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The Truth About Aurangzeb.


Birbal2

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We need more debate on this topic... And the Romila Thappars of the world need to be CHALLENGED...with facts and evidence... I don't like the approach of many Hindutvavadis... where they EXAGGERATE the opposite view and paint Hindu history as totally benign and positive...it hurts the credibility of those who want a more balanced view of Indian History... This is also why it is CRUCIAL that India start either within IIM and IITs or separately something like the Indian Institute of Humanities (IIH) to promote the scholarly study of Humanities from an INDIAN perspective...not from an Oxford or Harvard persective..which is where the "Best" current research on Indian Humanities often occurs... Any way read on... The truth about Aurangzeb February 16, 2007 By Francois Gaulet FACT, the Trust which I head, is holding an exhibition on 'Aurangzeb as he was according to Mughal documents', from February 16 to 20 at New Delhi's Habitat Center, the Palm Court Gallery, from 10 am to 9 pm. Why an exhibition on Aurangzeb, some may ask. Firstly, I have been a close student of Indian history, and one of its most controversial figures has been Aurangzeb (1658-1707). It is true that under him the Mughal empire reached its zenith, but Aurangzeb was also a very cruel ruler � some might even say monstrous. What are the facts? Aurangzeb did not just build an isolated mosque on a destroyed temple, he ordered all temples destroyed, among them the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most sacred places of Hinduism, and had mosques built on a number of cleared temple sites. Other Hindu sacred places within his reach equally suffered destruction, with mosques built on them. A few examples: Krishna's birth temple in Mathura; the rebuilt Somnath temple on the coast of Gujarat; the Vishnu temple replaced with the Alamgir mosque now overlooking Benares; and the Treta-ka-Thakur temple in Ayodhya. The number of temples destroyed by Aurangzeb is counted in four, if not five figures. Aurangzeb did not stop at destroying temples, their users were also wiped out; even his own brother Dara Shikoh was executed for taking an interest in Hindu religion; Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded because he objected to Aurangzeb's forced conversions. Yet, Percival Spear, co-author with Romila Thapar of the prestigious A History of India (Penguin), writes: 'Aurangzeb's supposed intolerance is little more than a hostile legend based on isolated acts such as the erection of a mosque on a temple site in Benares.' L'histoire de l'Inde moderne (Fayard), the French equivalent of Percival Spear's history of India, praises Aurangzeb and says, 'He has been maligned by Hindu fundamentalists'. Even Indian politicians are ignorant of Aurangzeb's evil deeds. Nehru might have known about them, but for his own reasons he chose to keep quiet and instructed his historians to downplay Aurangzeb's destructive drive and instead praise him as a benefactor of arts. Since then six generations of Marxist historians have done the same and betrayed their allegiance to truth. Very few people know for instance that Aurangzeb banned any kind of music and that painters had to flee his wrath and take refuge with some of Rajasthan's friendly maharajahs. Thus, we thought we should get at the root of the matter. History (like journalism) is about documentation and first-hand experience. We decided to show Aurangzeb according to his own documents. There are an incredible number of farhans, original edicts of Aurangzeb hand-written in Persian, in India's museums, particularly in Rajasthan, such as the Bikaner archives. It was not always easy to scan them, we encountered resistance, sometimes downright hostility and we had to go once to the chief minister to get permission. Indeed, the director of Bikaner archives told us that in 50 years we were the first ones asking for the farhans dealing with Aurangzeb's destructive deeds. Then we asked painters from Rajasthan to reproduce in the ancient Mughal style some of the edicts: the destruction of Somnath temple; the trampling of Hindus protesting jaziya tax by Aurangzeb's elephants; or the order from Aurangzeb prohibiting Hindus to ride horses and palanquins; or the beheading of Teg Bahadur and Dara Shikoh. People might say: 'OK, this is all true, Aurangzeb was indeed a monster, but why rake up the past, when we have tensions between Muslims and Hindus today?' There are two reasons for this exhibition. The first is that no nation can move forward unless its children are taught to look squarely at their own history, the good and the bad, the evil and the pure. The French, for instance, have many dark periods in their history, more recently some of the deeds they did during colonisation in North Africa or how they collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War and handed over French Jews who died in concentration camps (the French are only now coming to terms with it). The argument that looking at one's history will pit a community against the other does not hold either: French Catholics and Protestants, who share a very similar religion, fought each other bitterly. Catholics brutally murdered thousands of Protestants in the 18th century; yet today they live peacefully next to each other. France fought three wars with Germany in the last 150 years, yet they are great friends today. Let Hindus and Muslims then come to terms with what happened under Aurangzeb, because Muslims suffered as much as Hindus. It was not only Shah Jahan or Dara Shikoh who were murdered, but also the forefathers of today's Indian Muslims who have been converted at 90 per cent. Aurangzeb was the Hitler, the asura of medieval India. No street is named after Hitler in the West, yet in New Delhi we have Aurangzeb Road, a constant reminder of the horrors Aurangzeb perpetrated against Indians, including his own people. Finally, Aurangzeb is very relevant today because he thought that Sunni Islam was the purest form of his religion and he sought to impose it with ruthless efficiency -- even against those of his own faith, such as his brother. Aurangzeb clamped down on the more syncretic, more tolerant Islam, of the Sufi kind, which then existed in India. But he did not fully succeed. Four centuries later, is he going to have the last word? I remember, when I started covering Kashmir in the late '70s, that Islam had a much more open face. The Kashmir Muslim, who is also a descendant of converted Hindus, might have thought that Allah was the only true God, but he accepted his Kashmiri Pandit neighbour, went to his or her marriage, ate in his or her house and the Hindu in turn went to the mosque. Women used to walk with open faces, watch TV, films. Then the shadow of Aurangzeb fell on Kashmir and the hardline Sunnis came from Pakistan and Afghanistan: cinemas were banned, the burqa imposed, 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits were chased out of Kashmir through violence and became refugees in their own land and the last Sufi shrine of Sharar-e-Sharif was burnt to the ground (I was there). Today the Shariat has been voted in Kashmir, a state of democratic, secular India, UP's Muslims have applauded, and the entire Indian media which went up in flames when the government wanted Vande Mataram to be sung, kept quiet. The spirit of Aurangzeb seems to triumph. But what we need today in India -- and indeed in the world -- is a Dara Shikoh, who reintroduces an Islam which, while believing in the supremacy of its Prophet, not only accepts other faiths, but is also able to see the good in each religion, study them, maybe create a synthesis. Islam needs to adapt its scriptures which were created nearly 15 centuries ago for the people and customs of these times, but which are not necessarily relevant in some of their injunctions today. Kabir, Dara Shikoh and some of the Sufi saints attempted this task, but failed. Aurangzeb knew what he was doing when he had his own brother beheaded. And we know what we are saying when we say that this exhibition is very relevant to today's India. May the Spirit of Dara Shikoh come back to India and bring back Islam to a more tolerant human face.

