THE MUGHAL EMPEROR AURANGZEB ALAMGIR, who reigned from 1658 to 1707, is one of the most hated men in Indian history. Widely reviled as a religious fanatic who sought to violently oppress Hindus, he is even blamed by some for setting into motion conflicts that would result in the creation of a separate Muslim state in South Asia. In her lively overview of his life and influence, Audrey Truschke offers a clear-eyed perspective on the public debate over Aurangzeb and makes the case for why his often-maligned legacy deserves to be reassessed.

Audrey Truschke is Assistant Professor of History at Rutgers University. She is author of Culture of Encounters: Sanskrit at the Mughanl Court (2016).