The Mughal Emperor’s decree features the special seal of the Mughal Empire.
Mughal emperor’s decree: The Mughal rulers hold a distinct place in the history of the country. The Mughal reign lasted for about 350 years in the country, starting in 1526 and officially ending in 1857. Even today, there is considerable discussion in our society about this history of three and a half centuries. Many aspects of this period are also debated. One group believes that a lot of atrocities were committed against Hindus during this time. The Mughal rulers discriminated against Hindus, and so on. However, a document over 250 years old from the Mughal era has surfaced, which clarifies many opinions on various matters.
The Hindu newspaper has published a report about this document. This report provides interesting information about a Mughal document over 250 years old regarding the concessions given to pilgrims in Allahabad, currently known as Prayagraj. This document is preserved in the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute (TSARI). At that time, India was undergoing significant changes. The Mughal Empire was weakening and the East India Company was expanding its influence. During such a period, this document indicates that pilgrims coming to bathe at the confluence in Prayagraj were granted religious freedom and facilities.
The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II issued this document, which is a farman, a royal decree. The term ‘farman’ means royal order. It is 102 cm long and 46 cm wide. It orders the officials of the Allahabad province (state) that no fees should be charged to the pilgrims. Additionally, all their expenses will be borne by the government. Zarina Parveen, director of TSARI, informed through the newspaper that this farman is from 1773 and is written in the Shikasta script, which is also referred to as ‘broken script.’ It instructs the ‘mutakaddiyan,’ meaning public officials or clerks, and the senior officials overseeing the riverbank, that they should not collect any fees from the pilgrims coming for the holy bath.
Zareena Parveen explained while translating this document, “All taxes and fees were waived. Bathing in the Ganges was considered a religious ritual, so it should not be interrupted. The same orders were given to the Kotwali, i.e., the police. If anyone violated this decree, strict action would be taken against them.” This decree also speaks about the communities that used to come in large numbers for bathing in Allahabad. It specifically mentions ‘Gujaratis’ and ‘Marathas’. At that time, these communities used to arrive from different parts of the country for Ganga bathing.
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II’s decree features the special seal of the Mughal emperors, which was a symbol of their power. According to historians, the design of this seal was unique. The name of the reigning emperor was in the center, surrounded by small circles containing the names of their ancestors, tracing back to Timur.
