering Puja all the Ranis returned except one, the Maharani of Kutch.<\/p>\n

A thorough search was made of the temple precincts but the Rani was to be found nowhere. When Aurangzeb came to know of it, he was very much enraged. He sent his senior officers to search for the Rani. Ultimately, they found that the statue of Ganesh which was fixed in the wall was a moveable one. When the statue was moved, they saw a flight of stairs that led to the basement.<\/p>\n

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\n<\/strong>
\nTo their horror, they found the missing Rani dishonoured and crying, deprived of all her ornaments. The basement was just beneath Lord Jagannath\u2019s seat. The Rajas expressed their vociferous protests. As the crime was heinous, the Rajas demanded exemplary action. Aurangzeb ordered that as the sacred precincts have been despoiled, Lord Vishvanath may be moved to some other place, the temple be razed to the ground and the Mahant be arrested and punished.<\/p>\n

Aurangzeb Firman in Banaras Hindu University<\/p>\n

Mughal firman was issued by Aurangzeb just months after becoming the Emperor of India.<\/p>\n

But the most interesting thing about this firman is that a copy of is on display in a museum in Banaras Hindu University (BHU).<\/p>\n

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Ferman Aurangzeb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Translation :<\/p>\n

\u2026 therefore in accordance with holy law we have decided that the ancient temples shall not be overthrown but that new one shall not be built.
\nIn these days of justice, information has reached our noble and most holy court that certain persons activated by rancour and spite have harassed the Hindu resident in the town of Banaras and a few other places in that neighbourhood.
\nAnd also certain Brahmins, keepers of the temples, in whose charge those ancient temples are, and that they further desire to remove these Brahmins from their ancient office (and this intention of their causes distress to that community) therefore our Royal command is that after the arrival of our lustrous order you should direct that in future no person shall in unlawful ways interfere or disturb Brahmins and other Hindus resident in those places.
\nSo that they may remain in their occupation and continue with peace of mind to offer up prayers for the continuance of our God-given empire that is destined to last for all times.<\/p>\n

Consider this as an urgent matter.<\/p>\n

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Now let us deal with Aurangzeb\u2019s imposition ofthe jizya tax which had drawn severe criticism from many Hindu historians.<\/p>\n

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It is true that jizya was lifted during the reign of Akbar and Jahangir and that Aurangzeb later reinstated this. Before I delve into the subject of Aurangzeb\u2019s jizya tax, or taxing the non-Muslims, it is worthwhile to point out that jizya is nothing more than a war tax which was collected only from able-bodied young non-Muslim male citizens living in a Muslim country who did not want to volunteer for the defense of the country. That is, no such tax was collected from non-Muslims who volunteered to defend the country. This tax was not collected from women, and neither from immature males nor from disabled or old male citizens.<\/p>\n

For payment of such taxes, it became incumbent upon the Muslim government to protect the life, property and wealth of its non-Muslim citizens. If for any reason the government failed to protect its citizens, especially during a war, the taxable amount was returned.<\/p>\n

It should be pointed out here that zakat (2.5% of savings) and \u2018ushr (10% of agricultural products) were collected from all Muslims, who owned some wealth (beyond a certain minimum, called nisab). They also paid sadaqah, fitrah, and khums. None of these were collected from any non-Muslim. As a matter of fact, the per capita collection from Muslims was several fold that of non-Muslims. Further to Auranzeb\u2019s credit is his abolition of a lot of taxes, although this fact is not usually mentioned.<\/p>\n

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In his book Mughal Administration, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, foremost historian on the Mughal dynasty, mentions that during Aurangzeb\u2019s reign in power, nearly sixty-five types of taxes were abolished, which resulted in a yearly revenue loss of fifty million rupees from the state treasury.<\/p>\n

Aurangzeb and Sati<\/p>\n

A bigger contribution of Aurangzeb was his 1664 Firman <\/em>(order) that prohibited the practice of sati.<\/p>\n

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Sati as we know, was an evil legacy of the Hindus and Aurangzeb issued his order a good 200 years before the British did the same.<\/p>\n

How did Aurangzeb treat his deposed father and elder sister Jahanara Begum?<\/p>\n

When we read about imprisonment we think of dark cellars, chains and the ferocious prison guards. However Shah Jahan was kept in the private quarters of his royal palace with all of his ladies of harem, music bands, royal kitchen etc to keep him at ease.<\/p>\n

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It is a fact that Shah Jahan never met Aurangzeb after his deposition till his death on 31st<\/sup> January 1666.<\/p>\n

However they corresponded often and Shah Jahan\u2019s anger finally gave way to reproach.<\/p>\n

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