S.

S JAIN SUBODH LAW COLLEGE

Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University

2021-2022

SUBJECT - “History“

PROJECT ON

Political structure of Delhi Sultanate

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Ms. Debjani Chakraborty Prateek Rajpurohit

Assistant Professor Semester IV

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 DECLARATION

I Prateek Rajpurohit do here by declare that, this research project titled “Political
structure of Delhi Sultanate” is an outcome of the research conduct by me under the
guidance of Ms. Debjani Chakraborty Asst. Prof. at S.S Jain Subodh Law College in
fulfilment for the award of the degree of B.A LL.B at the. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Law
University. I also declare that this work is original, except where assistance from other
sources has been taken and necessary acknowledgements for the same have been made at
appropriate places.

(Prateek Rajpurohit)

B.A LL.B Sem IV

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Prateek Rajpurohit student of S.S JAIN SUBODH LAW COLLEGE
Affliated to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Law University, Jaipur has completced his project on

“ Political structure of Delhi Sultanate” under the supervision and guidance of supervisor
Ms. Debjani Chakraborty To best of my knowledge the report is original and not been
copied or submitted anywhere else. It is an independent work done by him.

Ms. Debjani Chakraborty

Assistant Professor

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

When I embarked this project, it appeared to, as an onerous task. Slowly as I progressed,

I did realized that I was not alone after all.

I wish to express my gratitude to DR. ALPANA SHARMA, director, S.S. JAIN SUBODH
LAW COLLEGE FACULTY MEMBER, & Program coordinator who have extended their
kind help, guidance but also for the freedom she rendered me during this project work.

I’m deeply indebted to my guide Ms. Debjani Chakraborty for not only her valuable and
enlightened, guidance but also for the freedom she rendered me during this project work.

I’m thankful to my group member and other classmates, well-wishers who with their
magnanimous and generous help and support made it a relative easier affair. My heart goes
cut to my parents who bear with me all the trouble I caused them with smile during the entire
study period and beyond.

Prateek Rajpurohit

Student signature

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 CONTENTS

1. Introduction...……………..………………………………………….. 06

2. Administrative system of the Delhi Sultanat…………………..…..….. 07

3. Delhi Sultanate Economy ….…………………………………..…...…. 10

4. Delhi Sultanate Social System …...………………………….…………12

5. Delhi Sultanate – Art, Architecture and Music ………………..….……13

6. Structure of Government………………………………………………..14

7. Bibliography ……………………………………………………………15

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 INTRODUCTION1

Dynastic monarchy was a structure with which Indians had long been familiar. From 1210,
when the Delhi Sultanate was formally founded, the sultans steadily gathered more and more
powers; it can fairly be stated that a sultan was generally a more powerful ruler than a Hindu
ruler of earlier centuries. The process reached its climax under Alauddin Khalji who
effectively controlled the empire and ran it as if it were a village. Muhammad b. Tughluq,
however, went too far and suffered a set-back.

The sultan was assisted by a body of ministers who managed their respective departments
under royal orders. The most important departments were those of religion and justice, of the
army, of the intelligence service and the imperial post, and of finance and revenue, which
was looked after by the most important minister, the vizier. For administrative purposes, the
sultanate was divided into provinces, with the executive head of each province serving as
governor. His powers were considerable, yet limited by the central government, especially in
financial matters. When the government at Delhi was weak, the governors, especially those
of the distant provinces, tended to assume more powers and run their provinces
autonomously; some were tempted to declare independence. Depending upon the
circumstances, a rebel governor might face the gallows or become the founder of a new
provincial dynasty. Delhi Sultanate were derived from and inspired by the theories of
kingship in the Islamic world. In theory the Muslim state was a theocracy which means the
head of the state was also the religious head and derived his position and authority from God.
Thus the Caliph was the supreme head of the whole Islamic world. Most of the Sultans kept
up the pretence of regarding the Caliph as the legal sovereign while they themselves were the
Caliph’s representatives. Most of them included the name of the Caliph in the khutba (prayer)
and the sikka (coins) and adopted titles indicative of their subordination to the Caliph. But the
Caliphate itself had long disintegrated before the coming of the Turks to India and what
remained was a mere hereditary monarchy. The political need and the ignorance of the
Sultans about the Shariyat or the Islamic laws resulted in the division of the functions of the
head of the state. The religious side was looked after by the Ulama or the theologians and the
administrative functions were maintained, organised and supervised by the Sultan

1
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/administration-in-delhi-sultanate-1441275639-1

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 Administrative system of the Delhi Sultanate

The machinery of administration under the Delhi Sultanate was derived from the Abbasid and
following it, Ghajnavid and the Seljuki system of administration progressed. The Turks also
evolved a number of new institutions and concepts which provided a basis for centralization
of power and authority of a type which had not existed in India earlier. In theory, a Muslim
state was a theocracy. The Caliph was the supreme head of the state whole Muslim world.
Thus the Sultans of Delhi professed formal allegiance to the Caliphate and the Sultanate was
always an independent state for all practical purposes.2

Central administration:

1. Sultan: The Sultan was the legal head of the state and acted as the chief executive,
armed forces and the highest court of appeal. He administered all the departments and
every brunch of the state and generally discussed all important matters of state in a
council in which the most trusted and highest officers were allowed to sit. The Sultan
ruled through ministers and a group of officials. Following were the main pillars of
the central government.

