Which did emperor Aurangzeb do as ruler of the Mughal Empire?

Which did emperor Aurangzeb do as ruler of the Mughal Empire?

A. He promoted religious tolerance.

B. He raised taxes on non-Muslims.

C. He promoted multiculturalism.

D. He rebuilt the Taj Mahal.

Answer: B. He raised taxes on non-Muslims.

Aurangzeb Alamgir, the Mughal emperor from 1658-1707 deemed a bigot for introducing policies that tended to make the empire more Islamic and demanded more from non-Muslims especially the Hindus. One of his major and most controversial policies implemented during his rule was increasing taxes on non-Muslims. This policy was a complete opposite to the tolerant policies of his predecessors especially through Akbar the Great.

Aurangzeb resumed the jizya, an economic tax paid by the non-Muslim population by the Muslim states. This tax was charged by Akbar in 1564 and was withdrawn by him on the grounds of religious tolerance but was reintroduced by Aurangzeb in 1679. The jizya was collected on a per-head basis from adult non-Muslim males and excluded from paying those unable to pay the tax because of their poverty or disability. This tax was believed to be an indication of Arab and Islamic domination as well as the subjugation of non-Muslims in the Islamic world. Besides the jizya, Hindu subjects paid an additional amount of taxes including the increased customs duty on the commodities brought by Hindu traders as compared to Muslim traders. All these policies were a part of Aurangzeb Alamgir’s Jehadi policy wherein he aimed to bring back Islamic puritanism in the Mughal Empire. He also proceeded to destroy some of the temples belonging to the Hindus, banned how the Hindus celebrate their festivals, and championed the conversion of Hindus to Islam. As much as these actions solidified his base among the conservative Muslim elements, they created more hostility among non-Muslim people and partly necessitated the fall of the Mughal Empire after him.