Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal emperor and third son of Shahjahan. His full name was Mu al-Din Muhammad, and he was born in Dhod, Malwa, India, on November 3, 1618. He was a devout Sunni Muslim with a strict orthodoxy. Aurangzeb had earned military and administrative skills earlier in his life. Many people in the kingdom admired him for these traits. These attributes, combined with a desire for power, led to competition with his elder brother for the Mughal throne. In this article, we will discuss Aurangzeb’s Reign which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Aurangzeb - Background

• When Shah Jahan became critically ill in 1657, the race for the throne began, and Shah Jahan chose his elder son, Dara, although many of the kingdom's advisors thought he was unsuitable because he was too worldly.
• People favoured Aurangzeb because he was much more dedicated than his elder brother.
• The rivalry between the two brothers for the Mughal empire's succession grew, and war looked certain.
• Between the years 1657 and 1659, Aurangzeb battled his brother Dara for the throne, displaying ferocious resolve, remarkable powers of deception, and strong tactical and strategic military talents. Aurangzeb defeated Dara at Samudarh in May 1658.
• While the two brothers were at the battle, Shahjahan recovered and returned to the throne, but when Aurangzeb vanquished his brother, he imprisoned his father in his own palace in Agra.

Reign of Aurangzeb

• Aurangzeb's reign was the longest in the Mughal Empire, lasting 49 years, from 1658 to 1707.
• He was a pious Sunni Muslim who was despised for his harshness but feared and admired for his military and administrative prowess.
• During his early reign, he defended the northwest against Persians and Central Asian Turks, as well as had a feud with Maratha Chief Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who had twice stolen the major port of Surat from Aurangzeb, in 1664 and 1670.
• Aurangzeb adopted his great grandfather's conquest techniques, which included defeating the enemy, reconciling them, and enlisting their services in the imperial service.
• As a result, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was beaten in 1667 and summoned for reconciliation, but he flew away and died as the independent ruler of the Maratha Kingdom in 1668.
• After 1680, there was a shift in the Mughal empire's mindset and policies.
• Hindus had been colleagues under previous kings, but they were suddenly subordinates under Aurangzeb.
• The reimposition of a poll tax, or jizya, on non-Muslims in 1679 was the first indicator of change in the way the kingdom was run.
• As a result of the religious strife in the empire, many Hindus served the emperor but were never loyal to him.
• In 1681, a Rajput insurrection against the Mughal ruler occurred as a result of this.
• The conflict with the Marathas began in 1687, and Shivaji’s son Sambhaji was kidnapped and killed in 1689, along with his empire.
• After Sambhaji's death, the Marathas withdrew to the south and became dormant for a while.
• Aurangzeb then marched on to conquer the Maratha hill country's forts.
• He then went on to expand the Mughal empire in both the south and north, although many of his subjects were irritated by his military expeditions and religious intolerance.
• He began to lose control of the administration in the north, and as the situation worsened, the empire became over-extended, and Aurangzeb increased agricultural taxes to pay for the wars.
• The Sikh's agricultural revolution began when he began levying higher fees on the property.
• Many Sikhs revolted in Punjab, and he murdered Tegh Bahadur, the Sikh Guru who refused to work under his name, in 1675.
• For the rest of Aurangzeb's reign, Guru Govind Singh, the new leader of the revolt, was an open rebellion.
• Aurangzeb was seen as a brutal and aggressive orthodox Sunni Muslim in general.
• He attempted desperately to persuade his subjects to follow his ideals and principles, which resulted in numerous revolts and, eventually, his downfall.
• Aurangzeb kept the empire going for half a century, and he began expanding his realm in the south, reaching Tanjore and Trichinopoly.
• The Marathas consumed all imperial resources in the north while Aurangzeb was busy expanding his empire in the south.
• The Sikh-led uprising, as well as the jat, contributed to the pressure in the north.
• The Mughal Empire's stability was severely harmed by Aurangzeb's orthodox religious behaviour and imposition of religious rules against Hindu monarchs.

Death of Aurangzeb

• On March 3, 1707, Aurangzeb died in central India at the age of 88. He died of natural causes.
• His 49-years rule came to an end without appointing a crown prince, prompting his three sons, Bahadur Shah I, Muhammad Azam Shah, and Muhammad Kam Baksh, to battle it out for the throne.
• When he died, the Mughal empire was on the verge of collapsing due to the numerous rebellions against him and his views.
• The Mughal Empire began to wane under his son, Bahadur Shah I, and eventually fell under British administration after the last Mughal emperor was exiled in 1858.

