The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c8.s4.5

c8.s4.5

Enrolment in the regular cadre depended on a number of considerations like personal prowess, skill in weaponry and family background. The times believed in the theory of martial class. Fakhr-i-Mudabbir advises that those whose ancestors had not been soldiers should not be made officers, Sawars or Sarkhails.¹³⁶ Ziyauddin Barani also expresses similar views.¹³⁷ In practice recruitment of troops was based on merit which was determined after a severe test.¹³⁸