Context:
Maharashtra tense over call to raze tomb of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb:
- Called as – Aurangzeb Alamgir, meaning “World Conqueror.”
- Reign – 1658–1707, one of the longest-reigning Mughal emperors.
- War of Succession – Ascended the throne after defeating his brother Dara Shukoh
- Religious Policies –
- Advocated strict adherence to Islamic law.
- Reimposed the Jizya tax on non-Muslims, which had been abolished by Akbar.
- Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Sikh Guru) and suppressed other religious groups, leading to resistance from Sikhs, Jats, and Marathas.
- Administrative Policies –
- Focused on consolidating power, leading to administrative inefficiencies.
- Continued the Mansabdari system but faced challenges due to the Jagirdari crisis.
- Engaged in prolonged wars, especially in the Deccan, which drained the empire’s resources.
- His Deccan Policy, led to the annexation of Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687) Sultanates.
- But faced fierce opposition from Shivaji and later Maratha leaders, which diverted resources and weakened the empire.
- Art and Architecture – Minimal patronage compared to predecessors
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to the album and individual portraits?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) Humayun
(b) Akbar
(c) Jahangir
(d) Shah Jahan
Answer: (c)