The administrative and economic reforms of Alauddin Khalji.
The administrative and economic reforms of Alauddin Khalji.
Administrative Reforms of Alauddin Khalji.
Economic Reforms of Alauddin Khalji.
Career and achievements of Alauddin Khalji.
Alauddin Khalji (1296 - 1316 AD) :-
Early life and accession to the throne :-
Alauddin Khalji was the nephew of Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji. Alauddin was illiterate. Jalaluddin appointed him as ''Amir-i-Tuzuk''. In 1292 AD, he attacked the Malwa kingdom and looted its capital Bhilsa and obtained a lot of wealth. Pleased with this, Jalaluddin appointed him the governor of Kara, Manikpur and Ayodhya. Alauddin secretly started forming an army with the wealth looted from Bhilsa. Then Alauddin attacked Devagiri, attracted by the wealth of Devagiri. When Jalaluddin arrived at Kara, happy with this news, Alauddin killed him as planned and declared himself the Sultan of Delhi.
Alauddin's initial problems: -
1. He became the object of hatred for everyone for killing his beloved fatherly Jalaluddin.
2. Jalaluddin's followers and loyalists began to oppose Alauddin.
3. Jalaluddin's son Ruknuddin Ibrahim came to contest the throne.
4. The Mongol invasion disrupted the security of the empire.
5. The weak governance system endangered the existence of the Sultanate.
6. The rebellions of Akat Khan, Umar Khan, Mangu Khan, Haji Maula and others put Alauddin's throne in question.
[ A ] Alauddin Khalji's administrative and constitutional reforms:-
1. Steps taken to suppress internal rebellion:-
Employment of spies:- Alauddin employed a large number of spies to know all the news of the empire. Even the most trivial events had to be informed to the Sultan. All the royal servants, the Amir Umrah - everyone's movements were at the fingertips of the spies.
Measures against the elite:- By confiscating the estates of the elite and increasing the revenue at a high rate, he caused special damage to the elite community. He dismissed all the previous high-ranking officials. The establishment of marital relations, festivals and social events of the elite without the permission of the Sultan were prohibited. Alauddin was very strict in the implementation of all these rules.
Abolition of Jagir system and allowances: Jagirs, awards, land given to charitable institutions by the state, etc. were confiscated and converted into state property or Khalisa. The practice of enjoying land without rent was almost abolished.
Prohibition of alcohol: Drinking and selling alcohol was prohibited throughout the kingdom. The Sultan's personal drinking vessels were broken in public. However, as a result of this, the violence of smugglers increased, only home preparation of alcohol was allowed.
2. Establishment of the ideal of kinghood: -
Alauddin Khalji established the Sultan at the highest position in the Sultanate's rule. The Sultan was the chief commander, chief judge, and chief administrator at the same time. Sultan Alauddin Khalji believed in unlimited autocracy. Therefore, he established a new ideal of kinghood. According to him, the relationship between the Sultan and the subjects is like that of a master and a servant.
For this purpose, he was always keen to reduce the influence of any particular person or group in the administrative system. He turned the nobles and the scholars into obedient servants. He never tried to gain the support of the Caliph. In this way, he gave the Sultanate a real sovereign form instead of the traditional sovereignty of the Caliph.
3. Centralization of the system of government:-
Alauddin formed a strong army and suppressed chaos throughout the empire and introduced a strong centralized system of government. Although he appointed many ministers to assist in the administration, the main power remained concentrated in the hands of the Sultan. He consulted the ministers but was not obliged to take their advice. He extended his dominance throughout the empire by appointing spies. The only duty of the ministers was to carry out the orders of the Sultan - they had no other power beyond that.
4. Reforms in the military system:-
Alauddin's success depended on his military strength. He took many steps to reform the military system. For example -
(i) Alauddin was the first among the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate to form a standing army.
(ii) He introduced the system of paying salaries in cash instead of jagirs.
(iii) The policy of providing the necessary weapons, clothing, horses - everything to the soldiers - was adopted by the state.
(iv) A large army of about five lakh cavalry was formed.
(v) He introduced the Dagh and Hulia system to curb corruption in the army.
[ B ] Alauddin Khalji's Economic Reforms:-
1. Revenue Policy:-
He abolished all types of 'Milak' or ownership rights granted by the state, 'Inam' or gifts, 'Idrarat' or allowances, waqf or religious grants - etc. and converted all lands into 'Khalisa' or state-owned lands. The main objective of this was economic prosperity and the destruction of the power of the elite. He also suppressed the rural elite and forced them to pay revenue. Government servants called 'Amil' collected revenue directly from the farmers. As a result, the middlemen were eliminated. He severely suppressed the revenue collectors like 'Khut', Muqaddam, Chaudhuri - and forced them to pay revenue.
2. Reforms in the Iqta System:-
Alauddin made some reforms in the Iqta system. To stop the corruption of the Iqtadars, he appointed employees to audit the accounts of the Iqtadars and took strict action against the corrupt Iqtadars. In this way, the revenue paid by the Iqtadars was deposited directly into the treasury, which greatly improved the treasury.
3. Increase in land revenue: -
Alauddin set the highest land revenue among the Sultanate rulers. He increased the amount of land revenue by 50%. It is believed that this huge increase in land revenue was one of the steps taken to meet the huge amount of money needed to expand the empire and prevent the Mongol invasion.
4. Introduction of other various taxes: -
Alauddin imposed new taxes in many other areas in addition to increasing the land revenue. For example - house tax or ghari, grazing tax or graai, tax on domestic animals, water tax, irrigation tax, jizya tax on Hindus, kharaj, khams - etc. were levied on Muslims.
5. Introduction of Land Survey System:-
He adopted the policy of determining revenue on the basis of the crops produced on every cultivated and uncultivated land by surveying it. In many cases, revenue was collected in the form of grains instead of cash. Such a large-scale land survey program had not been adopted before.
6. Establishment of Revenue Department:-
To ensure revenue collection, Alauddin Khalji formed a separate revenue department. The name of this department was - 'Dewan-i-Mustaqraj'. In addition, he appointed many employees for the revenue department like Muhasil, Amil, Gomsta, Qarnun, Patwari - etc.
7. Control of Market Prices:-
Among Alauddin Khalji's economic reforms, the most notable is the control of market prices of daily necessities. Prices of various types of food grains, cotton and silk cloth, cattle, all types of food items - etc. were fixed. For this purpose, markets called 'Sera-e-Adl', 'Dewan-e-Mandi' were established. During food shortages, a system of giving half a maund of food grains to everyone, including slaves, was introduced. In fact, Alauddin introduced the rationing system in this way. Direct purchase of products from farmers without a license or permit was prohibited. Two royal officials named 'Dewan-e-Riyasat' and 'Sahna-e-Mandi' were appointed to implement the market price control system.
Finally, it can be said that the success of Alauddin was based on his strong mentality, personal supervision in governance, administrative talent and strictness, loyalty and devotion of employees - etc. But after Alauddin's death, the system introduced by him collapsed. Because, the administrative and revenue system introduced by Alauddin was completely dependent on the personal ability and skill of the Sultan.
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