The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.110

v4.c18.110

Shāh Jahān's mind was orderly but not inventive. The court historians and foreign travellers praise his diligence in affairs of state, and the records of his military enterprises show the attention with which he controlled them. State revenues increased, in spite of the disastrous famine of 1630, owing to better supervision over officials and greater security of life. In Bengal Shāh Shujā‘ during his long term as governor made progress in the detailed assessments of land, which had been summary on the first conquest by Akbar. And in the Deccan a Persian named Murshid Qulī Khān, who had entered Mughul service with ‘Alī Mardān Khān, performed a similar task after peace had been established. Trade, in spite of the edicts issued by Akbar and Jahāngīr, was subject to constant restrictions dictated by the theory that government should gain the highest possible revenue from it, rather than that it should foster its improvement. In 1633 Shāh Jahān declared a royal monopoly in indigo, and ordered that the sale of indigo throughout the Mughul dominions should be effected only through a certain Hindu merchant, who was to receive a loan from the treasury and share the profit.² The monopoly included the supplies in Gujarāt as well as those round Āgra, and it failed, though it had the support of Mīr Jumla, only because the Dutch and Portuguese, who were large buyers, combined to keep off the market. Commerce was much impeded by similar monopolies established by local governors, which were apparently unchecked by the central government.³