NAMES

MUHAMMAD ALI QURESHI AND HASAN RAZA

CLASS
3RD YEAR (H)
SUBJECT
HISTORY OF SOUTH ASIA (1526 CE-1761 CE)
COURSE NO:
532
DEPARTMENT
HISTORY
SOURCE
MAASIR-I-ALAMGIRI
SUBMITTED TO
DR. HUMERA NAZ
ABSTRACT:
To understand history, the source plays a significant role. The source of that time has to be tested
and examine critically. After exploring the sources and when the understanding level of your
mind reached its peak then the text or analysis written by the author is valuable. Other than this,
a writer who has no prior knowledge of that era or event and if he researches then it would be
obsolete or gives a picture which is not close to reality and is imaginative thought of the writer.
How would we analyze that any specific book or source was inaccurate? By comparing and
matching any particular writer's account with the other writer's writing. This gives you the
evidence that whether the source is correct or inaccurate.

The Mughal era has a great importance in South Indian history from 1526-1857 and it is also
significant because of the ruler of British Empire that ruled India. The Mughals were the
followers of Turco-Persian traditions.

The source material for mughals is extensive. This period is known for a number of excellent
books which would be considered masterpieces anywhere. The source which I examine is
"Maasir-i-Alamgiri" of "Saqi Must'ad Khan" and translated by Sir Jadunath Sarkar. This book
was chronologically arranged or the given data by author was accurate or not. In my research
paper I tried to compare the events of this book with contemporaries and other sources which are
available to everybody. The information of author was also examined in my research paper. This
research paper divides into four parts:

 Introduction of source with its writer and translator analysis on source.

 Conclusion
 Bibliography
 Those books which I have gone through to compare and analyze this source.

Methodology, which is used to compose this assignment, is the qualitative research methodology
for qualitative research methodology book from seminar library (which are minute in number)
are used as well as available internet sources and different educational sites were visited, it might
be more helpful and interesting for making assignment.
INTRODUCTION:
This book “Maasir i Alamgiri” by SaqiMusta’d khan is an annual account of events during the
reign Aurangzib Alamgir, the last capable ruler of Mughal India. This book was originally
written in Persian language, which was the common language at the time of mughal era but later
it was translated into English by Sir Jadunath Sarkar. This book was not completely written by
Saqi musta’d Khan,The history of the first ten years of Aurangzeb’s reign was written, under his
orders, in the form of a full-sized Namah, by Mirza Muhammad Kazim, under the title of
‘Alamgir-Namah. But after the author had completed the first decade, the Emperor forbade him
to continue it any further. The reason for this prohibition is given by Saqi Musta’d Khan as,
Because this emperor preferred laying the foundations of things esoteric to displaying things
external,what really happened was that when (about 1670) the history of the tenth year was
completed by Kazim khan, Aurangzib curtailed his State expenditure and closed the costly
department of prolix official annals. There is no authority for the popular legend that he forbade
the writing of his history by anyone else as a crime or that Khafi Khan’s history is so entitled
because it was written in secret (khufia) in fear of any such royal prohibition. Aurangzibfound
himself too much involved with the tribes on the Afghan frontier and was soon afterwards too
hard pressed by the Rajputs and the Marathas, to allow him to spend any thought or money on
such non-utilitarian purposes as the compilation of a florid and verbose chronicle of his reign.
And his circumstances did not improve up to the end of his life. Thus it happened that no
complete history of his reign came to be officially composed while he lived.

After his death (in 1707), his last secretary and favorite disciple in State policy and religiosity,
Inayatullah Khan Kashmiri requested and force Saqi Musta’d Khan to complete the history of
such a model sovereign. In order to help him in this work, the State archives were thrown open to
him and he made extracts of the necessary materials to be used in his book, which was completed
in 1710 and entitled Maasir-i-‘Alamgiri.

