Description

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Context

The controversy surrounding Aurangzeb tomb sheds light on his complex legacy, decline of Mughal Empire & broader socio-political tensions in India making it an important topic for historical & contemporary discourse.

Key Highlights

Aurangzeb is buried in Khuldabad, Maharashtra inside dargah complex of Sheikh Zainuddin 14^th century Chishti Sufi saint.

His tomb is remarkably simple following Islamic austerity unlike grand mausoleums of other Mughal emperors.

The tomb was built as per Aurangzeb own wishes reflecting his religious austerity & personal beliefs.

Unlike Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir & Shah Jahan who have lavish tombs built by their successors Aurangzeb grave is a plain open-air cenotaph with a marble screen added later by British Viceroy Lord Curzon.

His tomb is comparable only to Baburs in Kabul another Mughal ruler who preferred a simple burial.

Historians suggest that Mughal tombs were often built more as victory monuments for successors than as tributes to deceased.

Mughal Decline During Aurangzeb Rule:

Aurangzeb later years were marked by wars against Marathas, prolonged Deccan campaigns & increasing resistance from Rajputs & Sikhs.

His policies alienated many nobles & empire saw an agrarian crisis due to heavy taxation.

His empire was overstretched leading to financial & administrative breakdowns.

Known for orthodox Islamic policies including reimposition of jizya (tax on non-Muslims).

Ordered demolition of temples leading to lasting religious & political tensions.

Despite his strict Sunni beliefs his burial in a Sufi saint dargah suggests continued reverence for Sufi traditions.

Symbolism of Aurangzeb Grave:

Represents both his personal austerity & Mughal Empire decline.

Shows a paradox: he was a puritanical Sunni ruler buried in a Sufi shrine a sect often targeted by orthodox rulers.

His final letter to his son Prince Azam reflects his regrets & self-awareness of his failures in governance & war.

British Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered marble screen around his tomb seeing him as an important historical figure.

The British often used Aurangzeb legacy in colonial narratives portraying him as an oppressive ruler to justify their rule over India.

Aurangzeb legacy remains politically charged with debates over his role in Indian history & calls for removal of his tomb.

Hindutva movement often portrays him as a symbol of past oppression leading to demands for erasing his historical markers.

His tomb has become a site of ideological & communal tensions reflecting India ongoing debates over history & heritage.

Lessons from Aurangzeb Rule:

His overexpansion & religious intolerance contributed to gradual downfall of Mughal Empire.

The contrast between his personal simplicity & political ambitions highlights challenges of power, faith & governance.

The historical complexity of his rule serves as a reminder of need for balanced historical interpretation beyond modern political narratives.

Aurangzeb

Aspect	Details
Full Name	Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir
Birth	November 3, 1618, in Dahod, Gujarat, India
Death	March 3, 1707, in Bhingar, Maharashtra
Father	Shah Jahan
Mother	Mumtaz Mahal
Reign	1658-1707 (49 years)
Predecessor	Shah Jahan
Successor	Azam Shah (briefly), then Bahadur Shah I
Religious Beliefs	Strict Sunni Islam, promoted Islamic law (Sharia)
Major Policies	Reimposed Jizya tax, expanded Mughal rule to Deccan, demolished temples, censored music & arts
Conflict with Marathas	Fought prolonged wars against Shivaji & later Sambhaji, causing financial strain
Military Campaigns	Expanded Mughal Empire to its largest extent, but at great cost
Economic Policies	Heavy taxation, agrarian crisis, alienation of local rulers & zamindars
Architectural Patronage	Minimal compared to earlier Mughals; focused on functional buildings rather than grandeur
Final Years	Struggled against Marathas, Rajputs, Sikhs, & internal revolts; died a disappointed man
Legacy	Controversial - Seen as a devout but harsh ruler, contributing to & empire’s decline

