Mughal Administration c14.s4.6

c14.s4.6

The lot of the labourers was not happy, nor conducive to the true economic development of the country. At the capital, which was the largest and richest city in the land, there were no private factories, no workshops owned and managed by skilful artisans on their own behalf. As Bernier rightly observes, "If the artists and manufacturers were encouraged, the useful and fine arts would flourish ; but these unhappy men are contemned, treated with harshness and inadequately remunerated for their labour. The rich will have every article at a cheap rate. When an *umara* or *mansabdar* requires the services of an artisan, he sends to the bazar for him, employing force, if necessary, to make the poor man work ; and after the task is finished, the unfeeling lord pays, not according to the value of the labour, but agreeably to his own standard of fair remuneration ; the artisan having reason to congratulate himself if the *kora* (lash) has not been given in part payment......How then can it be expected that any spirit of emulation should animate the artist or manufacturer ?......The artists, therefore, who arrive at any eminence in their art are those only who are in the service of the king or of some powerful *umara*, and who work exclusively for their patron." (Bernier, 255-256.)