This book provides a complete Social, Political and Economic aspects during the reign of
Alamgir .In this book writer divided one year of Alamgir reign into one chapter overall this book
contains fifty one chapters . Through this book Maasir-i-Alamgiri reader will easily examine
how Alamgir came to throne and what was his thinking when he became emperor. After a first
ten years of Alamgir reign things change rapidly, According to my personal opinion change of
writer effects change of events too. At the starting of his reign his attitude was quite similar to
the earlier king of Mughal Empire or the kings of other empire. He was luxurious in is life style
and inclined towards music and others entertainments but after a decade he remain luxurious but
he excluded musicians from his court and his attitude tilted towards religious.

The work is based upon certain types of documentary evidence writer describes in this work the
wars waged by Aurangzib. It is very obvious that the Emperor was always in trouble-a fact
which might have made him entirely dependent on the mercy of God. Aurangzib upset the
administrative and financial system perfected by Akbar. Maasir-I-Alamgiri contains hints of
Aurangzeb’s bias against the so-called ‘infidels'. It profoundly disturbed the plural culture of
India, and enfeebled the fabric of Indian civilization. A redeeming feature of the work is the
description of many interesting places in the Indian subcontinent.

The condensed translation of this work by Sir Jadunath Sarkar is an evidence of his great
capacity for hard work. The translation is remarkably lucid. The Glossary is useful, and the
Index, prepared by Professor Nirod Bhusan Roy, is exhaustive. The reprint of this work in the
Bibliotheca India series would be beneficial to the students of the history of the later Mughals.

SAQI MUSTA’AD KHAN:

Muhammad Saqi musta’d khan’s life , we know a few facts only, all supplied by him either in
his own History of Aurangzib or in his preface to his patron Bakhtawar khan’s book the Miratul-
ul-Alam, He was brought up by Bakhtawar khan ( a favorite officers Aurangzib, whose character
is noted in the Maasir-i-Alamgiri ( p. 253 of the printed text ) . In this Khan’s establishment our
author filled the offices of munshi and diwan. He assisted his patron, during the last seventeen
years of his life, in the composition of the Mirat-ul-Alam, which Aurangzib authorized him after
Bakhtawar death, to make public. He held under this Emperor in succession the posts of mushrif
of the ja-namaz-khanah, Waqai’navis, mushrif of the Khawases, and munshi of the nazzaral.

TRANSLATOR “JADUNATH SARKAR” :

Sir Jadunath Sarkar, born 10-Dec-1870, Karachmāria, Bengal (now in Bangladesh) and died in
15-May-1958 in Calcutta, India), Foremost Indian historian of the Mughal dynasty (1526`–
1857). Educated in English literature at Presidency College, Calcutta, Sarkar at first taught
English and later shifted to history during his tenure (1902–17) at Patna College. Sarkar chose
aurangzib, the last major Mughal emperor, as the object of his life’s work. His first book, India
of Aurangzib, was published in 1901. His five-volume History of Aurangzib took 25 years to
complete and was published in 1924. Sarkar devoted another 25 years to his four-volume fall of
the Mughal Empire, completed in 1950. Two of Sarkar’s single-volume works are Catania: His
Pilgrimages and Teachings (1913) and Shiva and His Times (1919). All his works demonstrate
his vast knowledge of Persian-language sources and are skillfully written in English. Sarkar
served as vice chancellor of the University of Calcutta (1926–28). He did a lot of work on
mughals especially on Alamgir. Some of his famous are written below:

BOOKS:

 Anecdotes of Aurangzib
 Item Image
 Bihar and Orissa during the fall of the Mughal Empire
 Chaitanya's Life and Teachings
 DaulatRaoSindhia and North Indian affairs, 1810-1818
 Economics of British India
 Fall of the Mughal Empire
 Foreword to Selections from the Peshwa Dafter
 history of Bengal
 House of Shivaji
 India of Aurangzib (topography, statistics, and roads) compared with the India of Akbar
 India through the ages
 MahadjiSindhia and North Indian affairs, 1785-1794
 Making of a princely historian
 Military history of India
 Mughal administration
 Nadir Shah in India
 Sara YadunāthaSarakārakr̥taŚ ivājī vaŚ ivakāla
 Shivaji and his times
 short history of Aurangzib, 1618-1707
 Studies in Mughal India.
MAASIR I ALAMGIRI BY SAI MUSTA’ID KHAN:
ANALYSIS:

