AN ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION IN PUNJAB IN 1689 AD ALAMGEER’S TIME
META BIN DERVAISH POET AND HISTORIAN WRITES HIS NATURAL VIEWS
THINGS HAVE REMAINED THE SAME IN ALL WAYS

Meta Bin Dervaish has written a book TUFAH UL PUNJAB in 1689 AD, which records many things not normally present elsewhere. The amazing thing is his analysis of the deteriorated condition in Punjab as the Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgeer is nowhere near. Stationed in Aurangabad, the Emperor has no knowledge of the things gone wrong in Punjab. He states quite clearly:

“Things have changed with time. There is no rush in bazaars nowadays. Bribery and corruption has reached its height. Bribery is the only way left now to earn money. Palaces worth looking and houses illuminated are due to bribery alone. Now even Muslims are taking SOOD (interest) like Hindus. And except for Kalma, there is no difference between Muslim and Hindus. Forbearance has left people of abstinence and people have left patience all together. The rich are so insolent that they do not help anyone. People in power like the bureaucracy have no fear of the Emperor, in fact they have no fear of even Allah. Jails are so full of convicts that the sound of chains is so much that people cannot even sleep at night. Honesty has abandoned the people. Cruelty and lack of justice and even the Emperor’s treasure is not safe from harm. And nor the people in general. No one relies on their jageer alone but is bent upon looting the wealth of others. People in power give 50 percent to the State but after a hundred excuses. Journalists (waqai nawis) and bureaucrats are reporting wrongly to the Emperor all the time. If a wrong happens, it is converted into a good which has materialized. The whole nation is tired of these state representatives. and all these representative are doing is increasing their share of spoils. If a Kafir is caught red handed, all he has to say is the Kalma and he gets away with it. The muslim caught has no such luck and is punished dreadfully. The innocent sheds his blood to no avail. The Emperor is unaware of the sins of his designated representatives.
Brother takes interest from own brother. The husbands have no loyalty in their hearts but the wives have also abandoned shame from their eyes. If somebody is dying of thirst, no one has the taufeeq to quench his thirst, by offering him a cup of water. In the path of the rich even if a blind person is sitting, he turns his glance and walks away. There is so called restrictions on jobs for Hindus in the Royal structure, but they are comfortably sitting in all jobs and no one can stop them. The Hindus have become so arrogant and hard headed that they do not even look sympathetically towards the Muslims. They insult Muslims all the time and laugh at their folly in believing that things can be corrected. They take revenge on Muslims all the time. People fed up of the Hindu hypocrisy. Muuezins afraid of reciting the azan in a loud manner for fear of censure from the Hindus. Afraid of neighbours complaining. The Quran cannot be read loudly for same fears. The representatives are loud clear in SHAN SHAUKAT The Hindus are sahulat kar to all wrongs being done here and support the person doing wrong. Muslims are misfortunate in front of Hindu doors. The Muslims run after the Hindus in galli kochas for possible favours. The Hindus are in control of power state.
The Muslims feel no shame in going to Hindu company, one can only ask why they do not become Hindus themselves. Curse of Allah be upon these people who have become Munshis of Hindus. Our Emperor is so far away and cannot listen to our plight. Our well being has changed into national despondency. The situation is so bad that Jazziya is even now being given by the Muslims. Safarish is like biting the dog’s ears. People are tired of the cruelty of the State. We need an Emperor. In this dark night we need the flame of hope.”

I could not believe what was written by Meeta in 1689 and yet all that seems to be the same today. The Mughal Emperor and the reign of the filthy democrats all the same. Things have not changed at all ever since. Riots were witnessed through the history. The last big riots were in 1947. Lahore was a witness to that. Cow riots were predominant in Mughal times as well as in British times. Butchers of Delhi Darwaza were murdered by Hindus. And yet we learn nothing. We all want to live in peace without exploitation. Shanti is the key word but this Shanti should not include a dagger between the sleeves. For anyone desiring to read the original can consult the manuscript in the National Archives of Pakistan.

ABSOLUTELY NEW INFORMATION ON EMPEROR AURANGZEB;
FROM THE CONTEMPORARY JAIPUR STATE RECORDS UNKOWN:
PROVIDED BY MAULANA YUSUF ALI KHAN LIBRARIAN RECORDS.

Maulana Yusuf Ali Khan migrated to Pakistan. He was a Librarian of Records at Jaipur State, which included rarest newsletters from the times of the Mughals itself. He knew how important those records were and certainly not in a position to publish a grand book about them. So, the best he did was publish a book in Urdu in 1951, from Karachi, narrating the valid information he had from them. A copy of the book is in our archives.

