Akbar vs Aurangzeb

Akbar vs Aurangzeb

• UPSC PYQ: Not only this but these key keywords are important because this is also the favourite area of UPSC and Most of the questions in Medieval and Modern India are asked from here.
• For example in prelims 2019 the difference between Zamindari and Jagirdari system, Iqta System, Mir Bakshi, also a Question on Ibadat Khana which came in 2014 Prelims
• In last year’s prelims 4 questions came from the Mughal Empire directly, this does not happen often. But we will try to leave no stone unturned in this course
• Also keywords like,
• Khalisa land and Jagir land
• The Chauth and Sardeshmukhi
• Other terms like Dhimmis, Nizamat, Diwani, Mir Bakshi, Sharia, Irani, turani nobles etc. are important to understand.
• But to understand these terms we need to understand some part of medieval India.

• First, we will take an overview of the Mughal Empire I.e. Zahiruddin Babur and His ancestors.
• Secondly, we will take a detailed account of Akbar, his relations with Rajputs, his rajput policy, we will compare his rajput policy with Aurangzeb’s Deccan Policy, Here we will discuss how Deccan Ulcer Ruined     Aurangzeb
• Thirdly, we will discuss the religious policy of the Akbar and compare it  with the  religious policies of the Aurangzeb We will take a look into how this religious policies cause made him unpopular among regional states and people at large
•  Fourth we will take account of personal life and character of Aurangzeb
•  Fifth, we will take an overview of the causes of the downfall of the Mughals
•  Finally, we will cover keywords that will be useful in upcoming videos, and in the UPSC Prelims exam too, even 2020 aspirants can watch this specific part for quick revision.

So let us begin 

•  Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi on 21st April 1526 in the first battle of the Panipat.
•  In 1527 he defeated Rana Sangha of Mewar, in the battle of Khanwa
• In 1528, he defeated Rajput Ruler Mediini Rai and captured Chanderi
• In 1529, he defeated the Afghans in the Battle of Gogra in Bihar

• Akbar succeeded in extending the frontiers of the empire to the Hindukush mountains, and checked the expansionist designs of the Uzbeks of Turan (Central Asia) and the Safavids of Iran. By doing this he consolidated the NW frontiers. He conquered Northern India from Agra to Gujarat in the west and to the bengal in the east
• Rajput Policy: In the beginning Akbar got formidable resistance from the Rajputs, in this regard his Rajput Policy was remarkable.
• The Rajput Policy of Akbar was based on matrimonial alliances in which he first married the daughter of Raja Bharamal. Raja Bhagwan Das and Raja Man Singh was given formidable position in the administration. He treated everyone alike and this won the heart of Rajputs. They served Mughals for four generations.
• In a situation when the close associates of Akbar revolted against him. Rajputs appeared as a shield. This led to a famous Rajput policy of Badshah..
•  As per modern calculations the proportion of HINDUS in the nobility under Akbar in 1594 was about 16 percent. Raja Birbal and Raja Man Sing were close friends of Akbar also Raja Todar Mal was head of the finance department.
• Many of them rose to the position of military generals. And almost all Rajput states surrendered to Akbar.
• But Mewar was the only state which did not surrender to him. Though his Rajput Policy proved beneficial in the long run for the Mughal Empire. It ensured peace in Rajasthan so trade flourished and coffers of the State got full. This cooperation resulted in Economic Prosperityand Cultural renaissance, This was period of communal harmony. Hindu and Muslim cultures synthesised and flourished together.
• With all that being said it should be noted that Mughal Empire was a military state at its core. And all the Mughals acted violentlytowards political foes (whether they were Rajput, Muslim, Hindu, or otherwise)
• It is said that Deccan ulcer ruined the Aurangzeb and Mughal Empire let us see how?
• At first the Aurangzeb faced similar kind of situations in Deccan which Akbar faced in Rajasthan. Like Rajputs, Maratha was a warrior clan, But instead of following policy of conciliation and compromise he followed expansionist policy.

• But the biggest pain for Badshah Aurangzeb was the creation of Maratha Swaraj by Raja Shivaji in 1674. When he united Maratha Saradars for common cause of Swaraj. In 1680, Chhatrapati Shivaji died of illness and Sambhaji succeeded him. Sambhaji gave shelter to Akbar II, the rebel son of Aurangzeb. So, this ended the patience of Badshah and Aurangzeb got angry
• So to contain Marathas Aurangzeb himself marched to south and eliminated Adilshahi at Bijapur in 1686 and Qutubshahi of Golconda in 1687. But this was a political blunder. Virtual buffer between Marathas and the Mughals was removed. Now Marathas and Aurangzeb were face to face.
• Maratha was good fighters and he fought long war with them. In 1705, he got exhausted and bankrupt. This Deccan campaign exhausted the Mughal Treasury, whereas Badshaha Akbar’s Rajput Policy increased the revenue of the empire. So it is said that Deccan Ulcer Ruined the Aurangzeb.
• His Deccan policy was narrow sighted and at first it looked like he gathered some territories and added to the empire but the empire lost all of these territories eventually in the 18th century. And this expansionist policy eventually led to the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Now let us compare religious policies of Akbar and Aurangzeb

