History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c86.s3.9

v5.c86.s3.9

Finally, the Indian people of the Mughal age, both Hindus and Muslims, were stationary, prone to venerate the wisdom of their ancestors and look down upon the latest age as the worst. Experiment and free thought are hence apt to be condemned as an impious questioning of sacred authority and an insolent setting up of our own puny intellect against that of the sages of yore. The progressive spirit died out of India at the death of Akbar. Then followed a stationary civilisation, and such a civilisation is bound to decay as it finds improvement impossible.