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A History of Agriculture in India v2.c57: Chapter 5. The Rule of the Turks: The Tughlaks

A History of Agriculture in India v2.c57

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English

Contents

Chapter 5. The Rule of the Turks: The Tughlaks

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A.D. 1321-1325

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GHIAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAK, HIS REVENUE AND POSTAL SYSTEM

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ALA-UD-DIN'S successor was his son, Kutb-ud-din Mubarak, a pleasure-loving debauch, who held his durbar decked out in female finery and jewels. He was killed by Khusru Khan, his general, in A.D. 1320. Khusru Khan assumed the title of Sultan Nasir-ud-din.

Ghias-ud-Din Tughlak (A.D. 1321-1325)

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In A.D. 1321, Ghias-ud-din Tughlak, a Turk who was Governor of Depalpur in Punjab, rebelled and defeated Khusru Khan and became the Sultan of Delhi. He built the fort of Tughlakabad. He subdued rebellious governors and Hindu rulers. In A.D. 1323 Bidar and Warangal were captured and the Kakatiya kingdom came to an end. Bengal was reconquered.

Encouragement of Agriculture

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The chief concern of Ghias-ud-din Tughlak, however, was the encouragement and extension of agriculture. He had understood that only a monetary incentive could motivate the cultivators to improve their agriculture, and he reduced the atrocious demand for land revenue fixed by Ala-ud-din Khalji. Zia-ud-din Barni thus narrates, in his *Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi*, the measures taken by the Sultan. 'In the generosity of his nature, he ordered that the land revenues of the country should be settled upon just principles with reference to the produce. The officers of the Exchequer were ordered not to assess more than one in ten, or one in eleven upon the *ikta's*, and other lands, either by guess or computation, whether upon the reports of informers or the statements of valuers. They were to be careful that cultivation increased year by year. Something was to be left over and above the tribute, so that the country might not be ruined by the weight of taxation and the way to improvement be barred. The revenue was to be collected in such a way that the *raiyats* should increase their cultivation; that the lands already in cultivation might be kept so, and some little be added to them every year. So much was not to be exacted at once that the cultivation should fall off, and no increase be made in future. Countries are ruined and are kept in poverty by excessive taxation and the exhorbitant demands of kings. The Hindus were to be taxed so that they might not be blinded with wealth, and so become discontented and rebellious; nor, on the other hand, be so reduced to poverty and destitution as to be unable to pursue their husbandry.¹

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¹ Zia-ud-din Barni, *Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi*, in Elliot and Dowson, *The History of India*..., Vol. III, pp. 230, 231

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In regard to the Chiefs and headmen, the so-called intermediaries, Ghias-ud-din rejected Ala-ud-din’s view that they should be reduced to the economic level of peasants. They had responsibilities, and were entitled to remuneration accordingly; their perquisites were to be left to them without assessment, and their income from grazing was not to be taxed; but the Governors were to take measures to prevent them from levying any additional revenue from the peasants. In this way it was hoped to enable the Chiefs to live in comfort, but not in such affluence as might lead to rebellion.

Postal System

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Shahabu-d-Din Abu-l ‘Abbas Ahmad, a native of Damascus (d. 1348 A.D.) in his *Masaliku-l Absar fi Mamaliku-l Amsar* (Travels of the Eyes into the Kingdoms of Different Countries) thus describes this system of communication. ‘For communicating the events which happen in distant provinces, there are established, between the capital and the chief cities of the different countries, posts, placed at certain distances from each other, which are like the post-relays in Egypt and Syria; but they are less wide apart, because the distance between them is not more than four bow-shots, or even less. At each of these posts ten swift runners are stationed, whose duty it is to convey letters to the next station without the least delay. As soon as one of these men receives a letter, he runs off as rapidly as possible, and delivers it to the next runner, who starts immediately with similar speed, while the former returns quietly to his own post. Thus a letter from a very distant place is conveyed in a very short time with greater alacrity than if it had been transmitted by post, or by camel express. At each of these post-stations there are mosques, where prayers are said, and where travellers can find shelter, reservoirs full of good water, and markets where all things necessary for the food of man and beast can be purchased, so that there is very little necessity for carrying water, or food, or tents.’²

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² Shahabu-d-Din Abu-l ‘Abbas Ahmad. *Masaliku-l Absar fi Mamaliku-l Amsar*, in Elliot and Dowson, *The History of India*..., Vol III, p. 581

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Ibn Battuta, who saw this system of post during the reign of Muhammed-bin-Tughlak, states, ‘The *barid* or post in India is of two kinds. The horse-post is called *ulak*, and is carried on by means of horses belonging to the Sultan stationed at every four miles. The foot-post is thus arranged. Each mile is divided into three equal parts, called *dawah*, which signifies one-third of a mile. Among the Indians the mile is called *kos*. At each third of mile there is a village well populated; outside of which are three tents, in which are men ready to depart. These men gird up their loins, and take in their hands a whip about two cubits long, tipped with brass bells. When the runner leaves the village, he holds the letter in one hand, and in the other the whip with the bells. He runs with all his strength, and when the men in the tents hear the sound of the bells they prepare to receive him. When he arrives, one of them takes the letter and sets off with all speed. He keeps on cracking his whip until he reaches the next dawah. Thus, these couriers proceed until the letter reaches its destination.

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This kind of post is quicker than the horse-post; and the fruits of Khurasan, which are much sought after in India, are often conveyed by this means. It may be mentioned that this sysem of post was used by the Sultan's government only for official communication, and it was not available to common people.

Death of Ghias-ud-Din

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Ghias-ud-din, on return from an expedition to Bengal, was received with great pomp by his son Muhammad Jauna, entitled Ulugh Khan, who is better known by his royal name Muhammad-bin-Tughlak. A wooden pavilion was built and magnificently adorned with colourful tapestry. It suddenly collapsed and Ghias-ud-din was killed. He lies buried in a massive tomb, which he had built in his life-time in front of his citadel of Tughlakabad.

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