Daily News Analysis ‘Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad, Maharashtra’ : 21 March

Key Points:

• Location: Aurangzeb is buried in Khuldabad, Maharashtra, near Aurangabad, in the dargah complex of Sheikh Zainuddin, a 14th-century Chishti saint.
• Tomb Structure:
  • A simple, open-air grave, in line with Aurangzeb’s puritanical beliefs.
  • Originally marked by a stone cenotaph, later faced with white marble in the early 20th century on the orders of Lord Curzon.
  • The top is filled with earth, allowing plants to grow, reflecting Islamic austerity.
• Aurangzeb, the last powerful Mughal emperor (1658–1707), expanded the empire but spent his final years fighting the Marathas in the Deccan.
• Unlike the grand garden tombs of Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s grave is minimalist.
• The Taj Mahal (Shah Jahan’s tomb) and Humayun’s tomb in Delhi are vastly different in scale and design.

Why in News?

• A Protest by some people demanding the removal of the tomb of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb led to violence and arson in Nagpur.