Talk:Aurangzeb

Lead

@RegentsPark: The lead that you are restoring is full of heavily detailed points regarding mainly Hindutva-driven criticism of the subject whereas most of the article is clearly not about that. That's why I had made a simpler version for a lead to cover the necessary points without going into too many details. Capitals00 (talk) 18:50, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

Though I'm not averse to simplification, I think, perhaps, you oversimplified the content in the lead. The section on Assessments and Legacy is long and detailed and reducing it to one sentence (admired and criticized) is overly simplistic. You might want to write a longer summary that includes major opinions on why he is both admired as well as criticized. Also, for the purposes of consensus, it might not be a bad idea to propose the change on the talk page first.RegentsPark (comment) 18:59, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

The current leads talk too much about temple destruction, a notion that has been already conclusively addressed in scholarship. Same with those executions which were politically motivated, not religiously.

The current paragraph is:

Aurangzeb has been described as one of the most controversial rulers in Indian history,[6] though his rule has also been the subject of praise.[7] Multiple interpretations of Aurangzeb's life and reign over the years by critics have led to a very complicated legacy. Some argue that his policies abandoned his predecessors' legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance, citing his introduction of the jizya tax and other policies based on Islamic ethics; his demolition of Hindu temples; the executions of his elder brother Dara Shikoh, King Sambhaji of Maratha[8][9] and Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur;[10][11][d] and the prohibition and supervision of behaviour and activities that are forbidden in Islam such as gambling, fornication, and consumption of alcohol and narcotics.[12][13] At the same time, some historians question the historical authenticity of the claims of his critics, arguing that his destruction of temples has been exaggerated,[14][15] and noting that he built more temples than he destroyed,[16] paid for their maintenance, employed significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors, and opposed bigotry against Hindus and Shia Muslims.[17]

It should be changed to:

Known for creating the largest Indian empire, he was the longest reigning monarch of Mughal empire. His rule has been the subject of praise and criticism. Some of his critics argue that he policies abandoned his predecessors' legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance and while others rejected these assertions arguing that he employed significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors, and opposed bigotry against Hindus and Shia Muslims.

Of course, I will add the sources. Capitals00 (talk) 12:16, 30 October 2023 (UTC)

Can you please explain why are you calling the original paragraph Hindutva? It is not religious or political if it is simply reporting history. I would say that it should be changed back to what it was as this is the more accurate and comprehensive description of Aurangzeb. Understand1528 (talk) 15:27, 20 June 2024 (UTC)

Ping RegentsPark. Capitals00 (talk) 05:06, 1 November 2023 (UTC)

• Looks good though I'd tweak the language a bit, mainly to connect the main arguments of the two sides. How about this. Known for being the longest reigning monarch of the Mughal empire and for creating the largest Indian empire, Aurangzeb also has a complicated legacy. His critics, citing his actions against the Sikhs and his conservative view of Islam, argue that he abandoned the legacy of pluralism and tolerance that characterized the early Mughal emperors. Other scholars, however, reject these assertions, arguing that he opposed bigotry against Hindus and Shia Muslims and that he employed significantly more Hindus in his imperial bureaucracy than his predecessors. Technically you don't need to cite anything since this is the lead, and all the material is in the body, but, given that this is Aurangzeb, .....! RegentsPark (comment) 16:40, 1 November 2023 (UTC)

  I would replace “the largest Indian Empire” with “one of the largest Indian Empires.”

  it is generally disputed whether Aurangzeb or Ashoka’s empire was larger. SKAG123 (talk) 01:00, 6 November 2023 (UTC)

Template

Add the tamplate of Auranzeb at the end of the article.

• .(Sulaymaan114 (talk) 13:18, 29 November 2023 (UTC))

WP:COMMONNAME applies, so I have changed the spelling from "Auranzeb" to "Aurganzeb" in the name of the template and in the template, so it is now called Template:Aurangzeb

-- Toddy1 (talk) 16:42, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Inclusion of Aurangzeb's official biographies

There are two official biographies of Aurangzeb written by Mughal court historians in Persian. Alamgirnama written by Mirza Mohammed Qasim and Maasir-i-Alamgiri by Saqi Mustad Khan. I propose to include a reference to these official biographies. Any objections may be registered here. PastaMonk 10:00, 21 January 2024 (UTC)

No because they are primary sources (see WP:PRIMARY.

I would support including quotations from these sources if it adds anything of value to the article. SKAG123 (talk) 02:44, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

There should be no objections to merely explaining that they exist; actually using them is more tricky. Johnbod (talk) 04:15, 5 February 2024 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 25 September 2024 Suggestion

I am linking to the Jāṭ rebellion section from Pushtimarga Sampradaya, I would like to add an anchor or add a note <!-- --> to keep the link from breaking. Thank you. Moritoriko (talk) 01:15, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: this is not the right page to request additional user rights. You may reopen this request with the specific changes to be made and someone may add them for you. 𝚈𝚘𝚟𝚝 (𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚟𝚝) 17:42, 25 September 2024 (UTC)

Longest Reign

Aurangzeb was not the longest reigning Mughal emperor, he was the second longest. He reigned for 48 years 7 months 0 days, whereas the longest, Akbar, reigned 49 years 9 months 0 days. List of emperors of the Mughal Empire The person who locked this article should edit that. GrAmPaGe EdIt FiXeR (talk) 20:42, 23 November 2024 (UTC)

Suggested addition to "Literatures"

Aurangzeb was also featured prominently in this novel: Beneath a Marble Sky, A novel of the Taj Mahal, by John Shors, published in 2004. (Also prominently featuring Shah Jahan, Jahanara, etc.) I'm not permitted to edit this article, so someone who is might add this info.

(I have nothing to do with the book or author, just have read it and thought others might find it interesting. I came here to read more about the subject, and was surprised the book wasn't listed.) Euterpsichore (talk) 23:31, 2 January 2025 (UTC)