'Aurangzeb's grave should be razed': A political issue in Maharashtra

The tomb of Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, is an unmarked grave in a dargah-complex - and comes under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Mumbai: The tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is snowballing into a major political issue in Maharashtra with a section of right-wing groups, BJP leaders and the descendant of iconic Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, demanding that it should be razed.

Aurangzeb’s grave/tomb is located in Khuldabad in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar earlier known as Aurangabad.

The tomb of Aurangzeb (November 3, 1618 – March 3, 1707), the sixth Mughal emperor, is an unmarked grave in a dargah-complex - and comes under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Right-wing group Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) asked the government to stop financial aid for upkeep of the tomb.

“The ASI spends lakhs of rupees annually on the upkeep of Aurangzeb’s tomb, while Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s temple at Sindhudurg Fort receives a mere Rs 250 per month in government aid. This stark disparity is outrageous and unacceptable,” HJS State Coordinator Sunil Ghanwat said.

“While Rs 2,55,160 spent on Aurangzeb’s tomb in 2021-22, Rs 2,00,626 spent till November 2022-23,” he said, pointing out that in contrast Maharashtra’s only mandir dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj located in Sindhudurg Fort, a symbol of Hindu pride, Maharashtrian culture, and Swarajya, receives minimal support from the Maharashtra Government.

“The government must act swiftly to uphold Maharashtra’s heritage and pride. Failure to do so will lead to strong protests from the Hindu community,” he said.

On the other hand, Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale of the Satara royal family, the 13th descendant of Shivaji Maharaj demanded that the grave should be razed. “Those who visit Aurangzeb's tomb and pay homage may be his future. They should take that tomb to their own homes, but the glorification of Aurangzeb will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.

“What is the need…send a JCB machine and raze his grave…he was a thief and lootera…Strict action should be taken against those who give wrong statements about Shahaji Chhatrapati Maharaj, Rajmata Jijau Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj,” said Udayanraje, who is a BJP MP from Satara.

State Ports and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane too demanded that Aurangzeb’s tomb be razed. “It is everybody’s opinion that the grave of Aurangzeb should be razed,” he said.

The issue of Aurangzeb’s tomb came to the fore once again after the statement of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi eulogising the Mughal emperor at a time when public sentiments were high after the release of Chhava, the film based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj.

According to historical accounts, Sambhaji Maharaj was captured and brutally tortured to death at the behest of Aurangzeb.