Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb, also known by his regal title Alamgir (meaning World Conqueror), ruled the Mughal Empire for nearly 50 years, making his reign one of the longest in Indian history. But while his territorial expansion reached its maximum, the seeds of imperial decline were also sown under his rule.

👑 Ascension to the Throne: A Ruthless Beginning

Aurangzeb ascended the Mughal throne in 1658 CE, but not through peaceful succession. Like his predecessors, he had to fight a brutal war of succession, defeating all three of his brothers — Dara Shukoh, Shah Shuja, and Murad Baksh.

• Dara Shukoh, the eldest, was liberal and a patron of Sufi and Hindu thought. Aurangzeb saw him as a threat to orthodox Islam.
• Eventually, Dara was captured, publicly humiliated, and executed. With this, Aurangzeb emerged as the undisputed emperor.

🧭 The Structure of His Reign: Two Distinct Halves

Aurangzeb’s reign can be divided into two distinct phases:

1. First 25 years (1658–1682):
   • He ruled from Delhi, focusing on northern India.
   • The Deccan was handled by his appointed viceroys.
2. Last 25 years (1682–1707):
   • He personally shifted to the Deccan, never returning to Delhi.
   • He died at Ahmednagar (present-day Ahilyanagar) in 1707, disillusioned and weary.

⚔️ Northern Uprisings: Cracks in the Core

Aurangzeb faced multiple rebellions in northern India from different groups who resisted his centralized and orthodox policies.

1. Jat Rebellion (1669):

• The Jats, primarily peasant cultivators from Mathura and Agra, rose against oppressive revenue demands.
• Their leader Gokla was executed, but the rebellion continued intermittently.
• In 1685, a strong uprising occurred, but by 1691, the Jat leaders Rajaram and Churaman were subdued.
• Later, the Jats established an independent kingdom during Mughal decline.

2. Satnami Revolt:

• A socio-religious community from Haryana revolted.
• The revolt was brutally crushed, ironically, with help from local Hindu zamindars.

3. Sikh Rebellion:

• Sparked by the political manipulation of Ram Rai, a rival claimant to the Guru title.
• Aurangzeb ordered the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru.
• This galvanized the Sikh movement, pushing them into the hills.
• Under Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikhs transformed into a militant brotherhood — the Khalsa Panth, founded in 1699.

4. Ahom Resistance (North-East):

• Though defeated in 1663, the Ahoms of Assam rebelled again in the 1680s.

🤝 Relations with Rajputs: From Alliance to Alienation

The Mughal-Rajput alliance, which was a hallmark of Akbar’s diplomacy, deteriorated under Aurangzeb.

Marwar Succession Crisis:

• After Raja Jaswant Singh’s death, Aurangzeb tried to place Indra Singh (a distant relative) as a puppet ruler.
• Rani Hadi, widow of Jaswant Singh, resisted with support from Rathor Rajputs.
• The rebellion was crushed with difficulty.

Mewar Rebellion:

• Rana Raj Singh opposed Mughal interference in Marwar.
• Even Prince Akbar (Aurangzeb’s own son) sided with Mewar, but the revolt failed.
• The conflict continued until Rana Jai Singh of Mewar signed a peace treaty in 1681.

🔥 Deccan Policy: The Endless Campaign

Initial Phase (As Shah Jahan’s Viceroy):

• Aurangzeb had earlier served as the governor of Deccan, where he pursued an aggressive expansionist policy.

Full-Scale Deccan Campaign (Post-1682):

• The Marathas, under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, had established a sovereign Hindu kingdom in north and south Konkan.
• Aurangzeb considered Shivaji a major threat and sent generals like Shaista Khan and Jai Singh:
  • Jai Singh succeeded in capturing Shivaji, but Shivaji escaped from Delhi in a dramatic fashion.
  • Using guerrilla warfare, Shivaji continued resisting until his death in 1680.

Annexation of Deccan Sultanates:

• To counter Maratha strength, Aurangzeb targeted Bijapur and Golkonda:
  • Bijapur was annexed in 1686, and Golkonda in 1687.
• These campaigns drained Mughal resources immensely, both in men and money.

Rise of Sambhaji Maharaj and Later Marathas:

• After Shivaji’s death, his son Sambhaji Maharaj continued the struggle.
• Aurangzeb personally led campaigns from 1698 onwards, spending years in the Deccan, but without lasting success.

🕌 Religious Policy: The Core of Controversy

Aurangzeb’s religious orthodoxy was starkly different from Akbar’s policy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all).

• He aimed to Islamize the state structure.
• Created a department for enforcing Islamic morality under an officer called Muhtasib.
• Banned construction and repair of Hindu temples.
• Ordered destruction of temples, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and others.
• Reimposed Jizya (a tax on non-Muslims) and the pilgrim tax.
• Stopped the celebration of Muharram, indicating even sectarian rigidity within Islam.
• His campaigns against Shia-ruled Bijapur and Golkonda were partly motivated by sectarian bias.
• Execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur further alienated the Sikhs, adding to northern instability.

🧠 Final Reflection: The Paradox of Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal Empire to its largest territorial extent, but his military exhaustion, religious intolerance, and alienation of key social groups — Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs — led to a loss of internal cohesion.

His was a reign where the sword conquered, but the heart failed to win.

Aurangzeb’s personal piety did not translate into political wisdom, and while he succeeded militarily in the short term, he set the stage for the slow disintegration of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century.