• Religious Policies of Akbar:
• Akbar’s is known in history for his religious policies.
• We can say that Akbar’s religious policy was inspired from the great Genghis Khan, as Genghis Khan did not discriminated his subjects on the basis of religion and there were no religious persecution. These principles were taught by his tutor Abdul Latif. Also his religious policies were result of his marriage with Rajput Women, Poet Abul Fazl and Sufi Saints.
• In 1563 Akbar abolished the tax on pilgrimage and he abolished jizya in 1564 (NCERT) Now what is Jizya?
• Jizya was the tax levied on the Non Muslim Population of the Muslim State for the protection provided by the Muslim Ruler. We will learn this again in keywords.  He abolished above two taxes as the two were based on religious discrimination.
• Akbar abolished the pilgrim tax on bathing at holy places such as Prayag, Benaras, etc. He also abolished the practice of forcibly converting prisoners of war to Islam, t
• This led to foundation of an empire based on equal rights to all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
• Instructions were sent to officers of the empire to follow the code of sulh-i kul in administration.
• Sulh-i-kul means Universal peace or peace to all. I.e. equal toleration and respect of all sections, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
• Akbar’s quest for religious knowledge led to interfaith debates in the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar invited learned Muslims, Hindus, Jainas, Parsis and Christians for discussion on religious matters. Akbar’s religious views matured in this period as he asked scholars of different religions and sects and gathered knowledge about their doctrines. As a result, he moved away from the orthodox Islamic ways of understanding religions.
• He even disliked the interference of muslim ulemas in political affairs especially in later part of his life. Later in his accounts it is said that he spent sleepless nights in search of god. Later he set up a new religion which compounded of many existing religions – Hinduism, Christianity, Zoroastrianims etc.
• For that he officially promulgated a new concept of Din-e-Ilahi or Divine Faith in 1582. Din e ilahi believes in one god and contained good points of all religions, on the rational basis. In his discussions in Ibadat Khana he found that there are gaps in religious doctrines of each religions so in Din-e-illahi he focussed on bridging this gap but the experiment failed especially after his death. Even during in he was alive the Divine Faith had fifteen members which included Birbal and other close friends. And of course he did not made it compulsory to win his faith. Though it fizzled out after his death..
• Akbar even made some religious reforms he stopped forceful practice of Sati, Widows of tender age who have not consummated their marriage shall not be burnt at all. Widow remarriage was also legalised. Age of marriage was raised to 14 for girls and 16 for boys.Though all of these steps were not successful.
• Under him state became secular, liberal, enlightened
• On the other hand, Aurangzeb was the fanatic ruler of Mughal Empire. It was not his fault rather it was his upbringing. His mentor was Miya Masoom, who always preached him in a fanatic way. So, Aurangzeb did not understand that to rule in India, he has to be a rational person. So, he came out with a Religious policy.
• On the other hand, Auranjzeb was orthodox Muslim, As per historians his idea was to transform India into an Islamic state.
• He gave the orders that Quranic verses will not be written on coins. He appointed Mutahids (Moral Teacher) to teach morality to Muslims
• Drinking liquor was prohibited, Cultinvation and use of bhang and other drugs were banned.
• He banned singing, dancing and playing musical instruments as it was against the Islamic teaching to which Aurangzeb followed very dearly
• No more music in the Mughal courts, he also discontinued the practice of Jharokadarshan , where common people see their king through window.
• It is said that he discontinued the celebration of Dasara, he dismissed royal astrologers from service. The celebration of Muharram was also stopped.
• At first he banned the construction of new Hindu temples and repair of old ones. Then at some point he followed policy of destroying temples. Ex Mathura and Benaras
• Also it should be noted that he made generous donations of jagirs to several temples to win the sympathies of his Hindu subjects
• He reimposed Jizya and Pilgrim Tax
• He invaded Deccani Sultanetes because they were Shias and Mughals were Sunnis
• He also beheaded Sufi Sarmad
• He was against the Sikhs and he executed the ninth Sikh guru Tej Bahadur. As a result Sikh community evolved in War Community.
• The takeaway is that these narrow minded orthodox policies were responsible for  turning the Rajputs, the Marathas and the Sikhsinto the enemies of the Mughal Empire. And therefore Aurangzeb is held responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

• He never indulged with women outside marriage.
• He earned money for his personal expenses by copying Quran and selling those copies. He did not consume wine, so in short was not degenerate
• He was a love of books and scholar of Arabic and Persian languages. He made mistakes in the political field he antagonised Maratha, His policy towards Deccan Sultantes was a debacle, and he failed to recognise what Badshah Akbar understood clearly, the nature of people and society at large.  And to rule India it is necessary to get support of every sections and factions.

• Mughal Court was divided between Turani’s, Irani, Durani, Deccani Nobles we will learn about these terms in next lesson, And almost all noble were interested in serving themselves rather than serving empire.
• Aurangzeb’s orthodox, fanatical religious policies for the decline of the Mughal Empire. These policies alienated Hindus which were majority in Indian subcontinent
• His expansionist military campaigns in Deccan contributed to decline of the empire
• Weak successors, recurrent wars of succession emptied  state treasury further
• As said earlier Mughal empire was described as a War State in its core. No military reforms and no introduction of new technology further weakened the Mughals.
• Further in 18th Century the invasion of Nadir Shaha and Ahmad Shaha Abdali dealt a blow on the Mughal empire and its glory was tarnished. Also it exposed the Mughal Empire
• More importantly the neglect of the seas leaved more powerful contenders at the shores of India who were waiting to take control of India.
  

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