Was the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb responsible for the downfall of the empire?

 Why is it in the news? 

1. Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Aazmi sparked a controversy by saying that the conflict between Aurangzeb and Chhattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was political rather than religious. 

2. He said that Aurangzeb should not be viewed solely as a tyrant but also as an administration who contributed to India’s expansion. 

3. He contended that India flourished under Aurangzeb rule and described the mughal emperor as a great administrator. 

Theory of kingship

1. Aurangzeb was a fanatic Sunni Muslim. His theory of kingship was based upon Islamic theory of kingship. He wanted to convert India, Dar-ul-harb (country of Kafirs) into Dar-ul-Islam (Islamic country). This made him intolerant towards the majority of his subjects. That’s why, he annexed Shia states of Bijapur and Golconda, beheaded Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur, cut to pieces Sambhaji Maharaj when he refused to be converted into Muslim under mughal custody. During his regime Rajputs, Jats, Satnamis, Marathas revolted against the Mughal empire. During the war of succession, he gave a religious fatwa contending that his elder brother was heretic and the fate of Hindustan was not safe in his hands. Thus, he rallied behind all orthodox Islamic elements by his side to win the crown of India.   

2.His religious bigotry had its impact upon the economic policy so much so that while the Muslim traders had to pay 2 ½ % custom duties, Hindu traders had to pay 5%. 

3. It is true that more than 80 types of taxes called Aabwabs were abolished. These taxes were borne by common people. 

4. It is also true that by 1700 AD the Mughal Empire had the largest economy in the world. India contributed 24% of the world's GDP. This was because of the comparative peace for 200 years in India. But, these wealths were concentrated among the kings, nobles, zamindars, government officials, merchants and traders. The emperor and his courtiers led a lavish life. On the other hand, the common people were reeling under the heavy weight of taxation. It should be noted that during the period of Aurangzeb, the share of the state revenue went up to half of the produce. 

5.  To sum up , the theory of kingship for Aurangzeb was meant to strengthen Sunni Muslims in India. 

Religious Policy 

1. His religious policy smacked bigotry. He reversed the religious policy pursued by emperor Akbar. He forbade - 

• Practice of inscribing Kalima on the coins. 

• Celebrating the festivals of Navroz

• Dancers and Musicians in the court. 

• Cultivation of Bhang

• Gambling

• Drinking alcohol

• Practice of Sati

• Celebrating Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali, Basant Panchami at the court. 

• Appointment of Muhtasibs to enforce islamic laws among Muslims. These officers were given the power to punish all those people who were found guilty of blasphemy. 

2.In addition, during his period famous Hindu temples of Vishwanath at Banaras, Keshavdeo at Mathura and Somnath at Patan were destroyed. 

3. He enforced Zajiya on the Hindus in 1679. Only women slaves, children less than 14 years of age, and beggars were exempted from this tax. Pilgrim tax on Hindus was also revived. He removed most of the Hindu officers from the revenue department. He gives temptation in the form of services , promotions, money, remission of taxes,  gift of lands to Hindus with a view to encourage them to voluntarily accept Islam. 

4. Thus, the religious fanaticism of Aurangzeb set aside all his personal virtues. 

Revolts by Jats, Satnamis, Sikhs and Rajputs

1. The religious persecution of Hindus by Aurangzeb was opposed by Jats under the leadership of Gokul Jat in 1669. The reason for the revolt was the destruction of Hindu temples and disrespecting Hindu women by Mughal Subedar Abdul Nabi. At the battle of Tilpat, however, Gokul Jat was defeated and killed. In spite of the reverses, jats again reorganised under Rajaram and raised the standard of revolt. However, Rajaram was defeated and killed in 1688. But, Jats were again organised under the leadership of Chudaman who continued to fight against the Mughals till the death of Aurangzeb and finally, succeeded in establishing an independent kingdom at Bharatpur. 

2. Satnamis were a religious sect of Hindu religion. They resided around Narnol and Mewat. They tonsured their heads. They were peasants. They were being oppressed by Mughal officers over taxation. They raised the standard of revolt. However, their revolts were crushed. About 3000 Satnamis were killed by the Mughal army. 

3. The ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur detested and openly expressed resentment against the religious bigotry of Aurangzeb.The Guru was summoned to the Mughal Court and was asked to embrace Islam. When the guru refused, he was tortured for five days and thereafter, beheaded. The tenth and the last Guru fought the mughals till its last breath. His four sons were killed by Fauzdar of Sar-hind while at Nanded, he was stabbed to death by two Muslim Pathan.  Guru Govid Singh aroused the dormant energies of Sikhs and converted them into Martial race. Although he could not accomplish the task of defeating the Mughals in his lifetime, Sikhs became the powerful force to reckon with under Banda Bahadur and thereafter. 

4. Aurangzeb alienated Rajputs and thus, reversed the Rajput policy of Akbar. When Raja Jaswant Singh died in Afghanistan during the course of fighting in 1678, his homeland Marwar was annexed with the Mughal Empire contending that Maharaja had no legal successor. However, the two queens of Maharaja gave birth to two sons at Lahore. While one of them died the other named Ajit Singh survived. The commander of Rathors, Durgadas requested Aurangzeb to recognise Ajit Singh as the legal ruler of Marwar. But Aurangzeb did not accept the request and so Durgadas fled from Delhi and reached Marwar. The Mughal army pursued Durgadas and Rajput contingents.The Mughal army destroyed and plundered temples and raised mosques in their places, occupied Marwar. The Rathors retired to hills and deserts and continued their fight till the death of Aurangzeb.  

