History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c35: Preface

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c35

Language: English

Preface

The new materials that have come into my hands between the publication of the second and third editions of this volume are (1) an old Assamese *Buranji*, edited by H. C. Gosvami, (Gauhati, 1922), (2) two MSS. (both incomplete and only partly overlapping) of the letters of Hamid-ud-din, who was originally a servant of the household of Aurangzib's father-in-law, Shah Nawaz Khan, and latterly became a Mughal faujdar in Malwa, (3) the Rajasthani poem *Raj-vilas* by Man, printed by the Nagari Pracharini Sabha, (4) a summary in Hindi of the unpublished Rajput bardic chronicles and traditions relating to the birth and early years of Ajit Singh, prepared for me by Rao Gopal Singh Rathor (the Chief of Kharwa), (5) all the daily bulletins of Aurangzib's Court still preserved at Jaipur, *i.e.*, the residue of what Col. James Tod sent to the Royal Asiatic Society of London, and (6) the Persian letters included in Kaviraj Shyamal Das's Hindi History of Mewar, entitled *Vira-vinod*, 4 vols.

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But the additional information supplied by these sources to the present volume has been disappointingly small. The Assamese *Buranji* is much less full and authentic than the Ahom chronicles previously used by me. The letters of Hamid-ud-din tell us only of petty raids and minor alarms. The *Raj-vilas* has been already abstracted by Tod, and it is after all a Court-poet's exaggerated eulogy and not a sober history. The mass of *Akhbarat* discovered at Jaipur unfortunately commences just where this volume ends and throws no light on the war in Rajputana before Aurangzib's departure for the Deccan. The current Rajput account summarized by Rao Gopal Singh cannot be always reconciled with the contemporary Persian sources; the local bards' poems are marked by rhetoric and hyperbole, their sources are unknown, and their authors mostly belonged to times later than the events described and wrote in a credulous eulogistic vein, giving a loose rein to their imagination or feeding local and family pride. In short, they embody uncritical popular tradition and not authentic facts. In the broad outlines and the general result, however, they, agree with the narrative I have constructed from the contemporary Persian records. The Vira-vinod alone is of value, but only with reference to Mewar affairs.

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The war in Marwar forms only a small portion of the subject matter of this volume, which embraces the events of Northern India during 23 years, and therefore the sense of proportion and the lack of space have prevented me from including many interesting but minute details (which are evidently true) from the narrative supplied by Rao Gopal Singh. My theme is the history of the Delhi empire and not that of a provincial tribe.

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Subject to these remarks, minute corrections and additions have been made in this edition. A new appendix (X) has been added, giving the current Rathor narrative of the war, necessarily in an abridged form. The second Bibliography which appeared in the first two editions has been now omitted, as I intend to give one consolidated list in the proposed sixth volume of this work, which will also contain the index.

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First edition, 1916.

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Second edition (1921.) Many minute corrections have been made and two and a half pages of additional matter inserted. Appendix VIII of the first edition (Prince Akbar's letters chronologically arranged) has been here omitted to save space.

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J. SARKAR

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Chapter XXVI. The First Half of the Reign, 1—42

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Two halves of the reign, their general features, 1—variety of incidents in the first half, 3—organic unity of Deccan history, 4—Aurangzib's movements, 5—dates of his enthronement in different years, 8—dates of coronation festivity, 9—his illness in 1662, 10—visit to Kashmir, 14—his shikar, 15—conquest of Assam, 16—suzerainty of Tibet, 18—lawless risings: their causes, 19-20—rebellions in Mathura and Agra, 21—minor risings, 21—Idar, 23—counterfeit Dara and Shuja, 25—expedition against Rajah of Bikanir, 26—Champat Rai Bundela, his history, 27—rebellion, 28—is hunted down, 29—Palamau described, 30—its Rajahs, 32—Mughal invasion of Palamau, 34—conquest and annexation, 39—Kathiawad disturbances, 40—Kumaun invaded, 41.

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Chapter XXVII. Imperial Family and Court, 43—77

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Aurangzib's sons: Muhammad Sultan, 43—Muazzam, 44—Azam, 47—dispute between Muazzam and Azam, 50—Akbar, 52—Kam Bakhsh, 53—Zeb-un-nisa, 53—other daughters, 54—his sister Jahanara, 55—first lady of the realm at Mughal Court, 57—Raushanara, 59—marriages of his children, 61—chief officers, 61—Wazirs, 62—Rajah Raghunath, 64—Jafar Khan, 65—Asad Khan, 67—principal Bakhshis, 69—Khan-i-samans, 70—chief Sadars, 71—chief Qazis, 72—Abdul Wahhab, 73—Shaikh-ul-Islam, 75—Censor of Public Morals, 77.

