Aurangzeb Was Not a Brahmin Baiter
By Mohammad Yacoob
Los Angeles, CA
In 1954, A Short History of the Indian People by Tara Chand was the history textbook in High Schools in the state of Hyderabad-Deccan, formerly known as the Nizam State of Hyderabad. About Aurangzeb we read, “Aurangzeb, the third son, was undoubtedly the most capable of the sons of Shah Jahan. He had served in all the wars of the empire, and proved his capacity as a skilful general and a cool and brave warrior. He was a born leader of men and knew how to manage them. He was prudent, hard-working and resourceful. As an administrator his ability was great, and as a diplomat he was unrivalled. Unfortunately, his relations with his father had never been cordial. He was given the hardest tasks, yet received grudging support in accomplishing them. He was constantly censured and always suspected.” (A Short History of the Indian People by Tara Chand; The MacMillan Co. of India Limited, 1950)
This history book gives details of Aurangzeb’s ability to undertake the difficult and heavy responsibility of ruling the vast dominion of the Mughal Empire in Hindustan. The noblemen of the empire, whether Muslim or Hindu, recognized this fact and provided him with needed support. He inherited the Mughal Administration that was beset with extravagance, bad financial policy, and breaking down under its own weight.
After Independence in 1947, we started hearing more and more negative stories and myths about Aurangzeb that were being presented in the garb of historical facts. In 1992, I was visiting my hometown Hyderabad-Deccan and met Mr K.M. Arifuddin, a Muslim leader and an administrator, who was greatly interested in the education of the next generation of Muslims in India.
Under the leadership of K.M. Arifuddin, the administrator of the Madina Group of Institutions, Hyderabad, The Madina Education Center of Hyderabad-Deccan, (now) Telangana, invited Sri BishambharNathPande, former member of Indian Parliament and a former Governor of the State of Orissa, to deliver Mir Osman Ali Khan Memorial lecture on the occasion of the Republic Day in 1992. I had the honor of meeting Governor Sri BishambharNathPande during the last week of January 1992 and also attended the lectures by the Governor Sahib.
Governor Sri BishambharNathPande delivered a lecture on Aurangzeb, in the Jawaharlal Nehru Hall, at the Madina Education Center, Hyderabad, on January 25, 1992. I was shocked to hear his speech, in fact, I was stunned by it. In his speech, Governor Sahib gave details of his confrontation with the historian, who had told lies about Aurangzeb in his articles and wrote fabricated tales about him.
I forgot the name of the writer who wrote lies about Aurangzeb until I saw the article by Dr S. Ausaf Saied Vasfi in Radiance in September 2017.
“The erstwhile Governor of Orissa and Member of Rajya Sabha, the late Mr B.N. Pandey was doing research on Aurangzeb Aalamgir in 1928, and came across a line: Three thousand Brahmins committed suicide because Aurangzeb forcibly wanted them to embrace Islam. Mahamahopadhyaya, DrHaraprasadShastri, Head of the Department of Bengali and Sanskrit in Calcutta University, was its author. Dr Pandey asked him to inform him of the source of information on the subject. After two reminders he wrote that he had taken the information from the Mysore Gazette. Dr Pandey then wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor of the Calcutta University and requested him to inform him on the subject. Prof. Shri Kantiya, who was compiling the Gazette of Mysore, in turn, informed Dr Pandey that no such incident took place.(Aurangzeb: The Brahmin Baiter, Dr. S. Ausaf Saied Vasfi, Radiance, 3-9 September 2017)
I would like to express my profound thanks to Radiance for publishing DrVasfi' article. The article not only made me remember the name of this fake story writer but also informed the whole of India that falsification of historical facts and interjecting fabricated stories about Aurangzeb will not be allowed to become a cottage industry in India. Thank you for standing for truth and justice, and providing a chance to the Indian people to become aware of people who are bent on destroying the harmony among Hindus and Muslims in India. Radiance is not only educating Indians but also continuing to confront those who have vast knowledge of pure ignorance and are spreading their ignorance and lies throughout India.
Governor BishambharNathPande came on the side of the truth and historical facts. The historian, who wrote false tales about Aurangzeb, did not have any answers and Sri BishambharNathPande sahib proved that the historian had fabricated the tale and was lying about Aurangzeb to instigate Hindus to hate Muslims, and in the process, destroy the harmony between the two. I found Governor Sri BishambharNathPande to be a very courageous man, a true leader and human being of high moral character, when I listened to his speech in January 1992. I learned from his speech that the members of the royal family of Shah Jehan, who had been living a life of luxury during his reign, spread rumors about Aurangzeb and branded him as a very oppressive man. Even the Nawabs, Rajas and other noblemen who were deprived of their luxuries and status by Aurangzeb were leveling the same accusations at him.
Governor BishambharNathPande talked about temples and false tales associated with Aurangzeb about destroying the temples. Governor sahib also gave examples of Aurangzeb giving grants to temples. He also related a story of the Rani of Kutch whose honor was violated, and the action taken by Aurangzeb.
India needs more people like Governor Sri BishambharNathPande.
(Mohammad Yacoob is a retired industrial engineer and engineering proposals analyst who lives in Los Angeles, California)
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