Mughal Administration c8.s6.2

c8.s6.2

The terms *waqāi-navis* (sometimes written as *waqāi-nigār* also) and *sawānih-nigār* mean the same thing, *viz.*, a writer or surveyor of occurrences. There was a difference between them in this that the *waqāi-navis* was the more regular and public reporter of the two, while the *sawānih-nigār* was of the nature of a secret reporter on important cases only. There was a *waqāi-navis* attached to every field-army, province and large town, and a *sawānih-nigār* at special places and times only. The latter was intended to be a spy and check on the former! The *Mirāt-i-Ahmadi* (Sup. 175) makes the point quite clear:—"In former reigns *waqāi-navises* were employed [to report provincial occurrences]; but owing to the suspicion of their entering into collusion [with the local officers], *sawānih-nigārs*,—who are also called *khufia-navises*,—were appointed to reside secretly in the subahs and report news. At last when the latter was entrusted with the duty of supervising the postal arrangements within the province, the matter became public." I believe that it was then that a third or most secret class of reporters, i.e., *harkārahs* or true *khufia-navises*, were posted to the provinces. Manucci [ii. 331] implies the same thing.