A Critical Review of Akbar's Military Reforms system

 Akbar's mansabdari System

 Akbar's Military Reforms

A Critical Review of Akbar's Military Reforms

Introduction

At the time of Akbar's accession, the condition of the army was not at all satisfactory. The kingdom was divided into estates and the owners of the estates had to keep a certain number of horses. Who were bound to serve the government by these horses and their warriors when needed. The feudal lords who fed the cavalry would not be persuaded to provide services. In addition, the state's own officials were often deceived on the spot. These included small class merchants, carpenters and weavers. Whose main purpose was to gain financial gain only.

At the time of his accession to the throne, Akbar's attention was first drawn to military reforms. Thus, when Shahbaz Khan was appointed to the post of Kumar Bakhshi in 1571, the emperor devised a scheme of reforms and established a system of bureaucracy on the basis of a complete military organization. Thanks to this system, in the Mughal period, high-minded central officers or appointees were appointed in the military and administrative spheres of the country. This system was obtained by Akbar from Iran. This system was fundamentally different from the feudal system of Europe in that it had no relation to land nor was it inherited. It is also said that this system was a civil service of the Mughal government.

Meaning and concept

Position meant the official standard and rank of office.

The object of the Mansabdar system was to settle procedures and fix gradation of pay. Mansabdars belonged to both the civil and military departments. As a matter of fact there was no distinction between the two departments in the Mughal period

Levels of officials

According to Abul Fazl, there were a total of 66 ranks of officials. But we actually see 3 stages. The smallest position of 20 riders and then the same position reached five thousand, but later the position of seven thousand was also established. It was for honorable officers in the state. After that a special position was reserved for the people of the royal family which was called ten thousand.At first seven thousand positions only

It was reserved for princes, but special officers such as Man Singh, Todramal and Kalij Khan were awarded the post. The emperor had full authority to grant and promote, suspend or revoke his position. The incumbent did not have any inherited rights. It was also not necessary for an official to progress from a small level to a large one. Rather, the king would appoint any person he liked and wanted to give him an honorable position at any level.

Types of officials

Officials were divided into two major categories. One part was called amra while the other part was known as ordinary mansabdar.

(V.D.Mahajan)

 A Hazari Yadav Hazari or a Mansabdar of up to twelve thousand was called amara.

There was no distinction between Omrahs and Mansabdars and no Omrahs was less than one

According to Ellis Rao:

The Zat rank of a Mansbdar indicates the number of infantry, while the Sawar rank indicates the number of cavalry under him. (Bevne (on the Mughal Rule in India)

In the words of Abdul Aziz and SR Sharma:

That the Zat rank imposed an obligation on a Mansabdar to maintain a fixed number of elephants, horses, beasts, of burden and carts, but no horse man or cavalry. However the Sawar rank represented the actual number of cavalry under a Mansabdar

According to Dr. Tripathi:

The rider's position was an additional one and it was not necessary for the officer to arrange for a fixed number of riders in his presence. However, he received a surplus.

Dr. R. L. Srivastava agrees with Balochman.

Number of officers

The number of mansabdars was more than the number of emirs.

According to Bernier: "The number of officers was not specified, but Hawkins said there were 2,950 positions among the 2,000 direct employees.At the time of compilation of the Akbari Constitution, there were 148 emperors with five hundred and more positions. During the reign of Jahangir, their number increased to 439 - 405 in 1837 and 444 in 1847. The total number of Mansabdars in 1590 was 1658 and

 The era of Jahangiri was 2069.

The responsibility of the officer

The incumbent was responsible for all expenses and had to keep accounts. A high-ranking government official, or sometimes the king himself, inspected the cavalry. The horses of the mansabdar would be branded and the complete appearance of the rider would be recorded in a register. (The Mughal Rule In India) All these mansabdars would be given a place in the court. The king was also treated according to position.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement was especially important in the mansabdari system. According to this law, when an official died, his property and estate belonged to the king.

According to Sir Thomas Rowe:

All the property of a Mansabdar came to the king rivers to the sea

In the words of Manuksi

The king seized everything let to his generals, officers and by commanded at their death

According to Bernier:

The king usually gave a small pension to the wisdom and also some allowance to the family

Salary and stipend

The salaries and stipends of the Mansabdars were paid in two ways, either to the Mansbardar so that he could fix his salary from it or he was paid by the royal treasury.

In the case of allotment of jagir, care was taken that wherever the mansabdar was appointed, the nearest jagir should be given to him. The princes were paid Rs. 25 per horse per month. Sir Thomas says 25 pounds a year. According to Hawkins, officials were paid Rs. 20 per horse per month. Two rupees per horse was set aside for the maintenance of the stable.

Internal and external

Apart from the mansabdars, there were some other people who were called internal and unitary. The Ahadis had created their own class. The king recruited them directly. They were honorable and performed the duties of bodyguards.

According to Abul Fazl

They would be very brave, capable and trustworthy people, where refuge would not give them any position, but they would be free from any order. These people were directly employed by the Shah and were respected for their freedom.

(Akbari Constitution)

An Advanced History of India

There would be a separate office for the salaries of the rich. Their head was a prominent aristocrat. Ordinary soldiers were paid more than five hundred rupees a month.

The virtues of the system of office

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar had some of the merits of this system of office which are given below:

1. Suppression of local uprisings

Due to this system, apart from the central and provincial forces of the government, there was an armed army of officials from one corner to the other. Which quickly crushed local uprisings. Thus the king's grip on the government became stronger.

2. Army of the same standard

Since the government was responsible for the expenses of the cavalry and the soldiers, the country

The standard of the army is the same all over.

3. The spirit of loyalty

The Mansabdari system instilled in the people a sense of loyalty to the state and the emperor.

People to get a position

Not only did he work hard but he was also eager to prove his loyalty.

4. successful propaganda

Due to this system, a new class was created in support of the Mughals who always praised the government. Due to which the successful propaganda of the people in support of the government would continue. Besides, Akbar always gave positions in view of loyalty.

5. Eliminate bribery and corruption

Under this system, the officials got proper salaries. Therefore, they would not even think of bribery. In addition, the office bearers were replaced after a short period of time so that corruption would not arise. If an office bearer retires, he would be given an annual pension.

Defects in the system of office

1. The luxury of the mansabdars

Under this system, the presence of abundant money made many officials lavish. Their abilities were paralyzed and they neglected their duties at the expense of wealth.

According to Jadoo Nath Sarkar:

It (the law of escheat) made the Mughal nobility a selfish sand prompt in deserting to the winging score on every war of succession or foreign invasion.

2.Race for a higher position

Everyone tried to gain the king's favor by flattering him and trying to please him. As a result, a race for supremacy began. Which also created jealousy in the princes and the conspiracies of the court gained momentum.

3. Imbalance in the royal budget

A law was issued to burn horses and to disguise riders. However, this did not apply to the five thousand position. Because the number of officials gradually increased every year.At the same rate, the burden on the government's coffers increased. As a result, the balance of the government's budget has deteriorated, which has resulted in the Mansabdari system proving to be extremely detrimental in its last days. Because the supervision of the officials was reduced and the grip of the government on them was weakened. Therefore, they proved to be luxurious, dishonest, easy-going and incompetent. He started ignoring the interests. And finally with the life of Aurangzeb, the lamp of this system also went out.

This system was brilliant in the Akbari period. Akbar ruled successfully for half a century. But later the number of Mansabdars gradually increased. Due to which this system failed.