An English translation of the Adab-i-'Alamgiri, the period before the war of succession : being the letters of Prince Muhammad Aurangzib Bahadur to Muhammad Shihabu 'd-din Shah Jahan Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani, Emperor of Hindustan

Abstract

This thesis, the first part of a projected English translation of the whole of the Adab-i-1Alamgiri, contains the letters written by Prince Aurangzib to his father Shah Jahan between the middle of 1650, when he was viceroy of Multan, and the beginning of 1656, when he began his campaign against Golconda. The translation is preceded by a brief introduction sketching the early life and character of Aurangzib, the style in which the letters are written and the reason for its adoption, and a short view of the prevailing and contradictory opinions upon Aurangzib. His religious policy when Emperor is briefly referred to; but with the conclusion that the Adab-i-1Alamgiri offers no direct evidence that he had framed any part of it in his mind while yet Prince. Indeed, no sign of any particular Islamic piety can be seen in the letters, and the structure of the state set up by Akbar seems to enjoy Aurangzib's entire support. Its external incidents are accepted by Aurangzib with equanimity, and apparent enthusiasm; even those which some modern orthodox claim to be abhorrent to Islam. The value of the letters lies in two main fields; illustration and explanation of narrative history, and elucidation of details of administration and management of the Mughul empire, and the careers and character of its officers. The great but wasted effort to recapture Qandahar in 1652; the embellishment of the palace at Shahjahanabad, and the repair and maintenance of the "luminous tomb" of Mumtaz Mahal at Agra; the entire reconstruction of the assessment of the revenue of the Mughul Deccan; the enticement of Mir Jumla to leave his hazardous hopes of further greatness in Golconda, and perhaps independent dominion, and accept the Mughul service; these are the most interesting subjects of the letters. But almost no letter is without other lesser details, and these, too, can be of the first importance. Each letter is introduced by a note, setting out the theme, and commenting generally. Full notes are provided to the translation, containing textual criticism, comments or explanations relating to particular words, topographical elucidations, biographical material upon the men mentioned, references to contemporary documents wherever possible, and remakrs upon the importance of the leading events. Because the notes are so copious, the introduction is brief and general. The bibliography is select, confined only to books actually consulted. Those of consequence in the understanding of the leading schools of thought upon Aurangzib have been discussed in the introduction. There is a full table of contents; a note on chronology; and an annotated table of the dates on which the letters were written.