The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c11.s7.9

c11.s7.9

To sum up, Professor Mohammad Habib in his review of G.N. Sharmas *Social Life in Medieval Rajasthan* (1500-1800) has this to say about artisans and workers and their wages in northern India of the Mughal times: The industries of Rajasthan were well-developed, (but) further progress was made impossible owing to the low social position assigned to the worker, forced labour or *begar* and administrative oppression of all types. The cultivator had to be satisfied with a meagre reward for the hard work of himself and his family. The inventories of thefts committed show that a well-to-do peasant had two dhotis and two turbans for himself, four saris costing about Rs. 2-4 for his wife and some ten utensils costing Rs. 25. The wages recorded tell the same sad tale. The account papers (1693-1791 A.D.) of the construction of the palaces of Jaipur and Kotah show that skilled labourers got annas 6 to 8 and a supervising architect Rs.1 / 2 per day. The wages of un-skilled labourers as mentioned in the Kotah records of 1689 A.D. vary from one anna to two annas. Payment was sometimes made in grain-14 *Chataks* daily for skilled workers and 2 to 4 *Chataks* for women workers. The Bikaner *Bahis* throw some light on wages-a *chaukidar* Rs.2 per month, grooms, sweepers and gardeners Rs.1 to Rs.3 per month. From the point of view of wages the prospects of government officials were not very encouraging. The pay of officers of position, according to the Bikaner *Bahi* (V.S.1764) varied from Rs.21 to Rs.28 per month. An accountants pay according to the Kotah records was Rs. 135 per year. An ordinary clerk could be engaged for Rs. 60 per year, while a senior clerks pay was about Rs. 235 a year. A *Kotwal* was generally paid Rs. 15 to 20 a month. Such low wages would only be possible with the low price of grain. According to Dr. Sharma 10 maunds of wheat could be purchased for Rs. 14 to 16; the same quantity of millet for Rs. 11 to 12 and of barley for Rs. 9 to 10.