54 -एक दुखी परिवार 

After Aurangzeb -2

Jahandar Shah (1712-1713):

In another war of succession following Bahadur Shah’s death, his four sons, Jahandar Shah, Rafi-us-Shan, Azim-us-Shan and Jahan Shah became involved. Jahandar Shah (1712-13) was suc­cessful in the war than the others. But Jahandar Shah was a weak ruler and came to the throne chiefly – with the help of Zulfikar Khan, the powerful noble who as a reward was made the wazir (prime minister).

He was a clever man and advocated a friendly policy towards the Rajput’s, Marathas and the Hindu chieftains not only to strengthen his own position but to ensure the survival of the empire. 

He quickly abandoned the policies of Aurangzeb and adopted a liberal attitude towards the Hindus. He abolished the jizyah; gave the title of Mirza Raja Sawai to Jai Singh of Amber and appointed him the governor of Malwa.

Ajit Singh of Marwar was given the title of Maharaja and appointed the governor of Gujarat. He confirmed the agreement reached between his deputy and Shahu in 1711 whereby the Marathas were given the chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan on condition that the Mughal officials would make these collections and hand it over to the Maratha officials. He pacified Churaman Jat and Chhatrasal Bundela but continued a strict policy towards the Sikhs.

Zulfikar Khan tried to improve the finances of the empire by checking the reckless growth of jagirs and offices and forced the mansabdarsio maintain their official quota of troops. 

But he also introduced the evil practice of revenue – farming or Ijarah whereby the government established contact with the revenue farmers and middlemen who paid the government a fixed amount while they were free to collect whatever they could from the peasant. It had two fold impact. First, disintegration of powers at grass roots level which left the peasants at the care or mercy of the smaller lords . Second, the centre of power increasingly got distanced from the masses, who would soon begin to experience disintegration or weakening of the empire.

This as well oppressed the peasantry to a great extent. However the inglorious reign of Jahandar Shah soon came to an end in 1713 when he was defeated by his nephew Farrukh Siyar at Agra. Zulfikar Khan was soon executed by the orders of the new emperor.

(Cont.   .)