Pakistan and India are not one. They represent the two-nation theory . As Quaid e Azam said very aptly, heroes of one nation are villains of the other, and Vica. Our National Poet Dr Allama Iqbal described Emperor Aurangzeb as “Ibraheem (Abraham) of the Indian But-Khana (idols house)”, and loyal Pakistanis deem the role of Emperor Aurangzeb, as no less than Hazrat Umar of the Prophet’s (PBUH) time. Unfortunately, foreign lobbies are quick to employ local pseudo intellectuals to spread their point of view. The Ideology of Pakistan is the bane of foreign lobbies. Sponsor so called intellectual festivals in which the main theme is to embarrass loyal Pakistanis out of their valid convictions. Twenty years with Dr Allama Iqbal, Abdur Rahman Chughtai understood the Ideology of Pakistan well. The legacy of the artist is with us. A country with convictions, protected by a strong ideological army, our steps towards tomorrow.

The usual sources of our knowledge are there. Books like Maaseray Alamgeeri, Alamgeer Nama, as well as the Hyderabad State Records. A worthy edition is that of Maulana Shibli, which has become a classic on Aurangzeb. The hate Aurangzeb literature is led by 83 years old Dr Mubarak Ali, who certainly will be asked by history as to his venom against a great Emperor. As to a horde of Aurangzeb haters in India, who really have only stereotypes at their disposal without factual records. Here in the world Ms Audrey Trustschke of Rutgers University stepped in, and incurred the wrath of Indian zealots against her factual research. Congratulations to her for steadfastly standing on the grounds of truth. I read the factual record of the last day of Emperor Aurangzeb, and the small book of prayers, he wrote in his own hands for a courtier (in my possession), and all I feel is compassion for a great soul of the world. And the greatest shame was the alert issued in Khuldabad of desire of some zealots to uproot the grave of Emperor Aurangzeb, and throw his body out. The same thing as done by Ranjit Singh with the body of Empress Nur Jahan in Lahore. People forget that they will die one day too.

The merit of life of Maulana Yusuf Ali Khan is above reproach. He carried certificates from the Government in Jaipur. He came across newsletters which reached Jaipur and consulted them and took out a book on the unknown life of Aurangzeb Alamgeer. Published in Karachi in 1951, it is worthy of records elsewhere too. A number of new facts come to light.

The Newsletter narrates the arrival of Dara Shikoh in Delhi and the lockup of father and son in Khizarpur prison. The interesting part is that father and son declined to receive food from outside and used to cook their own food. Then there is the letter of Dara Shikoh to Aurangzeb, apologizing for everything, and telling him that he has no desire for the throne and he be allowed to live. Dara Shikoh promised to pray for Aurangzeb and his sons, all his life. It seems that everything as well as arrogance, was driven out of the Prince in this capture alone. The zeal was gone.

Another very interesting feature is the burial of Dara Shikoh in Humayouns courtyard. Aurangzeb Alamgeer had seen to it that Dara Shikoh should be buried properly there. News reaches the Emperor, that the grave is no longer in good repair. Aurangzeb Alamgeer issues orders for the immediate, and proper repair of the grave, as well as appointment of Caretakers to take care of it. Orders were also issued for it to be covered with a proper dignified chaddar (cloth) all the time. Upholding of such traditions, tell us of the attitude of Aurangzeb towards his dead brother. Given honour and dignity even after death.

This may look amazing to some, but then Aurangzeb Alamgeer is the most misquoted and misunderstood Mughal Emperor of Hindustan. There is so much animosity against him, that no one is interested in hearing the truth about him. There is much more in the records at Jaipur. 

ANOTHER INCIDENT FROM JAIPUR STATE RECORDS
SHAH JAHAN PUTS THE CROWN ON AURANGZEB’S HEAD

The work and combined effort of Jahan Ara and others

The English translation of the bigoted Jadunath Sarkar of MAASIR-I-ALAMGEERI of Saqi Mustad Khan jumps at places and there are deliberate gaps there. On 12th May (29th Shaban) 1659, Aurangzeb Alamgeer enters the Delhi Fort. His second coronation is listed by Jadunath Sarkar as being on 5th June, 1659 (24th Ramazan). There is no account of the missing 25 days or so. Some portions left perhaps due to Mustad Khan, others left by Jadunath Sarkar. A lot happened in those 25 days.

Aurangzeb Alamgeer gave the utmost respect to Shah Jahan and the father was told the whole story of his achievements. The reconciliation was started by Syed Muhammed Qanauji and perfected by Jahan Ara herself. In the end she won the day by reconciling Shah Jahan with his son. The result Shah Jahan himself put the crown on the head of the Prince Aurangzeb Alamgeer and got issued a coin in his name on the 1st of Ramazan at Agra. That is 23 days before the official coronation mentioned in Alamgeeri texts. The coin and khutba was generated which called ABU MUZZAFER MOHYUDDIN MUHAMMED AURANGZEB BAHADUR ALAMGEER. (page 134 Aurangzeb Alamgeer book by Yusuf Ali Khan quoting Jaipur State Records) There is even an inscription in the mosque of HUSSAM DIN SAKHTA AT SANBAR JAIPUR, which lists 1659 as first Jaloos of Alamgeer.

