A History of Agriculture in India v2.c71.s3: Land Revenue Administration
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c71.s3
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Land Revenue Administration
v2.c71.s3.1
When Sher Shah became the Emperor of India, he made new rules for the assessment of land revenue based on the measurement of the land, thus forestalling Todar Mal, the Revenue Minister of Akbar. Abbas Khan thus describes his land revenue administration. ‘The rules for the collection of revenue from the people, and for the prosperity of the kingdom, were after this wise: There was appointed in every pargana, one *amir*, one God-fearing *shikkdar*, one treasurer, one *karkun* to write Hindi, and one to write Persian; and he ordered his governors to measure the land every harvest, to collect the revenue according to the measurement, and, in proportion to the produce, giving one share to the cultivator, and half a share to the *mukaddam*; and fixing the assessment with regard to the kind of grain, in order that the *mukaddams*, and *chaudharis*, and *’amils* should not oppress the cultivators, who are the support of the prosperity of the kingdom. Before his time it was not the custom to measure the land, but there was a *kanungo* in every pargana, from whom was ascertained the present, past, and probable future state of the pargana. In every *sarkar* he appointed a chief *shikkdar* and a chief *munsif*, that they might watch the conduct both of the *’amils* and the people; that the *’amils* should not oppress or injure the people, or embezzle the king’s revenue; and if any quarrel arose among the king’s *’amils* regarding the boundaries of the parganas, they were to settle it, that no confusion might find its way amongst the king’s affairs. If the people, from any lawlessness or rebellious spirit, created a disturbance regarding the collection of the revenue, they were so to eradicate and destroy them with punishment and chastisement that their wickedness and rebellion should not spread to others.
v2.c71.s3.2
‘Every year, or second year, he changed his *’amils*, and sent new ones, for he said, “I have examined much, and accurately ascertained that there is no such income and advantage in other employments as in the government of a district. Therefore I send my good old loyal experienced servants to take charge of district, that the salaries, profits, and advantages, may accrue to them in preference to others; and after two years I change them, and send other servants like to them, that they also may prosper, and that under my rule all my old servants may enjoy these profits and advantages, and that the gates of comfort and ease may be opened to them”.’
v2.c71.s3.3
Under Sher Shah, State demand was fixed at one-third of the expected produce. It was payable in cash or kind. When there was a drought or other natural calamity, advances were made to the cultivators to relieve distress.