About the Book This book is an abridged version of the five- volume History of Aurangzib and covers mainly the political and a brief economic history of the reign of the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzib. The book starts with his initial years and his first Deccan campaign. It discusses the fratricidal wars, followed by his coronation and the con- finement of his father Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor. It further deals with the emergence of Shivaji, his attitude towards his Hindu subjects, and his campaigns in the frontier regions (Afghanistan and Assam). It describes the history of Aurangzib's longest struggle with the Maratha chiefs in much greater detail and deals with the eclipse of the Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi Sultanates. The author ends with the last days of the Mughal emperor. Besides that, it covers Aurangzib's economic and administrative measures, along with a description of his personality and the impact of his reign.
About the Author Sir Jadunath Sarkar CIE FRAS (1870-1958) was a prominent Indian historian and a specialist on the Mughal dynasty. He graduated in English from Presidency College, Calcutta. In 1892, he topped the Master of Arts examination, in English at Calcutta University and in 1897, he received the Premchand-Roychand Scholarship. Sarkar's works faded out of public memory, with the increasing advent of Marxist and postcolonial schools of historiography. Academically, Jos J. L. Gommans compares Sarkar's work with those of the Aligarh historians, noting that while the historians from the Aligarh worked mainly on the mansabdari system and gunpowder technology in the Mughal Empire, Jaudunath Sarkar was best remembered for his historical works, including: A History of Jaipur, Military History of India, A History of Aurangzib (in 5 volumes), Studies in Mughal India, and Mughal Administration.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
