Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.1

c5.s4.1

*General remarks*:—The composition of various social classes was more or less simple. The Sultan, considering that he was the leader of the people and 'the main guarantee of peace in this world of strife and chaos' was at the head of society; the nobles and other privileged classes were in some form of subordinate alliance with him; the masses of the people (which term includes the various classes of Hindus and the lower classes of Muslims) were below them and divided from them by an almost impassable barrier in ordinary circumstances¹. Just at the commencement of the Muslim rule, there was an almost indiscriminate commingling of the upper Muslim classes, which were mainly composed of the *Ulama* and the religious class in general, the *Ahl-i-qalam* (what might be termed the intelligentsia), and the *Ahl-i-tigh* or soldiers. All of them served in various degrees in the great task of establishing Muslim rule in Hindustan, and were