Mughal Story: Describing the period of Jahangir, Shah Abbas writes that the emperor used to believe that tobacco changes people’s nature. Therefore, by issuing a royal order, it was banned, but within 20 years of the order, tobacco was grown in large quantities.
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The Mughals adopted new strategies in their era and did not hold back in filling the treasury. on which Jizya tax Emperor Akbar Aurangzeb filled the coffers by implementing the ban. It is not here that those who came out of Akbar’s court and reached the common people tobacco than also Aurangzeb increased his treasury. Whereas it was clear that how much tobacco can harm and the ban had already been imposed.
How old are betel nut and betel nut, it can be understood from the fact that it is mentioned in Ayurveda as well, but tobacco has played a major role in making people salivate red. When the Italian traveler Nicolao Manuchi reached India in 1658, he was surprised to see blood dripping from the mouths of the people, what disease was affecting the people of India. When he searched for the answer, he came to know that it is a betel eaten by amateurs.
tobaccoHow did it reach India?
The remains found during the research done in Utah, USA show that humans used tobacco even 12,300 years ago, but it took a long time to reach India. That too reached the common people through the mouth of the Mughals. There is also a story about this.
Around 1492, tobacco reached Europe from the American continent through Columbus. Then around 1604 it came to India through the Portuguese doing business in India. This was the period when Akbar and Jahangir were fighting for the change of power.
The court historians of Deccan reached the court of Emperor Akbar. He sought permission to present a new thing in front of the emperor. This is also something that Akbar was unaware of. He had neither seen it nor smelled its fragrance. Tobacco was presented in a silver plate with a carved hookah. It had a hose through which the smoke had to be drawn inwards.
Asad Beg present in the court lit his pipe and gave it to Akbar. As soon as Akbar puffed, the royal doctor persuaded him to do so, but he did not agree. After taking three-four puffs, he started coughing. In no time, Akbar understood why the doctors were getting worried. He gathered information about tobacco by calling the medicine seller. He said that there is no mention of tobacco anywhere in the books I have.
The tobacco that came out of the court reached such people
At the same time, the royal doctor said that it could cause harm, however, Asad Beg believed that it should not be dismissed and should be investigated. Assad gave some part of the tobacco to the nobles and some to the common people. Filled it in hookah and also gave it to the courtiers. In this way tobacco reached the common people. People came to know about him. Started getting intoxicated. When it became famous among the people, the traders started selling it. It has become addiction of people.
Jahangir banned but Aurangzeb took advantage
When Jahangir assumed power in 1605, he banned tobacco. Describing the era of Jahangir, Shah Abbas writes that the emperor used to believe that tobacco changes people’s nature. Therefore, a royal order was issued to ban it, but within 20 years of the order, tobacco was grown in large quantities. From 1622 to 24, it was cultivated on a large scale.
Aurangzeb took advantage of this. Planned to fill the coffers with the orders of the Mughals who banned tobacco. Aurangzeb worked to fill his treasury by imposing tax on it. Aurangzeb took maximum advantage of many traditions of the Mughals. Then whether it is a matter of tobacco or Jizya tax, which collects additional tax from Hindus.
