If Aurangzeb was so ferocious a communalist, why is it, some historians have asked, that the number of Hindus employed in positions of eminence under Aurangzeb's reign rose from 24.5% in the time of his father Shah Jahan to 33% in the fourth decade of his own rule? They suggest, moreover, that Aurangzeb did not indiscriminately destroy Hindu temples, as he is commonly believed to have done so, and that he directed the destruction of temples only when faced with insurgency. This was almost certainly the case with the Keshava Rai temple in the Mathura region, where the Jats rose in rebellion; and yet even this policy of reprisal may have been modified, as Hindu temples in the Deccan were seldom destroyed. The image of Aurangzeb as an idol-breaker may not withstand scrutiny, since there is evidence to show that, like his predecessors, he continued to confer land grants (jagirs) upon Hindu temples, such as the Someshwar Nath Mahadev temple in Allahabad, Jangum Badi Shiva temple in Banaras, Umanand temple in Gauhati, and numerous others.
Much has been made of Aurangzeb's reimposition of the poll tax (jizya, or jizyah) on Hindus. However, as the text of the fatwa, which is seldom read, indicates, an exemption was provided for various classes of people, such as those who were indigent, without employment, unable to work on account of poor health, and so on. Moreover, the fatwa clearly shows that the amount was, far from being uniform, fixed according to a person's ability to pay.
Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 05:29 PM Permalink
Much has been made of Aurangzeb's reimposition of the poll tax (jizya, or jizyah) on Hindus. However, as the text of the fatwa, which is seldom read, indicates, an exemption was provided for various classes of people, such as those who were indigent, without employment, unable to work on account of poor health, and so on. Moreover, the fatwa clearly shows that the amount was, far from being uniform, fixed according to a person's ability to pay.
Re: Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 05:33 PM Permalink
If Aurangzeb sought to convert members of important Hindu families to Islam, all the more to ensure the preservation of his empire, why should that serve as a basis for the presumption that a wholesale conversion of Hindus was a matter of state policy? By what method of transference is it possible to construe that conflicts among the ruling elite are conflicts at the broader social level?
Gautier Says that He was Ruthlessly Efficent!!! Thats the reason We in India are a Majority with 87%???
Whereas it is very well known in the History Circle the role of Sufi Saints in Spreading Islam in India.
People like Gautier supported by VHP are out there to destroy Indias Social Fabric for which we are known. The Europeans praise us thinking we are a pluralistic Society! Ha..
Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 05:44 PM Permalink
Aurangzeb's Fatwa on Jizya [Jizyah, or Poll Tax]
Much has been made of Aurangzeb's reimposition of the poll tax (jizya, or jizyah) on Hindus. However, as the text of the fatwa, which is seldom read, indicates, an exemption was provided for various classes of people, such as those who were indigent, without employment, unable to work on account of poor health, and so on. Moreover, the fatwa clearly shows that the amount was, far from being uniform, fixed according to a person's ability to pay. The statement that the jizyah was imposed as well on "the people of the Book" -- here doubtless a reference to Christians and Jews -- is particularly significant, since it suggests that there was no animus directed particularly against the Hindus. The translation below is by Anver Emon of the Department of History, UCLA.
Re: Re: Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 05:47 PM Permalink
It is mentioned in al-Idah that if a dhimmi is ill for the entire year such that he cannot work and he is well off, he is not obligated to pay the jizyah, and likewise if he is sick for half of the year or more. If he quits his work while having the capacity [to work] he [is still liable] as one gainfully employed, as is [stated in] al-Nihayah. The jizyah accrues, in our opinion, at the beginning of the year, and it is imposed on the People of the Book (whether they are Arab, non-Arab, or Majians) and idol worshippers (‘abdat al-awthan) from among the non-Arabs, as in al-Kafi...
Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 05:56 PM Permalink
Another very Important point that needs to be known is that If a non-muslim served in the mughal army, his family was exempted from paying taxes and the similer to non-muslims muslims had to pay much higher level of tax in the form of Zakat!
Jadunath sarkar also states in his book that it is often talked about his imposition of Jizya but he is never given credit for the abolishment of 65 other kinds of taxes that before the mughal rule Hindu Kings used to extract from their subjects. It is a well known fact of history that the local population felt much relieved after abolishment of such taxes and redily paid it according to their ability baring few nobility who had lost their power and prestige they had prior to the mughal rule in India.
It is well established that the Islamic laws were later codified into English & French law which is the source for our own law. It has been challenged that if a study of English and Islamic law is undertaken, it can be conclusively proved that much of the english law that we have today including the declaration on Human Rights can be traced back to Islamic Law. The first edict on Human Rights was issued by an Ottaman Turk Prince!- A Sunni Islam follower Mr Gautier for your kind information :)
Re: Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by kanakadurga murali on Sep 16, 2008 06:18 PM Permalink
He reinstated Islamic lunar calendar. He enforced laws against gambling and drinking.
He abolished taxes on commodities and inland transport duties.
He forbade the practice of Emperor being weighed in gold and silver on birthdays.
Aurangzeb did not draw salary from state treasury but earned his own living by selling caps he sewed and selling copies of the Quran he copied by hand.
Re: Re: Hate Campaign Against a Community will Split India
by Sharib Akhtar on Dec 24, 2010 03:44 PM Permalink
Hello Mr. Murali, Your statements were an eye opener and I appreciate the research you have done before copilng these facts. As you already mentioned that not all may be true and I completely concur with that but trust me that even I read Fayrad French historian books and had the similar viewpoints. Thanks once again. Sharib
