The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c9.s3.13

c9.s3.13

Just imagine thirteen crore *tankahs*. The total revenue of a year during Firozs reign was six crore and seventy-five lac *tankahs*;⁵³ and one individual slave of the Sultan (Bashir-i-Sultani) had acquired wealth amounting to two years total revenue of the country. Could corruption go further? There were many rich Khans and Maliks in the time of Firoz Shah, writes Afif, but no one was so rich as he; indeed there never had been one so rich in any reign or in any kingdom. Still the officers of the Revenue Department could not call him to account; they were indeed afraid of him, for he was a favourite of the Sultan. To please the Sultan, Imadul Mulk once presented him with a crore of *tankahs*. But twelve crores still remained with him. At his death, the Sultan ordered nine crores to be deposited in the State exchequer on the plea that Bashir is my property (as his slave), and so his property is mine. Three crores were left with Imadul Mulks son Ishaq who also got the title of his father. Afif adds that Ishaq himself was an extremely rich man and did not stand in need of his fathers wealth.