The Administration of the Sultanate of Dehli c9.2

c9.2

A CONSCIENTIOUS sultan was one of the hardest worked The ceremonial. men in the realm; for instance Sher Shāh spent about ten hours every day with only short breaks for meals and prayers in discharging his public duties.¹ This does not include the time taken up in deliberation and consultation with the more trusted officials and ministers. A life spent in the limelight of splendour and magnificence in full view of the people must have been exceedingly exacting; it is not surprising that weaker natures sought solace in pleasure-seeking and merry-making; even the sterner monarchs turned for relaxation to hunting, music and poetry. The ceremonial darbārs and processions, the endless banquets and celebrations, which were kept up even when the royal household was on the march, were political institutions of utilitarian value, for they captured the imagination of the people and impressed them with the majesty of their rulers to the extent that even to-day the might and grandeur of kings are favourite themes of Indian folklore. So great was the awe which this pomp inspired that ambassadors and tributaries were known to faint when ushered into the august presence of the sultan.² The contemporary historians give excellent descriptions of these functions; the accounts of the eye-witness, Ibn Baṭṭūṭah, are specially interesting.³ All these narrations leave an impression of great splendour and magnificence on the mind. Apart from their spectacular value, these public shows enabled the sultan to keep in touch with his subjects and to minister to the needs of the humble and the poor. When he rode out in a procession, any suppliant could draw his attention by holding up a petition or crying aloud for protection.¹ The general audience was the occasion for the persecuted and the needy to claim the sultan's protection; he generally heard their grievances and complaints.² It was in these public darbārs that the sovereign discharged the formal duties appertaining to his office. Matters requiring discussion and deliberation or involving secrecy were dealt with in the council chamber where only those officers were admitted whose advice was required.³ The private audience was less exclusive and was attended by the greater nobles and officers of the state.⁴ The more important members of the secretariat were also in attendance.⁵ The bulk of state business was conducted here the sultan talent was rewarded and failure censured; ambassadors from foreign countries and tributaries received; robes of honour and marks of distinction bestowed; tribute and presents from Hindu rājahs and Muslim governors displayed; and appointments to higher grades of service made and announced. Some of this business was transacted on special occasions in a public audience.