Religious Policies of Aurangzeb | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Scholars' Views on Aurangzeb's Religious Policies

• Jadunath Sarkar, S.R. Sharma, and A.L. Srivastava: Criticize Aurangzeb for religious intolerance and persecution.
• Shibli Nomani, Zahiruddin Faruki, and Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi: Defend Aurangzeb's actions as politically motivated decisions.
• Satish Chandra and M. Athar Ali: Provide a neutral analysis of Aurangzeb's policies without taking a clear side.

Aurangzeb's Measures:

• Minor Inconsequential Ordinances:
• Major State Policies:

Measures in Sequence:

• Forbade the kalima from being stamped on coins to prevent desecration.
• Abolished Nauroz (Zoroastrian New Year) celebrations.
• Ordered repairs of old mosques and regular salaries for imams and muezzins.
• Appointed a Censor of Morals (Muhktasib) to enforce Islamic law.
• Despite regulations, flouting was common according to Italian traveler Manucci.
• Stopped the ceremony of weighing the Emperor against gold and silver on his birthdays.
• Discontinued the practice of jharokha darshan after eleven years.
• Prohibited court musicians from performing, though musicians received pensions.
• Instructed the governor of Gujarat to limit Diwali and Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad.
• Ban on Holi was based on concerns about obscene speech and bonfire practices.
• First seven measures reflect Islamic concern and social reform zeal, not anti-Hindu.
• Last measure directly impacted Hindus.

Diwali and Holi Celebrations:

• Aurangzeb's instruction in 1665 aimed to limit Diwali and Holi celebrations in Ahmedabad.
• Holi Ban: Concerned about obscene speech and aggressive bonfire practices.
• Jadunath Sarkar's View: Considers Holi regulation a police measure and Diwali restriction an act of bigotry.

Muharram Processions Ban:

• Aurangzeb's order to stop Muharram processions in all provinces.
• Ban was a police regulation following a violent clash between rival processions.
• Unlike the Diwali and Holi restrictions, the Muharram ban was province-wide.

Overall Assessment:

• First seven measures reflect Aurangzeb's Islamic commitment and social reform efforts.
• None are specifically anti-Hindu.
• Only the last measure directly affects Hindus.

Ordinances Issued by the Mughal Empire Against Hindus

Demolition of Hindu Temples: 

• Shah Jahan targeted newly built Hindu temples, but his actions were limited to the Banaras region. In contrast, Aurangzeb's orders applied throughout the empire, including a ban on repairing old temples.

Destruction of Temples: 

• In 1670, a farman ordered the demolition of temples in Orissa built within the last 10 to 12 years. Notable temples destroyed during Aurangzeb's reign included the Vishwanath temple in Banaras, the Keshav Rai temple in Mathura, and the "second temple of Somnath."

Re-imposition of Jiziya: 

• A tax reintroduced by Aurangzeb in 1679, which had been abolished by Akbar. Historians debate its motivations; some see it as bigotry, while others link it to political crises in the Deccan or financial issues.

Custom Duty Discrimination: 

• In 1655, orders were issued requiring Hindus to pay 5% custom duty on goods, compared to 2.5% for Muslim merchants. This policy seemed to promote trade among Muslims, who relied heavily on state support.

Employment Discrimination: 

• A farman in 1671 mandated that revenue collectors of khalisa land must be Muslims, with Hindus allowed only in certain departments and limited to half the number of Muslims.

Contradictory Policies: 

• Aurangzeb, despite his intolerance, appointed many non-Muslim officers in the state bureaucracy and maintained a higher percentage of Hindus in the mansab system compared to his predecessors. Some Hindus held high positions, and two were appointed governors.

Grants for Temple Maintenance: 

• Aurangzeb, while destroying places of worship, also issued grants for the maintenance of temples and priests.

Puritanical Measures: 

• Aurangzeb implemented several puritanical measures, some of which were economically and socially motivated, aimed at instilling austerity and banning practices against Islamic principles.

Financial Crisis: 

• Aurangzeb faced a financial crisis post-civil war, with years of scanty rainfall and crop failures. Despite this, he forbade illegal transit duties and cesses and retrenched expenses for the emperor, princes, and Begums.

Political Nature of Jiziya: 

• Satish Chandra argues that the reimposition of Jiziya was both political and ideological, meant to rally Muslims against the Marathas, Rajputs, and Deccan states.

Psycho-Somatic Explanation: 

• Aurangzeb's actions may stem from guilt over fratricide and imprisoning his father, leading to remorse and penitence, not solely puritanical motives.

Complex Policies: 

• Aurangzeb's policies were influenced by various economic, political, moral, and psychological factors, making it inaccurate to attribute them solely to his puritanical mindset.