The starting of this book Maasir-i-Alamgiri as a complete ALAMGIR NAMAH, though which
the history of all events that occurred in the reign of Alamgir and this will become a kind of
evidence or source to recognize the social and political aspects of Alamgir reign. But
unfortunately it wouldn’t be happened as Alamgir wanted. Emperor starts this book with book
Kazim Khan (one of the court historian of his empire) but only he compiled a ten year history of
his starting period. Due to some reasons (which I explained in the past introduction) emperor
stopped working many department of his empire. So, the large period of time missing of the
official record of history. Emperor wouldn’t able to restore these departments during his life, but
after this some of his officers or courtiers feels this vacuumed and tried to fill it. So, Maasir-i-
Alamgiri is the outcome of this. In mid of 20th C.E Sir Jadunath Sarkar translated this book in
English and provide the historical record of last capable mughal ruler reign. Although there were
many other books too including primary source and secondary sources which gave a lot of
information of reign of Alamgir. But Maasir-i-Alamgiri has its own importance because it
contains complete account of Alamgir period. Those sources were the “Waqi’t-i-Alamgiri or
ZafarNamah-i-Alamgiri” by “Mir Ali Askari”.This book contains only five years of Alamgir
reign. Second is “Fatuhat-i-Alamgiri” by “Israr Das Nayar”, this book contains first thirty-four
years of Alamgir reign. Next is “Nuskhah-i-Dilkusha” by “BhimSen” which also covered a
complete account of Alamgir reign. There were many other source too far recognizing and
analyzing the Alamgir reign as well as his early life were the letters and official orders issued by
him and preserved in various collections in public and private is “Ahkam-i-alamgiri” of
“Inayatullah Khan Kashmiri” and another by Hamid-ud-din Khan Nimcha. Other letters of
Alamgir written by QabilKhan (His Secretry) and collected by “Muhammad Sadiq”gave title as
“Adab-i-Alamgiri”.

There were many other Europeans too who wrote their travelogues during mughal period. On the
account of Alamgir the traveler “Francies Bernier” and “ Jean Baptiste Tavanier” travel during
Alamgir reign and write their experiences. The purpose of writing book is very clear to preserve
the official account of history during Alamgir. There was the trend set by Akbar of giving an
official record of history which was followed by their all descendants. There was general
perspective behind preventing or writing their events by themselves what they wanted to be
known to other. In their history record there was probability of hiding any event which emperor
don’t wanted to know by others. There were books which are great source of information of
mughal period.

In Maasir-i-Alamgiri there were two writers involved with two superior authority. In starting
Kazim Khan with emperor himself and after a decade Saqi Musta’d Khan with “Inayatullah
Kashmiri”. Now can we think that these two superior authority or emperor enable writer to write
any bad or negative thing about emperor or his reign? When we read the starting ten years
history of Kazim Khan writing emperor was not extremely religious personality he has great
liking of music they elaborates their “Commencement of every year of his reign” because of first
victory of Alamgir reign and threat of Dara Shukoh and second coronation were held in
Ramadan, then emperor announce to celebrate the commencement day. He celebrates this event
with music and many other entertainments till Zil.haj. During these days emperor gave
promotions a lot of gifts in cash or in other ways or Kazim Khan repeatedly write these lines in
many chapter in this book.

“The doors of imperial treasuries were opened to all people and the expectations of all young and
old people were fulfilled”.

During his second coronation emperor issued a gold coins. What I wanted to highlight from these
arguments was that the reason of forbidden the history writing after decade was the economic
condition, this reason was given by Saqi Musta’d Khan when he starts again writing the history
of Alamgir reign. In starting ten years emperor enjoying the music and giving rewards and `gifts
to their singers but after a decade very soon he excluded singers and musician from his court

One more event which I feel that it was on his height during stating ten years but later in 15th
year of Alamgir reign this was quietly removed from his official account of history. Alamgir was
very regularly celebrating his solar or lunar birthday and rewarding gifts, promotions to their
minister and gold and gave this gold to charity. But on 15th year Saqi Musta’d Khan silently
digest or ignore this event. Although this was the time Alamgir mind was change and showing
importance towards religion and this event was not allowed in religious practice. So, most
probably Alamgir left this practice due to his religious orthodox mindset but writer don’t give
any evidence about this event. More interestingly Emperor celebrates his birthday every year
with new month and new dates this doubt about the authority of dates in this book.

