Aurangzeb’s rebellion, murder of brothers and decisions to imprison his father gave rise to many stories.
Prisoner father Shahjahan was warning Aurangzeb that in future his sons would also behave similarly with him. In response, Aurangzeb reminded his father of his misdeeds. Remember how you removed your brothers Khusro and Parvez? How innocent little princes and Dawar Baksh and Shahryar were murdered! We sent the severed head of Bhaijaan Jiyu as a proof so that you can believe that how well we learned what you taught us through your actions for the throne and succeeded. On the other hand, sister Jahanara was writing that the ten percent animal that resides within the Mughal princes would one day become the cause of doom for their rule. Read stories related to Aurangzeb.
Despite Dara’s favor, Aurangzeb did not develop enmity with his elder sister Jahanara. He was allowed to live with him in Agra Fort to serve his prisoner father Shahjahan. Told that father is a prisoner – not you. This behavior of Aurangzeb was shocking for Jahanara. Many servants like Gulchira, Fida, Shakeela, Dildar, Mahtab, Rehan etc. were present to take care of Shahjahan in captivity. But the company of his daughter was giving some relief to Shahjahan. On the other hand, Jahanara was spending her time reading and writing and finding the reasons for the bloody struggle for the throne along with giving solace and encouragement to her father.
She was saddened by Aurangzeb’s rebellion, murder of her brothers and decisions to imprison her father. But at the same time she was remembering that before becoming the emperor, Jahangir rebelled against his father Akbar. Shahjahan did the same thing with his father Jahangir. That means every next generation is following the path of their ancestors. He wrote whether this is the result of karma prevalent among Hindus?
Why did Aurangzeb win?
Why did Dara lose and Aurangzeb win? According to Jahanara, unlike Dara, Aurangzeb never remained in dilemma regarding any issue. He did not consider anything illegitimate in the fight for the throne. Didn’t care about relationships with those blocking his way. There was no leniency with him. Every next move was careful. Despite being under the support of Dara, Jahanara was now convinced of Aurangzeb’s qualities. However, the pain of Dara being brutally killed was making him restless.
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Jahanara wrote with anger, “How does one kill one’s own brother? It would have been a different matter if one had killed one’s enemy. One killed one’s brother so brutally and then sent the severed head on a golden platter to the father for torture. On the one hand, such a despicable act and then to justify it, was it appropriate to embarrass the father by reminding him of the treatment he had done to his brothers?”
That dreadful scene!
Shah Jahan was not the only one in shock after seeing Dara’s severed head in a saucer. Everyone present in Agra Fort had tears in their eyes. Words were not coming out of anyone’s mouth. Jahanara described that scene, “Everyone was gathered in the fort. But there was such restless silence. Everyone was exhausted. Neither the king was able to say anything. Nor were we able to console him. We remember. The entire harem was immersed in grief and the sounds of crying kept echoing. We remember that that day no one ate anything, no one ate anything.
Dara Shikoh.
In the letter that Aurangzeb sent along with the severed head of brother Dara, it was written that remember how you had removed elder brother Khusro and Parvez from the way? How innocent little princes and Dawar Baksh and Shahryar were murdered! We sent the severed head of Bhaijaan Jiyu (Dara) as a proof so that you can believe that how well we learned and succeeded in what you taught us through your actions to get the throne. “
Mughal emperor Shahjahan.
Mughal Sultanate through decline
Due to such activities, the future of the Mughal Sultanate was looking bleak to the distraught Jahanara. She was a Mughal princess. Obviously it was not very easy for him to write about the shortcomings of his family. But remembering the history of three generations of rebellion against Jahangir’s father Akbar, Shahjahan’s Jahangir and now Aurangzeb against Shahjahan and mercilessly shedding the blood of brothers for the throne, she was forced to write, “Is this the theory of destiny of Hindus? What Shahjahan has to suffer today, will Aurangzeb have to suffer the same tomorrow? Everyone is sowing their future.” Are.
Jahanara.
Heramb Chaturvedi, quoting Jahanara in his book “Jahanara – A dream, a reality” wrote, “This ten percent animal that resides inside the Mughal princes, will one day become the cause of doom for the Mughal government. We are understanding the fate of the Mughal government. Before the war of Mahabharata, the sermons of Gita should be preached from the mouth of Krishna to everyone. The reality was realized. Wow, you know so much knowledge. Still, if you forget it, you will have to face punishment.”
Seizing the throne: But condemned from all sides
Aurangzeb was on the throne after imprisoning his father and removing his brothers. There was no challenge for him. But due to his father’s overthrow and his imprisonment, the Islamic world was condemning him. Qazi-e-Mamalik refused to support Shahjahan’s coronation during his reign. As a result, Aurangzeb dismissed him and appointed Abdul Wahab to this post.
The Sharif of Mecca refused to accept Aurangzeb as the real emperor because of his ill-treatment towards his father and for many years the gifts sent by him were rejected. Safavid emperor Shah Suleiman wrote to him in a sharp letter, “By mistake you kept your Laqab (surname) as Alamgir. You do not know Alamgiri which controls the world but only Pidargiri which controls the father.” In response, Aurangzeb used to mention the decision to abolish many taxes as proof of his mercy. He also wrote to the Safavid emperor that Shahjahan himself handed over the rule to him. Aurangzeb never admitted that he had done anything wrong or misbehaved with his father.
Also read: Neither Jahangir stopped, nor Aurangzeb succeeded, how unsuccessful was the Mughal prohibition of liquor?
