The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c10.85

c10.85

A minister of great importance was the *barīd-i-mumālik* who was the head of the state news-agency. It was his duty to keep himself informed of all that was happening in the empire; ubiquitous agents reported all news which had any significance or importance.¹ The headquarters of every administrative sub-division had a local *barīd* who sent regular news-letters to the central office.² Men of known probity and honesty were appointed to this post; sometimes learned men with an outstanding reputation for piety and impartiality were forced to accept it against their will as a matter of public duty.³ So great was the responsibility that if a *barīd* failed to report a misdeed or some act of gross injustice committed by a well placed official, he sometimes paid for his shortcoming with his life.⁴ There are instances when *barīds* exercised great ingenuity in sending messages in spite of the vigilance of a rebel chief.⁵ Nothing was outside the cognizance of the *barīd*: he was the confidential agent of the central government to report on every aspect of public administration. The government officials, the condition and finances of the area under his jurisdiction, the state of agriculture, the welfare of the peasants and the purity of the coinage alike came under his secret investigation. He was present at reviews of troops so that he might send his own impressions to the court. He attended all important functions, kept his informers everywhere, and let nothing escape his argus-eyed vigilance. Having gathered all the information he could, he classified it and put it into separate reports so that each document could be referred by the central office or the monarch to the department concerned.⁶ This system of universal espionage assured the obedience of the provincial governors to the central government so long as the sovereign was strong enough to deal with powerful nobles who were inclined to be refractory.¹ It also provided a safeguard against the oppression of the people by the officials: indeed it was one of the most important functions of the barīd to report any instance of oppression.² A well-organized news-agency was a prime necessity for the successful administration of justice in the realm since thus the monarch got prompt news of the deeds of his servants; hence the department was compared to the windows in a house which admit light from the outside.³ Muslim writers on politics hold that it is an act of piety to take up the responsibilities of a barīd and discharge them properly.⁴ It was not surprising, therefore, that only men of recognized worth were appointed. They were required to investigate all matters fully and report the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.⁵ The post was well paid, for it was wisely considered necessary to keep the barīd immune from the temptation of accepting bribes.⁶