Very first religious offensive seemed in 1669 C.E 12th year of his reign. When he knowed that in
“province of thatta., Multan and especially endbenaces, the Brahman misbelievers used to teach
their false books in their established schools and the admirers ad student both Hindu and Muslim
used to come from great distances to these misguided men in order to acquire this vile learning .
His majesty eager to establish Islam. Issued orders to the governor of all the provinces to
demolish to schools and temples of the infidels and with the almost urgery put down the teaching
and the public practice of the religion of these misbelievers”1.

Secondly in same year it was reported that Emperor give the command of demolishing the
temples, on his command his officers had demolish the temple of viswanath at kashi. On his
command his officers had demolish the temple of viswanath at Kashi, Through the reign of
Alamgir there were many event took place in which he ordered to demolish the regions centers
and temples of misbeliever’s . This was the common practice in his reign the demolishing of

1
Khan, Saqimusta’d , “Maasir-i-Alamgiri”,trans.eng, Jadunathsarkar ( New Delhi :oriental book Reprint
corporation,1986)chap 12, pg 51,52.
temples and builds their mosque. This practice disturb the harmony and religious tolerance many
Muslim and Hindu which was created by Akbar. This extreme religious orthodoxy cause the
decline of mughal and other problem like internal conflicts and rise of Rajputana states and
Marathas .these disturbance and rebellion were also one of the cause of weak economics.

Eager of implementation of Islamic leas and tradition with the ambitions of suppressed and
demolish the number of infidels. Emperor star change or giving Islamic outlook to his
administration. His stopped heir courtiers and other officers to salute each other. The courtiers
used to salute each other by raising the hand to the head, now they were restricted to do “salaam”
by saying only “Assalam –u –Alikum” simply. This was the thirteenth year of Alamgir
governance. After looking over the accounts of disbursement. Emperor retrenched many items of
the expenditure of the emperor, the princess and the begums.

Prince Muhammad Muazzam had been instigated by flatters to act in a self – willed and
independent manner. The emperor letters of advice producing no effect. He summoned the
princess mother. Nawab Bai from deli in order to send her to her son for bringing back to the
right path if any trace of recall tyranny was found in him. Iftikhar khan was sent to the prince
with a verbal message of mingled kindness and reproach. The khan speedily went to his
distinction and discharged his mission and later Muazzam khan came back on right path and
emperor forgive him. Before this event one event occurred that was the rising of shiver .On
2ndOct 1670 /7thShawwal the emperor at the imperial hunting – lodge of malar learnt of his death
.inspite of his fortitude the emperor wept on hearing this news. Ruhullah khan khan-i-saman,
Siadat khan, Abdur Rahim khan,Shaikh Nizam and Mulla Muhammad Yaqub were ordered to
bury him near to the tomb of khuwaja Qutbuddin and to get the whole quran recited and alms
distributed for the peace of his soul.

On 21st year of Alamgir governance 18 Nov/ 2ndShawwal the day following the Eid-ul-Fitr, the
emperor set on the throne according to the customs of the celebration (of coronation). The
emperor ordered that “few apparel that had been used in the decoration of the coronation
festivity to be removed and said to Bakshi-ul-MulkSafikhan. I abolish the celebration return the
peshkash sent by the Amir-ul-Amara and other grandees are not to make any present to me . the
clerks should use inkpots of china-ware and gilt stone instead of silver ones . the amounts of
in’aam which were brought into the courts on silver trays, should henceforth be brought on
shields. Mens, who have no such drawers as are sanctioned by the canonical law, should come
dressed in socks. In the “khil’at- khanah“embroidered cloth should be used instead of stuff with
gold and silver flowers worked on it .in same year Hivaji attack on the Mungi-patan plundered
and fled away.