Aurangzeb Tomb

Feature	Details
Location	Khuldabad, Maharashtra
Built-in	During Aurangzeb’s lifetime
Burial Site	Inside & Dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin, a 14th-century Chishti Sufi saint
Tomb Architecture	Simple open-air grave, unlike grand Mughal tombs
Material Used	Initially plain stone, later covered with white marble by British Viceroy Lord Curzon
Religious Aspect	Despite being a strict Sunni, buried in a Sufi shrine, showing contradictions in his faith
Comparison with Other Mughal Tombs	Unlike Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, & Shah Jahan’s grand tombs, his is plain & austere
British Influence	Lord Curzon added a marble screen to & grave in & early 20th century
Inscription	A verse from & Quran reflecting his humility
Symbolism	Represents his austere lifestyle, but also & Mughal Empire’s decline
Public Interest	Became a subject of political controversy in modern India due to its historical significance

Architectural Monuments Built by Aurangzeb

Monument	Location	Description
Bibi Ka Maqbara	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Often called "Mini Taj Mahal", built in memory of his wife, Dilras Banu Begum
Badshahi Mosque	Lahore, Pakistan	One of & largest mosques in & world, built in 1673
Moti Masjid (Red Fort, Delhi)	Delhi	A small, white marble mosque inside & Red Fort
Lalbagh Fort	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Unfinished fort complex, construction abandoned after his son’s death
Jama Masjid	Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh	Built as a symbol of Islamic faith
Quila Mubarak (Renovation)	Patiala, Punjab	Strengthened & fortification for military purposes
Shah Jahan Mosque (Renovation)	Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan	Expanded & added Persian-style tilework
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Bridge work)	Telangana	Ordered repairs on a dam built during & Kakatiya dynasty
Aurangabad City Fortifications	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Strengthened military outposts & roads

Major Monuments of & Mughal Empire

Monument	Location	Built By	Year	Significance
Humayun’s Tomb	Delhi	Akbar	1569-1571	First garden-tomb in India, inspired & Taj Mahal
Fatehpur Sikri	Uttar Pradesh	Akbar	1571-1585	Mughal capital for a short period, blend of Persian & Indian architecture
Buland Darwaza	Fatehpur Sikri, UP	Akbar	1576	Victory gate commemorating Akbar’s Gujarat conquest
Agra Fort	Agra, Uttar Pradesh	Akbar, later additions by Shah Jahan	1565-1573	A UNESCO World Heritage Site, major Mughal stronghold
Jama Masjid (Delhi)	Delhi	Shah Jahan	1650-1656	Largest mosque in India, example of Indo-Islamic architecture
Taj Mahal	Agra, Uttar Pradesh	Shah Jahan	1632-1653	Mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shalimar Gardens	Lahore, Pakistan	Shah Jahan	1641-1642	Persian-style gardens, UNESCO-listed
Moti Masjid (Red Fort)	Delhi	Aurangzeb	1659	Small, white marble mosque inside & Red Fort
Bibi Ka Maqbara	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Aurangzeb	1668-1669	Mini Taj Mahal, built for his wife, Dilras Banu Begum
Red Fort	Delhi	Shah Jahan	1638-1648	Mughal capital, famous for its massive walls & architecture
Badshahi Mosque	Lahore, Pakistan	Aurangzeb	1673	One of & largest mosques in & world
Jahangir’s Tomb	Lahore, Pakistan	Shah Jahan	1627-1637	Mausoleum of Emperor Jahangir, influenced by Persian styles
Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah	Agra, Uttar Pradesh	Nur Jahan (for her father)	1622-1628	Known as "Baby Taj", first fully marble Mughal tomb
Shah Jahan Mosque	Thatta, Pakistan	Shah Jahan	1647	Notable for its extensive tilework & Persian design
Safdarjung Tomb	Delhi	Mughal nobles	1754	Last grand Mughal tomb, inspired by Humayun’s Tomb

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Aurangzeb reign marked both territorial expansion & decline of Mughal Empire. Analyze how his policies influenced architectural legacy of Mughals. Compare his contributions to those of his predecessors in shaping Mughal architecture.