Shah Jahan's Reign: Golden Age of Mughal Empire?

The reign of Shah Jahan was from 1628 AD to 1658 AD. It is said that during the thirty years of its rule, there was a great increase in India's prosperity. Initially, a large part of the revenue was lost due to the invasion of the border, the invasion of the remote border and central Asia, and the military expedition against the southern states and the loss of immense wealth was caused.

There was also a severe famine in the south and Gujarat. But despite all these circumstances, there was unprecedented progress and prosperity during the reign of Shah Jahan, due to which his reign is given the term of the golden age. Did Shah Jahan's reign really be the golden age of the Mughal Empire? Let's know ...

Foreign historians such as Elphinstone, Bernier, Manoki, Glenpool, Hunter have accepted the reign of Shah Jahan as the golden age. But V.A. Smith has denied his ideas and he has not accepted the age of Shah Jahan as a golden age.

Various types of arguments and illustrations can be presented in favor of opposition and opposition. First of all, the golden age is called the era special in which there is a multifaceted development of the nation. On this criterion, the following things are related to Shahjahan's golden age: -

Empire Expansion

Rulers of the medieval era were Sarajevans. Babur was the founder of Mughal imperialism, but his real founder was Akbar. Jahangir followed the father's policy and expanded the Mughal empire. But due to political interference and non-state politics of Noor, he did not get special success in the direction of empire-expansion. The reign of Shah Jahan is considered to be very important from the direction of empire-expansion. He not only kept the Mughal Empire safe but also expanded its boundary and was successful in expanding the area.

Good Administrative System

Shah Jahan is also credited with maintaining the empire as well as keeping the empire organized. He was a despotic ruler like his ancestors. But his rule was beneficial for the people and the people.

Improvement in Habitat Practice

Manashbari system was started by Akbar. Over time there were some flaws in it. Shah Jahan's donation is noteworthy in making Manashbari practice loseless. Shah Jahan had reduced the salary of Manashbars. Shahjahan had a great deal of success in removing the ambitions and luxury of Manashbadars.

Time of Prosperity

The economic condition of the common people was improved due to security from the peace and external aggression within the country. Shah Jahan did not want to harm the farmers. Increase in production resulted in increased state income.

Business Development

During the reign of Shah Jahan, there was progress in business. From India, many items were exported abroad, which included silk and cotton cloth, salt, lacquer, opium, wax, masala etc.

Fair Judiciary

The Emperor himself was the supreme authority of the Justice Department. In the work of justice, the Qazi-ul-Qujat or Chief Kazi ruled the emperor. Vernier has written that - "There was a right to the emperor on every acre of land, but if a farmer was harmed, it would have been considered that robbery has been put over the kingdom of the emperor".

Promotion of Education

Education work was done in the reign of Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan himself was the patron of the development and culture of the science. He had established two government schools in Agra and Delhi, in which the teachers were appointed by the emperor only.

Development of Literature

Shah Jahan's reign is considered important in terms of literary development. Persian and Hindi languages were developed. The Persian language was the language of the court. Shah Jahan paid special attention to the progress of the Persian language in Indian style. Many famous scholars of this genre took part in the reign of Shah Jahan, in which names of Abdul Hameed Lahori, Muhammad Waris, Chandrabhan and Muhammad Swaleh are notable.

Art

Shahjahan's reign in the field of art was excellent in the right sense. Taj Mahal and Takhts Tauras or Peacock Throne is a unique achievement at Shahjahan that took many years to build. Shahjahan's interest in painting was laudable. Fakirullah was a skilled painter in his court painters. In the field of music, the name of Tansen's son-in-law, Lal Kha "Pratishtha Sea" is particularly remarkable. Lal Kha was the best singer of Dhrupad.

Logic in opposition

The portrait of the contemporary historians and travelers about the splendor and prosperity of the reign of Shah Jahan is actually misleading. Recognizing the richness of the empire, building large monuments or promoting art skills, historians have called the reign of Shah Jahan as the golden age.

Is prosperity or place of worship at all levels of people? If that was not the case, how would it be considered as a versatile development of the empire? Firstly during the reign of Shah Jahan, the burden of taxes on ordinary people was high. The amount of expenditure on governance increased manifold more than play. Extra property expenditure was spent on the construction of large buildings.

Money was flown like water in the name of the bureaucracy and the splendor of the court. Farmers and industrial sections had to bear all the burden of the expenditure. The farmers and the productive class were the backbones of the empire. Due to the reduction of tax from 1/3 to 1/2, the farmers had difficulty in the sustenance of daily life. Bureaucratic misbehavior and atrocities are common