On 22nd year 1679 as all the “Aims or religious Emperor were directed to the spreading of the
law of Islam and overthrow of the practices of the infidels. He issued order to the high diwani
officers that from Wednesday the 2nd April 1679 in obedience to Quran injunction till they pay
commutation money (jazia) with the hand in humility and in agreement with the canonical
traditions. Jazia should be collected from the infidels (zimnnis) of the capital and the provinces.
Many of the honest scholars of the time were appointed to discharge the work (of collecting
jazia). May god actuates him to do that which he loves and is pleased with and make his future
life better than the presence”.2Another event of religious offensive on the command of emperor
“khan jahanbahadur came from jodhpur after demolishing the temples and bringing with himself
some cart-loads and had audience of the emperor who highly praised him and ordered that the
idols, which were mostly jeweled, golden, silvery, bronze, copper and stone should be cast in the
yend (jiaukhanah) of the court and under the steps of jam ‘a mosque to be trodden on”3.

On 31st year of Alamgir reign a great success wrote in his account on the compound of emperor
an expedition was set on horses of Alamgir reign like Bahadur khan and other .AbulHassan and
Sarandaz khan Batni Bijapur .” they entered the fort through a back door (khirki) close to the old
entrenchment . The prince, who was staying at the river that flows at the foot of the fort in order
to support this corps, now reached the entrenchment and struck up the music of victory.”4The
emperor thanks to god after capturing such a great fort. This fort has its own importance b/w the
Mughals and Persian. In this campaign or in capturing this fort imperial army spends eight
months and few days. The strength of his fort, the charms of this city and the climate of the
country.In former time “Golkando” was called “Mangal”. Its Raja was named DevRai, after him
it was captured by the Bahamans. After the fall of bahmanis dynasty the fort was taken
possession of by “Ali Naqvi Qutubul- Mulk” a ghulam of sultan Mahmud bahmani dynasty, who
was in charge of it . The fort was taken possessive of by “Ali NaqviQutbul-Mulk” a Ghulam of
Sultan Mahmud Bahmani Dynasty, who was in charge of it. The fort is situated on a hill, the
summit of which pierces the armour of the sky like the blade of sword. The celestials meet the
terrestrials here. None but Alamgir ever conquered this fort. After this fort Haiderabad is situated
two Koss from the fort of Golkando. It was founded by Muhammad QuliQutb-ul-Mulk, who was
infatuated by the courtesan Baghmati and named the city Bhavnagar. Afterward it got its present
name, now that it has been annexed to the Empire turned into an additional Sabah of Deccan. It
has been named Dar-ul-Jihad. After the conquest of Hyderabad, Emperor annexed the land of
sager. This country situated between Bijapur and Hyderabad.

Writer also writes the conquest related to prince M.Azam and Faros Jang uprising of samba and
giving attention to the conquest of the fort of Belgaum which was one of the strong forts
belonging to Bijapur. Samba tried to up raise some kind of rebellion against emperor and used
many other tactics but all remained useless and the imperialist firmly determined, they
capitulated and the fort with its dependencies was conquered and named Azam Nagar. Feroz
Jang Bahadur who had been engaged is besieging the fort of adoni. First invited the ruler of fort

2
Khan, Saqimusta’d, “Maasir-i-Alamgiri”, trans.eng, Jadunathsarkar(NewDelhi: oriental book Reprint corporation,
1986) chapter 22 pg 108.
3
Khan, Saqimusta’d, “Maasir-i-Alamgiri”, trans.eng, Jadunathsarkar(NewDelhi: oriental book Reprint corporation,
1986) chapter 22 pg 108,109.
4
Khan, Saqimusta’d, “Maasir-i-Alamgiri”, trans.eng, Jadunathsarkar(NewDelhi: oriental book Reprint corporation,
1986) chapter 31 pg 182.
(Adel Shah) and slave Masud to visit the emperor, but a last on seeing that ruler not wanted to
meet emperor and make settlement then he launched the attack on the fort plundered and
occupied the prosperous districts of the country. After the conquest fort renamed
“IMTIAZGARH”