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Chapter XXVIII. Moral and Religious Regulations, 78—100

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Desolation of country and famine, 78—transit duties on grain and octroi on food-stuffs abolished, 79—other taxes prohibited, 80—but secretly levied, 80—Islamic ordinances issued by Aurangzib, 81—duties of Censor of Public Morals, 82—"Burial of Music," 85—puritanical simplicity of Court, 87—his moral reforms ineffectual, 90—treatment of Dara after death, 92—persecution of Dara's favourite theologians: Shah Muhammad, 94—Sarmad: his life, 95—his teachings, 96—his execution, 99.

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Chapter XXIX. Relations with the Outer Muslim World, 101—121

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Aurangzib seeks to gain good opinion of other Muhammadan States, 101—presents to Mecca, 103—Sharif of Mecca's greed, 104—relations with Persia, 105—embassy from Persia, 107—letters between Shah Abbas II. and Aurangzib, 108—quarrel with Persia, 112—envoys from Central Asia, 114—ex-king of Kashghar a refugee in India, 115—Turkey and its true position in the Muslim world, 118—Abyssinian embassy, 120.

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Chapter XXX. Last Years of Shah Jahan, 122—145

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Shah Jahan deposed and confined in Agra fort, 122—strictly isolated, 123—his plots for recovering liberty, 124—rigorous treatment by jailor, 126—forbidden to write letters, 126—Aurangzib demands his jewellery, 128—and Dara's women, 129—insolence of eunuch guards, 130—Aurangzib justifies his own conduct, 132—Shah Jahan's recrimination, 135—patience of Shah Jahan, 138—his last years, 138—his companions in captivity, 139—last illness, 139—death, 140—burial, 143—public indignation against Aurangzib, 145.

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Chapter XXXI. Invasion of Kuch Bihar and Assam, 146—182

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Geography of Assam, 146—connection with north Bengal, 147—Rajahs of Kuch Bihar, 148—Ahom race, 150—Ahom society and Government, 150—Bengali influence on Ahoms, 152—Ahom wars with Mughals, 154—Ahoms take Gauhati, 155—Mir Jumla opens campaign, 157—annexes Kuch Bihar, 158—advances into Assam, 159—enters Garhgaon, 161—distribution of rival forces, 162—Mughal army isolated during rainy season, 164—attacks by Ahoms, 166—siege of Garhgaon, 169—pestilence and famine in Mughal army, 171—success of Mughal navy, 173—Mughal army advances again, 175—reaches Tipam, 176—peace with Ahom king, 177—Mir Jumla's retreat, 178—his achievement, 179—and character, 181—his strict control of troops, 182.

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Chapter XXXII. Eastern India after Death of Mir Jumla, 183—213

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Ahom war indemnity, how paid, 183—causes of friction, 184—Ahoms renew war, 186—Rajah Ram Singh Kachhwa fights in Assam, 187—Mughals recover Gauhati, 190—Ahoms finally reconquer Kamrup, 191—Mughal wars with Kuch Bihar, 191—tribute, 192—gain of Kuch territory, 193—Arrakan: relations with Bengal, 194—Chatgaon in Magh hands, 194—Feringi adventurers in Arrakan, 195—their piracy in East Bengal rivers, 197—their ravages, 198—routes of pirate ships, 200—Bengal navy, 202—renovated by Shaista Khan, 203—Sondip conquered by Mughals, 204—Feringis of Chatgaon desert to Shaista Khan, 206—Mughal expedition against Chatgaon starts, 207—naval victories, 209—fort Chatgaon captured, 210—Chatgaon in Mughal hands, 212.

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Appendix IV. Who was the captor of Chatgaon? 213—215.

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Chapter XXXIII. Afghan War, 216—247

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Strong administration by Aurangzib, 216—early history of frontier Pathans, 217—their social system and character, 218—Yusufzais of Peshawar, 219—robbery and invasion, 219—no lasting peace possible, 221—Yusufzai rising of 1667, 223—Mughal measures of punishment, 224—North Peshawar district pacified, 226—Afridi rising of 1672, 228—Md. Amin Khan plundered in Khaibar Pass, 229—Mughal losses, 230—Khush-hal Khan, the Khatak chieftain, 231—general rising of all Pathan clans, 233—disaster to Shujaet Khan in Karapa Pass, 235—Aurangzib goes to Hasan Abdal, 237—peace restored on the frontier, 238—Aghar Khan's victories, 239—disasters and successes, 239—Amir Khan, governor of Afghanistan, his policy and success, 243—Khush-hal Khan continues to resist, 246—effect of Afghan war on Aurangzib's affairs in India, 247.