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. Atleast post an image of the madar ***** I would take his wise ass MOFO head off he was alive today :tired: aurangzeb-history.jpg Indian history as taught in India is a big joke! Aurangzeb2.jpg Some historians like Romila Thapar and M.N. Roy have gone even beyond that, and tried to prove that Aurangzeb, alltogether, in fact, was a benevolent ruler and very tolerant towards other religions. Thapar has even attempted to dismiss "local legends" of Aurangzeb's cruelty as mere rumours or, at best, lies invented by Hindu bigotry or the British historians who wanted to weaken India by their divide and rule policy. Romila Thapar ko 20,000 THAPAD from me! romila_thapar.jpg

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Guest dada_rocks

Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. Romila Thapar is refined version of Arundhati Roy. These B's have made a career out of self-loathing

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. So this THAPAD lady makes the excuse for Aurang...bheenn**** by saying that "British wanted to weaken India by their divide and rule policy." On the other hand she does not use the same "divide and rule" logic when it comes to the FALSE "Aryan invasion" fairytale? :chin:

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Guest dada_rocks

Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

The ELITES of India are NAPUNSAK... at least till a few years ago... Now we have a different breed...but till the 80s the only elites were of the Thappar variety...
And those who are not napunsak are branded hindutavevadi extremist :wtg:
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Guest dada_rocks

Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. So the kashmir has now Shariah law, once again vindicationf my theory wherever they can these folks will abolish the poulartisc secular constitution in favour of shariah.. So dhimmi status of kashmiri hidus has been legalized.. job well done.. I see UP muslims have applauded ths act and corollary of this applause wold be whenever they will get the numbers in their favour (which will happen at some stage birth rate takes care of this demographis shift) then UP will get to have marvellous shariha law too. And media much rather would talk about 2002 events then bother to report this great.. psecism rocks........... :wtg:

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. I visited Gujarat just last December.... It is running quite well..thank you.. the place has an energy and buzz about it that was missing even in a place like Bombay...which now seems to be decaying and being overwhelmed by migrants from U.P. and Bihar...

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. Enlightened is the mind that identifies his contemporary as a human above all else. Revisions of the past accomplish the writing of new books but little else. The authors or the self appointed judge and jury bring in their creations an image of their soul... Judge them if must but judge them all, or judge none at all!!