Froze Jang returned after stayed at court for few days and then he was sent to extirpate the
infidels. The emperor marched from Bijou to the country of samba. In the middle something was
happened in which a lot of peoples died and writer refers these days “to the days of judgment”
and a “doom” appears. In two weeks many people died, when situation came under control the
emperor start his march again. Emperor stayed aforesaid place news came that samba was not
here, he had gone from Ravi to fort Khulna where his minister Kavi-Kalas had constructed
gardens and lofty buildings. Sheikh Nizam Haiderabadi surnamed Muqarrab Khan, a brave
general with his sons and relatives came out of devotion to the emperor in utter disregard of his
life started from Kolhapur from which above place was forty-five Koss distant. They reached
there and make prison both samba and Kavi-Kalas. Twenty-five of his chief followers with their
wives and daughters were made prisoners. Both were brought to the court and at the end
executed with sword.

Throughout Alamgir reign there were many internal conflicts; Emperor was busy to demolish
these rebellions. Rebellions or disturbance created by Raja ram, the uprising of infidels under
river Krishna which was crushed by Asad Khan and Muhammad Karn Bukhsh was to Jinja to
suppress rebellious and gave the severe punishment to them.

In the 38th year Emperor become bitterer to infidels. He ordered that in the provinces that no
Hindu except Rajput’s should bear arms or ride elephants, palkis or Arab and Iraqi horses.

“Sauté” after robbing the imperial dominions. Emperor ordered to Passim Khan and after captive
ruler of Sera, went and gave severe punishment to the opponent. Saqi Must ‘ad Khan gave the
date of this expedition was 19th January/ 23rd Jamad. Sani but translator Jadunath Sarkar was
not agreed with this date and the attendance of Qasim Khan, gave an argument that “The date
here is wrong by two months Akhbarat 3972 shows that Qasim Khan had been killed more than a
month before 19th Jan.1969 was the date on which mace-bearers sent to Surcour Khauhzad after
the disaster and urge Hamid-ud-din on return to Emperor’s side. Fort St. George Diary, 5th
December, 1695 records. A credible report that a Maratha army of about 15,000 men are coming
into these parts and have already defeated Qasim Khan, Nawab of Sera”.5 Anyhow with tough
fight imperial forces succeeded but Santa fled away.

5
Khan, Saqimusta’d, “Maasir-i-Alamgiri”, trans.eng, and Jadunathsarkar (New Delhi: oriental book Reprint
corporation, 1986) chapter 39 pg #227.
In the 41st year of his reign natural disaster came in Bhīma and the force of flood totally
destroyed the Bhīma.

In the 42nd year of his reign spies reported that Samba was going somewhere and now he is on
the way of Jinja. Ghazi-ud-din Khan Froze Jang with imperial forces followed him fight a war
with him and killed and his head was sent to emperor by Ghazi-ud-din. Santa was killer of Qasim
Khan.

In the 43rd year of emperor again start to march against the forts of infidels. In this march he
starts from the conquest of Vasantgarh, and then they captured “Satara” on 8th December 1699.
After conquest this fort returned to “Asmara”. Next year emperor conquest another fort which
was known as “Paarli Fort”. After the great conquest of Paarli fort emperor starts March to
capture Parnala. Last decade of emperor’s reign was fall of wars and the capturing of different
forts and many other different territories. During these years and campaigns imperial army
suffered a lot from natural difficulties. Several of time rain and flood disturbed the imperial army
but at the end not much damage large by these floods.