Conclusion

Aurangzeb is known as "The Last Great Mughal Emperor," who controlled the country for 49 years. Many detractors claim that his brutality and religious behaviour rendered him unfit to manage his empire's heterogeneous populace. The imposition of sharia and jizya religious fees on non-muslims, as well as the doubling of custom tariffs on Hindus and the destruction of temples, sparked a religious revolt against him, leading to his downfall.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What was the jizya tax reinstated by Aurangzeb?

A) A tax on agriculture
B) A tax on trade
C) A tax on non-Muslims
D) A tax on land ownership

2. During which years did Aurangzeb rule the Mughal Empire?

A) 1628-1658
B) 1658-1707
C) 1707-1748
D) 1748-1759

3. Which empire did Aurangzeb seek to expand during his reign?

A) The Mughal Empire
B) The Ottoman Empire
C) The Safavid Empire
D) The Maratha Empire

4. What was a significant architectural achievement during Aurangzeb's reign?

A) The Red Fort
B) The Badshahi Mosque
C) The Taj Mahal
D) The Fatehpur Sikri

5. What led to the decline of the Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb's reign?

A) Strong leadership
B) Internal strife and succession conflicts
C) Economic prosperity
D) Expansion of territory

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the impact of Aurangzeb's religious policies on the Mughal Empire.

Answer: Aurangzeb's religious policies had a profound impact on the Mughal Empire, significantly altering its socio-political landscape. By reinstating the jizya tax on non-Muslims and promoting orthodox Islamic practices, he alienated a substantial section of his subjects, particularly Hindus. This shift fostered resentment and led to revolts, such as those by the Marathas under Shivaji, which further destabilized the empire. The increased religious intolerance contrasted sharply with the policies of his predecessors, who had embraced a more pluralistic approach. Aurangzeb's actions ultimately weakened the Mughal Empire, leading to fragmentation and the rise of regional powers, marking a departure from the once-cohesive empire that had thrived under more tolerant rulers.

Q2: Discuss the administrative strategies employed by Aurangzeb during his reign.

Answer: Aurangzeb employed several administrative strategies aimed at centralizing power within the Mughal Empire. He emphasized a strong bureaucratic structure, appointing loyalists to key positions to ensure control over various provinces. His administration focused on increasing revenue collection through reforms and efficient management of resources. Aurangzeb also sought to curb the powers of regional governors (nawabs) and enforce imperial authority over local administrations. Despite these efforts, the strain of continuous military campaigns in the Deccan and rising discontent among diverse communities ultimately challenged the effectiveness of his administration, leading to inefficiencies and local rebellions that undermined central authority.

Q3: Evaluate Aurangzeb's legacy and its significance in Indian history.

Answer: Aurangzeb's legacy is marked by complexity and controversy. While he expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent, his reign is also synonymous with religious intolerance and oppression, which have been debated by historians for generations. His policies, particularly against Hindus, fueled conflicts that led to significant resistance movements, thereby accelerating the decline of Mughal authority. The legacy of Aurangzeb is significant as it represents a turning point in Indian history, transitioning from a relatively tolerant empire to one characterized by fragmentation and strife. His reign laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of British colonial power in India, as the weakened Mughal Empire created a power vacuum that foreign powers sought to exploit.

Previous Year Questions on Aurangzeb's Reign

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: What significant policy did Aurangzeb reinstate during his reign?

A) Religious tolerance
B) Jizya tax
C) Land revenue reforms
D) Regional autonomy

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Aurangzeb reinstated the jizya tax on non-Muslims as part of his religious policies, contrasting with the more tolerant approaches of his predecessors.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Assess the implications of Aurangzeb's reign on the socio-political landscape of India." Discuss its long-term effects.

Answer: Aurangzeb's reign had far-reaching implications for the socio-political landscape of India. His religious policies and military campaigns fostered resentment among various communities, leading to uprisings and resistance movements that fragmented the Mughal authority. The increased tensions between Hindus and Muslims under his rule laid the groundwork for communal divisions that would later characterize Indian society. Moreover, the weakening of the Mughal Empire opened the door for regional powers to assert independence, leading to a patchwork of states and the eventual rise of British colonial influence. The long-term effects of Aurangzeb's reign continue to be felt in contemporary discussions around religious identity and communal relations in India.