Aurangzeb Alamgir's Policies (1658 – 1707)

Aurangzeb came to power on 31 July 1658. For gaining the throne, he had to dispose of his brothers, Dara Shikoh, Murad and Shah Shuja. with the throne under his hands, he became the sixth Mughal Emperor and ruled the vast Empire for a period of 49 years. He was an accomplished military leader whose rule has been the subject of praise, though he has also been described as the most controversial ruler in Indian history. He was a notable expansionist; during his reign, the Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent, ruling over nearly all of the Indian subcontinent.

Aurangzeb’s Policies

Historians are divided about Aurangzeb’s attitude towards religion. Some say that he was intolerant and wanted to destroy other religions. They pointed out that he re-introduced the tax on non-Muslims, the Jizya, he destroyed a number of Hindu temples, and he tried to ban some old Hindu practices, such as suttee. He also enforced Islamic law, making Hindus and Sikhs live according to the Quran. However, other historians argue that Aurangzeb was not intolerant, but he was more orthodox than some earlier Emperors. They emphasise that he employed some Hindu advisors and there are recorded instances of him making donations to Hindu temples.

Serious Measures:

There are mixed views on how successful Aurangzeb was an Emperor. Perhaps, much of the criticism is a result of his more austere measures, such as appointing censors of public morals, banning the consumption of alcohol, stopping singing and dancing at ‘court’ and even determining the maximum length for beards. However, to many people, these were wise and needy measures helping to ensure that peoples’ lives were lived in the correct manner.

Taxation Policy:

Aurangzeb made himself unpopular with traders by abolishing many local taxes, but generally taxation was very high during his reign. Not only did he have to pay for the cost of his military campaigns, but he also spent huge sums on building luxurious places. An example of his extravagance is the famous Pearl Mosque at Delhi, which was built for his private prayers. The taxes resulting from Aurangzeb’s heavy spending meant that, by his death in 1707, he had become an unpopular ruler.

Temple Destructions:

Aurangzeb reiterated the view of Sharia regarding Temples and Churches. In 1665, Aurangzeb destroyed a number of temples in Gujarat, which included the famous Somnath Temple. He ordered governors of different provinces to destroy temples in their respective areas. In other areas, he replaced the temples with mosques. Evidence suggests that Aurangzeb was not fanatic as he was portrayed in the renewal of land grants to Hindu temples at Mathura and also of him offering gifts to them.

Jizya Tax:

Soon after ascending the throne, a major problem faced by Aurangzeb was the question of Jizya. Akbar abolished the Jizya Tax on Hindus but Aurangzeb levied the tax again. 2.5% tax was for Muslims and 5% tax for Non-Muslims because of which many Hindus embraced Islam as they were unable to pay the tax. According to some English sources and the Italian, Aurangzeb was driven by the need to replenish his treasury which had been exhausted by constant wars and expansion policies, and to compel the poor Hindus to convert to Islam.

Education:

Aurangzeb spent most of his funds for the education of the Muslim subjects. Thus, he tried to extend his orthodoxy to the field of education and neglected the Hindus. Aurangzeb held Hindu learning in contempt and in its place tried to foster Muslim knowledge. Aurangzeb destroyed many Hindu institutions to end their culture and stopped them to study the fundamentals of their faith.

Social Reforms:

Aurangzeb imposed restrictions on religious practices of other communities. For example, the Hindus could not attend their religious festivals freely. Festivals, like Deepavali, were prohibited in the cities. He abolished the use of Muslim confession of faith on the coins so that the men of other faiths should not touch it. Officers called “Mohtasib” were appointed to regulate the lines of the people in strict accordance with the Holy Law. He attempted to prohibit the practice of Suttee as well.

Conclusion

Aurangzeb was 89 years old when he died and had ruled the Empire for almost fifty years. He achieved much, but it is also true that, during his reign, the start of decay in the Empire could be seen.