SHAH JEHAN (1627-1658 A.D)

Immediately after the death of Jahangir, there was a war in royal house for the throne. The courtiers and the governors of various provinces actively participated in it and there was a great blood shed in the country.Shah Jehan with the help of Asif Khan put down the rebellion. Most of the princes who participated in the revolt against Shah Jehan were ruthlessly executed and khutba was read in the name of Shah Jehan. The famous Sajda ceremony was abolished and new coin, with the name of first four caliphs on one side and his own name on the other were introduced. Shah Jehan had visited the valley during the life time of his father and had developed a soft corner for his inhabitants. After consolidating his position, he devoted his energes to redress the grievances of his subjects who had suffered much during oppressive and autocratic rule of Itiqad Khan. On receiving some complaints of his high-handedness, Shah Jehan did not show any laxity in removing him from the governorship of the province and adopted Zafar Khan as the Subedar of Kashmir. The emperor adopted various measures to effect changes in its traditional system of administration.Oppressive taxes levied arbitrarily by former governors were abolished and for the guidance of future rulers, a new set of regulations was issued by Shah Jehan and inscribed on a stone slab which was fixed on the southern gate-wall of the Jama Masjid of Srinagar.

The set of regulations forbade the authorities to engage labourers for collecting saffron without the payment of wages.

Fuel tax on Shali which was raised from two dams to four dams on each Kharwar of Shali by Itiqad Khan was entirely abolished.

Villages whose revenue exceeded 400 Kharwas were relieved of supplying two goats annually to the authorities as a rasum.

Itiqad Khan caused much distress and poverty in the valley when he enhanced the oppressive tax on boatmen to 75 dams irrespective of their age. Shah Jehan remitted the enhanced part of the tax and continued with earlier practice of 60 dams on a Youngman, 12 on an old man and 36 on a boy.

Owners of Orchards used to keep their land uncultivated as most of the fruit was taken by the government officials without any payment.Shah Jahan immediately put a step to this practice and remitted all the taxes on fruit growers.

Administratve measures mentioned above were enforced with great vigour and no officer was allowed to initiate any change or alteration in these regulations.

Zaffar Khan the Mughal Subedar of Kashmir not only executed the orders of his master effieciently but himself contributed a lot to remove all types administrative abuses which had caused much distress to the people. Hostilities that sprang up occasionally between the communities created ugly situation of the violence and civil strife. Newly appointed governor tackled the situation with courage and determination and suppressed the hostilities with strong action against the miscreants. He took various measures which satisfy his passion to bring material prosperity to the subjects. Fruit industry of Kashmir received an impetus when the quality and taste of cherry,plum, peach and grapes was improved by introducing better grafts and saplings which the Subedar brought from Persia and Kabul. He had great, fascination for the Dal Lake and took personal interest to adorn its vicinity by laying out gardens at various spots.

Zaffar Khan’s energy manisfested itself not only in the organization of the civil administration but also in the formation of plans subjugate the territories which are in the neighbourhood of the valley.Under Shah Jehan’s orders; he led an expedition against Abdal, the ruler of Balistan who had ordered refuge to chak claimants to the throne of Kashmir. Due to difficult terrain from Kashmir to Balistan, the Mughal forces suffered serious losses in men and material but their superiority in number and fighting ability compelled Abdal to surrender. He alongwith his family members was brought to Kashmir and Mohammad Murad was installed in his place. The arrangement made by Zaffar Khan was resented by Shah Jehan as it was done without his consent much on account of natural calamities.He took personal interest to mitigate the hardships of his subjects when, in 1641 A.D. excessive rains caused a terrible flood which swept away the standing crops and devastated a large part of the city of Srinagar. A large quantity of food grains was imported from the neighbouring states and distributed among the flood striken population. Free ration was provided to the starving people in the kitchens opened at various places.

Shah Jehan’s passion to surpass his predecessors in constructing building and laying out gardens is clearly reflected from the fact that the Mughal architecture reached its zenith when Shah Jehan constructed Taj Mahal and laid out Shalimar garden at Lahore. Responding to the desires of the emperor,the Subedars in Kashmir particularly Ali Mardan Khan,laid out number of gardens and built a network of roads in the valley. For the facility and comfort of the travelers, he constructed large number of Sarais on the Mughal route and planted shady trees on both sides of the roads.

The reign of Shah Jehan came to an end when suddenly fell ill and discontinued coming to the durbar.His absence gave rise to various speculations and bred lawlessness in the empire. Courtiers and nobles were anxious to install their own candidate on the throne of Hindustan and instigated the princes for making a bid for the throne. To overcome the situation, Shah Jehan, in presence of courtiers and nobles, declared his eldest son Dara as his successor. The choice was not acceptable to his other sons and there was an armed conflict among the four brothers. Aurangzeb very tactfully won over to his side his two brothers Shuja and Murad and succeeded in capturing the throne for himself. Shah Jehan was imprisoned where he died on 22^nd of January 1666 A.D. with his eyes fixed on the Taj Mahal.