Aurangzeb emerged as the successor after a violent power struggle in which he killed his brothers and imprisoned his father. During his long fifty year reign' the Mughal empire began declining, and despite his devotion to duty he could not prevent its fall.
Aurangzeb was a zealous Muslim. He implemented religious and administrative policies influenced largely by his religious leanings than by what was perhaps more appropriate for the situation. His love for his religion tended to get a bit extreme, and his efforts to spread the religion in India were often violent and militant. Aurangzeb was a completely different emperor then any of his predecessors had been. He was given to an austere and simple life. Aurangzeb brought several changes to the set up. He discontinued the practice of Jharoka-darshan followed by the earlier Mughals, in which the emperor would come out into the balcony of his palace every morning to receive the salute from his citizens. He also dismissed the court musicians and banned music, a ban that had limited effect. He prohibited the sale of alcohol and other artificial intoxicants. He also set up a department to look after public morals and make sure the people were living in strict accordance of the moral code from the holy books. Aurangzeb had hence moved towards a simple life, one that was perhaps unconventional for an emperor of such a vast dominion.
Aurangzeb's policies were immediately opposed by a vast section of the public. Soon large parts of the empire rebelled. Aurangzeb while maintaining high moral standards in his life, failed as a ruler. He failed to realize that the greatness of the empire lay in the support of its subjects. The Mughal empire had been built on a foundation of religious tolerance and just rule. Aurangzeb unfortunately however tried to impose by force his ideas and beliefs on the people of his empire, a fatal mistake that would irreparably damage the empire. In the final years of his reign, Aurangzeb saw before him the gradual destruction of his empire and the disastrous times that lay ahead. He realized that he had committed many mistakes and urged his sons to undo his mistakes and restore the Mughal empire to its earlier glory, a plea they ignored. Finally he died in 1707, and was buried in a very simple tomb in Daultabad. The rule of the puritan emperor, was unfortunately the biggest disaster of the Mughal empire.
Aurangzeb emerged as the successor after a violent power struggle in which he killed his brothers and imprisoned his father. During his long fifty year reign' the Mughal empire began declining, and despite his devotion to duty he could not prevent its fall.
Aurangzeb was a zealous Muslim. He implemented religious and administrative policies influenced largely by his religious leanings than by what was perhaps more appropriate for the situation. His love for his religion tended to get a bit extreme, and his efforts to spread the religion in India were often violent and militant. Aurangzeb was a completely different emperor then any of his predecessors had been. He was given to an austere and simple life. Aurangzeb brought several changes to the set up. He discontinued the practice of Jharoka-darshan followed by the earlier Mughals, in which the emperor would come out into the balcony of his palace every morning to receive the salute from his citizens. He also dismissed the court musicians and banned music, a ban that had limited effect. He prohibited the sale of alcohol and other artificial intoxicants. He also set up a department to look after public morals and make sure the people were living in strict accordance of the moral code from the holy books. Aurangzeb had hence moved towards a simple life, one that was perhaps unconventional for an emperor of such a vast dominion.
Aurangzeb's policies were immediately opposed by a vast section of the public. Soon large parts of the empire rebelled. Aurangzeb while maintaining high moral standards in his life, failed as a ruler. He failed to realize that the greatness of the empire lay in the support of its subjects. The Mughal empire had been built on a foundation of religious tolerance and just rule. Aurangzeb unfortunately however tried to impose by force his ideas and beliefs on the people of his empire, a fatal mistake that would irreparably damage the empire. In the final years of his reign, Aurangzeb saw before him the gradual destruction of his empire and the disastrous times that lay ahead. He realized that he had committed many mistakes and urged his sons to undo his mistakes and restore the Mughal empire to its earlier glory, a plea they ignored. Finally he died in 1707, and was buried in a very simple tomb in Daultabad. The rule of the puritan emperor, was unfortunately the biggest disaster of the Mughal empire.
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