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

I visited Gujarat just last December.... It is running quite well..thank you.. the place has an energy and buzz about it that was missing even in a place like Bombay...which now seems to be decaying and being overwhelmed by migrants from U.P. and Bihar...
Pitiful is the plight of those me overlook, forgetting that its their sacrifice and blood that churn the cauldron that feeds the privileged few. Surrender some and sacrifice some more, or see your illusions washed in a tidal wave of their tortured souls...
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

Some historians like Romila Thapar and M.N. Roy have gone even beyond that, and tried to prove that Aurangzeb, alltogether, in fact, was a benevolent ruler and very tolerant towards other religions. Thapar has even attempted to dismiss "local legends" of Aurangzeb's cruelty as mere rumours or, at best, lies invented by Hindu bigotry or the British historians who wanted to weaken India by their divide and rule policy.
Concur the world with the truth, or own it with the false... Point a finger but remember that three point at your soul.
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

I visited Gujarat just last December.... It is running quite well..thank you.. the place has an energy and buzz about it that was missing even in a place like Bombay...which now seems to be decaying and being overwhelmed by migrants from U.P. and Bihar...
Spoken by a true two-bit Shiv Sena thug. Before I go ballistic on your sorry arse care to explain what you meant by that ridiculous comment Please? xxx
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

I visited Gujarat just last December.... It is running quite well..thank you.. the place has an energy and buzz about it that was missing even in a place like Bombay...which now seems to be decaying and being overwhelmed by migrants from U.P. and Bihar...
Pitiful is the plight of those me overlook, forgetting that its their sacrifice and blood that churn the cauldron that feeds the privileged few. Surrender some and sacrifice some more, or see your illusions washed in a tidal wave of their tortured souls...
wtf was that. :eek:
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

I visited Gujarat just last December.... It is running quite well..thank you.. the place has an energy and buzz about it that was missing even in a place like Bombay...which now seems to be decaying and being overwhelmed by migrants from U.P. and Bihar...
Pitiful is the plight of those me overlook, forgetting that its their sacrifice and blood that churn the cauldron that feeds the privileged few. Surrender some and sacrifice some more, or see your illusions washed in a tidal wave of their tortured souls...
wtf was that. :eek:
its the economic suppression and oversight of these "migrants" that is permitting our rampant industrialization. as we grow richer, it behooves us to redistribute the wealth or risk a subaltern rebellion. Hence, this so called decay must be countered by providing employment and better living conditions for these migrants that we so scathingly dismiss...
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. Lurker don't you call me a Shiv Sena Thug...you bleeding heart pseudo-secular Arundhati Roy Pansy... Point is China RESTRICTS people from moving from villages to cities..and from one state to another... But you guys will all SUCK up to them... But if I call for some limit on the unresticted migration of people from everywhere but especially the FAILED internal states of U.P. and Bihar to Bombay...your ass gets on fire?

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb. Truly ironic that on a thread about Aurangzeb and his INTOLERANT world view...you call me a Shiv Sena Thug... I think an Aurangzabian Thug would be a better insult... and more accurate of what you are trying to label me...however inaccurately... Shivaji was the man who actually RESISTED Aurangzeb...

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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

Lurker don't you call me a Shiv Sena Thug...you bleeding heart pseudo-secular Arundhati Roy Pansy...
Haha..So just calling YOU a Shiv Sena Thug hurt home I see, while you, in your infinite deranged intellect are free to call an entire group of people whatever you choose? Here let me do your promotion. You seem more like Praveen Togadia by the second. You know the kind of hate monger that rants more than anything,specially when trying to show his manliness
Point is China RESTRICTS people from moving from villages to cities..and from one state to another... But you guys will all SUCK up to them...
What point? Where point. The point is this smartass, if you want to invoke Chinese example please first have the decency to suggest where you are coming from. Why in the world do I have to second-guess you? By the way China restrict people is a good model? Chinese are a COMMUNIST lot the last time I check. You want to suggest that in India? A Democratic country where everyone owns everything? Well here is the news for you - A Bihari or an Assamiya or a Punjabi can walk on Juhu Beach and there is nothing you, nor your pansy leader Bal Thackeray can do about it. Indian Constitution grants them that. Capisce smartass? That out of the way,now I have a few questions for you: 1) What's your legal status? Indian? Indian outside India? Non-Resident Indian? What? 2) Whats your take on Indian not being able to migrate to Kashmir? Right or wrong. Two short and simple questions. To the point answer would be appreciated. xxx
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Re: The Truth About Aurangzeb.

Lurker .... Is it possible for you to discuss without getting personal abusive and jingoistic ?
I will, but only if I am not personally abused myself. Else jaisa sawaal waisa jawaab boss. After that it is you and other MODS discretion. You are free to alter/modify my post if it creates issues. xxx
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