5.After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah first recognised Ajit Singh as the legal successor and king of Marwar. 

6. Aurangzeb also made an estrangement with Mewar. Fearing the attacks on Marwar, Maharana Raj Singh started fortifying the fort of Chittor. The Mughal army one by one captured Chittor as well as Udaipur. Most of the temples were raised to the ground. However in 1681, Aurangzeb concluded peace with Mewar agreeing to withdraw the Mughal army from Mewar. Maharana Jai Singh accepted the Mansab of 5000 while his son was given the title of Maharaja and was  taken into the service of the emperor. The Maharan ceded the Parganas of Mandal, Pur and Bednor to the Mughals in lieu of Jizya imposed on Mewar.  

7. The religious bigotry of Aurangzeb was very much resented by Champat Rai in Bundelkhand, in Malwa and Bihar. The son of Champat Rai, Chhatrasal later on, succeeded in carving out an independent kingdom of Bundelkhand in 1707 after the death of Aurangzeb. 

Annexation of Shia states of Bijapur and Golconda and Fight against Shivaji 

1. Aurangzeb annexed Bijapur in 1686 and Golconda in 1687 because both the kingdoms were ruled by Shia rulers.

2. In Deccan Shivaji succeeded in carving out an independent kingdom. In 1659, he killed Afzal Khan, the nobel of Bijapur. In 1663, he made a surprise night attack on the camp of Sahista Khan, the Mughal governor of Deccan at Poona.  Shivaji looted Surat. These successful adventures made Shivaji very much popular in Maharashtra and his power and influence further expanded. 

3. Aurangzeb deputed Raja Jai Singh against Shivaji in 1665. The Mughal army defeated Shivaji in a series of battles and so he was forced to make a treaty of Purander. 

4. Most of the forts captured by Shivaji were ceded to the Mughals. He was also persuaded to visit the Mughal court at Agra. But getting insulted in court, he fled from Agra and reached Maharashtra. One by one, he captured all the forts that he had ceded to the Mughals under the treaty of Purander. Thus, in spite of the huge resources of the Mughals, Marathas could not be subdued. 

5. After the death of Shivaji, the Mughal army again renewed its attack upon the Maratha kingdom, captured Shambuji, the son of Shivaji and tortured him to death in 1689 when he refused to embrace Islam. However, the Marathas rose the banner of revolt and continued their resistance. The battle between the Maratha and Mughal turned out to be the fight for Maratha Vatan (Homeland). Thus, the Deccan policy of Aurangzeb completely failed. The vast resources of the Mughal empire were squandered. 

6. Aurangzeb stayed at Deccan for the next 27 years till his death. The long absence of emperors in North India led to the weakening of administrative structure of the Mughals. This was one of the reasons for the downfall of the Mughals after the death of Aurangzeb. 

In addition to the responsibility and religious bigotry of Aurangzeb, there were other factors which caused the downfall of the Mughal empire. These were :

• Trade and Manufacture and agricultural production was not expanding as rapidly as the population. 

• The land revenue was heavy amounting to half of the produce. 

• The demands and expectations of the ruling class expanded. The number of Mansabdars rose from 2069 at the time of Jahangir to 11456 during the later half of Aurangzeb reign. 

• The huge expenditure on architecture during the period of Shahjahan further burdened the state exchequer. 

• Crisis in the Jagirdari system because of the disturbed conditions Jagirdars were unable to realise taxes from peasants. Therefore many of the Mansabdars entered into private agreements with Maratha Sardar on the condition of paying Chauth. Moreover, on account of increasing numbers of Mansabdars, there was a shortage of Jagirs. Moreover, jagirs in the newly conquered areas were less fertile and so jagirdars were not desirous of taking over jagirs. 

• Infightings among the foreign and local Muslim nobles in the court.

• Failure of artillery to deal effectively with the Maratha forts held in the Deccan. 

• War of successions and heavy blood sheds further led to untold miseries and squandering of the Mughal resources. 

• Invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739.

Conclusion

1. Aurangzeb ruled India for almost 50 years. At a personal level, he had set a high standard of morality and chastity in those days. He was free from most of the vices of emperors of those days. He was hardworking and had been engaged in the administrative works and military affairs day in and day out. But in spite of all the personal virtues, his religious bigotry blurred his vision of inclusive India. He wanted to encourage Sunni Islam in India. He failed in his attempt and so alienated himself and the Mughal empire from the majority of Hindus.  The flight of loyalties of Hindu nobles and commanders were the main cause for the downfall of the Mughal empire. In addition, the Mughal empire did not invent any machinery to boost the production to cope up with the rising population. There erupted a crisis in the Jagirdari system and so most of the high ranking nobles and Mansabdars eked out separate kingdoms. His policy towards Maratha was a complete failure. He could not visualise the true nature of the struggle of the Maratha homeland. The killing of Shambhuji further deprived Aurangzeb to negotiate with the legal head of the Marathas. This killing of the Maratha head further infuriated Marathas which percolated down to the grassroot level.  Thus, it became a sore for the Mughal empire which led to its crippling in the later years.  The invasion of Nadir Shah, imprisonment of Mughal emperor Mohammad Shah Rangila and looting of Delhi further exposed the weaknesses of the Mughal empire to the world.