In all these episodes Aurangzeb Alamgeer is projected as a villain but it is forgotten by historians, that Shah Jahan was so carried away with his love for Dara Shikoh, that father and son, invited Aurangzeb Alamgeer to Delhi, and had made plans for his assassination. It was Roshan Ara Begum, sister of Aurangzeb Alamgeer, who informed him of this plan, and Aurangzeb declined their invitation. That is why Roshan Ara Begum was so close to Aurangzeb Alamgeer later in life too.

The date of this reconciliation would be very close to the 12th May entry of Aurangzeb Alamgeer into Delhi Fort. Possibly a day or two later. It should be kept in mind that the Jaipur State Records are of that date, not later in life. It is the official newsletter sent to other officials about the working of the Court. Raja Jai Singh and his heirs were very close to the Mughal Court. This is no second hand information from the streets. Scholars are welcome to research on this project. But the bigotry of many Indian writers obsessed with creating their own versions of history without documentation is at the least repulsive to scholarship.

On 5th June 1660 the first year of reign was celebrated at Mughal Court with great enthusiasm. This was the 24th of Ramazan. Official decree was issued by the Emperor Aurangzeb, that the sacred day was the 1st of Ramazan, when his father put the crown on his head, so from then on, the official commemoration day would be 1st Ramazan, and so the jaloos should be calculated from that day. This was his homage to his father Shah Jahan.

I hope someone picks up on these records and goes further. There is much more to it. Best of luck to them!

SEX PARTY OVER EMPEROR JAHANGEER’S REMAINS (1828)
COMMANDER M. AMISE AND RANJIT SINGH

Looters and plunderers have no qualms. In fact doing the odd taboo thing is an aphrodisiac for them. The British converted the Taj Mahal into a honeymoon hotel and for some time, it also became a suicide point for its jilted lovers. The mausoleum of Rabia Durrani wife of Emperor Aurangzeb, in Aurangabad was also used for ball room dancing. And in Lahore, the mausoleum of Muhammed Salih Kanbo, Court historian of Shah Jahan as a Church as well as mausoleum of Nadira Begum, wife of Emperor Jahangeer as the Main Church too (and making a concubine Anarkali out of her). Examples too numerous to list. The Sikh rule was not characterized differently. The plunder of Lahore is well on record.

European Adventurers at the Court of Ranjit Singh were having their own kind of fun, far away from their homes. Deeds of many are on record. Some did good things, some bad things. Commander M. Amise, French for some, and from Spain for others, was also working for Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh was not bothered about his past record, as others had reported of flaws in his character. The Gujranawalla dacoit sanctioned Jahangeer’s Mausoleum for his troops and the Badshahi mosque for his living place. But he never stayed at the mosque and preferred the Jahangeer’s mausoleum. He had the debris removed, the garden straightened etc and started living his life in the room of the sarcophagus itself. In fact it is said that there was an opening on the roof which Lehna Singh (or Sobha Singh) had covered with wooden planks after removing the marble balustrade etc. In any case Commander M. Amise was very proud of cleaning up his living quarter.

People of Lahore take their sacred places very seriously. Mirza Akram Baig was the descendant of the Emperor and Empress Nur Jahan and he used to hold the ‘PAR DA MELA’ festival there every year. Commander M. Amise went one step further. He not only lived in that room of the grave, he started using it for sexual parties. It is said that the sarcophagus was actually used as a bed for sexual intercourse with nautch girls of Lahore.

How much is true or not, one does not know? Everybody knew that he died on the grave of Jahangeer itself. This one knows that he died a mysterious death. Cholera was only an illusion. Some say it was the wrath of Allah. Others attribute it to the ghost of Nur Jahan herself. It was also rumoured that the shade of Jahangeer had been seen and the Emperor predicted the death of the European rascal. But rational people say that he was probably murdered by a gardener at the instance of the Mutavallis or khadims of the mausoleum. In any case he was actually buried somewhere outside in haste. Ranjit Singh had the building closed and the walls sealed after his death. Captain Wade tells us that the news of the death of Amise reached him on 18th October, 1828, and he worked for Ranjit Singh for two years.Sir Edward Maclagan had not only been shown the grave of Amise, but also shown the desecration of it many times. It was reported by Maclagan that something very bad Amise had done to incur the wrath of the people of Lahore. There used to be a grave in the compound attributed to some BABA SAEN we used to see as kids when we visited the place. Perhaps the grave was of Commander M. Amise himself. No interest is taken by the Archaeological department to solve the riddle of the ages. Here a SEX PARTY led to actual death of the inhabitant.

P.S. Some people spell and pronounce Amise as Ohms.