History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c19.20

c19.20

The sultan’s pursuit of innocent pleasures did not relax his vigilance over matters of state. All important papers were placed before him and his argus eye kept a close watch upon the various branches of the government administration. It is as an administrator than anything else that ‘Alāuddīn stands head and shoulder above his predecessors. His accomplishments as a warrior were dwarfed by his achievement as an organiser. His administrative genius is best exhibited in the various novel methods and schemes he formulated to govern the country as he desired. Direct recruitment of soldiers, the systems of branding and cash payment, the control of the market, rationing and issue of permits, the enrolment of merchants and the dozen other measures prove beyond doubt the ingenuity of the king’s mind. ‘Alāuddīn was an administrative *entrepreneur*; he conceived novel ideas and struck on new grounds. As pointed out before, all his councellors like Zafar Khān, Nuṣrat Khān, Ulugh Khān and also probably ‘Alāulmulk had all died before 1302, while Alp Khān was staying far off in Gujarat untill about 1314, and it was surely the inventive genius of ‘Alāuddīn which struck at the idea of the so many measures cited above. ‘Alāuddīn, for the first time, introduced measurement of land, local government, and laws about collection of revenue. These did not exist before. Although himself unlettered ‘Alāuddīn obtained reports about the market from a number of sources and punished the culprits and delinquents. His ingenuity for superb administrative talent is exhibited in his sending small boys, who easily eluded suspicion of shopkeepers, to the market-place to test the honesty and veracity of the merchants.