During the reign of Aurangzeb (1658–1707), several popular revolts erupted across the Mughal Empire. These revolts were caused by various factors, including Aurangzeb’s religious policies, excessive taxation, military campaigns, and attempts to centralize power. His reign marked a significant departure from the policies of his predecessors, especially in terms of religious tolerance and administration, leading to widespread discontent among various communities.
Major Causes of the Revolts
- Religious Orthodoxy:
- Aurangzeb pursued a policy of religious conservatism, re-imposing the jizya tax on non-Muslims in 1679, banning certain Hindu practices, and destroying Hindu temples. These policies alienated the empire’s large Hindu population and other religious communities, such as the Sikhs and Jains.
- His decision to implement Sharia law in a multicultural empire with significant Hindu, Sikh, and Jain populations led to resentment.
- Centralization of Power:
- Aurangzeb sought to impose more direct control over regional rulers and elites, particularly in Rajputana, Deccan, and the Punjab. His attempt to bring the powerful Rajputs under greater Mughal control, for example, led to a major rebellion.
- Heavy Taxation:
- To fund his military campaigns, particularly in the Deccan and against the Marathas, Aurangzeb imposed heavy taxes, including agricultural taxes on peasants. This burden, combined with the destruction of local economies by constant warfare, provoked numerous uprisings.
- Prolonged Military Campaigns:
- Aurangzeb’s focus on expanding Mughal control in the Deccan, his wars with the Marathas, and campaigns against the Sikhs and other groups consumed massive resources, leading to rebellion in various parts of the empire.
Major Revolts during Aurangzeb’s Reign
1. Rajput Rebellion (1679–1681)
- Background:
- Aurangzeb’s relationship with the Rajputs deteriorated when he annexed the kingdom of Marwar after the death of Raja Jaswant Singh in 1678. Instead of recognizing Jaswant Singh’s posthumous son, Ajit Singh, Aurangzeb attempted to bring Marwar under direct Mughal control.
- Key Events:
- This led to a rebellion in Marwar led by Durgadas Rathore, a loyal Rajput commander, who resisted Mughal control and defended Ajit Singh’s claim to the throne.
- The rebellion spread to Mewar, where Rana Raj Singh of Mewar also opposed Aurangzeb’s policies.
- The Mughals launched several military campaigns to crush the rebellion, but the Rajputs, using their superior knowledge of local terrain and guerrilla tactics, managed to hold their ground.
- Significance:
- The rebellion weakened Mughal authority in Rajasthan. Aurangzeb was forced to recognize Ajit Singh as the ruler of Marwar in 1681, although the Rajputs were required to acknowledge Mughal suzerainty.
2. Maratha Rebellion (1670–1707)
- Background:
- The Marathas were one of the fiercest opponents of Aurangzeb’s rule. Under their leader Shivaji Bhonsle, they had been challenging Mughal dominance in the Deccan for decades. Shivaji declared himself an independent ruler in 1674 after years of guerrilla warfare against Mughal forces.
- After Shivaji’s death in 1680, his son Sambhaji continued to resist Mughal control.
- Key Events:
- Aurangzeb personally led a massive campaign in the Deccan in 1681, hoping to crush the Maratha resistance. Despite capturing and executing Sambhaji in 1689, the Marathas continued to resist Mughal rule under Rajaram, Shivaji’s younger son, and later Tara Bai, Rajaram’s widow.
- The Marathas used guerrilla warfare, striking Mughal supply lines and evading the emperor’s forces, making it difficult for the Mughals to secure lasting control over the Deccan.
- Significance:
- Aurangzeb spent the last 25 years of his life in the Deccan, draining the empire’s resources in an ultimately futile effort to subdue the Marathas. By the time of his death, the Marathas had recaptured most of their territories and emerged as a dominant force in Indian politics.
3. Sikh Revolt (1675–1708)
- Background:
- The Sikhs had long been discontented with Mughal rule, especially after the execution of their ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, in 1675 by Aurangzeb, for opposing the forced conversion of Hindus in Kashmir.
- Key Events:
- The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, took up arms against the Mughal Empire. In 1699, he established the Khalsa, a militarized community of Sikh warriors dedicated to resisting Mughal oppression.
- The Sikhs waged a guerrilla war against Mughal forces, especially in the Punjab, frequently clashing with Aurangzeb’s armies. Though the Sikhs faced significant repression, they managed to maintain their resistance.
- Significance:
- The Sikhs emerged as a formidable military force, and their resistance continued after Aurangzeb’s death, culminating in the rise of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.
4. Jat Rebellion (1669–1691)
- Background:
- The Jats were a community of peasants and landowners in the Agra and Mathura regions. They were angered by Mughal taxation policies and Aurangzeb’s temple-destroying campaigns, particularly the destruction of the Keshav Rai Temple in Mathura.
- Key Events:
- The Jat rebellion was initially led by Gokula, a local Jat leader, who organized raids on Mughal officials and supply lines in 1669. Although Gokula was defeated and killed, the rebellion did not die out.
- In 1685, another Jat leader, Raja Ram, rose to prominence. He led successful guerrilla raids on Mughal fortifications and established a base of operations in Bharatpur.
- Significance:
- The Jats were able to establish an independent state in Bharatpur, which remained a significant regional power in northern India into the 18th century. The rebellion illustrated the growing challenge that rural communities posed to centralized Mughal rule.
5. Satnami Rebellion (1672)
- Background:
- The Satnamis were a religious sect composed mainly of peasants and artisans, primarily from the region of Narnaul (modern-day Haryana). They followed a strict monotheistic belief system and were opposed to caste discrimination and Mughal exploitation.
- Key Events:
- In 1672, a conflict between a Satnami farmer and a Mughal soldier escalated into a full-scale rebellion. The Satnamis seized control of local towns, attacked Mughal officials, and raised an army of nearly 10,000 peasants.
- Aurangzeb sent a large Mughal force to suppress the rebellion. Despite their bravery and numbers, the Satnamis were defeated and their rebellion brutally crushed.
- Significance:
- Although short-lived, the Satnami rebellion reflected the growing anger of the peasantry under Mughal rule. It also revealed the potential for religious movements to mobilize popular resistance against the state.
6. Revolt of the Bundelas (1671–1681)
- Background:
- The Bundelas were a warrior community from the Bundelkhand region in central India. Their leader, Chhatrasal, rose in rebellion against Mughal rule due to excessive taxation and Mughal attempts to interfere in Bundela affairs.
- Key Events:
- Chhatrasal declared independence from the Mughal Empire in 1671 and engaged in guerrilla warfare against Mughal forces. Despite several attempts by Aurangzeb to defeat him, Chhatrasal successfully held out in the rugged terrain of Bundelkhand.
- He continued to lead a resistance movement against the Mughals for decades, and by the time of Aurangzeb’s death, Bundelkhand had effectively gained autonomy.
- Significance:
- Chhatrasal’s rebellion inspired later resistance movements against the Mughal Empire and helped establish the Bundela as a regional power in central India.
Conclusion
Aurangzeb’s reign was marked by numerous revolts and uprisings, which significantly weakened the Mughal Empire. His religious orthodoxy, heavy taxation, and aggressive territorial expansion alienated many groups, leading to sustained resistance from the Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, and others. These revolts drained the empire’s resources and military strength, contributing to the eventual decline of Mughal authority after Aurangzeb’s death in 1707.
