Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s6.6

c27.s6.6

Another commendable example that the Mughal Emperors set before the Marathas was that of granting rent-free land to deserving physicians for rendering their professional service free of charge to the suffering humanity. Muhammadans and Hindus believed alike in astrology and long association and spirit of inborn tolerance had generated in the Hindus that reverence for the mosques and the saints of their Musulman neighbours which devotees of one faith seldom entertain for another. The Sultans of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar therefore granted rent-free lands in *inam* to successful and learned Hindu astrologers while rent-free lands were granted by Shivaji and his successors for the maintenance of mosques and shrines of Muhammadan saints. The Maratha rulers also granted such *inam* to physicians of all faith and nationality for free distribution of medicine. Here, however, they had the example of the Muhammadan rulers before their eyes. In the year 989 of the Hijira a farman was granted to a Parsi physician which runs as follows—"Order,