History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s2.t1: § 10. Malwa : races forming its population ; its importance in Mughal times.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c84.s2.t1
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§ 10. Malwa : races forming its population ; its importance in Mughal times.
v5.c84.s2.t1.1
The Mughal province of Malwa extended from Garha-Mandla to Banswara and from Chanderi to Nandurbar, or roughly speaking north to south between the Jamuna and the Narmada rivers. West of it, across the Chambal, lies Rajputana, and east of it Bundelkhand, from which the river Betwa separates it. The most notable element of its population are the Rajputs, divided into an immense number of petty clans or minor branches of famous clans, and not organised in compact tribal States as in Rajputana proper. But their number and importance were not so preponderant as to throw into insignificance other races of inhabitants, such as the Jats who were spread over the northern side, and the Gonds concentrated in full strength in the south and the south-east,—besides a strong infusion of Muhammadan immigrants (mostly Afghans) settled in definite centres. The undeveloped primitive races which had taken refuge in out of the way corners and among the hills and jungles, were too uncivilised and too much divided to count for anything, though in mere number they formed the largest substratum of the population.
v5.c84.s2.t1.2
Uniformity of administration, the regular advance of civilisation, and the effective and easy maintenance of order were impossible in a province with such a diversified population. But Malwa was rich in agricultural wealth,—producing large quantities of the higher crops, such as opium, sugar-cane, grapes, musk-melons and betel-leaf, besides sheltering large herds of elephants in its forest tracts. In industries it occupied the first rank among the Mughal subahs after Gujrat. "Cloth of the best texture was woven here," notably the chintz and white muslin of Sironj, which commanded a ready market throughout India and even beyond seas in the 17th century. [Ain ii. 195-202 ; Tavernier, ii. 5.]
v5.c84.s2.t1.3
Malwa had been the foremost centre of Indian culture from before the age of Christ. In Mughal times its importance was enhanced by the fact that all the great military roads from the northern capitals, Agra and Delhi, to the Deccan passed through this province. Mughal armies had to cross some part of Malwa in order to be able to strike at Rajputana or the Gond country, Berar or Gujrat. Any disturbance in Berar or Gondwana, Bundelkhand or the Eastern Rajput States would immediately spread by contagion to Malwa. While Aurangzib's attention and forces were occupied in holding the Maratha land in the closing years of his reign, Berar and Khandesh became the happy hunting ground of roving Maratha bands, and these penetrated into Malwa almost as a matter of course, in concert with the rebel Bundela and Gond chieftains of the neighbourhood.
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A preponderantly Hindu province with a sturdy Rajput population, was not likely to take Aurangzib's policy of temple destruction and poll-tax on the Hindus with tame submissiveness. They often fought the agents of Islam in defence of the seats of their religion, as we have seen in vol. iii. ch. 34, (p. 283 of the 2nd ed.) Again, in January 1703, when a Muslim tax-collector visited the zamindari of Devi Singh (son of Brahma-dev Siodia) to demand the jaziya, the men of the zamindar turned him back after plucking out his beard and moustaches. [Akhbarat, 28 Jan.]
v5.c84.s2.t1.5
But, on the whole, the disturbances in Malwa during the first half of this reign were all on a small scale and confined to a few localities, (see Ch. 26 § 7.) The raids of Chhatra Sal Bundela, Bakht Buland Gond and others touched only the north-eastern and south-eastern fringes of the province.
v5.c84.s2.t1.6
With these few exceptions, Malwa continued to enjoy peace and uneventful administration till near the end of the 17th century. But after Rajaram's return home from Jinji began a movement which was destined in less than fifty years to completely change the political history of the province.