In 1705C.E 49TH year of his reign and 89th year of his age emperor became weak and ill that
time he knows that every day of his life led him nearer to death. At this age his heart becomes
very softer and sensitive. Now he feels the fear of death and preparing himself to confront the
supreme in this scenario his sister “Gauhara Begum” his younger sister died. He became very
grieved and repeatedly said “of the children of Shah Jahan, she and I alone were left”. After the
death of Alamgir sister, he directed to the prince to add the title of “Alijah” to his name. After
two years in 20th January 1706/ 6th Shawwal alighted at Ahmednagar.After one year of
residence there, owing to the fickleness of fortune, he recovered from the illness. He came to
court and engaged in the business of court. On Friday 20th February 1707/ 28th zil.Q 1118, the
emperor came out and went to his bed-room (Khabgah) to perform his morning prayer and
engaged in reciting God’s names and in spite of bury overcome by his unconsciousness and
difficulty of breathing, his finger moved in counting the bends, nearly one quarter of the day was
over and he passed away, 21st February 1707 Friday/ zil.Q Alamgir died. He was buried eight
Koss from Aurangabad and three Koss from daulatabad known as “Kuldabad”.

After the death of ALAMGIR Saqi Must ‘ad Khan gave his personal opinion on his life and
character. He traces his life and his policies as a very pious and holy person and tries to
implement a canonical or Islamic law behind his every action or policy. Describe him as a Sunni
orthodox and a follower of Imam Abu Hanifa (God be pleased with him) and the power of
Alamgir as spreader of Islam and demolisher of infidels. He gave a detail account of his
especially on his religious point of view. He described his views on music in the starting or the
reign and later when he excluded his musicians and singers. He feels about his scholar qualities.
He never wore garments declared impure by the cannon (such as robes of unmixed silk yarn) and
not at all used vessels of gold and silver. He transcribed two copies of Holy Quran with his own
hand on the tablet marginal lines were gold and silver and binding of which 7,000 rupees had
been spent. He had presented to Medina, he briefly described the life of his family. He has five
sons and five daughters.

SONS:
 -Prince M.Sultan born by Nawab Bai, died in the 20th year of alamgir’s reign
 Prince M.Muazzam Shah Alam born by Nawab Bai.
 Prince M.Akbar born by the Begum (Oilrus Banu) his death took place in Iran in 48th
year of Alamgir reign (write not use to write with the name of M.Akbar)
 Prince M.Kam Bash by Udaipur.
 Prince M.Azam born by Oilrus Banu Begum Daughter of Shah Nawaz Khan Sufair.

DAUGHTERS:
 Zeb-UN-Nisa Begum born by Begum Oilrus Banu
 Zinat-UN-Nisa Begum born by Begum Oillrus Banu.
 Badar-UN-Nisa Begum born by Nawab Bai.
 Subedit-UN-Nisa Begum born by Oilrus Banu Begum.
 Mar-UN-Nisa Begum born by Aurangabadi Mahal.

Organization:

The organization of the Maasir-i-Alamgiri is in chronological order with its actual dates both
lunar and solar. The reign of Alamgir started from21th July 1658 and leaded on 20th February
1707 it’s about fifty one (51) years and narrated history year by year. Writer gives an annual
account of history and named one year to chapter: 1. So, in this there were fifty one chapters
containing all events regarding his political, military, family and all the aspect of life emperor
and his-subject. Starting decade which was written by Kazim Khan under the oratory of emperor.
He gave a complete date of event with day, month and year. But later when SaqiMusta'ad Khan
starts to write it the exact date (day, month and year) were missing some time he narrated event
but w/o date. And some time the date was in accurate which misinterpreted the event. Like the
event of expedition sent by emperor under the command of Qasim Khan to punish Samba, the
date which was given by Saqi Musta’ad Khan was inaccurate Qasim khan was died before this
expedition according to date given by writer, translator also highlight this error. Although Saqi
Musta’ad Khan compile this history after the death of Aurangzeb on the basis of government
document.

