Aurangzeb Alamgir was the sixth ruler of the Mughal Dynasty. He was also quite religious and oppressed Hindus, for this reason, Everyone hated Aurangzeb a lot. Aurangzeb implemented the Shariah Law and reinstated taxes and penalized Hindus. He was pious, intelligent, and very much disciplined. He changed the face of India with intellectual prowess.
Aurangzeb Alamgir early life:
Real name of Aurangzeb Alamgir was Muhi-ud-din Muhammad. He was born on 3rd November 1618. Aurangzeb was the 3rd son of Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb got the title “Brave King of the world,”. and was expected to be the next King.
However, Aurangzeb’s other brothers built armies and fought for the throne militarily. He learned military tactics and studied statecraft. He studied the Quran and other languages.
Aurangzeb was quite courageous. In 1633, when an elephant ran out of control and ran towards the royal family, Aurangzeb stood and ran towards the elephant and stopped him. He commanded an when he was 18 years old.
Accession and reign:
In 1644, Aurangzeb’s sister died in a fire, and it took Aurangzeb 3 weeks to return. Shah Jahan was very angry and banished from the court. Shah Jahan stripped him out for being the ruler of the Deccan title. In 1646, Shah Jahan appointed Aurangzeb to be the governor of Gujarat, and in 1647, Aurangzeb took over the governorship of Balkh and Badakhshan. In 1652, Aurangzeb failed to seize the city of Kandahar.
Shah Jahan wanted Dara to be the next ruler, but many Muslims considered him too irreligious that’s why he was not acceptable. Shah Jahan became in 1657, so it started a fight between the four sons of Shah Jahan for the throne. In 1658, the military forces of Dara and Aurangzeb fought, and all the three brothers defeated Dara. In 1659, Aurangzeb executed his brother Dara. He also executed Shuja in Arakan, Burma, and killed Murad in 1661. Aurangzeb’s house arrests his father under in Agra fort, and after eight years, Shah Jahan breathed his last in 1666.
The Golden age of Mughal Empire:
Aurangzeb Alamgir took over the throne, and this age was the Golden Age of the Mughal Empire. He ruled for about 48 years. He imposed and practiced Islam very strictly, unlike the previous Mughal emperors. Aurangzeb forbids singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments to all the Hindus and Muslims.
Aurangzeb Alamgir Implimentation of tax on Hindus:
After 1680, Aurangzeb imposed a poll tax on non-Muslims and made Hindus subordinates instead of colleagues. He spent all his time rampaging Hindus. It is said, that Aurangzeb wanted Hindus to accept Islam and turn into Muslims, but when this plan failed, he slaughtered the Hindus. In 1686, Aurangzeb went to conquer Bijapur and was successful. He conquered Golconda in 1687 and imposed Jizya there.
limits of Mughal Empire in Aurangzeb’s rule:
Aurangzeb expanded his Mughal empire from the North to the South. Aurangzeb’s empire stretched from Kashmir, which is in the North, to Jinji, in the South. He was a cruel leader who destructed tens and thousands of Hindu temples. He killed war prisoners and anyone whom he considered un-Islamic. His constant military campaigns rankled his subjects. He made his people pay more and more taxes for his wars.
Aurangzeb’s Bureaucracy:
Aurangzeb’s bureaucracy made Hindus reduce to 31.6% in the Mughal Sultanate. He ordered to demolish the schools of Brahmans as their teachings were attracting Muslims. He punished those Muslims who dressed like non-Muslims. Aurangzeb executed Sufi mystic Sarmad Kashani and the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur.
In 1663, Aurangzeb visited Ladakh and established direct control. In 1664, he appointed Shaista khan to be the governor of Bengal. Aurangzeb made his son Muhammad Azam Shah capture the Bijapur Fort and defeat Sikander Adil Shah with 50,000 men in 1685. In 1687, Aurangzeb led his army in the Deccan Qutbshahi fortress. The Mughal forces penetrated the fort’s walls, and they entered and made Abul Hassan Qutb Shah surrender.
Aurangzeb as an orthodox Muslim:
As an orthodox Muslim, Aurangzeb encouraged Islamic calligraphy. He builds the famous Badshahi Mosque in Lahore and Bibi ka Maqbara in Aurangabad. He demanded Quranic manuscripts in Naskh style. Under Aurangzeb’s rule, the Mughal Empire was not involved in architecture, but Aurangzeb was more involved in repairing the older existing structures.
Aurangzeb got tribute from all over the subcontinent, and he raised a record of £100 million in total revenue from land revenue, taxes, and customs from 24 provinces.
Death:
Aurangzeb ruled for about 48 years. He was 88 of his age when he breathed his last on 3rd March 1707 in the military camp of Bhingar. His empire was riddled with revolts. He is considered to be the final of the great Mughals. He was a modest ruler, and at the time of his death, he had 300 rupees he ordered to be given to charity, and his funeral must be made simple. Doubling the custom duties and imposing taxes such as Shariah and Jizya tax on non-Muslims make Aurangzeb ruthless and religious bigotry. His tomb is in Khuldabad, India.
