Interview | Historian Munis D. Faruqui on his book, Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir and the Mughal Empire
Historian Munis D. Faruqui discusses his new book on Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, aiming to provide a more nuanced perspective on the ruler's religious and political life. Faruqui argues that Aurangzeb was a pragmatic leader who balanced his personal piety with the complex requirements of governing a diverse empire.
Why it matters
Re-evaluating historical figures helps challenge modern political narratives and provides a deeper understanding of historical governance.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb died in 1707. But even in 2026, he remains a polarising figure in public imagination. Munis D. Faruqui’s Aurangzeb ‘Alamgir and the Mughal Empire (Juggernaut Books), however, offers a nuanced picture. Sparkling with fresh insights and fascinating new details, the book offers a richer, fuller picture of Aurangzeb. It also responds to the controversies around him. Excerpts from an email interview with Faruqui, a historian in the department of South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley:
Aurangzeb is generally perceived as a bigot. But you show how, in his own lifetime, his piety won the admiration of even his opponents. What was Aurangzeb’s relationship with religion?
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