Insight and reflection of bernier's notion of the mughal empire
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ABSTRACT:
This paper critically analyses a few observations documented by Francois Bernier, French traveller and physician, during his stay in the Mughal Empire of Aurangzeb’s (1656-1707 A.D.) time in the seventeenth century. Bernier has endeavoured to elucidate upon almost every aspect of the Mughal Empire viz. political developments, wealth of the emperors, economic conditions of the general populace, living conditions in Agra, Delhi etc, customs, traditions, beliefs of the subjects and so on. No doubt the author provides first hand interesting information on seventeenth century Mughal Empire, but at times his comparative analysis of the West and East clearly reflects his propensity of superior feeling towards West, and also the idea of otherness, the other being India.
KEY WORDS: War of Succession, Ownership of Land, Oriental Despotism, Encampment, Sati system, Travelogue.
INTRODUCTION:
Francois Bernier and his Travels in the Mogul Empire
The advent of scores of European travellers and those of other nationalities, traders, philosophers, ambassadors and many others was a customary phenomenon in the Mughal Empire. Almost every Mughal emperor had his share of traders, physicians, travellers and envoys from foreign lands coming to the Mughal court.[1] Francois Bernier was one among them; he was the French physician and traveller who reached India in the seventeenth century, towards the end of 1658 A.D. at the beginning of Aurangzeb’s reign. Bernier’s aspiration to see the world had kindled him to visit Palestine, Egypt, Cairo, Arabia and then he urged to go to Abyssinia. But destiny seems to have had some other plans for Bernier, and he seems to have visited India by chance as his journey towards Abyssinia was diverted to India. He set for sail towards India and thus reached Surat in 1658 A.D. and there he joined the entourage of Dara Shikoh as his physician, consequently this was his first ever encounter with the Mughals. But soon Bernier had to disown the company of Dara and proceeds towards Ahmadabad, and with the passage of time he worked under Danishmand Khan[2] and lived in Aurangzeb’s court as a physician for twelve years.
It is here during his twelve year stay in the Mughal court and the widely undertaken journey during the period that Bernier compiled his experiences in the work named ‘Travels in the Mogul Empire.[3]’ It is an important source to understand the seventeenth century Mughal India where the author was himself an eyewitness of numerous events that took place then. Bernier has inexhaustibly and intricately provided the testimony of the political intrigues, the war of succession among the four sons of Shah Jahan, the strategies and methods of warfare, social and economic aspects of the empire, its geographical and strategic extent, and so on based on his observations and extensive journeys he undertook, supplemented by additional information which was offered to him by the eminent Mughal courtiers.
Moreover, the letters dispatched by Bernier to many of his countrymen with regard to the economic conditions and religious beliefs of the Hindus (whom he referred as Gentils) and social customs followed by the people particularly of the northern part of the empire offer a deep insight of the socio-cultural as well as the religious practices of the people. The vivid picture of the capital cities of Delhi and Agra is so neatly illustrated by the author that it enables the reader to picturize the visual image of the lively description.
Bernier’s observations on Seventeenth Century Mughal Polity
The concluding part of Shah Jahan’s reign witnessed an enduring political discord that polarized around two proficient and influential sons of the emperor namely, Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. Also the acts of the two other sons of the emperor, Shah Shuja and Murad Baksh, too deserve mention in the crucial ongoing war of succession. It was in the backdrop of such political anarchy that Bernier stepped on the soil of Mughal Empire. Being a bystander of the fratricidal war, subsequently Bernier has explained the battle for the throne among the four sons of Shah Jahan, tracing the characteristic traits of each of his sons.
A brief overview of the character sketches of the four sons of Shah Jahan as drawn by Bernier would facilitate us a strong platform to understand the war of succession better. Dara, in the opinion of Bernier was considerate, polite, liberal, and swift at wordplay, and held himself very highly. But at the same time he was also quite irritable, apposite as pain in the neck and menace, obnoxious, however his anger is said to be infrequent as well as brief.
Answer:
The Mughal Empire comprises of European travelers from different nationalities, philosophers, ambassadors, and many more custom phenomenal. Every Mughal Empire had its share of travelers’ physicians, traders, and envoys of the foreign land. Francois was one of the foreigners; he was a traveler and French physician who arrived in India during the 17th century. However, the destiny seemed to have different plans sine his journey to Abyssinia was changed to India.