34 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
International Indexed & Refferred Research Journal, October 2012, ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBAL 2009/30097: VoL IV *ISSUE- 37
Research Paper—History
October,2012
Introduction :
The formative structure of the Mughal Empire was completely like military pattern and fidelity to the
Mughal emperors acted as the main base of this formative structure the virtual pillar of the Mughal Empire was Mansabdari system. Like the I.C.S. in the
English regime the Mansabdari system in the Mughal reign was the main power of autocratic government.
The very word 'Mansab' means rankand so from this viewpoint 'Mansabdari system' is 'a holder of a rank in the imperial service'. The Mansabdari system was not hereditary and the emperor himself according to his own will power could appoint any person judging on the person's efficiency to the post of Mansab. So long as it was intact there was no cause for being anxious about its existence.
Defects of Mansabdari System :
Firstly, in the formative structure of the
Mughal Empire the Mansabdari system acted as a military machine. But as all the administrative sections were added with the central arrangement the efficiency of Mansabdari system was to a great extent. The bureaucratic complexity and procrastination weakened this system. Moreover, success of this system depended mostly on the efficiency and skill of the Empire himself. And, therefore during the reign of the debilitated Mughal emperors after Aurang-zeb the
Mansabdari system almost broke down. Secondly, the
Badsahas had no conception about the fact that all the Mansabdars could not be equally skilled in warfare and in maneuvering an army. The Mughal
Mansabdars had to play an equally important role both in administrative and in military work and as such it
Defects of Mansabdari System in
The Mughal Period
* Mrinal Kanti Saren
* Dept. of Humanities ( History) Singhania University, Jhun Jhunu, rajasthan , India
Any monarch must introduce some rules for governing his Kingdom and if those rules are a pt the administration will be improved. The Mughal administration was based on this Mansabdari system though it can not be remarked that this system was faultless. Before Akbar administration basing on Mansabdari system existed. Mughal emperor Akbar first introduced Mansabdari system. Later on the next Mughal emperors made some necessary changes in this system but still then this system could not be come flawless. The durability of any monarchy depends mainly on its administrative structure. The Mansabdari system played an important role in the destruction of the Mughal Empire.
A B S T R A C T
Key words : Mansabdari, monarchy, flawless, destruction was utmost difficult to maintain equilibrium between the two. Very often an efficient administrative
Mansabdar could not display equal skilful performance in battle field. One should not expect military skill in warfare from Abul Fajal. Prof. Aneruddha Roy said, the Mughals believed that any Mansabdar barring a few theologies and philosophers could be military commanders and often sent to military campaigns.
Men like Abul Fazal were fare effective when they were masters of the pen than that of the sword, yet they were sent to the field. Thirdly, armies in the Mughal regime were formed according to this system and so all the armies could not be concorded into one national army. In battle field the Mughal emperors were entirely dependable on the Mansabdars. There was no direct relation and communication between an ordinary soldier and the emperor himself. Communication exists between the ordinary soldiers and the
Mansabdar, the immediate boss. Consequently, the fidelity of a soldier was to his Mansabdar, not to the emperor. So, if the Mansabdar revolted against the emperor, the soldiers would support the Mansabdar, not the emperor.
Fourthly, because of the pan city of Jaigir and due to the competition among the Mansabdars for acquiring the best Jaigir the Mansabdars would turn a deaf ear to the interest of the Empire and instead they would think only of their own interest. Dishonesty and perversion of the Mansabdars disclosed nakedly the weakness of this system. Badauni pointed out how the Mansabdars cheated the Mughal emperors in illegal ways. There was far difference between the real numbers of horses and so wars and what the numbers of horses and so wars should be. To eradiRESEARCH
ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 35
International Indexed & Refferred Research Journal, October 2012, ISSN 0975-3486, RNI- RAJBAL 2009/30097: VoL IV *ISSUE- 37 cate this prevention Akbar introduced Daag and
Chehera systems. But prevention was not entirely extirpated as reposted by Abul Fazal. Fifthly, struggle among the Mansabdars and nation, group, religion, etc. would hinder in maneuvering the Mughal army.
The Mansabdars were divided into groups subgroups, etc. Envy, competition, struggle, selfishness etc. could not unite them. The emperors would take advantage of this situation and consolidate his hold and domineering.
And for this sake the emperors intentionally to remained ununited. But this discard was extremely harmful for its stability. As a result during the reign of inefficient emperors after the death of Aurang-zeb this discord among the groups and subgroups would endanger the existence of the Mughal Empire.
Sixthly, the Mansabdars would deprive their soldiers of their wages and this would create grievance among the soldiers. Among the Mansabdars there were some local Jamindars and Kings. These
Jamindars and Kings would create hindrance in the integration of the Empire during the reign of inefficient emperors. Besides, the role of the Mansabdars as per the rights of the waton Jaigirs would increase the feebleness of the Empire.
Seventhly, many foreign Muslim Mansabdars lived permanently in India as their wages were highly attractive. But after coming to India and living here permanently they became degraded. Their skill, efficiency and working power gradually decreased. Not only they received incrative wages but their expenditure was also high. Besides the expenditure for the
Mughal army and their weapons the Mansabdars also used to lead highly luxurious life and at the same time because of their high life style they were put into financial problem though sometimes they used to receive more than their usual wages. After wards the numbers of Mansabdars increase but that of Jaigir did not increase proportionately. Besides there was not sufficient financial gain from the increased number of
Jaigirs and a crisis took place. As such getting new
Jaigir was not profitable. On the other hand
Mansabdari was not hereditary and at the end of service period of Mansabdari the landed property and wealth of the Mansabdars would be seized by the emperor and for this reason the Mansabdars would not care to save wealth and they would spend in luxury all they would earn. This crisis began in the regime of
Aurang-zeb and it deepened after his death.Eighthly, due to the biasness to the Mansabdars of the south the khanjad Mansabdars suffered greatly. For this reasons strife among the ruling class grew and gradually deepened. The relationship between the emperor and the Mansabdars was that of patronage. The duration of this relationship depended on the constant increasement of the estate of the Empire. It is highly remarkable that due to the wrong decan rule of Aurangzeb deficiency of estate grew and the relationship of patronage broke down and along with that the fidelity of the Mansabdars to the emperor ended gradually.
Assessment Evaluation :
After analyzing the defects of the Mansabdari system I have realized that if some aspects of this system were modified, it would achieve success completely.
If the Mansabdari would participate in warfare only, then the Mughal army would be stronger and more powerful and at the same time the duration of the
Empire would increase. If the emperors after Akbar would think deeply about the improvement of this system, it would be successful then. If the estate of the Mansabdars would not be seized at the end of their service period and if their estate and wealth would be given to the successors, they would not be too much luxurious when they were Mansabdars and instead they would pay heed to save wealth for their successors. They would rather think of the improvement of this system and this would make it a grand success. 1)Garret, H.L.O. - Mughal Rule in India London, 1930 2) Habib Irfan - The Atlas of the Mughal Empire Delhi 1982 3) Habib Irfan - Akbar and His India,
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