Answer these questions in 30 – 40 words. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?


The sixth Mughal Emperor was Aurangzeb Alamgir. He was Emperor Shah Jahan’s son. He is also the most despised ruler in Indian history.
He governed for nearly 50 years, from 1658 to 1707, and was the Mughals’ last prominent or effective monarch.
Music was the main means of Hindu-Muslim unity throughout the Mughal era.
Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, outlawed singing in his court, although he did not outlaw the playing of musical instruments.
Despite his intense religious beliefs, he was a music aficionado and a skilled veena player.
However, because of its loud, harsh, and disagreeable sound, he prohibited the playing of the musical instrument pungi in the royal residence.
It is a wind instrument that is also known as the been or murli. It is made up of a reservoir into which the player blows air, which is then channelled via two reed pipes.
There are no pauses in the playing of the instrument. It was considered more of a noisemaker than a musical instrument.
As a result, Aurangzeb outlawed the pungi, a loud and disagreeable sounding musical instrument.

Final Answer:

The pungi was banned by Aurangzeb because of its harsh and disagreeable sound.