The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.102

v4.c20.102

The province of Mālwa, extending from the Jumna to the Narbadā, with Rājputāna on its west and Bundelkhand on its east, enjoyed very great importance in Mughul India, not only on account of this geographical position, but also because it was rich in agricultural wealth (producing many of the more valuable crops—such as opium, sugarcane, grapes, melons and betel leaf), its industries stood in the first rank after those of Gujarāt, and moreover all the great military roads from the northern capitals of the Mughul empire to the Deccan passed through it. A preponderantly Hindu province like this, with a sturdy Rājput population, was not likely to submit tamely to Aurangzīb’s policy of temple destruction and poll-tax on the Hindus. The Mālwa people often fought the emperor’s agents sent there to enforce his Islāmic decrees; but, on the whole, the disturbances in this province during the first half of his reign were all on a small scale and confined to a few localities.