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Yusuf A Ahmad Ansari یوسف انصاری Profile picture
@yusufpore
Mar 3, 2023 • 9 tweets • 7 min read • Read on X
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Today marks the 316th death-anniversary of Badshāh Muhi-ud Dīn Muhammad #Aurangzeb Alamgīr (R.A.).
His long reign (1658-1707) consolidated the largest and wealthiest land-empire in Indian #history and was arguably the most socially-diverse dispensation to ever rule #India.
Even critics of Aurangzeb (R.A.), such as the historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar concede, "Aurangzeb’s Indian empire was vaster than that of Ashoka, Samudragupta, & Harshavardhan”.
@Timurid_Mughal.

It was in his reign too that #Ladakh was amalgamated into the #Mughal empire.f
The reign of Aurangzeb (R.A.) was based on 3 pillars:

1. Military expansion.
2. Islamic jurisprudence and a centralised justice system.
3. Adherence to his Indo-Timurid heritage.

This helped consolidate his empire, but it also depended on his persona for sustained success.
His administration saw the widest reflection of social, religious and ethnic diversity - perhaps of any dispensation in Indian history - with a composition of 31.6% non-Muslims in what was an Islamic empire.

Source:
“The Mughal Nobility Under Aurangzeb”. Prof. M Athar Ali, 1966.
The Emperor Aurangzeb was as accomplished a man of letters as he was a warrior in the battle-field and has left behind a vast and rich corpus of literature in his own words; most notably the Ruka’at-i-Alamgiri, a collection of his letters to his sons, grandsons and noblemen.
The duties of a ruler, according to the Emperor Aurangzeb (R.A.).
This excerpt also illustrates the extent to which the Emperor kept himself abreast of the smallest details about the state of the empire.

Letter to his son Prince Muhammad Āzam Shah Bahādur.

Ruka’at-i-Alamgiri
The religious curriculum he inspired reached every corner of the Indian sub-continent, and continues to inform the academic syllabus of many institutions across South and South-east Asia, even today. The Fatawa’-i-Alamgīri is considered a great source for Islamic jurisprudence.
“The time of permanency passes away like the wind in the desert. Misery and happiness, beauty and ugliness, pass away. Everything in the world perishes...”

Emperor #Aurangzeb in a letter to his grandson, Bidār Bakht.
Ruqa’āt-i-Alamgiri, Letter LXXIX
For those interested in learning more about the fascinating life and rule of this extraordinary ruler, the following is recommended as an introductory bibliography.

#History #Mughals #Aurangzeb
#AurangzebTheGreat #Alamgir

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More from @yusufpore

Yusuf A Ahmad Ansari یوسف انصاری Profile picture
Aug 19, 2023
I came across a copy of this personal letter during morning research exercises, written by Shahzada Aurangzeb (RA), to Mirza Rāja Jai Singh of Amber.
The date corresponds with late July, 1654 - therefore almost exactly four years before the Mughal War of Succession, of 1658.

Although a seemingly innocuous document, it highlights some interesting themes.
The letter accompanied two imperial guns (likely matchlocks), sent as a gift to the Mirza Rāja; “do qabzeh bandooq awwal ināyat namoōdeh’em”*

This demonstrates two things. The first is an aspect of Mughal - Rājput relations, namely the exchange of appropriate gifts between Imperial notables (note that at the time of writing this Aurangzeb RA was only a prince, Shah Jehan’s third-born son). In this case “bandooq-awwal” means a premium/top-ranking category of weapon.
Accompanying the guns is a “Jamdhar-e khaas” (special dagger) that is also mentioned.
The second aspect is Aurangzeb’s (RA), cultivation of important nobles and generals of the Mughal Empire, early on in his career.
While Dāra Shikoh, Shah Jehan’s heir-presumptive was notably arrogant, and renowned for his intemperate (even obnoxious) behaviour towards Mughal noblemen, Aurangzeb (RA), formed much closer bonds with them, as well as with common soldiery. This was apparent through his hands-on, field-focused work ethic, whether in camp or on campaigns.
That he supplemented an already garnered respect on the field of battle with additional gifts shows foresight, tact and diplomacy. An aspect that would serve him well in the War of Succession, in 1658.
Read 4 tweets
Yusuf A Ahmad Ansari یوسف انصاری Profile picture
Aug 1, 2023
The entire narrative of attacks on pilgrims in Mewat yesterday, is a fiction and fabrication spun by RSS affiliates; the VHP, Bajrang Dal, Godi Media and social-media influencers to draw attention away from #Manipur, as well as from the ongoing opposition to the BJP government by… https://t.co/CCVWv4dbFftwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Before getting into details that blow the whole myth of #Muslim aggression in #Mewat, please see this video and do share and circulate it. It is an important exposé to connect the dots for what occurred, using footage engineered by #Hindutva foot-soldiers themselves.
The Braj-Mandal yātra or Vraja-Parikramā is an annual affair that has historically passed through #Nuh peacefully. The difference this time was it was hijacked and infiltrated by criminal and lumpen, vigilante elements of the Bajrang Dal and VHP, who prepared for disruption… https://t.co/i9iem5xabUtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Read 11 tweets
Yusuf A Ahmad Ansari یوسف انصاری Profile picture
Aug 20, 2022
In the post-truth age, when the study of history faces stiff competition from a reckless #Mythistory, and facts are not even referred to, students and scholars must counter this trend more strongly than before.
“Islamic invasion of India, The Biggest Hoax in History”.
A thread. Image
The Indian sub-continent faced multiple invasions and incursions since recorded history began - likely before as well. Aryans, Huns, Scythians, Bactrians, Greeks, Kushans et alia, all made their way into what now encapsulates the geographical boundaries of India, over millenia. ImageImage
As such, there is no singular event, episode or arrival that may be defined as “The Islamic Invasion of India”, in historical terms. From at least the 13th century onwards, military competition for political domination was primarily between Islamicate dispensations themselves. Image
Read 16 tweets
Yusuf A Ahmad Ansari یوسف انصاری Profile picture
May 13, 2022
One obsessive fantasy common to all Sangh acolytes is their belief that Indian Muslims are entirely converted from Hinduism.
This fallacy - apart from being an obvious physical impossibility - is at odds with another myth; that Muslim upper-classes discouraged conversion to…



…protect their own (religion based) social status.
Both views are historically incorrect, and the belief that the millions of Muslims who mass-migrated to the Indian Sub-continent from outside, between the 8th and 18th centuries simply disappeared, is beyond-the-pale-ridiculous.
The advent of Islam in the north of the Indian Sub-continent is properly dated to 712 AD, through the conquest of Sindh by the 17 year old Arab general, Mohammad bin Qasim. His army and followers numbering some 15,000 (largely Arab) individuals, established a colony in Multan…
Read 18 tweets

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