At the end of the book translator Jadunath Sarkar gathered the word in title of “Glossary word”.
These are those words or specific terms which was necessary for reader to know what it means.
Translated compiled (146) one hundred and forty-six words in its alphabetic order. These are all
those words which were related to the administration system of Mughals, which was introduced
by introduced by Akbar and later followed by Jahangir, shah Jahan and Alamgir with minor
changes in it. At the end he also gave note that the Muslim religious, Persian and Arabic
literature were not include in it. These words also include the specific term used by Mughals for
difference people of countries. Like:

 Aghabani: - suggested this word to Agha-bashi chief of Agha or a certain class of

Turkish courts official so
 Ahadi: - Gentleman or trooper or soldier on a higher pay.
 Bahlia: - infantry armed with muskets.
 Changhara:- a small box with from partition for holding beetle-nuts
 Ek-lari :- an ornament (necklace)
 Karori :- collector of the government dues of certain area
 Nimcha: - A short sword.
 Qur: - the Turkish standard of balls.
 Saz: - trapping, harness, ornament.
 Suzani:- a kind of coverlet
 Tax:-short of salary (tankhwa).
 Taqah:- a single silken garment
 Tora: - a bag containing a thousand rupees.
 Zaruburak: - a long musket fired from a camel’s back.

There were many other words to which was using repeated by in Mughal history not only in
Alamgir or this book Maasir-i-Alamgiri. This was the common tradition in Mughals that every
year of his coronation or when emperor happy they gave promotion to their officers, prince or
other employs. And gave robe, Daushalas, Tora’s, Ek-lari, karahetc to their friends and families
member or other ambassador or guest. And at the last he gave index for translation of the
references.
CONCLUSION:
The book “Maasir-i-Alamgiri” is an interesting and is the document that consists of various
events and contributes to the Mughal history. As narrated by the writer, ‘Saqi Must’ad Khan’
Alamgir was the first emperor who had cause anarchy and created disturbance during his reign.
Aurangzeb remained busy in living lavish lifestyle and had also adopted such policies that
created rift and unrest in the society. He was inclined towards music and had spent a large
amount of wealth in his wanderings such as ceremonies of his birthdays and giving gifts & other
expenditures that pleases him. Alamgir, after coming into throne started adopting religious
policies that was offensive towards other beliefs. He was busy in spreading Islam and
demolishing other faiths and religions. The Emperor had destroyed different temples and
buildings of other faiths. Not only Alamgir demolishes the sacred place of Hindus and built a
mosque instead and stopped other non-Muslims from their religious practices. He also bands the
circulation of false-books and destroyed the schools in order to stop Brahmans in particular from
practicing and misleadind local people especially Muslims and Hindus. These were the steps that
had dented and disturbed religious harmony among locals as was adopted by Akbar previously.
Alamgir had to face internal conflicts due to the policies and laws that forced rebellions and
uprisings during his reign. He also imposed Jizya tax that had made religious biasness. But soon
Aurangzeb realized that his wealth had been reducing rapidly. He had reduced and cut down the
singers and musicians in his court. The policies adopted more harsh and were against other
religions. At the end of his reign, when Alamgir fell ill and became old, he started realizing it.
Alamgir became soft-hearted especially after the death of his younger sister. He adopted a
leanient policy in all his matters.On Aurangzeb’s life, Saqi Must’ad Khan gave his view as a
pious and holy person to support the argument that he enforced Islamic laws and was the
follower of Imam Abu Hanifa, & a sunni orthodox according to the writer.

At last, it was a book with a detailed account on Aurangzeb Alamgir and Saqi did justice in
describing various aspects of emperor’s life.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 Bernier, francois and Vincent A. smith Travels in the moghaul empire AD 1656-1668
 Ferishta, Mohamed kasim history of the rise of the Mahomedan power in India translated
from the original Persian buy john Briggs, in four vols.
 Mannucci, NiccolaoStoria do mogor or mogul India 1653-1708, translated with
introduction and notes by William Irvine, in four vols.
 Kazim, Munshi Muhammad, “Alamgir Nama”, ed. Maulwikhadim Hussain and Abdul
Hayee. (Calcutta: 1868).
 Qureshi, Ishtiaq Husain, “The Administration of the Mughal Empire”. (Karachi:
university of Karachi, 1966).
 Islam, Riazul, “Indo-Persian Relation”. (Lahore: Ripon Printing Press Ltd., 1970).
 Prasad, Ishwari, “A Short History of Muslim Rule in India”. (New Delhi: sarup book
publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2013).