Discuss the causes of the downfall of the Mughal Empire.
The Mughal Empire was established by Babar and reached the climax of development in the reign of Akbar. The empire began to show the sign of disintegration after the death of Aurangzeb and it collapsed under the rule of incompetent successors of Aurangzeb.
The following important reasons were responsible for the downfall or disintegration of Mughal Empire.
A) Incompetent Successors : Aurangzeb passed away in 1707 and was succeeded by Bahadur Shah I who was incompetent and inefficient in the field of administration. The later Mughal rulers were pleasure seeking, luxurious, extravagant and illiterate. Consequently, they failed to run the administration which passed into the hands of a few clever and cunning ministers. So the general people suffered because the royal officials were involved in mutual conflict and enemity which hampered the Mughal Empire.
B) War of succession : The Mughal Empire was based on the policy of might is right because there was no proper law of succession. The throne became bone of contention among the members of the royal family. There was war of succession almost after the demise of each Mughal Emperor. The royal members as well as kinsmen of rulers were often involved in conspiracy, intrigues and plot to occupy the throne of Mughal Empire. Thus there was loss of national wealth and the general people suffered miserably.
C) Vastness of Empire : The Mughal Empire was extended to a vast part in Indian sub-continent. The empire was stretching from Kashmir in the north to SriLanka in the south and from Burma in the east to Pakistan in the west. Therefore, it was practically not possible for any ruler of India in the Mughal period to control the affairs of the Empire. There wa lack of means of transportation and communication which inspired the enemies and opposition party of Mughal rulers to create problems against the Mughal Empire. Gradually, the Mughal Empire began to decline.
D) Economic Bankruptcy : The Mughal Empire was very prosperous and sound in the field of economy during the rule of Akbar and Jehangir. But Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb exhausted the national wealth in fulfilling their interest and spent a lot of amount on art, architecture as well as in long wars in the Deccan. The later Mughal rulers were luxurious and pleasure seeking. They spent a major portion of national income in the enjoyment and pleasure. The licentious lives of the later Mughals and their mutual conflicts drained the royal treasury. Dr.J.N. Sarkar has commented on the economic condition of the royal family during the reign of Shah Alam II in these words, "No fire was kindled in Harem kitchen for three days and one day the princesses could bear starvation no longer and in a frantic disregard of purdah rushed out of the palace to the city, but fort gates being closed they sat down in the man's quarters for a day and a night after which they were persuaded to go back in their rooms”. As a result of this the empire declined rapidly.
E) Weakness of the Mughal Army : The Mughal army, which had established the Mughal Empire under Babur, began to decline during the reign of Shah Jahan. The degeneration among the Mughal army was caused by the wealth and comforts. The Mughal soldiers suffered from indiscipline, luxury, inactivity, women, wine and licentious habits. Besides, the soldiers were recruited by the Mansabdars who followed different methods of recruitment. The soldiers lived under the command of Mansabdars who deprived them of their proper wages. Consequently, the Mughal army lost their vigour and strength which was proved during the invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali. Thus the principal cause of the downfall of Mughal empire was the degeneration of army.
F) Foreign invasion : The foreign invasion made by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali gave the final blow to the decaying Mughal Empire. Nadir Shah invaded seven times and Ahmad Shah Abdali exposed the poor military strength of Mughal Empire. The invaders managed to reach Delhi and plundered the city and the temples. The foreign invasions convinced the rulers and feudal lords about the weaknesses of Mughal Empire and they asserted their independence at the cost of the Mughal Empire.
G) Advent of the Europeans : The advent of the Europeans contributed to the decline and disappearance of the Mughal rule in India. The foreign companies like Portuguese, French and the British traded and exploited the Indian resources. Gradually, these companies took advantages of the declining Mughal rule and set-up their power in India. The Indian kings and princes often fought among themselves and allowed the foreigners to interfere in their internal affairs. Consequently, the British administrators adopted the policy of annexation, subsidiary alliance, Doctrine of Lapse etc. which strengthened and expanded their rule in India. Lastly, Bahadur Shah II, who was the last Mughal Emperor of India, was captured and put to death in Rangoon in 1862. Thus the Mughal Empire came to an end in 1862.
According to a group of historians the downfall of Mughal Empire was mainly due to the policies and principles of Aurangzeb as discussed below:
i) Religious Fanaticism : Aurangzeb was Sunni who was intolerant to other religions. He followed orthodox policy and acted against the non-Muslim subjects. Aurangzeb caused the destruction of many Hindu temples throughout the country and imposed various kinds of taxes on the Hindus. Besides, Jizya was re-imposed on the Hindus. A large number of people were converted to Islam and those who refused were slained. He banned the religions festivals and many holy places were converted into Mosque.
ii) Deccan policy : Aurangzeb wanted to conquer the Deccan states that is Bijapur and Golkunda. But these places were far from Delhi and there was lack of means of transportation and communication. So the Mughal forces suffered serious losses during the battles fought against the Sultan of Bijapur and Golkunda. The Deccan expedition exhausted the treasury as well as Mughal forces which weakened the Mughal Empire. Aurangzeb realised that his Deccan expedition was blunder and it ruined Aurangzeb. The Deccan became the graveyard of Mughal Empire.
iii) Relations with Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas : Aurangzeb was a staunch Sunni who abandoned the liberal and secular policy of Akbar. He removed the important high officials who belonged to Rajput Sikhs and Maratha community. It hurt the sentiments of a large number of Indians who were serving as back bone of Mughal Empire. The high royal Rajput officials turned against Mughal rule and strengthened their kingdom against the Mughal supremacy. Similarly, the Sikh community turned against the Mughal because many important and religious Guru of Sikh religion were tortured and persecuted.
iv) Suspicious nature of Aurangzeb : Aurangzeb was a man of suspicious nature who had no confidence in his officials and family members. He therefore, concentrated all powers in his own hands. As a result of this he lost the confidence and sincerity of his officials who were always trying to look sincere and hard-working but in reality they were not prepared to co-operate with the emperor. Most of the officials instead of working honestly, were trying to please the emperor. Thus Aurangzeb was kept in darkness about the political and administrative matters of the empire.
It is thus quite clear that the decline of the Mughal Empire was not due to any single factor but due to the combination of a series of factors. But the foreign invasions brought the total collapse of the Mughal Empire and it paved the way for the British rule in India.