2. Diwan-I-Wizarat (finance department): Wazir was the head of this department and
as a prime minister he was to look after the other departments. He was assisted by
Mushrif-i-mamalik (accountant) and Mustafa-i-mamalik (auditor).

3. Diwan-I-Arz (defence ministry): Ariz-i-mamalik was the head of this department.

He was responsible for organisation and maintenance of the royal army. The review
of the army and branding of the horses was done by him

4. Diwan-I-Insha: It was the department of correspondence and records of the royal

court headed by Dabir-i-mamalik, Dabir-i-khas. The Dabir-i-mamalik acted as private
secretary of the Sultan and drafted firmans.

2
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/administration-under-delhi-sultanate/

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 5. Diwan-I-Risalat: the head of the public charities and ecclestial department was the
sadr-us-sudur.

Besides these there were many departments. Diwan-I-Qaza, the judicial department was
headed by Qazi but Sultan was the highest court of appeal. Barid-I-mamalik was the head of
the informat5ion and intelligence department, Vakil-I-dar was incharge of riyal household,
Amir-I-barbak was the superintendent of t5he royal court, Amir-i-hajib kept an eye on all
visitors to the court and presented them before the sovereign according to court etiquette,
Amir-i-majjis organised the meetings of royal assembly and special celebrations, sar-i-jandar
was the officer of personal body-guards to the Sultan. Diwan-i-bandagan (department of
slavesand Diwan-ikhairat (carity department) was created by Alaudin Khilji. Diwan-i-Kohi
(department of agriculture was created by Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Provincial and local administration:3

The empire was divided into many provinces called “Iqta” and its head was known as “Nayeb
Sultan”, “Iqtadar”, “Wali”, “Muqti.” They were expected to maintain law and order in the
provinces and pay states share of collected revenue regularly keeping their expenditures
aside. It is noteworthy that they needed to help the Sultan in times of war.

In order to convenient the provinces were parcelled into “Siqs” headed by “Siqdaran”. The
“Siqs” were, further, devidede into “Paraganas”, he4aded by “Amil”. Whereas the collections
of villages formed a pargana. “Chaoudhury” or “Muqaddams” were the chief officials of the
villages. Lands were also classified into three categories namely iqta land, khalisa land, and
inam.

Iqta lands were the lands assigned to officials as iqtas instead of payment of their services.
On the other hand khalisa land were under the direct control of the Sultan. The revenue
collected from it were spent for the maintenance of royal court and royal household. And last
is inam land that was assigned or granted to religious leaders or religious institutions.

3
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/administration-under-delhi-sultanate/

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Hence we can decipher that the establishment and expansion of the Delhi Sultanate led to the
evolution of a powerful and efficient administrative system. At its zenith, the authority of
Delhi Sultans had extended as far south as Madurai. They are even today remembered for
their very systematic administrative capabilities. Although the Delhi Sultanate had
disintegrated, their administrative system made a powerful impact on the Indian provincial
kingdoms and later on the Mughal system of administration.

Revenue Administration:

As per the Shariyat the state collected five types of revenue. These are as follows:

1. Uchar: The tax paid by the Muslim citizens at 1/10 of the agricultural produce

2. Kharaj: The tax paid by the Non-Muslim citizens at 1/10 of the produced.

3. Jazia: The tax extracted from the Non-Muslims for staying in Muslim state.

4. Jakaq: The tax paid by the Muslims as a religious tax.

5. Khamas: 20 percent of the looted treasures paid to the state are called Khamas.

Besides these the taxes on house, pasture land, irrigation, jagirdars and Sultans land w3ere
the source of income of the state.

To conclude, the administrative system of the Delhi Sultanate was based on the Islamic law
“Shariyat”. But sometimes the rulers like Balbun and Alaudin Khilji did not follow the
“Shariyat”. One thing must be noted that it took a long period of time to give a definite shape
to the administration of the Delhi Sultanate; especially Iltutmish, Balbun, Alaudin Khilji and
the Tughlaq rulers played important roles in this process.4

4
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/administration-under-delhi-sultanate/

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 Delhi Sultanate Economy5

1. Under the Delhi Sultanate, certain land reforms were introduced in the revenue
department. The lands were categorised into three classes:

• Iqta land – the lands which were allotted to the officials as iqtas instead of payment
for their services.

