AURANGZEB’S FIRST VICEROYALTY OF THE DECCAN: A REAPPRAISAL Zakir Husain While the Adab-i-Alamgir#' the correspondence conceming Aurangzeb's Second Viceroayalty of the Deccan (1652-1657), we are still not much acquainted with his first Viceroyalty of the Deccan (1635-1644) which period is also not unimportant. When Aurangzeb was initially appointed as Viceroy of the Deccan he successfully conducted the administration of this large suba, with its considerable financial problems of which we come to know from the availability of numerous documents? and newly discovered records.” The date of a nishan of Aurangzeb issued on 18 Azur 9" RY /2" Rajab 1045 AH corresponding to 3% December 1635 AD clearly stipulates that Aurangzeb was appointed to this first Viceroyalty of the Deccan just before this date. When Aman Beg,‘ the castelian of the fortress of Qandahar in the Deccan which was conquered in 1631 AD ‘sought instructions regarding the disposal of spoilt foodgrain and repairs of the fort he was directed to distribute the same as alufa (calary) among the soldiers (ahsham) of that place and purchase and store up the fresh food-grain by taking action in consonance with Sunder Das, the Diwan of Telingana suba which province had been carved out in 8" RY of Shahjahan. He was instructed to avail of the services of Jahan, the architect and submit the bill to Aurangzeb in agreement with both the officials, maintain the roznamcha (daily report) and forward it with necessary verification to the cashier for disbursing the amount.’ Since the foodgrains were much spoilt that soldiers of the fort declined to accept it. Accordingly anew princely order (nishar) was issued on 20" Bahman 4 RY (31 January 1636) for supplying foodgrains for a period up to /sfandyar. While for the current claim they were to be paid in kind for one month and in cash for the remaining period whereas the remaining food grain was to be sold out expeditiously at prevalent market rate.’ Since Arman Beg had made a representation regarding the repair of one of the turrets of the fort of Qandahur Aurangzeb through his nishan of 10% Jumada IT 1046 AH (30* October 1636) allowed the same. Aurangzeb kept in view the population of pargana Qandahar which was reported to have increased as compared to that of the last year. The report resulted in favour of Aurangzeb who encouraged him to restore it to its original state of prosperity.’ When Aman Beg represented about the completion of the repairs of the fort of QandaharMedieval India 3 it made the Prince extremely happy as is confirmed by his nishan of 4% ‘Shaban 1047 corresponding to 12" December 1637. Since Aurangzeb had been ‘continuously keeping a vigilant eye on the day to day developments in the Deccan he ordered Aman Beg to look into the administration of the fort with utmost care as its giladar (castellan), the fort being “the best” in Telingana. Since Aurangzeb was aware of the sincerity of the castellan he instructed him not to move to the {Prince’s) Court and remain busy in the assigned work as it was inadvisable for him to be away from the fort.? Aurangzeb issued a nishan on 29% Ramazan 1048 (23% January 1639) granting 3,0,1005 dams from pargana Sarbar, suba Telingana to Qalandar Beg? S/o Aman Beg in place of Sadat Bhakkari besides his present emoluments of 4,10,000 dams from pargana Saroon (Murtuzapur), sarkar Gavil, suba Berar, bringing his jagir to 711,005 dams, Aurangzeb also instructed the deshmukhs, desphandiyas, mugaddams and the peasantry to recognize him as their jagirdar, honestly co-operate with him for the mal-i-wajibi (land tax) and specified state fiscal imposts (huguq-i-diwani). Qalandar Beg like his father was also encouraged to strive for the increase of the prosperity as well as the extension of cultivation."” When Aman Beg, the castellan of Qandahar made a representation (arzdashé) to Prince Murad Bakhsh complaining against the oppression of the son of Amar Singh and others for unjustified payments from his Jagir the Prince directed Rao Roop, through his mishan of 24" Rajab 1049 (10% November 1639) that whenever the agent of the said person would request him for help then necessary help should be given to him according to his entitlements and accounts." Since Aurangzeb appreciated the appropriate action taken by his official viz., Aman Beg’s information to him regarding the punishment meted out to notorious Hathkaran, the Prince approvingly cited this fact in his nishan of 9 Zilhijja 1049 (22% March 1640). Aurangzeb encouraged him to suppress the refractoriness of such persons of the pargana and also assured him of his favour." Aurangzeb seemed to take care to make officials appointment on certain conditions viz., in one of his nishan of post-1638 AD which he had addressed to the big and the small zamindars (azim-o-asaghir zamindaron) ~ ignoring the so-called intermediary zamindars, deshmaukh and the peasantry of sarkar Bijagath who aspired to the Princes favours that he had assigned the office of the faujdar (commandant of a territory, in charge of law and order) of the said sarkar to a particular official. ‘They were, however, specifically instructed that the said appointee was to be treated as their permanent faujdar and that they had not to deviate312 THC: Proceedings, 70th Session, 2009-10 from his utterances and decisions which were aimed at the extension of cultivation and prosperity, welfare of the condition of peasantry, extermination of the evil-doers and the suppression of the disturbances and tumult of the mischief mongers. However, the incumbent was simultaneously directed that he was supposed to remain engaged whole heartedly in considerate behaviour with the peasantry, and the safety of the highways without leaving any stone unturned by considering it as his duty. He was issued injunctions without allowing any deviation in the matter." This practice was also adopted in all other appointments as we come to know through Aurangzeb’s order (post-1638 AD) wherein it is stated that “The brave, worthy of kindness and courtesy Usman Khan who was distinguished by princely favour that he should know that we have appointed him to the office of bakhshi and wagianavisi so that they should consider the said duty attached to him and they should strengthen his hand in this matter so that he should consider himself responsible in the matter." Side by side looking after the administrative matters of the various sarkars of the Deccan provinces Aurangzeb paid attention to preserve existing charity grants. Cofirming the sanads of the former local potentates issued in favour of one Shaikh Ibrahim for 170 bighas as the madad-i-maash along with % seer of oil for his mosque, Aurangzeb confirmed this land grant in Gaz-i-ilahi with 1/8 seer of oil (per diem) in village Dewla, pargana Bir with usual instructions for demarcation and consolidation of the grant without any obstruction on the pretext of fiscal imposts and state demands." In response to the entreaty of Aman Beg soliciting permission to visit to the his court, Aurangzeb, through his nishan of 22 Rabi |, 1052 (20% June 1642) confirmed that he had already reached at Burhanpur by 19% Rabi I, 1052 (17% June 1642)."* He had enjoined Aman Beg to look after his duties of protecting the fort and its district, Since the Prince was pleased he had bestowed on him an alam (banner, standard) which was being dispatched through Saqi Beg, an imperial servant.” Since the emperor very well knew the importance of the trade and commerce he encouraged the merchants and traders by abolishing trade tax, transit duties and forbidden imposts throughout the Mughal empire which fact was also endorsed by Prince Aurangzeb during his first viceroyalty of the Deccan as is evident from his following nishan which was definitely issued after the transfer of Baglana to suba Khandesh in 1638 AD, as it was originally annexed to suba Malwa in 1634 AD. “Let it be known to the potentates (hukkam) and jagirdars from Burhanpur city to the frontier of Baglana who were dignified by the