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Chapter XXXIV. Islamic State-Church, 248—279

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The Muslim State is a theocracy, hence toleration is impossible, 248—jihad a duty, 249—ideal of a Muslim State, 250—disabilities of non-Muslims, 251—the Canon Law sanctifies plunder and massacre of unbelievers, 255—evil effects of this policy on the condition and character of Muslims, 257—economic decay of the State under Islam, 260—Keyserling on Islam and its effects, 260—formation of nation impossible, 261—toleration illegal according to Muslim Law, 263—Aurangzib's early bigotry, 265—general order for temple destruction, 267—jaziya : its theory, 268—its rate, 270—sternly levied, 271—its yield, 274—custom duties on Hindus doubled, 275—Hindus excluded from public offices, 277—bribes for conversion, 278—melas put down, 279.

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Appendix V. Temple destruction by Aurangzib ; extracts from authorities, 280—286.

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Appendix VI. Shivaji's letter protesting against the jaziya, 286—290.

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Chapter XXXV. Hindu Reaction, 291—321

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Mathura people, how ill-treated, 292—Abdun Nabi, faujdar, his career, 293—Gokla Jat's rebellion, 294—Gokla defeated and executed, 295—Satnami sect : their character, 297—their rising how provoked, 298—superstition about them, 299—Satnamis suppressed, 300—religious reforms of Chaitanya and Nanak, 301—their failure, 302— spiritual decline of latter-day Sikhism, 303—Nanak's teaching, 304—Arjun's organization of Sikh sect, 307—guru-worship begun, 308—Har Govind wages wars with Shah Jahan, 310—Tegh Bahadur becomes guru, 312—is executed by Aurangzib, 313—causes of the transformation of the Sikhs from a sect into an army, 315—their blind devotion to the guru, 315—and sense of brotherhood, 316—Govind's martial exercises and material aspirations, 317—his fighting life in the hills, 318—finally defeated at Chamkaur, 319—joins Bahadur Shah I., 319—goes to the Deccan and dies there, 319—Sikhs plunder in independent bands, 320—their exact influence on the Mughal empire, 321.

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Chapter XXXVI. Invasion of Rajputana, 322—351

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Marwar, its products, 322—its commercial importance, 323—forms the natural link between Agra and Gujrat, 323—Jaswant Singh, the leader of the Hindus, 324—his death, 325—Aurangzib occupies Marwar, 327—plunders its palaces and breaks its temples, 327—appoints Indra Singh as Rajah, 328—birth of Ajit Singh, 329—Aurangzib tries to seize him, 330—Durgadas Rathor, his character, 331—Rathor escort carry Ajit Singh out of Delhi, 333—Aurangzib sets up a bogus Ajit Singh, named Muhammadi Raj, 334—Aurangzib invades Marwar, 335—the country desolated, 336—Maharana Raj Singh : his relations with the Mughal empire, 337—why he joined the Rathors, 338—Mughal and Rajput armies contrasted, 339—Udaipur captured and sacked, 340—Maharana driven to the western hills, 341—strategic disadvantages of the Mughals, 341—Prince Akbar's forces, strength of Rajput armies, 343—Rajput success and Mughal demoralization, 344—Akbar often defeated, 345—censured and transferred to Marwar, 346—Aurangzib's plan of attacking Mewar, 345 (and 342)—guerilla warfare in Marwar, 347—Akbar's slow movements, 348—Tahawwur Khan's treasonable negligence, 349—Akbar forces the Jhilwara Pass, 350—Mughal hold on western Mewar confirmed, 350.

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Appendix VII. Parentage of Ajit Singh: all the different authorities discussed, 351.

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Chapter XXXVII. Rebellion of Prince Akbar and the end of the Rajput War, 353—373

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Prince Akbar, his early career, 353—campaigns in Marwar, 354—induced by Durgadas and the Maharana to rebel against Emperor, 355—his deceitful letter to Aurangzib, 356—Akbar crowns himself, 357—Aurangzib unguarded at Ajmir, 358—Akbar delays his advance, 358—succours come to Aurangzib, 359—the two armies face each other, 361—desertions from Akbar's army, 361—Tahawwur Khan invited to Aurangzib's camp and murdered, 362—Aurangzib's false letter to Akbar causes the Rajputs to desert him, 363—Akbar's flight, 365—punishment of his adherents, 365—pursuit of Akbar, 366—he reaches Shambhuji, 367—Mughal war with Mewar, 368—treaty of peace, 370—fitful warfare in Marwar, 371—effect of the Rajput war on Mughal empire, 372.

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Akbar (1556–1605)