• Khalisa land – it was directly under the control of the Sultan and the revenue
generated was utilised for maintaining the royal court and royal household.

• Inam land – it was allotted to religious institutions or religious leaders.

2. The farmers paid 1/3rd of their produce as land revenue and sometimes even half of
the produce. They also had to pay other taxes and lived miserable lives. However,
Sultans like Muhammad Bin Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq provided better irrigation
facilities and also takkavi loans which helped in the increased agricultural production.
They also promoted the cultivation of crops like wheat rather than barley. A separate
agriculture department, Diwan-i-Kohi was set up by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Firoz
Tughlaq promoted the growth of the horticulture sector.

3. A number of cities and towns had grown during this period which led to rapid
urbanisation. The important cities were – Multan, Lahore (north-west), Anhilwara,
Cambay, Broach (west), Lakhnauti and Kara (east), Jaunpur, Daulatabad and Delhi.
Delhi was the largest city in the east. A large number of items were exported to the
Persian Gulf countries and West Asia and also to Southeast Asian countries. Overseas
trade was dominated by Khurasanis (Afghan Muslims) and Multanis (mostly Hindus).
Inland trade was under the control of Gujarati, Marwari and Muslim Bohra
merchants. These merchants were rich and lived luxurious lives.

4. Roads were built and maintained for facilitating smooth transport and communication.
The royal roads were especially kept in good shape. In addition to the royal road from
Peshawar to Sonargaon, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq built a road to Daulatabad. Sarais
or rest houses were constructed on the highways for the benefit of the travellers.

5
https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/22009/1/Unit-8.pdf

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 5. During the Delhi Sultanate, the silk and the cotton textile industry thrived. The
introduction of sericulture on a large scale made India less reliant on other countries
for the import of raw silk. Paper was widely used from the 14th and 15th centuries
which led to the growth of the paper industry. Other crafts like carpet weaving,
leather making and metal crafts also flourished due to the rise in their demand. The
goods needed by the Sultan and his household were supplied by the royal karkhanas.
Expensive articles made of gold and silver were produced by the royal karkhanas. The
nobles were paid well and they copied the lifestyle of the Sultans and lived a
pleasurable life.

6. The system of coinage had also boomed during the Delhi Sultanate. Several types of
tankas were issued by Iltutmish. During the Khalji rule, one tanka was divided into 48
jitals and 50 jitals during the Tughlaq rule. After the south Indian conquests by
Alauddin Khalji, gold coins or dinars became popular. Copper coins were fewer in
number and dateless. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq experimented with token currency and
also issued different types of gold & silver coins. The coins were minted at different
places. At least twenty-five different types of gold coins were issued by him.

7. The Turks popularised a number of crafts and techniques like the use of iron stirrup,
use of armour (for both the rider and the horse), improvement of Rahat (Persian
wheel which helped in lifting the water from deeper levels), the spinning wheel and
an improved loom for carpet weaving, use of superior mortar, which helped to erect
magnificent buildings based on the arch and dome, etc. 6

6
https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/22009/1/Unit-8.pdf

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 Delhi Sultanate Social System7

There were hardly any changes in the structure of the Hindu society during the Delhi
Sultanate. The Brahmins continued to enjoy the highest place in the social strata. The
severest restrictions were placed on mingling with the chandalas and other outcasts. During
this period, the practice of keeping women in seclusion and asking them to veil their faces in
the presence of outsiders (purdah system) became prevalent among the upper-class Hindus
(particularly in North India). The Arabs and Turks brought the purdah system into India and
it became a symbol of the higher classes in society. The practice of sati was widely prevalent
in different regions of the country. Ibn Batuta mentions that permission from the Sultan had
to be taken for the performance of sati.

During the Sultanate period, the Muslim society remained divided into ethnic and racial
groups. The Afghans, Iranians, Turks and Indian Muslims developed as exclusive groups and
rarely married each other. Converts from the lower sections of Hindus were also
discriminated against.

For the Hindu subjects, from the time of the Arab invasion of Sindh, they had been given the
status of zimmis or protected people i.e, those who accepted the Muslim rule and agreed to
pay a tax called jaziya. At first, jaziya was collected along with land revenue. Later, Firoz
Tughlaq made jaziya a separate tax and levied it on Brahmins also, who were earlier
exempted from the jaziya.

Slavery had existed in India for a long time, however, it thrived during this period. There
existed slave markets for men and women. Slaves were generally bought for domestic
service, for company or for their special skills. Firoz Shah Tughlaq had about 1,80,000
slaves.

