History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v1.c12.89

v1.c12.89

Aurangzib’s second viceroyalty of the Deccan was marked by a series of wrangles with his father, for which, as Aurangzib’s version alone is before us, the chief blame seems to fall on Shan Jahan. Either Aurangzib’s enemies had got hold of the Emperor’s ears, or the latter failed to appreciate the Prince’s difficulties in the South. But the result was that Aurangzib was misunderstood, suspected, and unjustly reprimanded from the very beginning of his term of office. And the bitterness of feeling thus roused was one of the reasons why the War of Succession was conducted so heartlessly and unscrupulously. So complete was the estrangement that, during this long viceroyalty of more than five years, Aurangzib was not once invited to visit his father in Northern India, and, what is almost incredible, among the presents made to the Emperor on his birthdays and the anniversaries of his coronation none from Aurangzib is mentioned in the official history, though the other princes made costly offerings! While Dara’s sons were basking in the Imperial favour and every year receiving jewels and cash gifts worthy of princes, only once did Aurangzib’s sons get anything from their Imperial grand-father.