The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c10.24

c10.24

The very nature of the wazīr's office demanded that the ruler should co-operate with him and maintain his dignity.¹ Monarchs have seldom failed to support their wazīrs in enforcing discipline on recalcitrant nobles or subordinates, even when the offenders happened to be royal favourites.² The government could not be carried on if there existed any palpable difference of opinion between the sovereign and his prime minister: there was no *via media* between agreement and dismissal.³ Whenever the wazīr was distrusted and yet kept in office, the result was disorganization of the administration.⁴ It was by no means easy to dismiss a wazīr, for very often he was irreplaceable. The post required great technical knowledge, wisdom and experience.⁵ The ruler, therefore, took great care in choosing his wazīr and expected a very high standard of attainment and character from him.¹ Once he was appointed, it was considered necessary to endow him with great authority.²