History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c38.s2.29

v3.c38.s2.29

Life at the capital must have been intolerable for some time after Aurangzib's accession. But the inevitable result soon followed; the attempt to elevate mankind by one leap failed, and the administration made itself ridiculous by violently enforcing for a time, then relaxing, and finally abandoning a code of puritanical morals opposed to the feelings of the entire population, without first trying to educate them to a higher level of thought. As Manucci noticed, "It was so common to drink spirits when Aurangzib ascended the throne, that one day he said in a passion that in all Hindustan no more than two men could be found who did not drink, namely himself and the Chief Qazi....He directed the kotwal to search out Muhammadans and Hindus who sold spirits, every one of whom was to lose one hand and one foot.... This penal order was in force for a time; whenever the kotwal suspected that spirits were made in any house, he sent his soldiers to plunder everything in it. The regulations were strict at first, but little by little they were relaxed,... there being few who do not drink secretly."