7
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/administration-under-delhi-sultanate/

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 Delhi Sultanate – Art, Architecture and Music8

Art and architecture was a combination of Islamic and Indian styles that took a new direction
during the Delhi Sultanate. Domes, arches, lofty towers, minarets, Islamic script were
introduced by the Turks. The dome is the prominent feature of the mosques in contrast to the
shikhara of Hindu temples.

Delhi Sultans had a great taste for architecture. The architecture was a blend of Indian and
Islamic styles. Qutub Minar is a towering 73m high tower constructed by Qutub-ud-din
Aibak and completed by Iltutmish in memory of the Sufi saint Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki.
Later Alauddin Khalji built an entrance to the Qutub Minar called Alai Darwaza.

The palace complex of Tughlaqabad was built during the reign of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq built the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq on a high platform. He also
built Jahanpanah, one of the cities of Delhi. Firoz Shah Tughlaq built Hauz Khas, a pleasure
resort and also built the Feroz Shah Kotla fort. The Tughlaq rulers started building the tombs
on an elevated platform. The Lodhi Gardens in Delhi is an example of the architecture of the
Lodhis.

The three well-developed architecture styles were:

1. Delhi or Imperial Style

2. Provincial Style
3. Hindu architectural style

Music:

The sarangi and the rabab, new musical instruments were introduced during this period. Also,
new ragas like ghora and sanam were introduced by Amir Khusrau. He is also credited with
fusing the Iranian and Indian musical systems to create Qawwali. He also invented the Sitar.
Ragadarpan, the Indian classical work, was translated into Persian during the rule of Firoz
Shah Tughlaq. Pir Bhodan was a Sufi saint who was regarded as the greatest musician of his
age. Raja Man Singh of Gwalior was a great patron of music and encouraged the composition
of the great work on music called Man Kautuhal.

8
https://www.ijmra.us/project%20doc/2019/IJRSS_MAY2019/IJMRA-15611.pdf

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 Structure of Government

Fakhr-i-Mudabbir lists the principal dignitaries of the state as follows: wazir, wakil-i-dar,
amir-i-dad, amir-i-hajib, mushrif, mustaufi, and sahib-i-barid. The wakil-i-dar (not to be
confused with the wakil-i-sultanat of the Sayyid dynasty and the wakil-i-mutliq of the
Mughals) was the controller of the household. The amir-i-dad (literally lord of justice) was
the most important judicial dignitary. The amir-i-hajib is often designated as the chief
chamberlain, but this does not fairly describe the functions and duties of this officer. He was
the master of ceremonies at the court; no one could enter the royal presence without being
introduced by one of his assistants, and all petitions were presented to the sultan through him.
The post, therefore, was one of great prestige and was reserved for trusted nobles. One holder
of this post, Balban, was the most powerful noble of his day. The mushrif was the accounts
officer responsible for income, and the mustaufi for expenditure. The sahib-i-barid was in
charge of communications and intelligence.

The chief minister of the sultan was called the wazir. Fakhr-i-Mudabbir considered the wazir
a "partaker in sovereignty" and recommended that in his own technical domain he must be
left free by the monarch. He describes the normal functions of the wazir in the following
passage: "The kings know well how to lead expeditions, conquer countries, give rewards, and
shine in the assembly or battlefield; but it is the domain of the wazir to make a country
prosperous, to accumulate treasures, to appoint officials, to ask for accounts, to arrange for
the stock-taking of the commodities in the karkhanas, and the census of horses, camels,
mules, and other animals, to assemble and pay the troops and artisans, to keep the people
satisfied, to look after the men of piety and fame and to give them stipends, to take care of the
widows and the orphans, to provide for the learned, to administer the affairs of the people,
and to organize the business of the state This was the position in early days, when the wazir
was in charge of the entire government, both the civil and the military departments and the
functions which were later entrusted to Sadr-i-Jahan, but this arrangement underwent drastic
changes in the light of practical experience. In view of the importance of the office, and to
illustrate the administrative experiments that were carried on under the sultanate, it will be
useful to sketch the history of the wizarat [=vazir-ship].9

9
https://ocd.lcwu.edu.pk/cfiles/History/Maj/Hist-301/ADMINISTRATIOPNOFmUSLIMRULE.pdf

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Ziya-ud-din Barani, Fatawa-i-Jahandari, trans. by Afsar Khan in The Political

Theory of the Delhi Sultanate (Allahabad, n.d.), p. 49

2. R. P. Tripathi, Some Aspects of Muslim Administration (Allahabad, 1936), pp.

338–40; Moreland, p. 41; and Qureshi, pp. 111–14.

3. I. H. Qureshi, The Administration of the Sultanate of Delhi (Karachi, 1958), pp.

78–80.

4. Mahdi Husain, The Rehla of Ibn Battuta (Baroda, 1953)

5. H. M. Elliot and John Dowson, The History of India as Told by Its Own
Historians (London, 1867–1877)

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