Storia do Mogor 281.9.8

281.9.8

It was during the years 1678 and 1679 that Aurangzeb decided to impose a new tribute upon all the Hindus. All the high-placed and important men at the court opposed themselves to this measure. They besought the king most humbly to refrain ; they represented to him that it would be too heavy a burden upon the people, not only from the novelty [29] of such a tribute, but because the means of his subjects did not suffice for paying such severe demands every year. Of all the other kings, both Pathan and Mogul, not one had engaged in the oppression of his subjects by similar impositions. But all was in vain, and the king stood firm, still more so because it was his purpose to spread the Mahomedan religion among those people (the Hindus). He was of the opinion that he had found in this tax an excellent means of succeeding in converting them, besides thereby replenishing his treasuries greatly, which were daily becoming depleted. The cause of this falling off was either that the revenue was not collected, or that he had been obliged to remit several demands. Therefore he replied to those nobles: 'Think not I am like my grandfather, Jahangir, who spent his time listening to the poet Birbal and his music, or in looking on at plays and other games. No! no! It will never be like that with me. All my thoughts are turned towards the welfare and the development of my kingdom, and towards the propagation of the religion of the great Muhammad.'