History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c45.s8: §14. Effect of jaziya.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c45.s8
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§14. Effect of jaziya.
v3.c45.s8.1
The tax yielded a very large sum. In the province of Gujrat, for instance, it was 5 lakhs of Rupees a year, which amounted to 3½ p. c. of its total gross revenue.* Now, if we make allowance for the facts that Gujrat had a large Muhammadan population which contributed to the general revenue but not to the *jaziya* and that the custom duties of the busy ports of Surat, Broach and Cambay greatly swelled the total revenue collected in the province, we shall not be far wrong in holding that the *jaziya* meant for the Hindus an addition of fully one-third to every subject's *direct* contribution to the State. To be a Muslim was to be free from this extra taxation.
v3.c45.s8.2
The officially avowed policy in reimposing the *jaziya* was to increase the number of Muslims by putting pressure on the Hindus.† As the contemporary observer Manucci noticed, ‘‘Many Hindus who were unable to pay turned Muhammadan, to obtain relief from the insults of the collectors......Aurangzib rejoices that by such exactions these Hindus will be forced into embracing the Muhammadan faith.’’ (*Storia*, ii. 234, iv. 117.)
v3.c45.s8.3
∗ Mirat-i-Ahmadi, 314. The revenue of the province of Gujrat about 1695 was 145 lakhs of Rupees. (India of Aurangzib, xxxii.) † As the official history written from State papers at the instance of his favourite secretary puts it, "All the aims of the religious Emperor being directed to the spread of the law of Islam and the overthrow of infidel practices, he issued orders that from 1st Rabi-ul-awwal (=2 April 1679), *jaziya* should be levied from the *zimmis* in accordance with the Quranic injunction till they pay compensation out of their hands in humility." (M.A. 174.) The *Mirat-i-Ahmadi*, 313, another history based upon official papers, ascribes the same motive to the Emperor. The theory of some modern writers that the *jaziya* was only commutation money paid for exemption from military