Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth
| Author | Audrey Truschke |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Biography, Mughal Empire |
| Published | February 2017 (India), May 2017 (USA) |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House India; Stanford University Press (under alternate title) |
| Publication place | India / United States |
| Pages | 208 |
| Award | Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2017) |
| ISBN | 9780143442714 (India); 9781503602038 (USA) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth is a 2017 biography of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb by historian Audrey Truschke. The book was published by Penguin Random House in India and later by Stanford University Press in the United States under the title Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King. It aims to deconstruct popular myths about Aurangzeb and place his rule within a nuanced historical framework.[1]
Overview
[edit]The book challenges the Hindutva narrative of Aurangzeb as a fanatical and intolerant ruler by examining Persian chronicles, royal firmans, and Mughal court histories. Truschke argues that Aurangzeb’s actions were often driven by political pragmatism rather than religious dogma, and that he continued many policies of his predecessors, including temple grants and employing Hindu officials.[2] Among the key issues the book reconsiders are the reimposition of the jizya tax, temple demolitions, and conflicts with other religious communities. Truschke presents these within a broader Mughal imperial context, contending that Aurangzeb’s reign was more about statecraft than ideology.[3] It was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2017.[4]
Reception
[edit]Munis D. Faruqui, a historian of Mughal India, found the book to be an excellent work aimed at non-specialists, and praised Truschke's willingness to tackle the topic despite being aware about the inevitability of "vicious personal attacks from mostly nonacademic critics".[5]
See also
[edit]- Aurangzeb
- Audrey Truschke
- Jadunath Sarkar's History of Aurangzeb
- Religious policy under Aurangzeb
- Guru Tegh Bahadur
References
[edit]- ^ Sundaram, Rama (4 March 2017). "Aurangzeb: A stranger no more". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ Jain, Saumya (22 April 2017). "Aurangzeb is a complex king, not a cartoon bigot". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ Truschke, Audrey (2017). Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9781503602038.
- ^ Aurangzeb | Stanford University Press. 2017-05-16. ISBN 978-1-5036-0257-1.
- ^ Faruqui, Munis D. (6 March 2019). "Aurangzeb: The Life and Legacy of India's Most Controversial King. By Audrey Truschke". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 87 (1): 299–303. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfy040. ISSN 0002-7189.