The Reign of Shahjahan
considered the Golden Age
Akbar and Shahjahan
were the most prominent rulers who ruled over India from A.D. 1556 to A.D.
1657. It was an era of peace and prosperity which dazzled the eyes of people at
home and abroad due to grandeur of the Mughal emperors and their nobility.
Foreign travelers like Bernier, Travernier and Mannucci have lavished unstinted
admiration on them. The reign of Akbar has been praised by all the scholars of
history but historians have divergent opinions regarding the reign of
Shahjahan. Smith writes that Shahjahan failed both as man and ruler, hence his
reign could not be regarded as a Golden Age. But the contemporary scholar Khafi
Khan and Rai Bharmal affirm that seeing the peace and prosperity of the reign
of Shahjahan, it can very well be established that his reign was certainly a
Golden Age. European travelers and writers like Bernier, Mannuci, Lane-pool and
Elphinstone also agree with the view of contemporary writers because the Mughal
Empire during the reign of Shahjahan had touched the zenith of its power and
glory. Hunter also writes, “The Mughal Empire attained its highest union of
strength and magnificence under Shahjahan,”
The views of scholars who regard his era to be a golden one can be
affirmed from the words of S. R. Sharma who writes, “In spite of the early
rebellions, which were soon curbed, in spite of the foreign wars of aggression
beyond the frontiers, which cost enormously with no return whatsoever, in spite
of the famine in Deccan and Gujarat, which devastated a vast portion
of the country, and in spite of the constant fighting in Deccan, which while it
resulted in the subjugation of Ahmadnagar, Golkunda and Bijapur, also involved
a great drain on the resources of the empire, the age of Shahjahan showed much
that was glorious and many an unmistakable sign of unique prosperity, to
justify this period being described as the Golden Age of the empire.”
Thus in spite of some weaknesses which developed during the reign
of Shahjahan the following reasons clearly proves that it was really a golden
age.
Shahjahan as a Man
Shahjahan had many qualities as a man. He was a man of progressive
nature and was the efficient successor of his father and grandfather. As he
raised the standard of revolt against his father, so the scholars like V.A.
Smith have condemned him for not being an obedient son but before lavying this
charge on Shahjahan, we could also think that he was forced to revolt due to
the excessive policies of queen Noorjahan. Moreover it was not a unique
incident. He received this tendency in legacy. His father Jahangir had also
revolted against his father. Dr. Smith has also condemned him for not being an
ideal husband. But if we look into the practice and tradition of the Mughals,
we would very well feel that since they maintained great harems, they could not
be confined to one wife. However, he continued to love Mumtaj Mahal from the
core of his heart so long as she remained alive. In his personal life Shahjahan
was a gentle, benevolent and cultured ruler. He was a love of arts and
literature and provided liberal patronage to the artists and men of letters.
Administrative Achievements
The events of thefts and dacoities which were quite common earlier
were reduced to the minimum and the genera life of the people was quite safe.
Travelling was no more a risky affair in his regime and his coffers were full
of wealth which was a chief source of peace and prosperity in the empire.
His Military Successes
Shahjahan besides being an efficient commander was a great
warrior. He always took active parts in wars and achieved tremendous successes
against his enemies. He took active part in military campaigns even in his old
age. He reorganized and restrengthened the Mughal army by his ability and
capability. He achieved splendid success against the rules of Deccan and
established his control over Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golkunda. In fact, his
military achievements eclipsed the names of other brave Generals even during
the reign of his father.
Improvement in Mansabdari System
He made certain amendments and improvements in the prevalent
mansabdari system. He reduced the pay of the mansabdars and made it essential
that they should maintain a contingent according to their post and designation.
A person who had his Jagir in India was required to maintain at least
one-third contingent of his mansab whereas who possessed Jagirs outside India was
ordered to maintain one-fourth contingent of his Mansab.
Revenue system
Shahjahan introduced some significant changes in the revenue
system in order to fill his coffers with wealth which he needed for the
construction of palatial buildings and for the welfare of his people.
Administration of Justice
Like his
predecessors Shahjahan dispensed evenhanded justice to all his people without
distinction of post, caste and creed. He himself acted as Chief Justice in the
empire and listened to the appeals of all the cases. As severe punishments were
awarded, people were afraid of committing any crime. Wednesday was fixed by the
emperor for the administration of justice in hi court. He kept a close eye on
the conduct of his officials and punished those rigorously who either did not discharge
their duties efficiently or put hurdles in the way of dispensing evenhanded
justice to all.
Works of public welfare
Though
Shahjahan was an autocrat but he always looked after the welfare of his people.
He made proper arrangements for irrigation and got canals dug for the benefit
of the peasants. He also built schools, collages, mosques, sarais and arranged
gardens for the good of his people. No doubt he was a bit reactionary and
fanatic but it did not affect his popularity at all. He was an industrious and
dutiful ruler and devoted a great part of his life to administration. He did
every possible act to redress the sufferings of the people at the time of
famines of A.D. 1630 and 1646.
Progress in Education and Literature
Shahjahan
was a great patron of education and literature like his predecessors. He continued
the liberal educational policy of his great-grandfather. Akbar’s reign
contributed much to the development of Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit literature.
Jahangir and Shahjahan also followed in the footsteps of their predecessor and
let the literary movement continued during their reigns. Several books of Sanskrit
were translated into Persian during his reign. Historians like Abdul Hamid
Lahori, Khafi Khan etc, also enjoyed liberal patronage of the emperor. Science,
technology and the art of astrology also flourished during his regime.
Development of various Arts
Shahjahan
was not merely a commander or a warrior. He had a deep insight for various
arts. Architecture reached its zenith during his regime. He was really a
builder par excellence and his age was certainly a golden one from the point of
view of architecture. Dr. B.P. Saxena writes, “it was impossible to improve
painting so naturally he turned to architecture which provided an extensive
field for improvement. And the buildings of his reign must have satisfied both
his vanity and ambitions. Red fort and its allied buildings in Delhi are marvelous
in beauty and the buildings which Shahjahan constructed in the fort of Agrasuch
as Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas and Musammam Burj are fine specimens
of architecture.
The Taj
Mahal is the best creation of the Mughal period. Its architectural beauty
beggars all description. It was built be emperor Shahjahan as a mausoleum of
his beloved wife Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaj Mahal who breathed
her last in A.D. 1631. Almost all historians and scholars have praised its
architectural beauty.
Seeing the
achievements of Shahjahan in the field of architecture Dr.A.L. Srivastava has
rightly remarked, “Shahjahan’s reign has been described as a golden period in
the medieval history of India. This is true in one respect only and that is in
the domain of art, particularly architecture.”
On the
basis of the above description it can very well be affirmed that in spite of
some shortcomings in the character of Emperor Shahjahan and outburst of some
early revolts in the empire, the era of Shahjahan was splendid. During this
period we witnessed all-round progress and development and architecture reached
its zenith, hence it will not be out of place to accept his era as golden
period of Medieval History.
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